Iminuwestra niya ito. "This is Rive. I'm sure you've seen him in our class since we're all classmates." Pakilala niya dito bago ako iminuwestra. "This is Wynther."
Naglahad ng kamay si Rive kaya naman tinanggap ko iyon. He lightly shook my hand bago nagsalita.
"I'm Rive Marlowe. Nice to finally get the chance to talk to you, Wynther." He said with a smile and gave me a saucy wink which made me uncomfortable.
Er... Fuck. Dahan-dahan kong binawi ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya at naiilang na ibinaba ang tingin ko.
"I'm Wynther," mahina kong sabi. Kinagat ko ang pang ibabang labi ko para mabawasan ang ilang na nararamdaman, pero hindi ito naging epektibo.
Mukha namang naramdaman ng deskmate ko iyon, dahil hinampas niya si Rive.
"Ikaw talaga!" sabi niya, na tinawanan lang ni Rive.
Ibinaling niya sa akin ang tingin niya bago ngumiti—an apologetic smile.
"Sorry if he made you uncomfortable, Wynther. Rive's bi and he's just like that to other people, so please don't be disgusted," paliwanag niya, at kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya kung paano siya nag-aalala sa iniisip ko tungkol kay Rive.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "First, I'd like to clarify that I'm not disgusted. I just felt uncomfortable because I'm not used to it," paliwanag ko sa kanya.
Bigla naman siyang naglabas ng hininga, na para bang kanina pa niya 'to pinipigilan. Then she smiled at me.
"I'm glad. You see, Rive's my childhood friend and I don't want you to hate him," sabi niya, na nagpakunot sa noo ko.
Why wouldn't she want me to hate him? I don't get it, and before I could even stop myself, I found myself uttering the question.
"Why?" I asked.
"It's because I like you," nakangiti niyang sagot—and that made me freeze on my seat.
Naramdaman ko ang muling paghuhuramentado ng puso ko. Naging malakas at mabilis ang pagtibok nito, na para bang nanggaling ako sa isang nakakapagod na gawain.
Tinitigan ko siya, and she's just staring back at me while wearing that smile that makes her radiate a certain warmth. She looked so... beautiful right now.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw how Rive had a wide smile on his face. He looked so interested in what's happening in front of him, kaya naman kaagad akong tumuwid ng upo at tumikhim. And that seemed to wake my deskmate up.
She glanced at Rive, then immediately turned her gaze back to me.
"As a friend. I like Wynther as a friend," paglilinaw niya, at kitang-kita ko ang panic sa mga mata niya.
Tumango ako at nagbuntong hininga. What she said made me feel relieved and... disappointed.
Before I could even scold myself for feeling disappointed, Rive got my attention when he called my name. Tinignan ko siya ng nagtataka.
Just like my deskmate, he gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable," he said.
Tinanguan ko naman siya, na nagpalawak sa ngiti niya.
"Ano pala pinag-uusapan niyo? I noticed that the two of you are discussing something." Sabi niya, sabay tingin sa amin ng deskmate ko. I didn't say anything and just let her explain.
"Oh," she said. "We're discussing about making a band. We are currently looking for mem—" Bigla siyang huminto at nanlaki ang mga mata. Hinarap niya nang buo si Rive at ipinatong ang dalawang kamay sa mga balikat nito.
Nagtataka namin siyang tinitigan. Ano na naman ba ang naisip nito?
"Rive!" Tawag niya.
"Yes?" Naguguluhang sagot ni Rive.
"You had a background in playing piano, right?" Tanong niya. Tumango si Rive, dahilan para mas lumaki ang ngiti niya.
"Can you join our band?" Tanong niya ulit. Ibinuka ni Rive ang bibig niya para sumagot pero naunahan siya nito.
"I know you already stopped playing when we entered high school, but I still want to recruit you. Can you please join us?" she said, then pouted a little while making puppy dog eyes.
I had to admit, she looked really cute right now. Pero bakit ba paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi ang we, our, at us—like I was already a part of her band?
Before Rive could even answer, she cut him off again. "It's okay if you decline," she reassured him.
Rive gave her a smile and took her hands, gently squeezing them.
"I'll join you," he said, making her smile widen. "I know it's your dream, and I'm glad you finally decided to pursue it."
I saw how multiple emotions crossed her eyes when she heard that. I bet she was full of happiness and gratitude. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti ng kaunti. I'm glad she can finally walk towards her dream.
"By the way, who are the other members?" Tanong ni Rive habang binibitawan ang mga kamay ng deskmate ko.
"It's just the three of us," sagot niya, sabay turo sa aming tatlo.
Kumunot noo ko. She's really counting me in kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabi sa kanya na hindi ako sasali sa banda niya.
"It's just the two of you. I'm not a part of your band," sabi ko na hindi nila pinansin. Nagpatuloy lang sila sa pag-uusap na para bang wala ako doon.
"What positions are empty?" Tanong ni Rive.
"We still need a drummer, guitarist, and a bassist. You will be the keyboardist while I'll be the vocalist," sabi niya, at tinanguan siya ni Rive.
"I have someone in mind for the drummer, but I don't know if he'll join us," sabi ni Rive.
Napatingin sa kanya ang deskmate ko, may kuryosidad sa mga mata.
"Who?" she asked.
"Elliot," sagot ni Rive.
Nanlaki ang mata naming dalawa.
He could play the drums. If she could get him to join, she would only need two more people. But I don't think it will be easy—he's already in the track and field. Besides, siya ang gustong mag-recruit sa kanya noon, and now, it's the opposite. The recruiter will be the one getting recruited.
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Memory
Teen Fiction"Hating the one thing you love is a pain worse than losing it." - Wynther Fynne Clemenceau Wynther never had a dream-until he heard his father play the bass. In that moment, music became his purpose, his passion, his future. He dreamed of standing o...
Chapter 11
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