"You're all lucky that you have the luxury to do what you want to do. To follow your dreams without worrying about other things," sabi niya, dahilan para mawala sa pagkatulala ang deskmate ko.
"That's where you're wrong," seryosong sagot ng deskmate ko kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya.
She looked dead serious and quite angry. Mukhang na-trigger siya sa sinabi ni Elliot.
"All of us have a battle that we are fighting against. Maybe it's not as severe as yours, but don't you dare belittle everyone's battle," dagdag niya.
Tahimik kaming lahat matapos marinig ang sinabi niya. Just like Elliot, we were also rendered speechless by her words. We just looked at her while trying to let her words sink in.
I never viewed her as a deep person. Someone who can say something like this, but she always seemed to surprise me. Because of her carefree attitude, I sometimes forget that she also has a battle of her own.
The two of them are right. It's a clash of opinions, but they can't just force the other to take what they want. Just like she said, everyone has their own battles. She can't just force Elliot to join her. And that's the same with her, Elliot couldn't force her to join the track and field because she wants to do something else.
"This is the best time to pursue what we want to do because we might not be able to after we pass up on this opportunity. We will all just wallow in regret, and I don't want that. That's why I'm doing this. I don't want to live with regrets my whole life," dagdag niya.
I saw how a fire lit in her eyes. She looked so determined, and somehow, her words hit something within me.
My heart skipped a beat, and I don't really know why.
Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga at kinalma ang sarili. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Eli. We will get going," sabi niya at tumalikod na.
Kaagad namang sumunod sa kanya si Rive. Bago ako umalis, sinulyapan ko muna si Elliot. He looked shaken. Her words definitely got to him.
Nagdaan ang mga araw pagkatapos ng pangyayaring iyon. My deskmate stopped recruiting Elliot after that day and went on with her life like nothing happened.
She would constantly grab me to spend my break time and lunch break with her and Rive. Tulad ngayon—hindi nila ako pinakawalan at hinila sa cafeteria. Sabay-sabay kaming kumain habang nagra-rant siya tungkol sa napakahirap na math problem na ibinigay ng teacher namin kanina.
"Why does she keep giving us hard assignments? Napakalayo ng mga example na binigay niya kumpara sa assignment natin. Ugh," reklamo niya.
Natawa ng bahagya si Rive. "Don't be mad, Luna. Hindi nakakaganda ang pagsimangot," sabi niya bago bahagyang pinisil ang pisngi ng deskmate ko.
Hinimas niya ang pinisil na pisngi ni Rive bago nagpout.
Cute. She looks so cute doing that.
"I can't believe you're not stressed about it, Rive!" Sabi niya, sabay gigil na tinusok ang tinidor sa chicken niya. "The two of you are smart, so you don't understand what an earthling like me feels."
Natawa lalo si Rive habang ako naman ay napailing. She's crazy.
"Anong nakakatawa? Tama nam—"
Before she could even finish her sentence, someone cleared their throat kaya naman napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan non at nakita si Elliot na nakatayo sa harapan ng table namin.
Walang nagsalita sa amin at hinintay lang ang sasabihin niya. I thought after what happened days ago, that would be the last time he would talk to us. I mean, to her.
I saw how his adams apple moved up and down before he finally spoke.
"I'll join you."
Nanlaki ang mata ko. Tinignan ko ang reaksyon ng mga kasama ko, at ganoon din sila.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Elliot at pinakatitigan ang mga mata niya. He looked serious about joining her band. He really meant it.
What changed? Akala ko ba ayaw niya? When he talked to her before, he was so sure of what he really wanted to do. But now, he's here. Standing in front of us. Planning to chase after a dream he once let go of.
"W-why?" Nauutal na tanong ng deskmate ko. Bakas sa boses niya na hindi siya makapaniwala sa nangyayari.
Elliot gave us a sheepish smile and put his hand on the back of his neck.
"Well... you might have a hard time becoming famous if I'm not part of your band," he said, then his smile turned into a mischievous grin.
Napatili ang deskmate ko at biglang tumayo sa upuan niya. Lumapit siya kay Elliot at niyakap ito ng mahigpit.
"Thank you, Eli!" Sabi niya habang mahina pang nagtatalon.
Marahan niyang hinimas ang likod ng deskmate ko at ngumiti. This time, it wasn't the same grin he had earlier. It was much more genuine.
"You're always welcome, Luna," he said softly.
I don't know what changed, but seeing her smile is enough to make my heart race.
At the same time, it also clenched. Because I wasn't the reason behind that smile. But the relief I felt outweighed the heaviness of that.
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 12
Start from the beginning
