100 STEPS TO HIS HEART

EPILOGUE

MICO

"Happy Tres Gwapitos' Anniversary, you guys." Venice said while holding a white bouquet of flowers. It was a big celebration for us but no one was really happy nor celebrating. It has been eight years.

Eight years since Enzo left us.

We were back in 100 Steps To His Paradise: Me, Venice, Bryle, Miks, and Chelsea.

Last year, we celebrated our anniversary there and promised to come back complete.

"Come on, guys. It's been a year," Venice tried cheering us up, but her face says otherwise. Kita namang malungkot din siya.

"Why do we have to come back here? It doesn't make sense. We promised to come back together. Complete. Ayoko nang balikan ang lugar na ito," I said.

Why? Doon kami nag-a-anniversary kung saan dapat ikakasal sina Hope and Enzo, sa simbahan sa taas ng 100 steps. I could still clearly remember Hope's face when she saw me instead of Enzo; I was there at the altar instead of her groom. It was the last task, the most painful task that Enzo asked me to fulfill.

I could clearly remember how he asked me to do it.

FLASHBACK

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I asked Enzo who was standing outside my room.

Pumasok siya. "Can I ask you something?" mahina niyang sinabi.

"Ano 'yon?"

He just stared at me. He stared at me for a very long time while he was quiet and still.

"Pwede bang..." tumigil siya at bumuntonghininga. "Pwede bang ikaw ang tumayo sa pwesto ko bilang groom kapag... kapag..." Humawak siya sa ulo niya, tapos tumapat ang kamay niya sa may dibdib niya. "Kapag hindi ko na kinaya?"

Something in me shattered. "Are you fucking kidding me? No," I said.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. He must be kidding. Who in his right mind will ask a person what he's asking?

"Mico, please. Just do me a favor," pagmamakaawa ni Enzo habang papalapit sa akin.

"Bakit ako? Bakit ako na naman, Enzo? Alam mo ba kung gaano- stop being so selfish and stop hurting me! Ayoko! Please, ayoko!" sabi ko sa kanya.

He just stood there, looking defeated. I went up to him, and looked him in the eye.

"I love Hope, you know that. Pero hindi ko kaya ang pinapagawa mo. Please. 'Wag namang ganoon, Enzo. Kaya ko siyang ipaubaya sa'yo, but I really can't do this. Please. Leave me out of it. 'Wag mo na akong idamay," pakiusap ko kay Enzo.

"I'm sorry, Mico," that's the only thing he said.

"Enzo, alam mong mahal ko si Hope. Please... 'Wag ako. Iba na lang."

"Mico... please. Do this for me." Halos lumuhod na si Enzo sa harapan ko.

I wanted to be strong. I wanted to punch him in the face for asking me to do that. Pero I couldn't. Heto na naman. Mas nauuna pa rin ang friendship namin bago ang lahat.

"I'm sorry, Mico. I'm really sorry."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Ano bang ginawa ko sa'yo? Bakit ako? Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit ang makita si Hope na naglalakad na nakapangkasal tapos hindi ako ang ine-expect niya sa dulo? Ang makita ang gulat na mukha niya, na mapapalitan ng confusion tapos makikita ko na lang na nakakunot siya kasi hindi ikaw ang nandoon kundi ako. Alam mo ba Enzo kung gaano kasakit 'yon para sa akin? Enzo naman!" Itinayo ko si Enzo at sinabi ko lahat iyon sa mukha niya. Hindi ko na napigilan. Naiyak na ako sa lahat ng sinabi ko. Naiintindihan ko kasi. Alam ko kung bakit niya tinanong 'yon. Alam kong hindi si Enzo ang tipo ng tao na basta-basta na lang manghihingi ng favor, lalo na ang ganitong klaseng favor. Alam kong naisip na niya ang sinabi ko. At alam kong wala na siyang magawa.