This post is harder than I initially thought it would be. There are too many things that we shared together, I can probably write a book on it. Perhaps I will in future when I finally end this blog.
We knew each other under strange circumstances. There was a class re-arrangement just less than a month to the start of secondary one. Everyone was still pretty much strangers to one another by the end of January.
Tucky was designated to be the Special One since he was arrange to seat with me. We had a conversation. I could not remember the details, you know kids talk. But somehow the topic of my birthday popped up during the conversation. As Tucky reminded me once in a while over the years, that I looked 'kinda sad' that I had to go to school the very next day of the day we knew each other. Something along the line.
The next morning before school, I was at Tucky's home upon his invitation - probably his idea of cheering me up for a sucky birthday @ school later on. He showed me his amazing array of nintendo games. A shocking collection in fact. Needless to say I was in awe and that was the start of our incredible friendship built solidly on games and medieval fantasy in the early years.
That day he demonstrated how to play Captain Tsubasa 2. He duly entered a long gibbish looking code (it was japanese) and we were magically teleported into the great finale of the game. BRAZIL vs JAPAN. Japan scored first after some struggle, with Tucky's usage of Hyuga's most powerful kick. Then the computer playing Brazil scored 2. With the time running down, Tucky tried to pull back one goal to bring that game to a draw. He tried ways and means but couldn't put one past the 'Super Goalkeeper' (in his words.) Then I told him to do the same trick that he did that got him the first goal. He looked enlightened and tried it.
The flight of Hyuga's shot took place, crashing every defender out of the path of his ferocious shot including Super Goalkeeper! Then the shot crashed into the left post of the goal and was cleared by the defender, putting our goal celebrations to an abrupt stop.
We were almost late for school that day, with bus 51 doing us no favours being infamously tortoise slow. Tucky generously made me go home with his Tsubasa 2 cartridge that day. On this very day, our friendship was forged with endless of games we played together, as well as our reading literature and the sports that we participated together. We spent a lot of time outside school hours together. Time just melted away like that.
Needless to say, my teenage years was heavily influenced by Tucky. I am always secretly thankful I got to know him. Given my rebellious streak and the lack of attention from my parents, I could have gotten into real trouble if I joined the wrong group of people. Knowing him early in my secondary school life could have been the best thing that happened to me back then.
After I came to Perth, he told me that I was always around for him during important events in his life. After he listed some of them, I realised he was right. Wow, we really came a long long way down the road. But he did the exact same for me too. He was there (in a flash) when my girlfriend left me during my NS days, he was there when I knocked on the wrong hotel door to pick up Jen on my wedding day. he was there to lend me the moral support when I was worried for my wife and child's safety outside the delivery theatre. Ironically Tucky's happiest days are not with me but it doesn't matter for I was there for him on his saddest. I will continue to do so as long as he needs me to.
One of the bitter pill I had to swallow about migration is the loss of the company of such a great friend. I would have love to watch the skies at Henderson Waves and the bright lights of the ships docked in the shores of West Coast Park with Tucky with my 'time off' granted by Jen. I would have drag him to the rally of Worker's Party's Hougang by-election. He would oblige as usual.
On many nights when I drove home after work, gazing at the shiny stars in the unblocked clear sky, I wished my friends were all with me here. There were limited joys in enjoying these good things myself. Imagine the weekends we would have here in Perth, the places that we would explore and drowsed ourselves in awe. That would only remain fantasy unfortunately, that's how imperfect life is.
My friend, if you still read this blog, I want to tell you that you have been one of the most important person in my life. Thank you for giving me so much and expecting nothing in return. I hope I'll have a chance to go on another overseas trip with you. Hopefully I don't have to wait another 20 years for that. Please don't forget me while I'm away.
I wish you happiness every single day, not just this day.
Sunday morning dun make me cry leh. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteAs we get older, I learn to treasure friendship even more and it's really a blessing that your friendship with GD and Will lasted soooo long!
Take care my dear fren! It's really a pleasure reading your blog daily.
From your friend up above. ;)
wa lau eh, dun scare me leh what friend from above? heh heh
DeleteSingapore la deh! Singapore!!!! Ahahahaha
DeleteThanks for laugh :) Good one. OK la down under, above, perhaps.
Deleteheh heh. now that you say it. 'down under' sounds like hell
DeleteEven though I had a few best friend too... Hahaha... yet, I'm still envy of you~ You really had a great friend. And it's kind of sad that you have to get separated with your best friend. This is what we called life... You have to go through what you have to.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you can always find another best friend in Perth.
yes, he is such a great friend that i am envious of myself!
Deleteit's hard to find someone like him and a friendship that last more than 2 decades and counting.
If is your best friend then must get him to go over also right?
ReplyDeleteI wish he can but at the moment i think that's wishful thinking
DeleteSadly, even though I am in Singapore. I havent been able to hang out with Tucky as we used to since I got married. Nevertheless, we still go on drives and meals together. I missed the lazy Sundays hanging out at Jurong East Library...
ReplyDeleteAmazing even after I got married I could still hang out at Jurong East Lib rite? hehehe.
Deleteanyway, try your best to keep in contact as much as possible. look at me - even if i wanted to, i can't.
Reading this post made me miss all my childhood frens whom i have not contacted since we have all grown up and gotton so busy with work...
ReplyDeletealways good to have your best friend around, either morally or physically.
ReplyDeletei lost my best friend to cancer few months ago. i wish i can speak to him now, like tucky. he was always there for me and his other friends. hes everybody's friend.