Ivy’s Farewell @ K Box Karaoke

Kids, this is the funny story of how I met Ivy.

We were batch mates, meaning we started work on the same day which was the first day of a week-long training session. On said day, we both snuck out to the sandwich shop during break time to grab some grub. When I saw the pretty local Chinese girl in line, I recognized her from class and did the polite thing and struck her up in conversation. I forgot what I said exactly, it was probably something brilliant like, “So… what did you order?” coz I’m a conversational pro like that.

I forgot what she said in return, but we batted back pleasantries until our orders were furnished and we headed back to our training room. On the way there, we ran into my friend Tyne, who also works in the same office. When Tyne and I exchanged greetings in Tagalog, the Philippine national language, Ivy’s mouth dropped open and she gasped, “Bakit hindi mo sinabi na pinoy ka? Pinahirapan mo pa ako mag-ingles!” (Why didn’t you tell me you were a Filipino? You gave me a hard time speaking English.)

My mouth dropped open as well as I responded, “Dapat yan din tanungin ko sayo!” (I should ask you the same thing!)

While I had thought she was a local, she had thought I was Malaysian. We didn’t realize that we were both Filipinos. LOL.

Well that beginning was over 3 years ago, and the end was last Monday, Ivy’s last day in the office.

We decided to hang out with her one last time before she left to be with her husband in Canada. We picked Sunday as the day to ride bikes through Pasir Ris park like we used to, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate, so plan B was to book a room in K Box karaoke. I chose the dinner package, S$27++ per head which started at 6pm and came with free dinner + drink for 4 hours of singing.

This wasn’t our first time here, actually, last time we went there, I accidentally locked myself out at the fire escape.

They had a menu of 6 to choose from:

I chose the scallop fish chicken because I like a little of everything, and it was all delicious save for the broccoli. I love broccoli, it’s my favorite vegetable, but I realized that I don’t like the way it tastes when it doesn’t have any seasoning. It’s like, I dunno… grass? I voiced out this observation to Mildred, who agreed. 3 days later we would both remember having made this observation but not when it happened and freak out about getting older and losing brain cells.

K Box has a wide range of songs so Ivy was able to choose all the songs from her favorite One Republic, while I stuck to the songs from the boy and girl bands of my youth – Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Spice Girls, and Maya somehow found Tagalog songs. When someone chose some Maroon 5 songs, I found myself cheerfully saying “Hello!!!” to Adam Levine on the screen. Ok seriously, what is wrong with me?

After 4 hours of singing and drinking (honey lemon for our throats!) and eating, we had to leave. I handed Ivy a present and told her to open it up quick. When she did, I said, “Tada!!! I have the exact same one!! So you can remember me whenever you use it.” Then we had a picture with our matching scarves.

The of course a group picture was in order, and Ivy, whose role it has always been to “ambush” strangers to take our picture, did so one last time.

The next day at work, it was Ivy’s turn to come around and give me my present with a note.

I was seriously craving chocolates just 2 minutes before she showed up. What perfect timing! Her note kind of squeezed my heart, and I will miss her, but I’m happy for her, really. I hope life treats her well over there!

Some Singaporeanovela moments with Ivy:

• Sentosa island tour
• Biking in the rain
• Ikea chicken wings and other lovely things
• Noche buena (a Christmas away from home special)
• Alive Gallery: where paintings come alive
• One fine Saturday in Orchard
• Punggol Park potluck picnic

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