One
evening while enjoying dinner at Goodall Cafe, Jimmy told me that
across the food court some
tables away were two guys, one of whom is another of our
schoolmates. I must admit I vaguely remember the name.
Since he was heartily eating his meal, we decided to let him
finish before approaching him. When we saw that he's done,
we went across to greet him. Alas, he was already getting
up, ready to leave. I quickly move over to show him his
Form 5 class photo. Guess he hasn't changed - he gave it a quick
glance and he continued walking away! Not a word from
him! The other guy is his brother who apologised that
Yit Leong just got discharged from Adventist Hospital (re some stone in
the kidney, or something like that), took him to have a quick dinner
before sending him back home. He gave me his handphone
number and asked me to WhatsApp him the class photo.
Back home, I checked my phone but could not seem to locate YL's brother
on WA - disappointment ! I was told that Yit
Leong has always been a very quiet and reserved guy in school.
He hardly utter any word or talk with his schoolmates. That was
why he was nicknamed "The Silencer" !
Days and weeks passed. One fine evening, I was fidddling with my
phone and then realised that I can see YL's brother's handphone number
on WhatsApp! I quickly sent him the Form 5 Arts One photograph
and explained what we 69ners have been doing. He replied with
much excitement that he will inform YL. We exchanged a number of
WA messages before he finally gave me the address where we can visit YL
and suggested that we can take him out for coffee at some nearby coffee
shop.
I was hesistant as to whether YL is receptive to meet us again after
all these years. Thus I randomly asked only a few
mates to join me. I did not invite all but six of us
turned up. Yit Leong said he could not remember or recognise us
but he could recall Yong Wah's name! We ended up in a
coffee shop where YL slowly opened up and joining in our conversation.