Strings of Memory

Extra 1

Lumapit siya sa akin.

"Well done." She said with a small smile.

I returned the smile, and for the first time in a long time, I felt lighter.

Just like before, my mom provided the condo I'd be staying at. Pero this time, sa kanya na mismo galing ang unit, hindi na sa kaibigan niya. She's supporting me through all of this, and I couldn't be happier.

Then came the day when Wynther would sing the song he wrote.

He sent me a message, and I made my way to Youssef's garage. Pagdating ko, naabutan ko doon si Zeira at Wynther. Binati ko sila, and a few minutes later, Elliot arrived.

"Why are you even here? Sa akin lang ipaparinig ni Wynther ang kantang sinulat niya, kaya pwede na kayong umalis." Sabi ni Elliot, halatang nagbibiro dahil sa ngiti niya.

"Bakit hindi na lang ikaw ang umalis? We don't need you here." Sagot ni Zeira, na agad namang nauwi sa away nilang dalawa.

Napailing ako pero hindi ko rin napigilang mapangiti.

It really is good to be back.

I missed this. I missed them.

Natigil lang sila sa pag-aaway nang marinig naming tumikhim si Wynther. When we looked at him, kita sa mukha niya na handa na siya.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga bago nagsimulang kumanta.

And the moment his voice filled the garage, hindi napigilan ng puso ko ang pagsikip nito.

"Ah."

That scream.

Narinig ko ang panginginig ng boses niya, ramdam ko ang bigat ng bawat salitang kinanta niya. Hindi ko napigilan ang pamumuo ng luha sa mata ko, pero pinilit kong pigilan ito.

That scream sent shivers down my spine. It struck right at my heart.

I knew what this song was about.

It was about Luna.

It was about his pain. His grief. His choice to move forward.

He really is a monster, just like what Youssef said. Hindi lang siya magaling sa bass—he managed to compose a song. A song so raw, so full of emotions, that it pierced right through my heart.

And yet, I didn't mind.

Nang matapos siya sa pagkanta, he started to talk.

He told us his story.

Habang nagsasalita siya, kita sa mukha niya ang sakit, pero hindi siya tumigil. He made sure to tell us everything. And with every word he spoke, I finally understood him better.

I understood why he was the way he was when he first came to school. Why he acted so cold, why he left us, and how much this meant to him.

I understand because I'm the same.

I was also a coward, just like him.

But he was stronger than me.

Because even after everything, even after going through two tragedies, he still picked himself up.

He was brave—so brave—for choosing to move forward, for choosing to face his pain.

Tears started streaming down his face, pero hindi niya iyon pinunasan. He let himself be vulnerable in front of us.

And my heart ached for him.

But at the same time, I was proud of him.

When he finished telling his story, silence enveloped us.

I stepped forward.

The moment our eyes met, hindi ko na napigilan ang pagbagsak ng mga luha ko.

I groaned.

That wasn't part of my plan.

Natawa siya, kaya pabiro ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin bago ko siya hinila at niyakap.

I felt him stiffen.

Marahan kong hinagod ang likod niya at sinabi ang mga salitang matagal ko nang gustong sabihin sa kanya.

Nang pakawalan ko siya ay nakita kong umiiyak din siya. Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang dumaloy sa pisngi niya.

"I didn't know you were such a crybaby," biro ko, pilit na ginagaan ang atmosphere. Tumawa siya, at kahit pa namumugto ang kanyang mga mata, may bahid na ito ng paggaan, na para bang unti-unting nabawasan ang bigat na dinadala niya.

Nang masiguradong ayos na siya, humakbang ako papunta sa keyboard.

Huminga ako nang malalim habang inilalagay ang mga daliri ko sa ibabaw ng mga tecla. Ngunit sa halip na agad pindutin ang mga ito, natigilan ako. Ramdam ko ang bahagyang pagkirot ng puso ko habang nakatitig sa instrumentong minsan kong iniwan.

I miss it.

I miss this so much.

I miss the way my fingers danced across the keys, the way the melody intertwined with the bass, the drums, the guitar—our music forming something bigger than ourselves. I miss the late-night practices, the adrenaline before performances, the quiet moments of composing, and the laughter in between. I miss belonging here.

Tumingin ako sa kanila.

Nakapwesto na sina Wynther, Zeira, at Elliot—each of them carrying their own burdens, their own pain, but still standing, still choosing to fight for this. For us.

A slow smile formed on my lips.

This time, I won't let go of my dreams.

This time, I will move forward.

No more hesitations. No more regrets.

I will step onto that dream stage.

With them.