100 DAYS OF YOU (A MAYWARD STORY)

Part 85

Nakatambay ako sa isang bench sa school while waiting for my next class.

'Is the seat taken?' Someone asked.

Iniangat ko ang ulo ko and there I saw Hope.

'Bakante naman.' Sagot ko.

Babalik na sana ako sa ginagawang pagbabasa pero mukhang hindi lang basta pagupo ang balak ni Hope gawin.

'How's you and Ethan?' Tanong niya sa akin.

Napakunot ako ng noo. 'Hindi ba dapat ako ang magtanong niyan sa yo? Kamusta naman kayo?'

Natawa si Hope. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

'You're so cute Maddie!' She said while she continues to laugh.

'Ano naman ang nakakatawa dun?' Naiinis kong tanong.

'Do you really think something is up with me and Ethan?' Tanong niya.

'Bakit naman hindi? Halata naman.' Sabi ko naman.

'You got it all wrong.' She turned to face me.

'I'm sorry kung naging dahilan ako ng pagkakalabuan ninyong dalawa. It was never my intention. Me and Ethan. We are bestfriends. No one can change that. Not even you.' She said directly.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang purpose ni Hope sa paglapit sa akin but I guess I am gonna find out soon.

'Ethan is like a brother to me. I am an only child Maddie. Malungkot ang buhay ko. Having Ethan around makes me feel I have a family kaya yes, I am clingy sa kanya.' Paguumpisa niya.

She faced infront of us and started talking more.

'I know you know what happened between me and Ethan when we were young. Hindi ko yun itatanggi sayo. How you interpret it is up to you. We can't change that. That's one of the things you have to accept! It's a part of me and Ethan's past you have to understand.'

'Pano kung hindi ko kayang tanggapin?' Pano ko matitiis na makita silang laging magkasama na ang nasa isip ko ay kung paano nila naibigay ang sarilinsa isa't isa. None of them looks like they regretted whay happened.

'Then you don't deserve Ethan. Ethan deserves a person that is willing to accept who he was. Who he's been with and a person who trusts him enough to let go of all those things.'

'And is that person, you?' Parang yun kasi ang dating sa akin.

'I wish I am. How I hope I can give him that kind of love he deserves but no. I am not that person and I will never be that person.' I can sense sadness in Hope's voice.

'Why not?'

'Cause as much as I want to be that person for him. I couldn't be enough. He loves you Maddie. He only loves you.' A tear fell from Hope's eyes.

'I went to the states after what happened between me and Ethan. Ethan is my bestfriend and I know that the moment we go beyond that, our friendship would change. I am a fucked up person Maddie. Magulo ang buhay ko ang pamilya ko and the only thing stable for me is Ethan. He admitted into liking me before, I said I didn't but that's a lie. I've always liked him. He said he'd wait for me. I hoped that he would para kapag okay na ako, babalikan ko sya. Until I have heard about you. Posts from Tita Cathy, from Laureen and especially Ethan. Aaminin ko nainngit ako non. Mukhang may aagaw na sa besrfriend ko. Kaya ako umuwi. Umasa ako na baka sakaling pag bumalik na ako. Marealize ni Ethan na ako talaga yung gusto niya at hindi ikaw.' Natawa na naman si Hope sa mga nasabi niya.

'But when I got here and I saw how Ethan looks at you, I swear, I have never seen him look at anyone like that. Not even to me. He looks at you as if you are his world, his everything.' I can see that Hope is hurting with what she's saying.