Bejewelled

There is only one day I remember clearly when I was in SIS. Down to every detail. It was the last day I spent in SIS.

I remember we thought we had to go directly to the gym for last day of assembly but turned out we could spend some time in the classroom first. I went to the General Office first for the last duty. I was raising the school flag. I remember watching is slowly going up above me with the still under renovation secondary school in the background. I was crying so badly inside. It was probably the last time in my whole life that I would raise the flag. But I was so proud that I could actually do it. I was proud of myself for being able to raise the school flag. Then at the same time, I sang the school song loudly, louder than I have ever had. Then after the flag raising, Mr. Grey gave us small cards and said, "Great job this year, everyone!" I was so amazed when he said that. Had I been really doing all this ever since last year? Wow.

Then I raced up to the classroom but not too quickly so I wouldn't forget how I ran up the stairs, how the stairs looked like and the view all around. When I got to the P6A classroom, I wanted to break down. Everyone was just smiling and hugging everyone. Then the yearbook signing began. I got nearly everyone's signature. I hugged nearly everyone. I wanted to cry, partly because I was so sad but mostly because I was so overjoyed that I was so lucky to be able to spend 8 years with most of them. Then we presented our board to Ms. Yeong! :) I can still remember her facial expression. Then I went to the 6L classroom, where I had spent a whole year learning Math. I really wanted Laurence to sign my yearbook because he has also been in SIS for 8 whole years like me and he was also leaving that year.

Then I went down to the gym for the last time. Thank you presentations for the teachers. The S3C presented the prize to Mr. Grey and I saw Ms. Yeong go up on stage and got her prize. Then I couldn't hold it back anymore, I just let the tears fall. I didn't care that I was actually crying in front of the whole SIS. I only cared about my memories at SIS were, in a way, over.

Then the last bell rang and I made my way to the car park for the last time. I was officially leaving SIS. I saw all the P6-ers all in the middle of the car park. I hugged each and everyone of them. Tears were streaming down my cheeks even more now. Then we finally left. I sit with Yatlai and Teri on the bus but that day, there was only Yatlai. I calculated the number of minutes we spent on the bus together.

8000 minutes. Who could do that? 8000. Then the idiot bus mother thought it was no big deal. Stupid. How could anyone put down 8000 minutes of memories? In the future, there was going to be no more 8000 minutes. No more. Over.

Then we reached our stop. I remember I was leaving the bus stop when Yatlai shouted, "Bye, Rachel!" I turned and waved. Then I came home, crashed onto my couch and just let everything out. I turned on my MacBook and I saw 6A staring back at me on my desktop. And a fresh wave of tears blurred my vision again.

And that night, I cried again. I found an old friend, but the same time, I had said good-bye to so many others. I stuck photos of SIS friends beside my bed that night and cried myself to sleep. The last thing I saw was Jie Qi, Edwin, Tony, Yatlai, Teri, Yu Jing, Matthew, Zachary, Nathan, Sasha, Amelia...all of them smiling down at me, watching over me.