Strings of Memory

Epilogue

Hindi ako sumagot.

For a moment, silence enveloped us as we continued watching the past unfold.

A few seconds passed before I decided to answer.

"Maybe."

And I felt her grip on my hand tighten slightly.

Hindi siya nagsalita. Binalot kami ng katahimikan at ilang beses akong napasulyap sa kanya.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the memory—on the past me, who was now at the market, buying the things my mom had asked me to.

Then, as if to break the silence, she made a comment that nearly made me choke on air.

"Siguro nakita mo 'yung suot kong underwear kaya ka natulala non."

Nanlalaki ang mga matang tinitigan ko siya.

"No!" Mabilis kong sagot at ilang beses na umiling pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

Then, as if nothing happened, she gently pulled me forward, and we started walking again.

The scene suddenly shifted. This time, we were inside our classroom. I saw myself standing in front, while she was seated at the back.

It was a memory—my first day at school.

Alam ko kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon. We're walking down memory lane, witnessing the moments I shared with her. My heart suddenly dropped as I realized where this was leading. I knew how it would end. And I knew that after the last scene rolled, it would be goodbye.

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa kamay ko, kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

She gave me a small smile. A smile of reassurance, as if telling me that everything was going to be okay. She didn't have to say a word—my heart understood the message. It eased the heaviness I was feeling, even just a little.

Ipinagpatuloy namin ang panonood.

"I'm Wynther," the me in the scene introduced himself.

The past me walked towards the seat beside hers and sat down. The her in the scene immediately turned to me, introduced herself, but I just ignored her.

"Sungit," she muttered.

Kinagat ko ang pang ibabang labi bago sumulyap sa kanya, the real her beside me.

"What was your first impression of me?" tanong ko.

Inilagay niya ang kamay sa ilalim ng baba at umaktong nag-iisip. "At first, I thought you were really handsome. I had a feeling na magiging popular ka sa girls. But when you ignored me, I thought... ang sungit mo naman."

"Nainis ka ba sa ginawa ko?" tanong kong muli.

Ngumiti siya. "A little. Pero wala 'yon. I didn't really mind at all."

"Sorry," I muttered.

She just smiled in response as the scene shifted again.

Now, we were watching the moment we got the straps.

I saw how the her in the scene kept begging me to help her, and how, in the end, I went with her. Kitang-kita ko kung paano hindi nawala ang kunot sa noo ko habang tinutulungan siya—and that seemed to amuse her dahil narinig ko ang pagtawa niya sa tabi ko.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"You must have been so annoyed when you realized my real intention," she commented, laughing softly.

Tumango ako at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan namin.

Then, my chest tightened. My heart clenched when I saw the straps.