Strings of Memory

Epilogue

"The Reverie!" The her in the scene answered excitedly.

"Now that we're in this scene, I just realized how I didn't notice your change in demeanor," Luna, who's beside me, suddenly commented.

But I didn't reply. I just kept watching.

Then, the moment played—the scene where I gave her the push she needed.

She gripped my hand tighter.

I looked at her, but her eyes remained fixed on the scene in front of us.

"Thank you, Wynther," she said quietly, not adding anything more.

But I knew the weight behind that thank you.

I gave her a small smile. "You're always welcome," I murmured before turning back to watch the scene unfold.

At the same time, the scene changed again.

We were outside the classroom, and we could hear her singing.

"Ganoon ba talaga ang epekto ng boses ko? O sayo lang?" bigla niyang tanong.

She doesn't know her effect on people. She's so oblivious.

I sighed. "Your voice is really beautiful. I don't know if it has the same effect on others, but for me, it shook me to my core. And as you can see—" I pointed at the scene in front of us—"it was very evident."

"Your voice brought back the colors in my life—permanently. Hindi tulad ng ibang instances na saglit lang bumalik. But your voice... it managed to do that."

I turned to her and saw how her eyes started glistening. A tear fell, and without thinking, I caught it with my other hand.

Nginitian ko siya.

The scene shifted, and now we were watching ourselves making our way to the faculty office.

Tahimik lang kaming nanood habang kinakausap namin si Tori, hanggang sa umabot sa cafeteria scene—kung saan sumali sa amin si Rive, at kung paano sinubukan ng katabi ko na kumbinsihin si Elliot na sumali sa banda.

"Was I too insensitive for not thinking about his situation? For pushing him to chase after his dreams?" she suddenly asked, her voice laced with doubt.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago sumagot. "Yes. I do think it was insensitive of you. Pero huwag kang mag-alala, nagawa ko na rin 'yan. And it doesn't really feel good. Guilt kept creeping into my heart, and I couldn't help but question if I was really doing the right thing."

Hindi na siya sumagot at sabay na lang naming pinanood ang pagsali ni Elliot sa banda.

Then, the scene shifted to our clubroom, to the moment we first met Zeira.

"She's really good," she commented, admiration evident in her voice.

Tumango ako. "Yeah. Pero hindi na rin nakakagulat ngayon, kasi alam na nating si Harrison ang nag-train sa kanya."

I felt her gaze on me before she finally spoke.

"Were you aware that Youssef is her uncle?"

Umiling ako, keeping my eyes on the scene in front of us. "No. I only found out when we went to their beach house. Even when I first heard Zeira's last name, it didn't click."

The scene continued playing—they had their meeting with me in it kahit hindi pa ako kasali sa banda ng mga panahon na 'yon. Then, to when Zeira joined, to their mini celebration, and finally, the time they performed near the school.

"I was really shocked when you suddenly went up to us," she admitted. "You're not the type to do something like that. What made you do it?"

Napangiti ako, recalling that moment. "I just didn't like the way that vocalist humiliated you in front of all those people. In front of me. And I also didn't like that you were crying."