On an August afternoon, the sun cast a lazy glow on the fish pond outside, the water shimmering with flecks of light, and the fish inside seemed to swish their tails languidly, swimming in slow circles. I had just finished the last of my chores and, with a soft sigh, was about to lie down on the cool tiled floor to enjoy a moment of peace. Life, for the most part, is made of these mundane, repetitive, yet grounding moments.
Just then, my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t know.
“Hello,” I said, normal tone.
A lady’s voice, very proper one, came from the phone. “Can I speak to Mr. Tony Ng Chit Keong, please?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“Congratulations! Your artwork has been shortlisted for this year’s UOB Painting of the Year (POY 25)!”
When she said “Congratulations,” my mind just went blank. For a moment I was blur. The lady had to say “Hello? Can you hear me?” then only I woke up from my shock. I subconsciously asked, “So… what should I do now ah?” She replied that they will email me all the details.
“Okay, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Congratulations again.”
After the call ended, everything was quiet again. Just like that.
I always thought about this moment before. In my head, I would jump up, shout, maybe even scream like a kid. Confirm would open a beer to celebrate, or at least give my wife a big hug.
But the real thing was… I just quietly held my phone, turned around, and told my wife who was scrolling her phone, “Eh~ I got shortlisted.”
She looked up from her screen, not surprised at all, and said in a calm voice, “I knew you would get it one lah.” Then, she just continued looking at her phone.
Alamak, what kind of reaction is this? Is this how husband and wife become after so long ah? Weren’t we supposed to be happy and planning where to go for a big dinner?
But no, nothing. I just put down my phone, lay back down on the floor, and continued my rest.
Only when it was late at night, I started to really feel it. The happy feeling was there, just that it wasn’t the loud, drama kind. It was more like a warm, calm feeling, deep inside my heart. Betul-betul happy. But not like fireworks, you know? More like a tree, the roots just grow stronger and deeper where nobody can see.
Am I getting old ? Maybe. Or maybe this is just how it is when you get older. You learn how to be happy quietly. The best kind of happiness is the one you don’t need to show off, you just feel it yourself.
Got shortlisted is a big deal, so it’s something to remember. That’s why I’m writing this down—to remember this afternoon with no celebration, no shouting, just a very real, quiet happiness.
