Still us

By Claire Chao

Imagine having a dynamic duo since you were literally months old. 

Celine is the other half of my duo—my cousin, my best friend, my constant.

We’re less than a year apart, and since we were old enough to form memories, we’ve been side by side. Our bond isn’t something that just happened by chance, it’s something we chose, something we’ve nurtured. From the time we could crawl, we were glued together, and it’s been that way ever since.

We’ve been through every childhood phase together—begging for sleepovers, mixing batches of slime on the floor, and laughing for hours over Roblox. And as we got older, things changed, but we stayed the same. Our nights turned into long walks filled with deep talks, rants about the world, and petting every cat we passed. And yes, we still play Roblox. 

Celine - “I don't really have a favourite memory of us because I love everything I do with you, but if I had to pick, it would be our picnic sessions that we’d have at your house every so often. Like I don't know, like it's just refreshing to talk and be biggies, like you get the best of both worlds, you know what I mean?”

We weren’t just cousins—we were partners in crime, co-authors of each other’s lives, and the safest place each of us had. We’ve always known that we come from different families, different backgrounds, and different struggles. But instead of pulling us apart, that difference gave us perspective. It made us honest with each other.

Life sped up as we grew. More responsibilities, more pain, more pressure. School got harder, family stuff got heavier, and suddenly, time didn’t feel as endless as it used to. Some weekends went by without playing Roblox together, texts that went unanswered for a while, and days where one of us just did npt have the energy to say much at all.

But even in those quiet stretches, our bond never cracked. It was like a thread pulling us back to each other, no matter how far we drifted. We understood each other on a level that didn’t require constant check-ins to stay close. We could go days, even weeks, without talking, and still pick up right where we left off, as if no time had passed.

Celine- “I would be very mentally unstable. That’s like not an understatement. I don’t like talking to people about my feelings, and like you're literally the only person i really go to to vent or talk to about sensitive topics cause like, I dont even talk to- I dont even talk about like certain topics I talk with you with my siblings or like stuff, you know what I mean?”

What we have isn’t fragile—it was built on years of shared moments, childhood memories, deep talks, and a mutual understanding. We knew each other’s silences, we knew when space was needed, and we never took offense. That’s the kind of connection we have. 

So as life got louder, more chaotic, and more demanding, we still made space for each other—-maybe not always the same way as before, but always in the ways that mattered. A check-in when one of us was feeling off, or a random TikTok or Instagram reel to laugh about.

Growing up didn’t change our bond, instead, it taught us how to protect it through life’s obstacles.

When the pandemic hit, my world started to unravel. I hit one of the lowest points of my life—-fighting with my family, fighting with myself. I remember hiding away in my room, not talking to anyone, feeling completely alone. Except I wasn’t.

Even with the distance between us, Celine never really felt far. We couldn’t be together in person, but she was always there—online, ready to listen whenever I needed to talk, cry, or just let things out. She never judged me or tried to fix anything. She just let me be me.

With her, I didn’t have to pretend and say “I’m fine” or “I’m okay”. She gave me space where I felt safe to be honest, to be messy, and just be myself. And that kind of support, even from afar, made all the difference.

Celine - “You just need that one person to do like everything with, and like you're lowkey that person so.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that Celine has been one of the most important people in my life. Her presence is like that moment when something funny happens, and you don’t even need to speak—you just look at them, they look back, and you both burst out laughing without saying a word.

That’s a little glimpse into our lives. A connection so strong, so effortless, and so full of love, but still us.

For the Warrior Times, this is Claire Chao.