"The Proposal" - A 'Musical' Production By AJCAACO

As the pianist hit the keys, a beautiful melody filled the stage...

He walked towards her singing Richard Marx's "Now and Forever"...

"Will you marry me" he said...

After a few seconds, she nodded as she wiped away her tears...

The crowd cheered as they hugged each other...

So what does this 'fairy tale' has to do with AJCAACO? What does this 'fairy tale' has to do with a concert rehearsal? First, this is NOT a fairy tale. Second, this scene just happened last Saturday between two former AJCO members (current AJCAACO members).

Starring:

Zhiliang - The Man
Xiuhua - The Woman
Kah Yong - Mr Lobang King/The Pianist
Kah Yong's Mummy - The Tai Tai
Miss Siau - The Actress
Jenny - The Florist
Jenny's Son - The Flower Kid
Lijia - The Military Strategist
Serene - The Ghost (Featured only in the video)

PART I - THE PLAN

The Man had it planned months ago when he knew he is going to get his first pay in NIE around July. The Man waited and waited until he got his first pay. The Man felt that the most meaningful way of using his first pay is to buy a proposal ring for The Woman.

With a 'certified' Military Strategist, The Man went searching for the ideal diamond ring... Went to Lee Hwa, Aspial and Tiffany & Co.

One particular salesgirl said to my strategist, "Why not you try it on? Eventually, you will be the one wearing it".

"No! No! No!... I m just giving him some ideas about rings"... My Strategist exclaimed.

"Oh... Sorry. Then I guess you must be his Military Strategist (军师)" The salesgirl replied with a smile.



PART II - THE RING

On the 5th of August, The Man got help from Mr Lobang King who offered to bring him to a jeweler to buy the ring right after a CO practice.

The Woman was disappointed as The Man was supposed to have a date with her but instead, The Man went out with Mr Lobang King to get the best diamond lobang.


In the jeweler's shop sat The Tai Tai - Mr Lobang King's mummy. The Tai Tai was wearing a TWO carat diamond ring (worth more than $50k). The Tai Tai simply said a few words to the jeweler and tata... The jeweler gave him a special price for a very good diamond ring.

Gosh! It is more than $1k cheaper than the market rate.

The Man paid and left happily despite using up more than half of this first pay.



PART III - D(IARRHEA)-DAY

The clock struck 12pm. The Man was still awake. Nervous. Excited. He went online to find people to chat with. As usual, his nervousness resulted in having diarrhea at 3am in the morning. The Man forced himself to bed.

When The Man woke up at 7am, he had diarrhea twice as he was getting more and more nervous. Gosh!!! As The Woman was sick, The Man went over to her house to carry her Zhongruan. The moment he saw her, his stomach got 'naughty' again. The Man went to the toilet for the third time of the morning.

The Man made plans with The Pianist the night before. When he was in AJC, he and the pianist went to the auditorium stage to try out the song he was planning to sing for her. He also went to find The Actress, The Florist and The Flower Kid to plan out The Proposal.



PART IV - THE PROPOSAL

《葡萄熟了》 just ended. It was time to propose. His hands got sweaty.

The Man got his mic ready. The Actress called The Woman and pretended to tell her that some stage adjustment needs to be done. As they were talking, The Florist and The Flower Boy walked up the stage and gave a bouquet of 12 roses to her. The Pianist was playing 《追》 on the piano at the same time. She was stunned. She was surprised. She was clueless.

The Pianist changed to play Richard Marx's "Now and Forever". The Man walked out from the backstage towards her and started singing...

"Whenever I'm weary... from the battles that is raging in my head... You make sense of madness... When my sanity hangs by a thread... I lost my way but still you seem to understand... Now and forever... I will be your man... Sometimes I just hold you... To caught up in me to see... I'm holding a fortune... that heaven has given to me... I try to show you each and every way I can... Now and forever... I will be your man......"


The Woman started crying as The Man continued to sing... She was shocked yet touched and happy...


Finally, The Man proposed... "Thank you for all the things you have done for me in the past few years... So right here... In front of everyone, I will like to propose to you... (Pause) Will you marry me?"

The Woman smiled to The Man sweetly. Still wiping away her tears, she nodded. The Man took out the diamond ring and put it into the fourth finger of her hand.

The crowd cheered as The Man thanked The Pianist/Mr Lobang King, The Florist, The Flower Boy and the Supporters. The Man kissed and hugged The Woman and they will live happily ever after.

Thank you everyone for all the support you gave me during my proposal to Xiuhua. We will never forget this memorable event and what all of you have done for us. Without you people, the proposal will never be so successful.


**AJCAACO ~ where I have met my best friends and my wife**
~ Ah Liang - The Man ~