Strings of Memory

Extra 1

I get it. They like each other. It's too obvious.

Nadulas si Luna kanina habang nakatitig naman nang matagal si Wynther sa kanya. I mean, they were both staring at each other, and I swear, Wynther's eyes softened while looking at her.

"As a friend. I like Wynther as a friend," paglilinaw ni Luna nang mapansin ang naging reaksyon ko.

I saw disappointment flicker in Wynther's eyes for a split second before it disappeared, as if he was forcing himself not to feel that way.

Instead of teasing them further, I turned to Wynther and apologized for what I did earlier.

Then I asked what they were talking about. Luna immediately told me—but stopped mid-sentence.

"You had a background in playing piano, right?" she suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling with joy and hope.

I instinctively knew why she asked that. She's going to recruit me.

"Can you join our band?" she said.

See? I knew it. But even though I already expected her to ask, hindi pa rin napigilan ng puso kong bumilis ang tibok nito.

I looked into her eyes and, suddenly, I was reminded of our childhood. The promise we made when we were kids. She had the same eyes as that time—the moment she realized what her dream was.

Ngumiti ako. "I'll join you."

Alam kong hindi magugustuhan ni Daddy ang desisyon ko, pero gusto kong subukan ulit. Subukan ang pangarap kong ibinasura niya noon.

Aside from wanting to support Luna in achieving her dream, I also want to go back to performing. I want to make my dreams come true—just like what she's doing right now. I want to shine like her.

"What positions are empty?" tanong ko.

She started listing them down, and the moment I heard the word drummer, naisip ko agad si Elliot. So I told her about him, and, of course, hindi na nag-aksaya ng oras si Luna.

Wynther and I watched as Luna tried to recruit Elliot. Syempre, Elliot didn't want to join—he's already part of the track and field team.

When I first saw Elliot in this school, nagulat ako. Then, when he became an athlete, I thought playing the drums and doing fill-ins were just a pastime for him. But as I listened to his reason, my heart ached for him. He had to let go of his dream because of his circumstances. And honestly, hindi ko siya masisisi kung naiinis siya kay Luna ngayon.

What she's doing is a bit insensitive, but I also understand why she's being persistent. This has been her dream since we were kids, and having the chance to make it happen made her act based on emotions.

"This is the best time to pursue what we want to do because we might not be able to after we pass up on this opportunity. We will all just wallow in regret, and I don't want that. That's why I'm doing this. I don't want to live with regrets my whole life."

Natigilan ako at napatingin kay Luna. Her words hit me harder than I expected.

My heart pounded against my chest, but at the same time, I felt an ache deep inside.

Napatakbo ako para habulin siya, but once I caught up, I just walked beside her in a daze.

Days passed after that, and Luna didn't bother Elliot again. Hindi ko alam kung balak pa ba niyang i-recruit si Elliot or if she was just waiting for the tension from their last conversation to subside. Wala rin naman siyang binanggit tungkol doon. Pagkatapos ng naging pag-uusap nila, bumalik lang siya sa dati kinabukasan—acting like nothing happened. And honestly, I had no idea what her next plan was.