Strings of Memory

Epilogue

And as if to answer my confusion, the next thing that happened confirmed what this was.

"Excuse me!"

A girl suddenly shouted as she jumped over the me who's walking.

The me in the scene looked up, just in time to see her mid-air. I saw how my eyes, which were usually lifeless and hollow, suddenly lit up. How they came alive in an instant the moment they landed on her.

Napatingin ako sa katabi ko nang maramdaman kong humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko. Her gaze was locked onto the scene in front of us. So, I turned back to watch it unfold.

Wings appeared behind the girl's back, and time seemed to slow down for the me in the memory. Parang biglang bumagal ang mundo, as if this moment was meant to be frozen in time. Only when her knee collided with my face did time return to its normal pace.

Napaupo ang ako na pinapanood ko, pati na rin ang babae. I watched as she quickly checked her phone, then scrambled to grab her bag before bolting away—without even apologizing.

"I... didn't know that we had an encounter," Luna murmured beside me.

Agad ko siyang tinignan. Seriously? She doesn't remember this? Is this why she never apologized when we met again?

Nginitian niya lang ako. "Is this the reason why you acted like you were annoyed at me during your first day at school?" she asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

Tumango ako. "Well... you never apologized for what happened," sagot ko, sabay turo sa eksena sa harapan namin. "My phone broke because of you. Tapos, nung nagkita ulit tayo, you acted like you didn't even remember. It really got on my nerves."

Bahagya siyang natawa. "I'm sorry," she said with a sheepish smile. "I don't remember why I was in such a hurry that time, but still, that was bad of me. Hindi man lang ako nag-sorry."

She paused for a second, then smiled softly.

"I even hit your handsome face."

Bigla niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko at marahang hinimas 'yon.

I froze.

For a moment, my heart stopped beating. Then, it went wild against my ribcage.

Fuck.

"Did it hurt?" she asked, her eyes filled with worry. "I'm really sorry."

Naramdaman kong nag-init ang mukha ko, kaya agad akong tumikhim at umiwas ng tingin.

"I-it's fine," nauutal kong sagot. "You're forgiven."

She finally removed her hand, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

She will be the death of me. That was too sudden.

"Is that how you see me?" bigla niyang tanong, making me look at her again.

"You saw me with wings on my back?"

Natigilan ako saglit bago ako nakabawi. "You saw that?"

Nakangiti siyang tumango.

Bumuntong hininga ako. I thought I'm the only one who could see that.

"Yeah," sagot ko sabay tango.

Her smile widened. "Am I really that breathtaking?"

Before I could even think, words left my mouth.

"Yeah."

Napamura ako sa isip. Fuck.

Mabilis akong sumulyap sa kanya, kinakabahan sa magiging reaction niya. But she was just smiling, her expression unreadable.

"Was it love at first sight?" tanong niya.