Strings of Memories

tenth string

"Ma, I remember him and nothing bad happened to me. Please." halos magmakaawa ako habang hinahawakan si Mama upang pigilan ang pagtaboy nito sa lalaking maaaring maging susi sa iilang parte ng aking nakaraan.

"Stop, Veronica!" pinandilatan ako ni Mama. Luha ang naging tugon ko sa mga nangyayari sa aking harapan.

Nang makaalis si Hector ay naghari ang katahimikan sa bahay. Dead air enveloped the whole room until all that I can hear are the voices in my head.

"Kasalanan po bang malaman ko kung ano ang totoo?" I broke the silence when my urge to remember sufficed.

Nothing but silence. Tinalikod ni Mama ang kanyang wheelchair mula sa akin, senyales nang hindi niya pagtanggap sa aking opinyon.

"Because if it is, please tell me. I know that you just want to protect me, and I promise you I will stop if what I'm doing is too much. But...how can I protect myself if I don't even know what's putting me in danger?"

"Just trust me, please." these are the last words that I said to my Mom before telling myself that I'm a hundred percent sure in recovering my memories.

Ilang oras ang lumipas at tuluyan na akong nawalan nang gana pumunta sa event. Hindi ko maitatanggi na may tampo ako kay Mama. Because of this, a picture of Hera came to mind. Both of them seems like they don't want me to remember anything. They keep avoiding those kinds of conversations.

My phone beeped and I timidly check the sender of the text message. It was from Hera. Nakita kong may iba pa akong missed calls at texts mula sa ibang mga tao.

From: Hera

Where are you, Malia? I'm here at the company you're training with.

After a long debate with my cousin, he finally decided to let me leave the house.

"Bahala ka nga, Lia." I know he'll cover for me. Isa pa, alam naman ni Mama ang tungkol sa event na ito.

I hurriedly came to Vera Records never minding my tired mind. I just wanted to see my best friend and demand some answers.

Please, don't let me down, Hera.

Pinindot ko ang elevator at humawak sa gilid para masuportahan ang sarili. Hindi pa ba sapat yung pahinga ko kanina? Huminga ako ng malalim at nagbaka-sakaling maibsan man lang ang kirot sa ulo.

Nang tumunog ang elevator ay agaran akong lumabas. Bumungad sa akin ang iba't ibang tao na nakasuot ng sundresses, polo shirts, all sorts of skirts, crop tops, and hats. Ang disenyo sa paligid ay halatang pang-summer. May iba't ibang klase ng halaman sa paligid, mga inflatables, at ang kisame ay nababalot ng asul at kahel na mga tela.

I tried to call Hera, but she can't be reached. Hinagilap ko na siya sa bandang garden, mini-bars, and even comfort rooms. Where is she?

My phone beeped again. Thinking it was my best friend, I immediately scanned the text message.

Unknown number:

Here's my answer...in a form of a song. Listen to me for a while, will you?

Natataranta akong bumalik sa kung saan gaganapin ang sinasabing 'mini-concert' at tuluyan nang nalimot ang rason ng pagpunta.

Ang dami ng tao ay dumagdag lang sa sakit ng aking ulo. My rational mind did not want me to go here, but I guess I can't just decline my heart's request.

A sad but beautiful melody coming from a piano enveloped my ears. Ang unang bahagi ng pamilyar na kanta ay hindi inawit. Ito'y tinipa lang sa isang nakakaantig na paraan.

"Your face, lights up the skies in the highway."

Kumanta ang instrumento sa unang bahagi ng kanta. I can't help but get mesmerized by the sound it is producing.

Yung tunog nga lang ba, Lia? 'O yung tao sa entablado?

Tumingin ito sa kanyang kandungan at may kung anong pinagkaabalahan. My phone beeped once again. Saglit akong napatigil sa paghinga dahil sa kung anong nararamdaman sa aking tiyan.

Unknown number:

The reason is...

Habang pasimple akong lumapit at sumiksik sa mga tao sa bandang gilid, hindi ko namalayan na nakasingit na ako at napunta pa sa bandang unahan...

What are you doing, Lia! Saway ko sa sarili sa aking isip.

The beat suddenly changed to a faster and livelier one. Zaviel was up there, sitting in a high chair. He's only wearing a white sweatshirt and ripped denim jeans but he looks out of this world. Nakatukod ang isang paa sa sahig at ang isa nama'y nakadantay sa inuupuan. He sits there with a guitar on his lap and eyes shut as he holds the mic just across his lips.

"You mesmerize me, with diamond eyes." Halos hawakan ko ang aking dibdib sa sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso. This is the first time that I heard him sing, and I'm left with no words.

Now that I am very close, I unconsciously marvelled at his captivating face. He has gentle features when he smiles but he looks precious when he closes his eyelids like that. His eyes were always in a different shade of brown. It complements his messy but pretty dark-coloured brown hair.

"I try to fool myself, to think I'll be alright." Mapungay ang mga mata nito nang idilat niya iyon. Napayuko ako sa takot na mahanap ako ng kanyang mata. Sa dami ng tao rito, Lia? Baka nga, mahanap ka pa niya. I sarcastically mumbled to myself.

"But I am losing all control. My mind, my heart, my body and my soul." Umangat muli ang tingin ko sa kanya at malakas pa ang loob na titigan siya at namnamin ang bawat lirikong lumalabas sa kanyang bibig.

Kung ito nga ang sagot niya, kaya niya ba ako iniiwasan dahil...

I almost jumped at my own thoughts. Nagmadali akong bumalik sa likuran kahit mahirap at dagsa na ang mga tao rito.

Natatakot sa sariling naramdaman, I went out of the room and catched my breath. Masyadong magulo at madami ang impormasyon ngayong araw. Pakiramdam ko, bibigay na ang sarili kong utak.

I can still hear the faint sound of Zaviel's voice as I shut the glass door.

"Never in my life have I been more sure."

I mean, it doesn't hurt to listen secretly, right? At least hindi niya ako nakikita, at ganoon din ako.

"So come on up to me and close the door."

Humina ang boses nito at tila pinaparamdam sa aking ang lungkot at saya na hatid ng kanta.

"Nobody's made me feel this way before. You're everything I wanted and more."

I'm not sure why I am suddenly scared of feeling this way.

An image of a familiar scenario that once appeared in my dreams grasped my confused heart and mind.

"Marry me."

A picture of a tall man that was once distorted suddenly made sense. For a second, it felt like I finally found the last piece of my puzzle, but it didn't fit the void quite well...

Did Hector really proposed to me?

Hindi nga ba ang sinagot ko sa kanya?

Um-oo kaya ako?

Oh my God.

The reason that I'm comfortable with Zaviel is because he reminds me of someone.

Someone....that is no one else but Hector.

Bumukas ang elevator na kanina ko pa pinipindot at bumungad ang babaeng dahilan kung bakit ako nandito ngayon.

"Am I engaged to Hector?" nanginginig kong tanong. Pati ako'y kinabahan sa sariling sinabi. Goosebumps were already over my body.