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I didn’t like Patrick Verona when I set my eyes on him. He’s just a pretty boy playing a toughie, I thought to myself.

But when he turned up the mic volume of the mixer and he started singing, “You’re just too good to be true, Can’t take my eyes off of you…” while walking down the bleacher steps, my heart stopped. It did backflips in my chest when the band struck the tune and Patrick started running and strutting to avoid the guards. All this to get Kat Stratford to notice him.

For those in the know, that scene happened in the movie, 10 Things I Hate About You. It was the first time that I laid my eyes on Heath Ledger and it was that scene that made me crush on him a little bit.

I never saw any of Heath’s other films in full after that movie (Not even Brokeback Mountain) but I was always curious to see him on screen. He has a smile that simply opens up his face and invites you to smile with him. (Erratum: I did watch Casanova. Twice in succession!)

The whole day yesterday, I was inundated with reports and stories about him because of his untimely death. I didn’t think it would affect me much but when I saw the statement given by his dad, mum and sister, I got teary-eyed.

He may be Ennis to a lot of people but he’ll always be Patrick Verona to me.

So long my Patrick Verona. May eternal light shine upon you.

Heath Ledger, 4 April 1979 - 22 January 2008