The Retainee Love Story
By: Yeo WenBin(32/09)
There is a certain story passed down through gossips and tales throughout Junior Colleges in Singapore. No
one knew where they came from, what JC, which batch, not even their real names. It was always passed from
the mouth of retainees to their class, and then that class's retainee would tell this tale, and the trend goes on.
The variations have been plenty from one junior college to another, but one thing is for certain, the storyteller would sigh, looked at the ceiling, then stare deep into the fascinated juniors' eyes, before starting,
"Wong Hui Lin from class 29! Stop talking!"
"Wha... What, what's happening?"
"How dare you still ask me what's happening! Stand up! What did Hong Yi tell you that is so interesting?"
"Noth...nothing, Mrs Jin."
"So explain to me why you two are giggling there happily when I'm conducting a lecture?"
"Wooo....."
"The rest of 29! Stop making fun of them! I'm being serious here! Don't you all know how important this
lecture is? It is coming out for your End-Of-Years!"
"What isn't?"
"Still laughing! You two, see me after lecture!"
"Hey Hui Lin, you think we should actually start listening to what Mrs. Jin is saying? She scolded us pretty
hard back there."
"But she's senile! I mean, look at how old she is. She'll probably forget everything by the end of the day. And
anyway that scolding she gave us after lecture was nothing compared to what Mr. Gate did."
"Oh. That. He went practically berserk. Speaking of which, why did you even talk back to him? You know
that's just going to make matters worse, right?
"It wasn't my fault! He kept asking us to stop 'holding hands under the table' or he'll send us to the school
counsellor!"
"Right, that was his fault. We were just discussing the questions! And much less we are not even together."
"Exactly!"
"But couldn't you just let him scold?"
"But.. but.."
"Teachers are always right, don't you remember? Basic rule of education."
"Oh right. I kind of forgot it back there."
"It's ok. We didn't get punished too badly anyway."
"Just that we can't sit next to each other anymore."
"Yea. What a pointless form of punishment. Your good friend's coming, I better not intrude, see you in
Maths class! Bye!"
"Wai..."
"The fact, is that you like her."
"I do not!"
"Still denying, I'm disappointed in you Hong Yi. Tsk."
"Stop tsk-ing me! What about you and Angela? Last I heard, Both of you went for lunch together."
"That's cause we're BEST friends. I'm sure I can't say the same about you. Holding hands under the table?
Giggling during lecture? Come on, admit it and stop changing the topic."
"Why can't me and Hui Lin be best friends too?"
"That's becauseeee, you are blushing like a beetroot already!"
"Hey, stop, stop taking pictures! I am not blushing!"
"Hong Yi and Hui Lin sitting under a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
"Stop, come back here!"
"Hui Lin, this result is very depressing. Have you studied?"
"I did! I have been studying for the past..."
"Night?"
"Yes. I'm sorry it's just that..."
"You have to work a lot harder than you if you want to promote, Hui Lin."
"Yes, Mrs Huang."
"Go back to your seat, and if you are going to keep talking to Hong Yi, at least learn something from him. He
is the rare few who passed this test."
"See? You should learn from me!"
"Fine. But you never teach me anything."
"Who says? I always want to teach you but you will drag me to have lunch with you instead!"
"But that's because I was hungry!"
"And I'm sure you are hungry every-time I want to teach you maths."
"Maths makes me hungry!"
"Crazy girl."
"What crazy girl! Hmph."
"Fine fine, I'm sorry. I was just kidding!"
"Not forgiven."
"Pleaseeeee?"
"Fine fine."
"Thanks! Shall make it up to you. How about dinner?"
"Sure!"
"You know, Johnny and Angela are getting awfully close, what do you think their status are?"
"He tells me they're just best friends, I don't believe it though."
"Yea, me too. I mean, the practically go to lunch and dinner together after school every day, even if Johnny
doesn't like Angela, he's giving her the wrong idea."
