Strings of Memory

Extra 2

Halos mapasinghap ako nang pumasok ako sa loob ng clubroom namin. It still looked the same. Wala itong pinagbago. Mula sa mga upuan na nakahanay sa gilid, hanggang sa mga sulat sa board.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit, pinakatitigan ang mga nakasulat doon. Isa-isa kong binasa. And as I read them, my heart clenched. Memories came rushing back, and suddenly, it hurt to breathe.

Pumikit ako nang mariin bago hinawakan ang gitara ko.

This will be the last.

The last time I'd revisit these memories. The last time I'd ever miss them. The last time I'd play here.

But the world really has its own way of dragging me back.

Because just as I finished playing, Wynther appeared.

For the first time since that day he walked out on us.

And as if his unexpected presence wasn't enough, he said something even more unexpected.

"Join my band."

Seryoso ang mukha niya.

Natigilan ako. It was like a dam broke inside my head, and every memory came rushing in all at once.

Pumikit ako, humugot ng malalim na hininga. This isn't right. I can't waver now. I already have my own band.

And so, I rejected his offer.

I told him that I was already in a band.

But he didn't give up. He said something unexpected again. As if he could read my mind. He told me that he wanted to be in a band with all of us. About how it wouldn't feel the same without me in it.

My chest ached.

Because that was exactly how I felt when we all decided to disband.

And suddenly, I found myself questioning my decisions.

Pagkauwi ko, nadatnan ko si Uncle sa bahay. Pero hindi ko na siya nagawang batiin—hindi ko pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Wynther.

I didn't know what to do.

If I followed my mind, the answer was simple. It's a no. I already had a band. It would be insensitive to quit now, lalo na't ang dami na naming nagawang gigs. I was already part of them.

But... what about my heart?

Napalingon ako nang bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Uncle.

"Is everything okay?" tanong niya.

Sasagot pa lang sana ako na okay lang, pero hindi ko nagawa. Instead, I found myself telling him everything.

"Wynther talked to me earlier," panimula ko.

Tumango si Uncle, lumapit, at umupo sa harapan ko.

"He asked me to join his band," patuloy ko.

For a split second, I saw the shock in his eyes. Pero agad din iyong napalitan ng isang kalmadong ekspresyon.

"But I'm already in a band. It's only natural na hindi ko tanggapin, 'di ba?"

Nanatili siyang tahimik.

"And that's what I did. Pero hindi siya sumuko." I swallowed hard. "Sabi niya, it wouldn't feel the same if I wasn't there. He said he wanted to be in a band with all of us—with Rive and Elliot."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

"Then, before he left, he asked me for a favor."

Uncle's brows furrowed slightly.