As I was packing up my stuff, putting them all in a box to be brought over to my new apartment, I stumbled upon a huge stack of letters, a mooncake box stuffed with little gifts and photos taken when I was back in Malaysia before I left for Melbourne, and my high school year books. And as I flipped through the pages, I couldn't help but laugh about the old days when my friends and I would do the dumbest things possible and get away with them. Like the pathetic Tennis Club Annual General Meeting, when the whole voting poll was rigged by ourselves to choose the board of directors, simply because its president was my crooked buddy Vivek. And the other time when another friend of mine was learning how to drive in a wide open space in Vivek's car, and thought that driving a car was really like it was in Daytona (the arcade game), so he didn't bother to use the breaks when cutting corners.
Aw shucks... those were the days. The days I miss so sorely.
The freedom. The innocence. The naiveness of our words and actions.
Those were the days when we were really 'growing up'.
So I thought that maybe I'd compile a little tribute kind of a thing here. To my closest buddies whom I grew up with in high school, back in little old Kluang.
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So if I were to start off a story about my high school days, Vivek would have to be top on my character list. This guy would play the role of the "tai kor". Self-proclaimed, that is. But with him as my full-time partner in crime during high school, we could and we would get away with just about anything. Half of the best things in life that I know are to be enjoyed were introduced by him. Oh, and he was the first to give me my driving lessons as well when I was 16 and we were free to roam about the open space of the local stadium carpark. Boy... those were some stupid things we did when we were young. But without him, I wouldn't be half the man I am today. Cheers, bro. |
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Mervin here would have to fit in the picture as well, of course. It wouldn't be a story well told if he weren't in it. Where I was thoroughly "educated" by Vivek on certain (blurry) areas of life, this brother would fill in where Vivek left out. He was the first to invite me to Sunday School when we were kids, and encouraged me to join our youth fellowship again when we were in high school. A true friend, brother, and fellow musician who's been there for me all the way on home turf; I wouldn't know Life without him. |
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Ly here would have to be the mother of the story. Serious. Everyone who knows here would know how much of a mother she is to us all. Let it be in terms of nagging, scolding, punishing (sometimes) or teaching, Ly was the one who kept us on our feet and made sure that we didn't get too dirty when playing in the mud (literally as well as metaphorically). And I guess it's because of that that she plays such an important role in all our lives (in the youth ministry) as she looks out for us all no matter what; through little notes, letters, calls, etc. You name it she does it. What a mother... :P |
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Yvonne on the other hand was another thing. My buddy since eeaaaarrrlllyyy in primary school, she was my original partner in crime before we kicked into high school and I started hanging out with Vivek as well. But still, we were in the same team, us all. Armed with the squeakiest voice one will ever hear, Vonne would squeak her way through anything let it be when shopping, yum-char-ing, especially when racing in Daytona. Hard to miss. Both her voice and her presence. |
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Now in every teen story in high school, there HAS to be a smart kid. But Gary wasn't just the guy with the glasses and books here in this story. Sure, he's smart and decorated with top scores in school, but upon closer inspection, one will find that he's so much more than that. Bursting with talent and blessed with good looks (serious... just ignore the picture, maybe. but when you see the queue of his fans, you'll know), he was also the guitarist in our band with Mervin. A person whom I've learnt to respect as a friend and brother over the years in high school, Gary's a champ in every way. |
In brutal honesty, I could go on forever. The list is a long one and I can't fit everybody in it. Not even Jia Wei, the shy stuttering humble dude who used to sit next to me in form 2 (though I'm not too sure about the stuttering bit anymore. I heard lately that he could rap a rapidfire of nuisance after a couple of drinks). Not even my best friend Syikin, whom ironically of all people, I don't have a proper picture of her at all and we spent the least time hanging out during my high school days.
But they're all there.
Friends, brothers and sisters whom I grew up learning about life with over mamak food at 1:30a.m at Ah Seng's.
All buried in memories that will never leave me till I grow old and senile maybe.
God, I love you guys.
Comments (2)
Oh goodness...why that picture of me?! Couldn't you have put a nicer one? Okay la...thanks anyway! It's my real pleasure to play a part in your life =) Oh, "mother", huh...almost everyone tells me that...hah.
Posted by ly | February 3, 2005 2:12 AM
Posted on February 3, 2005 02:12
the pleasure is all mine, ly.
it's been great having u as a friend throughout these years.
gosh, i'm missing home!!
Posted by agung | February 3, 2005 3:18 PM
Posted on February 3, 2005 15:18