Strings of Memories

seventh string

Kinagat niya ang kanyang pang-ibabang labi upang pigilan ang ngiti. "Ayaw mo nang ihatid kita? Wala naman iyon sa akin. Don't worry! I have a lot of girl friends that I accompany home, and I'm just genuinely concerned."

"Sorry if that bothered you." naiintindihan ko naman. Ang mali dito, si Leo! Bwisit na pinsan!

"Malas naman ng magiging girlfriend mo kung ganoon." I even had the guts to say that after the humiliation.

With that, he let out a chuckle. I guess nothing's wrong then. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang malamang wala naman pala akong nasaktang tao. Nawala ang inis ko kay Zaviel na parang bula at napalitan ng pagkamangha. I remembered his presence on the stage earlier. Zaviel and his guitar, it—just reminds me of someone. But I don't know who it is.

I looked at him and the empty parking lot. Zaviel surely has an attribute of a special someone from my past. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng sakit ng ulo. Nanlabo rin ang paningin ko. My mind is making me recall someone.

His thin pinkish lips, his pointed nose, his jaw....and above all, his eyes. He's got hazel brown eyes with a tiny hint of green and well, enhanced by the lashes.

"What is it, Lia?" his eyes were full of questions.

My heartbeat isn't normal anymore. My mind is failing to work just like how I wanted it to. They say the heart remembers what the mind forgets. If that is true, then I'll beg my heart to identify my true feelings! Nakakapagod na malito. Ayoko nang manghula ng nararamdaman.

I started sobbing at the sight of Zaviel. I am so fed up with all the emptiness. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung anong nangyayari sa akin. Gustong-gusto ko na makaalala, gustong gusto.

His furrowed brows matched his worried eyes. Lumapit agad siya sa akin at hinaplos ang magkabilang braso ko. Using the back of my hand, I wiped away my tears.

"Tell me, why are you crying?" ang sarap mag-sumbong, ang saya isipin na sana kapag sinabi ko sa kanya kung bakit, makakaalala ako diba? Sana nga, ganoon.

"Wala."

After that one useless word, I tilted my head down and cry relentlessly. Zaviel hugged me, and it felt exactly what I needed. He caressed my hair as if he can understand, when in fact he doesn't even know a single thing. I stiffened at his action and cried even more. Binaon niya lalo ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya.

Bahagya akong kumalas sa kanyang yakap ng makaramdam ng hiya.

"Sor—"

I was not given a chance to look into his eyes because a voice interrupted me from doing so...

"Zaviel! There you are!" a girly voice echoed in the empty parking lot.

"Fran." tinutop ni Zaviel ang labi niya bago tumalikod sa'kin upang maharap si Frannie.

"What are you doing tonight? Let's have a date!" sinabit nito ang braso niya sa braso ni Zaviel.

"Wait—Lia."

"I'll go ahead." I smiled and then left the place, leaving the two of them behind.

'I don't have one' huh? Ano ba talaga ang totoo? Anyway, I shouldn't have a problem with that anymore. The only thing I should do is to not accept Zaviel's kind offers. Yup, tama. Ganoon nga.

I've been busy during weekdays. Lalo na dahil sa school works, minsan nga ay mukhang hindi ko na kakayanin ang pagpasok pa sa trabaho pero, kailangan kasi.

After a long day at the restaurant, I felt extremely exhausted. Kinuha ko ang water bottle sa aking bag. Pagtapos uminom ay umupo sa isang stool. Iniyuko ko ang ulo ko at pinikit ang mga mata.