my kong kong

Reading a blog of my friends made me thinking about my kong.

The story that I heard from my popo about how my kong made her fall in love with him. That made me love my kong even more for he is like the most romantic person I've ever seen.

About 50 years ago I suppose, my popo went and watch chinese opera in a nearby temple. When the show has finish, it rained all of a sudden. My popo was trapped in the temple, my kong came running to my popo and giving her the umbrella he was holding and ran off under the rain.

I lived with my grandparents under the same roof until I was about 8. Then, we transferred to KL. I would go back to Kuantan every school holiday to stay with them, that means I'm with them about 3 months a year.

My kong used to work in a airport. Then, he became a fishmonger.
He paid quite alot of money to buy a piano for me and my sis, which I only got to know this year. But the piano is already sold to someone else. He'd always buy food for me, whether it's siu mai, cha siu pao, rojak, ais kacang or anything. He would ride all the way to the market to buy me those.

My kong kong was very strong, he still went out to the sea and to catch fishes with his Malay friends even until he was 68 years old.

He did have some health problem, so, he came to KL and lived with my aunty.
On 11th March 2004, my kong's 68 birthday, my family receive a bad news, that my kong is having lung cancer.

For 1 year and 2 months, I saw my kong kong suffer so much under chemo and radiotherapy. I saw his hair fall, saw him becoming so weak. At that time, I saw so many family members broke down. That affected me so much.

My kong died on a beautiful day. 05-05-05.

A week before, he was almost like a five year old child. Giving away all his money to me & my cousins. He said he'd buy an elephant for me.

The day before he was sent to the hospital. He kept asking my popo : " Where is my wife?". and he told her that he saw his mother and two white lanterns following him.

On 08-05-05, my 16th birthday, my kong kong had really left us.

It is until now, that whenever I think of him, tears will eventually roll down.

I used to question why he had to leave us? Why he had to die? He had never ever went overseas before. He haven't even had the chance to rest.

In May 2006,

I am happy,
that my kong left us,
if he would still be here,

he would be suffering so much.

My kong kong has moved on.
He will remain
in my heart forever.
For he is my grandpa
that I love so much.