"That's what I think too! If one day Angela does confess to him, he better accept, or else he's going to have a
'jerk' label on him for his junior college life, and that will really destroy all his chances at finding a girlfriend
in Junior College."
"Don't worry, from the looks of it, Johnny likes her too. He's just too shy to admit it."
"You think so?"
"Definitely. If it isn't so, why do you think he gets so close to her every-time they walk side by side?"
what if one day, I told you that I loved you so
"That's true. Hey where do you want to sit?"
Would you say yes, oh
"Anywhere is ok. As long as I get my dinner!"
Be my gold
"Here you are. Greedy!"
What if one day, you told me you loved me too
"Who are you calling greedy! You ordered more food than me!"
I'll say yes, I'll be love's fool
"So? You are the one who didn't mind sitting anywhere as long as you could have dinner!"
Yes, I'll do
"Fine! You horrible boy!"
'Cause if one day, the world crashed down
"Ok ok. I'm just joking. Chill, chill."
Our love would always be found
"Anyway why do you eat so much? Hungry?"
In our hearts
"Nope. Just felt like having a large dinner. What's with the love music, is it valentine's day already?"
We'll stay together, forever more.
"I think the love season is coming."
Nothing will ever break us apart
"Is it? I didn't know there's a season for love."
Apart from you
"There is. And only girls can feel it. Now hurry up and finish, my mom's going to kill me for staying out so
late again."
So please don't, oh don't break my heart
"Ok. ok, I'm done. Let's go."
I love you
"So you're Hui Lin."
"Yes, Mr. Tan."
"Your results haven’t been satisfactory."
"I-I'm so sorry, Mr.Tan. I will work harder if you let me promote. Please."
"Now now Hui Lin, calm down, come, take a seat."
"Mr Tan, I know my end-of-year has not been good. But I will work harder. I Promise!"
"I want you to think, Hui Lin. Studies are going to pile up next year. You will learn new content right from
the start. There is little revision of last year topics, much less for you to learn content you didn't learn this
year."
"B-but..."
"I know of a lot of students who promoted but did not make it after A-levels."
"So.. you think I should retain?"
"I'm not saying anything. But the choice is ultimately up to you. You are the rare few who are stuck in the
middle. Your results are good enough to be promoted, but it's borderline, so you have to choose whether you
do want to go up."
"I-I'll think about it."
"And h-he asked me to think about whether I wanted to retain!"
"I'm so sorry, Hui Lin. So what is your decision?"
"I-I don't know! I didn't, didn't know he would give me a choice!"
"It's a good thing, so why are you crying?"
"I-I'm sorry, it's just that. I'm stuck!"
"I always thought you wanted to promote, so you should just tell him that."
"B-but, I-I'm scared that I can't make it next year!"
"Then you should retain. I personally think it's the best for you."
"B-but. I want to promote because...because.."
"Because what?"
"I like you."
"Huh?"
"I like you."
"Oh. OH. Er. I actually.. I like you too."
"Really?"
"Yes. But if you retain I'm afraid going into a relationship is pointless."
"B-but, but why!"
"Our cohort's breaks are going to be different, we are going to be studying different topics, and you will meet
new people. I-I just can't think we can be together if you retain."
"W-What, What if I choose to promote!"
"Then, why not! It's very very heartbreaking to tell you this. But I have to be the sensible one now. The
relationship will not work out if you choose to retain."
"S-so, what should I do? I-I don't know! I want to be with you! I don't want to retain! But I don't think I can
make it next year! I-I...."
"It's your choice, Hui Lin. I can't make this choice for you."
"I-I don't know.. I don't know.. I r-really don't... I-I don't want to c-choose... I like y-you.. I do..."
"And for this maths question! Let's get someone to answer! Someone like...."
"Wong Hui Lin from class 31! What's the answer?"
And with this, the story ends. Some say she deserved it, and some took in the severity of studies. More
importantly, the tale passes on through the cohorts, from the old to the young, through word of mouth, to
spread the sad tale of the girl who loved.