FOR two years, he kept a secret from his mother.

Mr Lee Jit Loong, 25, did not tell her that he had taken motorcycle lessons and had passed his riding test.

He also kept it from her when he bought a motorbike.

On Sunday, the housewife found out his secret in the worst possible way - her son had been killed after his bike collided with a bus.

The second-year Singapore Polytechnic student had been working part-time as a pizza delivery man for more than a year.

He was on his way to deliver pizzas when his bike collided with an SMRT bus at the junction of Upper Thomson Road and Sin Ming Avenue at about 6.45pm on Sunday.

He was flung off his bike and hit the windscreen of the bus, causing it to shatter. Mr Lee landed about 4m away.

His father, Mr Lee Loh Teng, 60, told The New Paper that he had a close relationship with his younger son and there were no secrets between them.

Mr Lee, who is self-employed, said: "I can still remember vividly the day he got his motorbike licence about two years ago.

"He called me immediately to tell me the good news. From his tone, I could tell that he was very happy and excited."

Not telling But both father and son decided to keep the news to themselves.

Mr Lee added: "I didn't want my wife to worry and he didn't want his mum to worry.

"We didn't set out to hide it from her (his wife). It was just something we both did without saying it out loud.

"If my wife knew about him riding a bike, she would nag him."

Mr Lee requested that we not speak to his wife, as she was still grieving.

He said that his wife knew their son was working part-time but she was not aware that the job required him to ride a motorbike.

"She has been crying since the accident and it will take some time before she can fully accept his death," Mr Lee said.

He nicknamed his son Mr Smiley because of his happy-go-lucky nature.

Mr Lee also said his son was independent. He had worked part-time during his school holidays and saved the money so that he could buy his own bike.

He said: "Although we were able to support him through his studies, he insisted on paying his school fees. He didn't want to burden us.

"He told me that he wanted to work part-time so that he could save up and start a business after he graduates next year."

But the loving father was not without worry.

Every day without fail, Mr Lee would tell his son to be careful on the roads.

Whenever he came across newspaper reports on fatal accidents involving motorbikes, he would make it a point to show them to his son and remind him to ride carefully.

His son would then smile and assure him that he would.

Mr Lee said: "I take taxis and I know how dangerous it is for a motorcyclist on the roads.

"Whenever a taxi I'm in gets too close to a bike, I will tell the driver to watch out for the rider."

Serious head injuries

Mr Lee's worst fears came true when he received a call on Sunday night informing him that his son had been taken unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He rushed to the hospital with his wife and elder son, 30.

But the younger Mr Lee died from serious head injuries at 8.45pm.

The bus driver, in his 50s, told Lianhe Zaobao at the scene that Mr Lee was breathing very heavily and also bleeding profusely from his head.

A police spokesman said the bus driver is helping with investigations.

Mr Lee said that his son was very filial and often treated the family to meals.

"After he entered polytechnic, he told me to stop giving him an allowance and that he was able to support himself through school," he said.

"My friends always told me that they were envious of me because I have two very sensible and good sons.

"But now one of them is gone forever."

His son will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium today.

Witnesses to the accident can call the traffic police at 1800-5471818.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Dec 16, 2008.