Strings of Memory

Chapter 8

Running from the Chord

Tinignan ko ang buong classroom at napabuntong hininga. Thank God, wala pa ang teacher namin. Tahimik akong naglakad papunta sa upuan ko at naupo.

Sakto namang dumating ang babaeng kinaiinisan ko. Naupo siya sa upuan niya at napansin kong humarap siya sa akin mula sa gilid ng paningin ko.

"Why did you leave me like that? Hindi tuloy naniwala sa akin si Eli!" reklamo niya, pero hindi ko siya sinagot. Nanatili lang ang tingin ko sa pisara sa harap, pilit na iniwasan ang mga mata niyang naghahanap ng sagot.

I ran away. I left them both without looking back, even when she called my name. I was scared of the words that came out of her mouth. When I turned my back and walked away, it felt like the colors that painted my world disappeared with me. Strangely, that gave me a sense of relief.

The day dragged on, and thankfully, she stopped trying to bother me. Hindi na siya nagpilit na kausapin ako pagkatapos noon. I tried to focus on the discussion, but my mind kept wandering back to what she said.

We're creating a band.

Those words echoed in my head. It was something I had always dreamed of years ago. I spent so much time searching for people in my old school who shared the same dream. But no one did. I failed. And now, when I've long buried that dream, here it is again, being dragged out into the open. Her words brought back the memories I had locked away—and the pain I was trying so hard to ignore.

I thought I could run away from it. From my dead dream. Pero mukhang niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko.

Nang matapos ang klase ay mabilis akong umalis. Ayokong bigyan ng kahit anong pagkakataon ang babaeng katabi ko na makausap ako ulit. I just wanted to avoid her and forget everything that happened earlier.

I went home in a quiet disarray. Mabuti na lang at wala pa si Mommy kaya hindi niya nakita ang disposisyon ko. I prepared dinner and ate alone. Then I got a text from her saying she'd be home late. After that, I went to my room and forced myself to sleep.

But no matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn't come. My thoughts refused to leave me alone. They swirled and circled until dawn and kept me up the whole night kaya naman pumasok akong sumasakit ang ulo dahil sa kakulangan sa tulog.

I tried paying attention to class, but I couldn't. Nalulutang lang ang isip ko kaya pagdating ng lunch break ay kaagad akong nagpunta sa rooftop.

Rooftops have always been my sanctuary since my father died. There's something about the space that brings me peace. Maybe it's the silence, the gentle wind, or just the absence of people. I go there to escape—the noise, the chaos, and the constant reminders of everything I try to avoid. Especially during lunch breaks, I know no one else would be there. Most people prefer the cafeteria.

Pinihit ko ang doorknob ng pintuan papunta sa rooftop. Pagkabukas ng pinto ay kaagad kong nakita ang liwanag ng araw na halos magpasilaw sa akin kasabay ng mainit na pag-ihip ng hangin.

Naglakad ako papasok sa rooftop at nasa aktong isasara na ang pinto sa likod ko nang biglang umihip ng malakas ang hangin. Kasabay noon ang pagkakita ko sa isang pigura ng tao.

A girl stood about five meters away, her short curly hair swaying gently with the wind. She was wearing the same headphones she had on the first time I saw her, her gaze fixed on the sky. My eyes locked on hers—not because she was looking at me, but because of the way she stared at the sky, as if she were lost in her own world.

I shivered. My heart started pounding—fast and loud, as if it was trying to break free from my ribcage.

And then, as if on cue, just like every other time I've been around her, my world began to fill with color. It was as though fate was mocking me, telling me she was the one who could bring back the vibrancy in my life.