🎼 Prelude: Before the Leaf
[Flashback 3: Noime – The Girl Who Loved Loud and Lost Quietly]
Noime grew up in a house full of brothers.
Kaya sanay siyang sumigaw para marinig. Sanay makipagsabayan. Sanay sa kulitan at takbuhan, hindi sa iyakan at lambingan.
So when she discovered rhythm—drums, tambourines, claps, taps, beats— She felt seen.
Finally, she had something that spoke for her.
In college, she joined the ensemble for extra credits, not expecting much— until she met Sebastian.
Graceful. Focused. Gentle.
He wasn’t like the boys she grew up with. He noticed things. Remembered small stuff. Genuinely listened when she spoke.
She fell. Hard.
And since Noime was always taught to be brave, she showed it.
Little gestures. Jokes. Snacks na may "oh wow, favorite mo 'yan? 'di ko sinadyang bilhin..." Pero... Sebastian didn’t see it.
Or maybe he chose not to see.
She caught him once, staring at Shine during practice.
And suddenly, all the noise inside her stopped.
That night, she played her rhythm piece alone in the dark hall, tears dripping silently onto the drum. No words. No confessions.
Just a quiet beat…
“Tug tug.” “Tug tug.”
Steady, even as her heart cracked.
From then on, she just smiled more.
And made herself believe that just being beside him was enough.
🎼✨❣️🌿