#takareign

Four, three, two, one.    “You play beautifully,” the  shy  cellist     compliments. The violinist only gives     a curt nod. With  fiddling  fingers, the     cellist offers a hand. “A waltz requires     a partner—care to be mine?”     Thus, the violinist begins to write a new piece.

To whom? I don’t know, but can it be to you? What is this about? It could be nonsense to you if you don’t like reminding yourself of the past. You’re still free to read, though. You’re probably bored or just passing by. And you’re probably sitting in your room, knowing that after a few hours, your classes will start soon. There are still many requirements due this week or next that are listed in your Google Classroom. They’re bombarding you with silent voices that ring regularly in your ear, “I’m due next week! My deadline is near! Finish your tasks, right now!” It’s an earful; it only urges you to be lazier, sometimes. You could stop reading this piece right now to do your remaining tasks, whether it’s for home, school, or work. Or, you could take a cup of coffee or a slice of cinnamon cake and relax with your movie of the day. Probably watch anime or a Korean drama. Catch up with trending series such as the “Squid Game” (Is that what it’s called?) or listen to your favorite artist’s recent release of heartfelt songs. There are also new Tiktok (Toktik?) dance challenges that you may want to try, or not—it’s your choice. So many new things can be shared in 2021, correct? Yet, it’s empty. You may have realized how hollow the past two years have been, haven’t you? It just doesn’t feel the same anymore. The new things can be shared more easily, but we can’t seem to experience them with our closest friends. We allot our time more to working than having fun. So, do you want to travel back to ten years ago with me for a bit? Yes, ten. 십. Dix. Diez. Dieci. Sampu. Now, let me ask you another question: What do you remember from 2011? Do you recall heartbreaking songs like Jar of Hearts and Someone Like You? Or the fast-paced beat of Super Bass as you rap the lyrics with Nicki Minaj? Or when One Direction was at the peak of their popularity? When the last Harry Potter movie was released, did you cry? Or perhaps, you were more of a Transformers type of kid since robots were cool. (Still are.) It’s nostalgic, is it not? Wait—you can’t quite remember? Ahh… that’s alright! Well, what about you? How would you describe yourself back then? Were you the kind of student whose homework didn’t bother them too much, maybe since you were carefree? You could be the type of person who values freedom, so you spent most of your time playing with your friends. Games such as Agawan Base, Tagu-taguan, Duck-Duck-Goose, Marco-Polo, and many more were probably your favorites. You could have been the type of kid who collected all _Pokémon _cards (any cards, really), read fun encyclopedias, and enjoyed cartoons. I’m sure you remember those, right? No? Oh. That’s okay! Did you use to believe that the sun, or moon, were following you during your family joyrides? Did older peers scare you with ghost stories in your school? How a white lady would glow in the dark to haunt you? You’d always wonder why you were so innocent to think ghosts would pull you off the bed by your feet, especially if you didn’t have any blanket covering your toes. What about when others would tell you not to let your body parts fall off the edge of your bed because there’s a monster hiding under it? Oh, you forgot... Let’s move on! I’m sure there are still some things about you that haven’t changed, right? You could still be singing along to animated Disney songs, or still supporting the musical artists you listened to before. You could be improving your art style from your past drawings, or still have that same passion for sports. You can still have the same bright smile, unless you don’t smile nowadays. You still have those small habits that you can’t shake off before a performance or an exam—or were they lessened? You still have the same friends you grew up with, despite all the arguments. And, even if you lost that bright smile, those small habits, or your friends—the one thing that remains constant is you. Still the same soul whose fire keeps burning, up to now and furthermore. ...Oh, you’re not fired up anymore? That’s alright; some flames lose their light. But it doesn’t change the fact that they can spark and burn again. Probably with a brighter glow than a small bonfire because that fire is still you. Hm... What else can you remember from 2011? Not much, huh... Not even how you would run in the school hallways while you and your playmates laughed together? Or when you used to ride public transportation, you would forget to pay up until the driver alerted you? Or how you cherished the moments when seeing your childhood crush every single day? ...No? Not a single thing at all? Haha, that’s alright! It’s not wrong for you not to remember… it’s just that I would disappear without anyone knowing who I am. ...You’d like to try remembering me? That’s thoughtful of you, but it’s okay! I want you to look forward to the future, but don’t forget what you left behind. Especially if it was a good memory. There’s nothing wrong with flashbacks, right? Hehe, that’s excellent! I don’t have much time anymore, so did a memory spark in you? ...Still nothing? Ahhh, don’t force yourself to remember. It might hurt your brain trying to recollect your thoughts. Although, let me just appreciate that you took your time trying. That’s enough effort from you; you did well! You may stop reading now. I’ll be here in this corner if you start to remember. I’d like to hear what new memories you’ll share. I’ll wait.