Mariposa de Barrio

Chapter 7: The Morning After

"Nasaan si Carlota?" tanong ni Senyor kinabukasan. Si Aling Rosita ang naghanda ng almusal nito at ito rin ang nagsilbi ng agahan sa kanila.

"Nag-celebrate ng engagement ni Mariposa, Senyor. Tulog pa yata," sagot ni Bobet.

"Hm." Don Sandro smirked. Humigop ito ng kape bago binuklat ang dyaryong nakahanda sa lamesa. Just as Bobet expected, the old man didn't mind. Kung ano ang higpit nito sa mga lalaki sa mansyon, mula sa mga anak nito hanggang sa kanila ni Biboy, siya namang luwag nito pagdating kay Carlota.

Kaya palagi itong inaakusahan na may favoritism.

Bobet sipped his own coffee. He almost groaned when the liquid hit his throat. He needed that. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya malalampasan ang maghapon niya nang walang kape. Mabuti at tulog pa ang mga tao. Danilo and Margarette spent time partying outside with the visitors. Sabi ni biboy mukhang nagkasundo raw ang dalawa. They probably got along because they both like drinking and dancing.

Domingo disappeared from his room last night. Bobet had Fabian follow him, and he didn't like what he reported to him around midnight. The spawn just announced his engagement to Mariposa last night, and then, a few hours later, he was already sharing the bed with another woman at the next town. He would have to inform Don Sandro about it, of course. Siya ang malilintikan kapag nalaman nito ang tungkol doon mula sa ibang tao.

Dario looked defeated after the talk with the old man. Celestine looked confused. She looked like she couldn't decide whether to be upset or relieved by the Don's announcement.

Dahilan ni Don Sandro, he never really promised to marry off Domingo to Celestine. Sinabi lang daw nito na ipakakasal nito ang anak nito sa dalaga. Don Sandro believed that Celestine wouldn't be a good match to Domingo because she would not be able to handle his temper. His rage could only be subdued by a more intense, more potent emotion... which the old man believed his son shared with Mariposa.

"Sa susunod na buwan na talaga sila ikakasal, Senyor?" tanong niya sa matanda.

"Next week, next month, next year... as long as they get married while I'm still alive, and give me a grandson before I die, okay ako," sagot nito sabay ngiti.

Malakas pa sa kabayo si Don Sandro. That was the image that the old man wanted the world to see. He has had a few scares in the last year, and none of his children knew. Kaya nito lamang taon ay napagpasyahan ng matanda na pabalikin ang mga anak nito para mapag-usapan na ang mana. He already had his will revised a few times. Kahit si Bobet ay hindi pa iyon nasisilip. Only Don Sandro's attorney had access to the will.

Maganda ang mood ni Don Sandro kaya hindi sila nagtagal sa hapag. The Don went off to walk outside after breakfast. Siya naman ay kinatok sina Mariposa at Carlota para mag-agahan. It was already almost seven in the morning pero hindi pa rin lumalabas si Carlota.

Bobet called a maid to open the door, to make sure that everyone inside was decent before he walked in. Nang tanguan siya ng katulong ay pumasok na siya ng kwarto ni Mariposa. Nailing siya sa hitsura ng kababata. Nakahilata ito sa sahig, arms and legs spread like a snow angel. Nakanganga pa ito.

"Pakilabas ng mga kalat," sabi niya sa katulong. He clearly remembered giving Carlota just one bottle of alcohol last night, but they found seven empty bottles on the floor and almost empty bags of chips and snacks.

Wala si Mariposa sa kama nito. It didn't look like someone slept on the bed. Frowning, Bobet went to the bathroom to see if she was there. He opened it just a little and waited, in case she was in the shower. Nang walang nag-ingay mula sa loob at nilakihan niya ang bukas ng pinto.

He found her sleeping in the bathtub. May nakalagay doon na kumot at unan. She was in a fetal position, sleeping like a baby. Yumuko siya para tingnan itong mabuti.