Strings of Memory

Epilogue

"Your strap... nasa akin ang strap mo," I murmured, turning to her. "Your mom gave it to me."

She smiled, but she didn't say anything.

The scene changed again—to the next day, when she teased me about the strap.

I heard Luna chuckle as the memory played. And this time, I couldn't help but laugh, too.

Then, the scene where Elliot was trying to recruit her played.

"Please, Luna," halos magmakaawa na sabi ni Elliot.

The Luna in the scene shook her head. "No, Eli. I can't."

Napalunok ako. "I... thought Elliot was confessing to you that time," pag-amin ko.

Bigla siyang tumingin sa akin na parang hindi makapaniwala. "What?!" Parang na-eskandalo siyang tanong.

I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. He just looked so desperate to have you that time, akala ko talaga he's confessing his love for you," sabi ko sabay tawa.

Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala, nakatitig lang siya sa akin—until we heard something that made both of us look back at the scene playing in front of us.

"We're creating a band."

We watched as the me in the scene walked away without saying anything. My heart tightened as I watched my back, as I watched myself run like a coward—running desperately just to get away.

"Were you scared by what I said?" she asked quietly.

Saglit kong tinignan ang mukha niya bago muling ibinalik ang tingin ko sa eksena.

"Yeah," natawa ako ng bahagya, but there was no humor in it. "What a coward, right?"

She gripped my hand tighter, making me look at her.

Marahan siyang umiling before reaching out to touch my cheek. The warmth of her palm sent something unfamiliar through my chest, and I couldn't help but tear up at how tender her touch was—at how gentle her gaze felt.

"You're not," she said, smiling sincerely. "You're not a coward."

We stared into each other's eyes, and as a tear silently fell from mine, the scene changed.

Nginitian ko siya. "Thank you," I said softly.

She smiled back before shifting her attention back to the scene in front of us.

I followed her gaze, and my heart clenched.

It was the rooftop scene.

The moment I became aware that I was falling.

I looked at the past her standing a few meters away, and just like before, she had the same effect on me. My heart started racing—fast and loud.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, pinakiramdaman ang bilis ng tibok nito. Then, I glanced at her. She was immersed in what she was watching, unaware of the storm she was causing inside me.

My heart pounded even more as I stared at her.

What is she thinking right now?

What's on her mind while watching this scene?

I opened my mouth, about to ask, but the scene shifted again.

Napabalik ang tingin ko sa harapan.

Now, we were outside the classroom, watching as the me in the scene stood still—watching her cry.

Then, another shift. This time, it was her and Elliot talking, with me watching them from afar.

"W-what's the name of the band?" the me in the scene asked after she told me about her dream.