How ironic it is!! I been trying to tell myself to write and update my blog of how busy and tired am I for the past few days and I didnt. Untill today I got a shocking news from my importance friend/love/special person, Ari.
Last night, I text him an early birthday wishes and I really missed him and love him. This morning, he replied to me how glad he is and received my message. We really missed each other as we seldom catch up and he travel around in europe and I lived in asian. Till he reply me he is tearing and tell me the fact that he is battling with cancer! Yes, the same illness that took my granny away from me. Once I received that message, instantly my eyes turn red and tears flooded. I know is not a death sentence for him, but I dont like it at all. Why people who are so important and make an impact in my life got this illness. Why cant they free from such terrible illness. I reply what his condition and told him dont leave me without saying goodbye to me as he really means alot. He is someone really very special to me that I cant explained why. You can imagine how sad and still crying while writing this blog.
I pray he win the battle or god please allow us to meet up and let me say goodbye to him. He told me not to worry and go on live my own life... never look back and live for yourself... I start to refreshed the time we met..
It was June 2008, I was having a drinking night with friend, Sean from US (Max's boyfriend) at Backstage. I was kind of drunk and told Sean, lets go to Tantric. I wanna hook up with a guy. The moment I step into Tantric at the indoor entrance. I saw a white guy wearing casual with his glass of drink. We both notice each other eye to eye, and I went order my drink and go over to greet him. We had a small chat and knew that he not with anyone and was here just to chill out. I told him I came over with a friend chilled out as well. The next moment, he ask me wanna go over to his hotel. I told him alright and I dumped Sean in the bar who is busy with his boys (I supposed.. ). He brought me to his hotel at St Regis, that time St Regis was newly opened and is my 1st time entered to this hotel. We went to the bar for red wine, as he wanted it. At the bar, we started to talk more personal stuff and I more awake from the drinking I had at the pubs. He told me his real identity which is kind of confidential and high profile. Therefore, he just wanted me to call him Ari. From there on, we went up to his room. The room was beautiful as it is a suite room and we had our 1st night. We are joy, happy and fun with each other.
What special about him that night is he ask me what I dream or wanted to be when I was young? I went blanked as no one ever ask me this question before, not even in my school or parents. I told him I didnt thought of that and no one ever ask me and continue saying, all my life I just wanted to dream to be a simple man with simple life (having a decent career, finance and a lovely partner to spend my whole life). After which, we shared our common artist, Westlife, he like them too and we played their Love Album. I listen and went on bed while he still busy with his work and email. The next morning, I woke up and left the room. He send me out of the room and exchange numbers.
It was then Feb 2009, I got a surprise message from him when I just finished visited my granny at the hospital. He text me how am I doing and I reply to him what had happened presently. He told me he coming to Singapore again around June and I told him hopefully, we can still meet up before I flew to UK for my summer study. During Feb till June 2009, beside study hard, I struggling with my family affairs. My granny was not well though she was discharged from the hospital as she insist of not going operation to cut out the lump stone. Further to that, she had an aguement with my uncle (her biological son) and therefore she lived with my family for few weeks. It was May I remember, as I was having my school holiday and every afternoon, I make porridge lunch for her. That is the period where I have a strong bond with her. However, I know no matter how caring am I, what she want is my uncle love.
One particular day, she came over to my room and handed me 1000 dollars note, told me to took it and spent in UK. I told her no need I have enough, she told me she dont have much years left so please take it. I knee down to her and told her to take back and dont talk that way, but she insisted. I took it and give it to my mum that night. I told mum to return back to my granny. Only very few friends knew the bout what's happening to my family (granny).
For my UK trip, I was excited as I met an online UK friend who agree to travel with me around the island. Untill 2 days before I fly over there, he told me he got swine flu, which earlier on I told him to see a doctor and give me the details of the plan trip. He told me not to worry and he be fine just a normal flu. And that day he just told me sorry he cant meet me thats all and say I am adult and not a kid so no need anyone to guide. I was angry and upset, not because he got swine flu. Is because he didnt had any plan in the 1st place, and therefore he not able to give me guide and details of where to go and visit. My plan was ruined, I had to planned my UK trip travel alone, and google the places I wanted to go in 2 days before I fly over there and may have some budget constraint.
