Strings of Memory

Extra 3

And now, it was Wynther's turn.

He tried to recruit me, pero hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong sabihin ang mga bagay na agad ko ring pinagsisihan.

"I know you're angry and I understand why. But that doesn't give you the right to insult my resolve to move forward. I'm not using Luna like what you thought. Being in a band has been my dream since I was a kid-just like all of you. And finally achieving that made me so happy. But when she died. I decided to abandon the dream I already abandoned three years ago and you don't know how hard and painful it was."

His voice wavered, and I noticed his eyes glistening. Parang malapit na siyang maiyak, pero pilit niyang pinipigilan ang sarili niya. Hindi niya hinahayaan ang sarili niyang bumigay.

At doon ko naramdaman kung gaano kahigpit ang kirot sa dibdib ko.

Seeing the cold Wynther I once knew like this... it hurts.

His words hit me harder than I expected. Just like how Luna's words hit me before.

And at that moment, I knew-kahit hindi ko aminin-na babalik at babalik ako sa pangarap ko.

"Are you really sure about this, Elliot? Sayang naman ang opportunity na 'to." Sabi ni Coach, at kitang-kita ko ang panghihinayang sa mga mata niya.

Matagal ko siyang tinitigan. I know where he's coming from, and I know that to him, this decision probably seems reckless-like I'm throwing away something valuable. But to me, this isn't about choosing one opportunity over another. This is about going back to where I truly belong.

"Yes, Coach," I said with finality.

Napabuntong hininga siya, halatang wala na siyang magagawa para baguhin ang isip ko. "Are you going back to your bandmates?"

Tumango ako.

Ngumiti siya, pero ramdam kong may halong pag-aalala ang ngiti niya. "Then, I wish you luck in that journey. It won't be an easy one, at alam kong alam mo na 'yon. So break a leg."

I know, Coach. I know. And I'm prepared for that.

Coming back to track and field was just a way to fill the void in my heart. It was never truly my passion-it was just something familiar, something stable. When Luna died and Wynther decided to ignore us, everything felt uncertain. I thought our band wouldn't be able to make it, so I ran to my second option. I convinced myself that maybe this was where I was supposed to be.

But standing on the track, running laps, and winning races-it never felt the same. It never felt right.

And now that I know there's still a chance to go after my dream, I won't hesitate anymore. I won't let go of it again.

When I received Wynther's message about where he would perform his song, I went without hesitation. The moment I saw the three of them-Wynther, Zeira, and Rive-standing together, I felt something shift inside me. My heart, which had been empty for so long, felt full again. I felt warmth.

Then, Wynther began to sing.

And just like the first time I heard him, a shiver ran down my spine. His voice-God, his voice. It reminded me of Luna. There was something about it that could shake you to the core.

My eyes burned, and I had to take a sharp breath to keep myself from crying. His song-his voice-was filled with so much emotion, so much raw pain, that it was almost unbearable to listen to. It wasn't just a song. It was a declaration.

He was moving forward.

He was telling us, without saying it outright, that this was real for him. That this wasn't just a dream forced onto him-it was his dream. And we were all going with him.

To that dream stage we all wanted to be in.

When the song ended, Wynther shared a story.

It was about a kid who didn't have a dream. A kid who felt lost, who didn't know what he wanted in life-until he saw a certain band perform. A band we all loved.

The kid in his story went through heartbreaks. He abandoned his dream to avoid getting hurt, and my chest tightened at his words because I knew exactly how that felt. Because I did the same thing.

And it was something we both regretted doing.

He kept talking, and we just listened, silently taking in every word. The Wynther standing before us wasn't the same Wynther I first met. The cold, mysterious guy from before was gone. In his place was someone real, someone vulnerable, someone willing to bare his soul to us.

I swallowed hard, forcing back the lump in my throat. I really tried my best not to cry. Unlike Zeira, who was sobbing like crazy beside me.

After he finished his story, Rive and Zeira went up to him first. Then it was my turn.

I walked over to him, took a deep breath, and apologized for the things I said before. He forgave me. And just like that, we made up.

And then, without another word, I moved to the back.

To where the drums were.

To where the backbeat of the band should be.

I took a seat behind the set, my fingers lightly tapping against the cymbals. I looked at all of them-Wynther, Zeira, Rive. And for the first time in a long time, I smiled.

Being here feels right.

Being with them feels like home.