the man sitting opposite me similed dreamily ,as if ___something pleasant in the past

the man sitting opposite me similed dreamily ,as if ___something pleasant in the past.
答案是to remember。
我想这句话是省略了as if he was to remember something
但是这样意思好像将要回想起，而实际上是已经回想起了。
to remember在这里到底怎么解释呢?

to 不是“将要”，而应理解为“为了”，as if to remember something pleasant in the past 的意思是“好像试着回忆起一些开心的往事”

a