It was the same day after I planned and booked my trip and hotels, Ari came over Singapore visit and we had dinner together at Shangri-la hotel. He ask me how is my granny and me doing and am I excited for my 1st europe trip. As usual, I told him what happened and what did my online UK friend done. He told me forget bout it and move on, we spend a night together at his room. The next day morning, he give me 500 euro dollars and say is a gift from him welcome me to Europe. (Honestly, I shouldnt take but I was really not sure if the expenses are within my budget) I took it and thanks him. Later on, he ask me what flight am I taking? I told him BA economy class, and he say WHAT!! He told me cancel the flight and ask me go book SIA business class. I told nope and I had no such amount of money to re- purchase and even purchasing a business class. He on his laptop and ask me cancel my flight infron of him and he went on to book SIA business class tickets but was full so ended he booked a BA business class flight ticket for me. I was shocked and fear as well. I thank him alot and beside thank him I not sure what else I can do to repay him. He just told me he want to make me happy and see me happy thats all.
That night when I checked in, I was having fear as I actually not quite trust him and thought it be a scam. As I only meet him twice in person, and he willing to pay and send me this big gift. Untill, I really got to checked in everything, I just realised there's such a great and nice man exist in this world. I share this new friend who I put him in my heart to my other 2 VIP friend. They told me be nice to him and enjoyed the trip. That day, I reply to Ari, how greatful am I and I told him, he has been someone who is very important to me now and I not sure how to repay him of what he had done for me. I told him, he can call me to visit him at anytime within my limits and time I will just go without given any thought because I really owe him alot. And we meet up again after I finished my UK summer course and before flying back to Singapore. He told me to extend another 2 days in UK and he book a nice 5 stars hotel "The Ritz" and we catch up and spend 2 nights over there before I fly back to Singapore.
From Sept 2009 till Feb 2010, in between we did send email and sms greeting each other and how am I coping with my study and family. I told him I striking for 1st Class and worried not able to achieve it. He told me if I got 1st Class Hons, he gonna bring me to Sweden and spend a few days with him. I was delighted and also been motivated (or greed of the present or whatever you call, ultimately, he just want me to be good and achieve what I want) to work hard. But same times, my family problems went worst. My mum caught my dad having affair outside, my brother wedding and his wife problems against my mum planning for the wedding, my family matters was in chaos. Again, only those who are really close to me, will knew what exactly dramatic family I had and went thru.
And I got my 1st Class Hons, Ari did book a flight for me to Sweden and it was a SIA business Class seat and came back in SIA 1st Class seat. However, I was not quiet enjoying for my Sweden trip and Ari know so. He told me to let go and nothing much I can do for my parents affair, and he want to see a happy Yann and not a sad Yann. I told him I will try and give a smile. We came back together to Singapore and I stay a few days with him at Sentosa Resort Hotel. I even introduce Jj to him as both are equally important persons in my life. Ari told me that he think Jj still have love with me, as Jj came all the way from his hotel to Sentosa resort just to see me. , Ari dont think if others normal friend or good friend would had done that except people who really love me. Thats the last time I saw Ari in July 2010. The rest of the year and till now, I only see him in youtube or magazine of him been interview as the top CEO of the year or his company AGM conference video.
My relationship with Ari, is not those love relationship. Is something equivalent to that and is deeper than friendship and thicker than family blood, which I would say so. I know people out there may say I am a money boy by accepting Ari gift to me inexchange to had my acompany. I dont care how people look at it now after been thru the learning curve stage. I learn alot things from Ari and Ari himself, also taught me alot of like life, career, family, love and man. I did also mention him during my job interview, when been question who you admired to be? I say a friend of mine (Ari) who is a successful CEO. The job interviewer ask me why? I told them I admired his status and what he having, and did told Ari before that one day I want him to look at my back instead of me looking at his back. He laughed at it... but now I dont know I able to do that within the time... I pray for him to get well soon or at least let me get to see him and say thanks and see each other in next life cycle. As I need to repay him what he had done and teach me.
