Strings of Memory

Chapter 15

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago sumagot. "Someone taught me."

Siguro ay napansin niya na ayoko nang i-elaborate pa ang naging sagot ko kaya naman tumango siya.

Then, the conversation shifted from me to the band from earlier—which I was really grateful for. Para akong nakahinga nang maluwag nang baguhin nila ang usapan.

"Sobrang harsh nung vocalist kanina. Nakakainis!" reklamo ng deskmate ko habang nakakunot ang noo.

Tumango si Rive. "Right. He was too rude. Akala ko magbibigay siya ng valuable lessons, pero hindi pala."

"Balak niya yatang durugin ang mga pangarap natin. Haha," natatawang sabi ni Elliot. "The only good thing they said was that Zeira is good."

"That's true," sang-ayon ni Rive. "Pero hindi naman kasi mali yung sinabi nila. Zeira's really good with the guitar."

"Hindi naman ako ganon kagaling," sagot ni Zeira, sabay yuko. Napansin ko ang unti-unting pamumula ng tenga niya.

She's shy. But they weren't wrong. She's really good. It feels like she was trained by a professional.

"Now that we're on this topic," sabi ng deskmate ko, "bakit mo nga pala napagdesisyunang maging isang gitarista?"

Inangat ni Zeira ang ulo niya at ngumiti ng kaunti. "It's because I'm a fan of this particular band."

Nakita ko ang pagkislap ng mga mata ng deskmate ko sa naging sagot ni Zeira.

"Is it The Reverie?" excited niyang tanong.

Mababakas ang gulat sa mukha ni Zeira. "Paano mo nalaman?"

Lalong lumaki ang ngiti sa labi ng deskmate ko. "Just a wild guess. But I guess I got lucky," sagot niya, sabay tawa.

Bahagya ding natawa si Zeira. "You're right, Luna. I've been a fan of The Reverie since I was a kid, and it's been my dream to be a musician."

"I'm a fan of that band too!" singit ni Elliot. He and my deskmate looked so happy to know someone who idolized the same band.

I understood how they felt. Knowing that there were still people who idolized the band I loved was heartwarming. Akala ko kinalimutan na sila ng lahat dahil sa disbandment nila tatlong taon na ang nakalipas. Pero hindi. Fans were still there, and the band was still inspiring people to chase their dreams.

The fact that The Reverie still lives on, even though its members have gone their separate ways, warms my heart.

"Am I the only one who's not a fan?" komento ni Rive, watching as the three continued their fangirling and fanboying.

Natawa sila.

"It's still not too late to become a fan, Rive," sabi ng deskmate ko.

Ngumiti si Rive. "I'll think about it."

Pagkauwi ko ay dumiretso agad ako sa kwarto. Pagkatapos magbihis, napako ang tingin ko sa naka-lock na parte ng cabinet.

I don't know what came over me, but I stood up and opened it. Napalunok ako nang makita ko ang itim na lagayan ng bass. Dahan-dahan ko itong kinuha at binuksan. The black body of the bass greeted me, its surface shining under the light in my room. Marahan kong hinaplos ang katawan nito, pababa sa apat na strings.

My heart pounded when a deep but quiet sound escaped the strings the moment my calloused fingers touched them. Three years. Three years since I last held this. And damn, I really missed it.

Out of nowhere, our performance earlier played in my head—how my heart raced while playing with them, how I actually enjoyed it, how I felt so alive after being dead inside for the past years.