Strings To Your Heart

Chapter 5: Invitation

The next day, I couldn't shake the thought of what had happened at the music store. It was starting to feel like more than just a coincidence. I mean, twice? In the same store, grabbing the same strings, almost exactly the same way? What were the chances? I know he told me to pick those strings, but I didn't know if he was just a regular there. And it seemed like he might be, since he mentioned he would pay for the set of strings I was supposed to buy the other day using an e-bank.

I felt this strange pull to figure it out. I had to test it. Was it a fluke, or was there something else going on?

After school, I found myself walking straight to the music store again. It was impulsive, but it felt like the right thing to do. The familiar scent of wood and metal filled the air as soon as I stepped in, and the soft hum of guitars playing in the background seemed to settle my nerves.

I took a deep breath and walked through the aisles, heading straight for the strings section. My eyes scanned the familiar packs on the shelf, landing on the Elixir 10 Gauge for my acoustic guitar—mine was getting a bit rusty too. The same ones River and I had reached for yesterday. Without thinking too much about it, I grabbed a pack. I couldn't help but wonder.

Would he be here again?

I shrugged off the thought, telling myself it was ridiculous. But there was a nagging feeling that I just had to know. I took a few steps down the aisle, trying to act casual, like I wasn’t waiting for some kind of sign. Maybe I was just overthinking this.

And then I heard it. A soft, almost amused voice behind me.

"Back again?"

I froze.

I didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was.

It was River, standing there with that same smirk I had seen yesterday. This time, though, it was more like he was enjoying the situation. Like he was actually waiting for me to turn around.

"Really?" he said, his eyes scanning the pack of strings in my hand. "You're here again?"

I slowly turned around, trying to act unbothered. "Y-yeah, well. You know. I'm just here to get what I need," I replied, feeling my face heat up slightly. It was hard to pretend like this was just a coincidence anymore.

River raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Another set? I think that’s your fourth set. I mean, I get it, you're into your music, but seriously—what’s going on here? You following me or something?"

I scoffed, the words coming out a little sharper than I intended. "What? No. I’m just here for strings. This is literally my music store."

He seemed to contemplate that for a moment, his smirk never fading. "Right. Your music store." He glanced at the pack of strings I had picked out, then back at me. "You know, you could’ve just come up with a better excuse if you were really stalking me."

I felt my frustration bubble up, but I forced myself to stay calm. "I’m not stalking you, River. You don’t own the music store."

River chuckled, clearly entertained. "Okay, okay, fine. But let’s be real, Jade. What are the odds? You and I—same strings, twice? Something’s going on here."

"Nothing’s going on," I said, brushing him off. "It’s just a coincidence."

His gaze was steady, unblinking. "You sure about that?"

I bit my lip, my mind racing. I wasn’t sure what to make of this. Was it really just a coincidence? Was I reading too much into it? Or was there something more?

Before I could say anything else, River’s voice broke through the silence.

"Hey, you should come watch us practice sometime," he said, as if the suggestion came naturally. "We’re always looking for someone to listen, give feedback. Plus, you seem to know your stuff. Could be fun."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what? Watch you practice?"

He nodded, leaning against the shelf casually. "Yeah, we’ve got a band. We practice a lot, and it’s always nice to have someone else around, you know, just to get a different perspective."

I stood there, processing his words. A band? He was asking me to come watch him and his band practice?

"Why?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the idea. "Why me?"

He shrugged like it was no big deal. "You seem like you’re really into music, and I figured you might enjoy it. I’m not asking you to join or anything, just... come hang out."

I felt a strange mix of emotions. Part of me wanted to brush it off and act like it didn’t matter. But there was another part of me—one that was curious, intrigued by the offer, by the idea of seeing him outside of these random encounters.

"I don’t know," I muttered, still unsure. "I’m not sure what I’d even say or do. I’m not exactly a music critic."

River laughed lightly. "You don’t have to be. Basta pumunta ka lang and listen. If you like it, cool. If not, no big deal."

I took a deep breath, considering the invitation. Was I really going to go? Was this some weird fate playing out, or just another strange coincidence? I couldn’t tell.

Finally, I nodded slowly. "Alright. Sure. Why not."

River’s eyes brightened, and his grin returned. "Awesome. I’ll text you the details."

"Great," I said, a little more uncertain than I let on.

He turned to leave, but then paused. "Oh, and Jade?"

"Yeah?" I asked, looking up.

"Try not to make this a third coincidence, okay?" He grinned playfully and then walked off toward the counter.

I stood there for a moment, still holding the strings, trying to make sense of everything. My heart was racing a little faster than usual. What was going on between us? What was the real reason we kept running into each other like this?

Maybe it was just coincidence. But something inside me whispered that this wasn’t over yet.

I went to the counter and while the cashier was punching in my items, I immediately asked, "Sir, do you know each other?" referring to River.

"Yeah, cousins." He answered briefly. "May pinagmanahan."

That’s when it hit me.

WAIT, SO THIS MUSIC STORE BELONGS TO THEM?

I looked confused. "So, this store is your..."

"Yes." He said, and I froze. "Thank you." He smiled as he handed me the set of strings. "If you see him again, it’s not a coincidence anymore." He winked.

I just responded with an awkward smile. As I left the music store, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. What was I getting myself into? I wasn’t sure. But I was about to find out.