100 STEPS TO HIS HEART

CHAPTER 38 (M)

"We're here," sabi ni Enzo.

Tumingin ulit ako sa labas at sa may entrance, nakita ko ang malaking sign: 100 Steps to His Paradise. Iyon ang venue ng anniversary ng Tres Gwapitos. Dahil pwedeng iyon na ang maging last anniversary nila nang magkakasama. Special event iyon kasama ang buong barkada with Miks and Chelsea.

Tinanong ko kay Enzo kung bakit ganoon ang pangalan ng venue na pag-aari ng mga Gutierrez. Ang sabi niya malalaman ko raw 'yon sa takdang panahon.

Pumasok kami sa loob at pagdating naming lahat sa reception, ibinigay sa amin ang susi sa mga kwarto.

During dinner, lahat kami tahimik na kumain. Hindi namin alam pero parang may malungkot na aura sa paligid.

Magkakatabi sina Venice at Bryle, Miks at Chelsea, at nasa pagitan naman ako ni Mico at Enzo.

Noong halos patapos na ang lahat kumain, tumayo si Enzo tapos binatingting ang hawak na baso gamit ang kanyang tinidor.

"Before anything else, I just want to say a message for everyone. I know I'm not this type of guy, and before, you will hardly hear me say a word. But I just want to use all the time that I have left and tell everything that I want to say. So here it goes."

"Chelsea, I want to thank you for being there for me when Eula died. I had no one to talk to, but you were there. I can't tell Hope, or the others because they will know my secret, then. Pero ikaw, hindi ka nagtanong. So, thank you for being there for me that time, and I'm sorry that Eula had to go. She was a fantastic girl, and I know she loves you so much."

Napangiti naman si Chelsea sa kanya tapos tumango.

"Miks, you're a brave young dude, and alam ko na noong wala pa kami, ikaw ang nag-aalaga kay Hope. I know there was a time na nagselos ka sa amin kasi inagaw namin ang oras ni Hope sa'yo, but I just want to say thanks for always being there for Hope."

Tumango lang din si Miks tapos nginitian siya ni Enzo.

"Venice. My Venice. Our princess. You're my girl bestfriend, so I'm sorry that I've kept this a secret. I just don't really want to hurt you. I'm sorry na hindi ko nasabi sa'yo and I know you're hurting. So, thank you for not crying in front of me, because if you do, masasaktan talaga ako. Please take care of yourself always. I know Bryle's always there for you, but I want you to take extra care of yourself. I don't think I will be there if you and Bryle get married, but in spirit, I will be. So, please keep your relationship strong. Walang susuko this time, ha?" sabay tingin din kay Bryle. Si Venice naman, tumayo tapos tumakbo kay Enzo at yumakap habang umiiyak.

"Ortega, I want to thank you for being the big brother that I never had. I'm sorry if hindi ko rin nasabi sa inyo ni Mico. I wanted to, but I was scared. How do you tell someone that you're dying without hurting them? I didn't want to hurt you guys, and I was really torn. Do I tell them? Or do I not? If I tell them, I can share everything to them. I won't have to face all of this alone, but if I don't tell them, hindi sila masasaktan. If you guys see me, wala ang tinging naawa, na nasasaktan, na masaya kasi hindi pa ako nawawala. I always say that all of this is so unfair. Why me? I'm young. I have my whole life ahead of me. I have a perfect family, true friends, the girl that I love. Why does he have to take everything away from me? Including my life," tapos umiyak na si Enzo roon.

Agad akong tumayo para yakapin siya. Noong nakita niya ako, bigla niya akong hinigit at niyakap na parang kailangang-kailangan niya ako. Hindi ko napigilang ngumiti kasi kita iyon ng lahat. Nakita ko rin namang nakangiti sila.