I bought a soft, white strawberry rice cake at a convenience store.
I was about to put it in the fridge to eat later, but then I got nervous—what if someone ate it first? I tried hiding it between containers of side dishes, then even tucked it under a jar of red pepper paste, sneaking glances around to make sure no one noticed.
A few hours later, my sister came out to the living room and plopped down on the couch in a boss-like pose. She’s usually playful, but she’s not the type to give compliments—so when she suddenly started praising me, I knew something was off.
Did I mess something up? Does she want something from me? Or . . . did she do something wrong and feel guilty?
My head filled with question marks. I looked at her suspiciously and asked,
“Why are you being like this . . . ?”
My sister just smiled and didn’t say a word. I still have no idea why she was acting that way, but as I replayed what she’d said, I realized it was something I’d really wanted to hear lately. Without even noticing, my mood lifted.
It must have taken courage for her—someone who’s usually awkward about giving compliments—to say those words. So I decide to respond in my own way. Quietly, I handed her my precious strawberry rice cake. She smiled, and I smiled back.
That’s when I realized we have a side like this too. An older sister who shyly tries to cheer up her younger sister with a compliment. A younger sister who gives up a carefully hidden snack because of one kind sentence. Sometimes, we make each other happy in the simplest, most childlike ways.
That single compliment turned an ordinary day into a good one. Just a few words can give someone courage and gently shift their heart in a better direction. I want to be like my sister—someone who can brighten another person’s day with just a kind word. Compliment attack—pow!