Rest in Peace

Just read up on this article that talked about a friend not knowing his friend died almost two years ago. I personally couldn't remember the pain of having someone close to me die. I was quite young then, so I couldn't really recall. Well that is... Until now. Recently, I had a chat with my primary school best friend (Zhujun) on whatsapp. Was talking to her halfway, (I was travelling from my home to meet my boyfriend), then she told me that she was going to tell me a bad news. Obviously I was curious, I haven't spoken to her in a while.

When she mentioned that my Primary 5 form teacher, Mr Bruce Tan, had passed on, I broke down in the mrt. I didn't know what to react and he was an amazing teacher. He cared for us, cracked jokes with us, do whatever he could to be the best of the best. He was one of the best teacher I ever had, and I couldn't believe what I just heard. And I didn't even know he had passed on 2 months ago. Which devastated me a lot. I felt guilty, stupid, a total idiot for not catching up with him. I wasn't able to tell him he's a wonderful teacher, I couldn't even say good bye to him. I couldn't imagine how his family members feel. I should have said whatever I wanted to say, do whatever I should do. I mean... I still owe him a coffee for getting a boyfriend before University. Having not known all this things were happening, I thought I failed as a student. 

I remember those times when I thought he was a fierce teacher when he throw someone's pencil case out the door when he was pissed off (it was during our orientation. We sort of have a ceremony before class officially starts). I was hoping we didn't get him as our form teacher, cause usually the teacher they we met during orientation differ from the ones we actually get when school started. Obviously he was one of the unique ones that stayed. I could remember him lecturing the guys in our class to be quiet. I remember him slowly changing my first impression of him. From the crazy fierce teacher, he became a kind-hearted, caring, loving teacher. I even remember him giving us tons of reading material and expected us to find each and every word that we didn't understand and search for it in the dictionary, he will test us after school reopens. We had to write it all out as well. It was during the June Holidays. I remember the last day of holiday, my friend and I chiong and hoped that he didn't test us. In the end he didn't test us all. Okay fine, he tested us a little only. But you know what, we all love him the same.

I hope he's alright up there, and I miss him so.