By Magdalene Tan
Date: 5 October 2000
Mui Yee's Story
They have met so long ago,. Yet now, both of them were torn apart. The death of him have causec much devastation. Remember titanic? Like hopes for a new all broken on the strange ocean floor, she had to pick her own pieces of life and try to patch them up again, through she was never able to.Her children often asked “Where and who is Daddy?” She never answered them. She knew that whenever she tell the story of their father to them, her tears would fall like the rain. She would only have the memories of her dearest husband.
In Febuary 1942, rumours of Japanese coming to attack Singapore a British Colony was flying high. Mui Yee, a young and innocent girl of 18 walked into her family’s fruits plantation to harvest the ripened fruits. As she walked towards the fallen papayas, she felt an arm grabbing her from behind. She turned around, she saw a man in Japanese military uniform. She wanted to scream, however, her voice was choked up. The man quieted Mui Yee down and spoke. To Mui Yee’s surprise, he spoke in fluent Mandrin. He said “Hello, my name is Tetsuya.” Mui Yee and Tetsuya then started to chat. They talked about everything, from their favourite food to how their families are run. For the next few days, Mui Yee smuggled food for Tetsuya from her home. They talked while he had his meal.
The news came after 5 days through the radio. The family was in shock as they listend to the news all they heard was “After three days of fighting, the British have surrendered to the Japanese…” Life was hard for the many people living in Singapore especially the Chinese. Mui Yee, related to Tetsuya, a high rankling Japanese officer was given privileges. Her family need not worry about food and the other basic nesscessities, all have been provided by Tetsuya.
Mui Yee started to spend all her waking hours with Tetsuya. They enjoyed each other’s company. Whenever Tetsuya had time off, they would either go cycling, racing down the lonely roads or even go to the beautiful beach to enjoy the beautiful view of the sunrise and the sunset. Whenever Tetsuya was on duty, Mui Yee was always not far from him. They were madly in love. One peaceful night, Tetsuya brougt Mui Yee to the plantation they first met. Tetsuya held Mui Yee’s right hand and then knelt. He reached into his pocket with his left hand and took out a box. Opening it carefullyto reveal the ring inside it, he said “Marry me…”
Mui Yee was then married to Tetsuya on 19th Febuary 1943. Mui Yee became his devoted wife and was by his side whenever he needed her. Tetsuya was a very understanding and caring husband and was ever-ready to comfort her whenever her relatives and friends talking behind her back and said she is siding her traitor for marrying a Japanese man. They enjoyed 2 years and 6 months of happy marital life. They never had any children during that time.
In 1945, the Japanese surrendered. Tetsuya became very depressed. The couple knew that he had to commit hari-kiri which is actually commiting suicide. Both of them became very depressed. Mui Yee tried to comfort him. However whenever she mentioned the process, she would weep and breakdown into tears, and it was Tetsuya who comfort her in the end. Tetsuya cannot bear to part his dearest wife and companion. Sitting alone in his office holding a samurai sword, he thought about Mui Yee’s future. He could not bear leave his wife. He broke down and cried like an infant. All of a sudden, he stopped crying and braced himself, holding the sumarai sword struck the sword into his adomen and died a painful death.
Mui Yee was found with to be child shortly after Tetsuya’s death. She told herself that since this child was given by Tetsuya, she will raise them properly and give them the best education. She was very upset by the loss of her dearest husband. Throughout the 9 months when she carried Tetsuya’s child in her womb, there were many times when she wanted to end her life. Yet, she did not, because she told herself that the child was innocent, and that the child was Tetsuya’s. Finally as the labour pains came, she bore with the pains stoically, even though she had nobody to be beside her at this painful period of time. Mui Yee theen gave birth to a set of twins and named them Tetsuko and Tetsuyi, who became filial daughters.
Mui Yee had to raise two young children single handedly. She never told them anything about Tetsuya even whenever they asked about their father. Mui Yee had to work from morning to night as a seamstress to support the family and the two growing girls’ education. Fortunately, the two girls have not dissapointed their mother. Tetsuko became a sucessful doctor and Tetsuyi became a lawyer and have even set up her own law firm. Mui Yee knew that she had done a good job with her daughters. She knew that her hard work have paid off. Yet, on those lonely nights when the stars have went into hiding behind the dark clouds, Mui Yee would sit beside the window staring at her wedding photograph thinking about Tetsuya.
In December 1997, Mui Yee was diagnosed with to be the advanced stage of heart failure and had only months left to live. On her death bed, Mui Yee summoned her two daughters and finally poured out about their father, at that time, Tetsuko and Tetsuyoi have already have their own famalies. “ Tetsuko, Tetsuyi, let me tell you about your father,” she said with her weak voice, her daughters listened eagerly. “ Your father was a good husband and I am sure he’ll he a good father,” she coughed and took a breath. “He was a Japanese military officer during the second world war, he commited hari-kiri and died,” tears then dropped from her eyes. “Now girls,” she said. “ I am going to see your father soon, be good and I’ll tell your father what great duughters he have…” her breath became light and then was not able to speak anymore, she closed her eyes and left to see Tetsuya peacefully.
Somewhere out there, you might see a couple sitting quietly together, one in Japanese military uniform, the other a youthful chinese woman…
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