Strings of Memory

Chapter 1

Pagkaupo ko ay kaagad akong yumuko dahil sa nararamdamang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko, pati na rin ng mga mata ko.

It's so embarrassing that I couldn't even answer a simple question. I feel so embarrassed that I'm the only one who couldn't say who I want to be. All of my classmates managed to give their own answers, no matter how simple or ridiculous they sounded. They still had an answer, unlike me who had none.

I held back the tears that were starting to form and took several deep breaths to calm myself, looking down at my small, shaking hands.

Once our teacher finished questioning everyone, she returned to the front of the class. "It's nice to hear everyone's dreams. I hope all of you will work hard to achieve them. I know you can do it. And for those who aren't sure yet, don't worry. You'll figure it out as you grow. That's all for today, class. Let's all meet again tomorrow." Then she left the room.

Kaagad na nagsitayuan ang mga kaklase ko, kaya inayos ko na din ang mga gamit ko. I knew I was the one she was referring to in her speech earlier. Ako lang naman ang walang sinabi na pangarap sa kanya. I knew she was just trying to make me feel better, but it didn't help. I still felt embarrassed, and I went home feeling down.

"What's wrong, Wyn?" I looked up and saw my mother, worry etched on her face as she sat beside me.

I didn't answer and went back to looking at the TV screen in front of me. I didn't feel like talking. I didn't want to remember what happened earlier. Kahit walang sinabi sa akin ang mga kaklase ko, I felt like they were judging me because of what happened. I didn't know how I'd face them tomorrow. Nakakahiya yung ginawa ko.

Naramdaman ko ang marahang pagtapik niya sa balikat ko, kaya naman napatingin ako pabalik sa kanya.

She gave me a smile. "It's fine, Wyn. Share what happened so I can help you," she said, and somehow, her gentle smile made me want to speak. It was like her warmth soothed something inside me.

I told her about what happened, how embarrassed I'd felt. She listened quietly, nodding along as I shared my story. When I was done, she gently caressed my cheek. I almost closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of her palm.

"It's okay, Wyn. You're still young and have plenty of time to figure out what you want. So don't worry too much about today, alright? You're not different from anyone else; you just haven't figured out your path yet, and that's perfectly fine," she said, giving me a warm smile to reassure me.

I knew I should feel reassured by her words, but I didn't. The feeling from earlier lingered, and even though I was grateful she was trying to cheer me up, it didn't ease the embarrassment.

She must have noticed because she stood up and took my hand.

"Let's go," she said with a smile.

I gave her a confused look. "Saan?" tanong ko.

Her smile grew, and my confusion only deepened until she answered, filling me with excitement.

"We're going to your dad. You haven't heard him play, right? You have always wanted to go to his concert, so I'll bring you with me," she said, and that made me want to jump from my seat.

My heart pounded at her words, this time with excitement instead of nerves.

Kaagad akong tumayo at sunod-sunod na tumango. Finally! I was going to see my dad perform.

We got into her car, and she drove us to the venue. Nang makarating kami doon, may kinausap siyang isang tao. Base sa unipormeng suot nito, mukhang staff siya dito. Naglakad siya papasok, at sumunod naman kami ni Mommy.

Pumasok kami sa isang kwarto at ang unang nakita ng mga mata ko ay ang mga salamin na may ilaw sa gilid. Lumingon ako sa paligid at nakitang may telang itim na nakaharang sa isang parte nitong kwarto. What is this place?

Nagpaalam ang staff na naghatid sa amin at hinila naman ako ni Mommy papunta sa couch na nandoon at naupo kaming dalawa doon.

"Anong ginagawa natin dito, Mommy?" tanong ko sa kanya, pero hindi niya na ako nagawang sagutin pa dahil biglang umangat ang itim na telang nakita ko kanina.

Lumabas doon si Daddy na nakasuot ng isang white shirt, ripped jeans, at sneakers.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Daddy nang makita kami ni Mommy, pero agad din naman siyang nakabawi at lumapit sa amin. Binigyan niya si Mommy ng isang halik sa labi bago itinuon ang tingin sa akin. He smiled and gave me a hug, making my heart leap with happiness.

Niyakap ko siya pabalik na ikinangiti niya. Kinuha niya ako mula sa pagkakaupo at kinandong, saka tumingin kay Mommy.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya habang pinaglalaruan ang mga kamay ko.

"Well, Wyn has always wanted to see you perform, so I decided to bring him with me." She gave him a playful smile. "Since your son is here, you'd better amaze him later," dagdag niya, tumatawa nang mahina.

Napangiti si Daddy at binaling ang atensyon sa akin. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko atsaka ako niyakap.

"Of course. I'll make sure to amaze him," he said.

We spent the remaining time with my parents talking, with me just sitting on my father's lap, listening to them. I loved hearing them talk. My mother would always tease my father, and he would try to think of a comeback, pero kahit anong gawin niya ay talo siya kay Mommy. Their playful banter was comforting, and being with them made me forget what happened earlier.

Then, one of the staff knocked and told my father he needed to get ready for the concert. He asked the staff to guide us to a room where we could watch. The staff escorted us to a room with a couch and a big flat screen in front of it.

My mother thanked the staff, and we sat on the couch. I looked at the monitor and saw the big stage, lights shining brightly. Little lights dotted the audience, as people held up glow sticks and phone flashlights.

Soon, the concert started. One by one, people emerged from below the stage, and I could hear the crowd's loud cheers. Kung dito palang ay malakas na ang hiyawan, siguradong mas malakas pa iyon kung nandoon ako mismo.

I saw words flash on the back screen: The Reverie. That's the band's name. I looked at the five people onstage—a vocalist, a guitarist, a keyboardist, a drummer, and... my father, the bassist.

They each took their positions, and the vocalist started singing, instantly energizing the crowd. Nanatili lang ang mga mata ko sa kanila habang nagpeperform sila.

They were good. Their song was catchy, no wonder the crowd was going wild. But I couldn't quite understand why my father chose that instrument. It looked like a guitar, but it didn't sound like one. It had a deep, subtle tone, almost drowned out by the louder instruments around it.

I didn't get it. What was so great about that instrument? It didn't have the excitement of a guitar's sharp, distinct sound.

I was so focused, silently critiquing his choice, when suddenly, he did something with the bass that made me shoot up from my seat.

What was that? He didn't strum it—he plucked it in a way I hadn't seen before.

My heart began to pound fast against my chest, so loud that I put a hand over my heart, feeling the thudding beneath my fingers. I turned to my mom, who was watching me with a knowing smile.

"What is it?" she asked.

Napalunok ako at itinuro ang screen sa harapan. "What was that? What did Dad do?"

Her smile grew. "It's called a slap," she said, pride lacing her words. "It's one of your dad's signature moves. Look at how the crowd is going crazy when he does that," she added, chuckling softly. "Why do you ask?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned back to the monitor, captivated by my dad and his bass.

That move he did stirred something deep within me. I couldn't explain it, couldn't quite put words to the feeling, but it hit me hard, reverberating through me like the deep sound of his bass. It was as if that one simple move had unlocked something inside me, something I hadn't even known was there. And in that very moment, I realized... I'd fallen in love with that instrument.