Strings of Memory

Chapter 11

I couldn't believe it. After my father's death and their band's disbandment, I lost all news of them. Or rather, I avoided all news about them—because I knew it would hurt.

"W-wynther."

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya nang narinig na magsalita siya. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya habang hindi makapaniwalang tinititigan ako. I understood her shock—I felt the same way. I couldn't believe she was a teacher here. Maybe this was the reason my mother chose this school. Because of her.

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang paglapit sa akin ng deskmate ko at gamit ang peripheral vision ko ay nakita kong palipat-lipat ang tingin niya samin ni Tori. She's probably wondering how Tori knew me.

"Kilala niyo po si Wynther?" tanong niya, maririnig ang pagtataka sa boses niya.

Para namang nagising si Tori sa tanong niya. Inalis niya ang tingin sa akin, tumikhim, at umayos ng upo. Sa isang iglap, ang kaninang gulat niyang ekspresyon ay napalitan ng mahinahong ngiti—hindi mo mababakas ang naging reaksyon niya kanina.

"Yes. I'm a friend of his parents," sagot niya na tinanguan naman ng kasama ko.

"By the way, what do you need?" tanong ni Tori, this time, nakatutok na ang atensyon niya sa deskmate ko.

Wait. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko nang may mapagtanto at nagtatakang tinignan ang deskmate ko. Hindi ba niya namumukhaan si Tori?

Tori was part of the band my deskmate idolized, and yet, she looked like she had no idea who she was talking to.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Tori. Then again, it made sense. She looked completely different now. The once-striking ginger hair was now black. The bold eyeliner she always wore was gone. No makeup. Just her natural features. Plus, her hair had grown much longer.

Three years had passed since then.

Of course, she wouldn't be the same.

"We would like to join the music club po." Sagot ng katabi ko. I saw how Tori glanced at me for a bit before giving her an answer.

"There's no music club established in our school yet." Sabi niya. "Kayong dalawa lang ba ni Wynther ang gustong sumali?"

Before I could even give an answer, sunod-sunod na pagtango na ang ginawa ng deskmate ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin kaya agad siyang huminto at binigyan ako ng peace sign.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Tori, at nahuli ko siyang nakangiti habang pinapanood kami. Tinuro ko ang katabi ko bago umiling.

"Siya lang. Hindi ako kasali." Sabi ko. Saglit niya akong tinitigan bago tumango.

"Then, I can't give you the application form. You have to gather your members first before I could give it to you since I wouldn't be able to process it without meeting the requirements." Paliwanag niya

Malungkot namang tumango ang kasama ko at nagpasalamat siya kay Tori bago kami lumabas. Bumalik kami sa room namin, and time passed by quickly again. Nang maglunch break ay hinila na naman ako ng deskmate ko.

This time, I didn't have to ask where she's taking me because I know where the path we're taking is leading. And it's in the cafeteria.

Pagkatapos naming bumili ng pagkain, naupo kami sa isang lamesa na may apat na upuan. I don't really know why I'm having my lunch with her, but I chose to keep myself busy by eating, not really minding her.

"Sino kaya ang pwede nating ayain?" Problemado niyang tanong.

Kumunot ang noo ko at napahinto sa pagsubo. Ibinaba ko ang hawak na kutsara.