Mariposa de Barrio

Prologue

Sampung minuto nang nakatitig si Bobet Aguirre sa phone niyang nakapatong sa lamesa ng maliit niyang office. He just got back from Don Sandro's study room. May pinaplano na naman ang matanda at siya na naman ang natalagang mag-execute.

He was raised by the old man along with his younger brother, Biboy. Para na niya itong tatay. Ito ang nag-alaga sa kanilang magkapatid simula nang mamatay ang mga magulang nila.

Kapalit noon ang loyalty at service ni Bobet. Whatever the old man wanted, he provided. Whatever the old man asked of him, he did.

But this recent task that was assigned to him, mukhang sasakit na naman ang ulo niya nang matindi-tindi.

He picked up his phone and sighed.

Una niyang dinial ang number ni Leandro Dario Jimenez, Don Sandro's first eldest son, the oldest among his three spawns. Nasa mansion lang ito, probably in his room.

"Yes?" sagot nito makailang ring.

"Teka, iku-conference ko." Bobet dialed the next person required at the meeting, Luis Danilo Jimenez, the third eldest son and the youngest among the three.

"Heyyyy," bati nito. "What's up?"

"Wait. May isa pa."

He heard Dario groan on the other line. "What is this about, Bobet?"

"Teka."

He put them on hold as he dialed the last number. It took a while before he answered. Muntik nang sukuan ni Bobet.

Thankfully, he finally picked up after almost a minute of ringing.

"What?!"

Agad siyang napasapo. Leon Domingo Jimenez is Don Sandro's second eldest son and the "middle" child. For a middle child, he was certainly problematic and unpredictable.

"Uy, bro," bati ni Danilo kay Domingo. To which the latter just answered with a grunt.

"What is it, Bobet?" tanong ni Domingo. "Patay na ba yung matanda?"

"Hindi pa. Wag kang excited," sagot niya. "But he's dying. Pinapauwi kayo para i-discuss yung mana."

"Akala ko ba sa paboritong anak ibibigay lahat?" sarkastikong tanong ni Domingo.

"He has no favorite," singit ni Dario.

"Ah, hindi ba ikaw?" natatawang sabat ni Danilo.

"Umuwi kayo bago mag-fiesta. Or else, baka kay Dario na talaga mapunta lahat ng ari-arian ni Don Sandro."

"K. Thanks for the heads up," sabi ni Domingo bago nito tinapos ang tawag. The other two fell silent for a while, bago sunod na nagpaalam si Danilo.

Bumuntong-hininga si Bobet. Maybe the old man was asking for too much?

"I told you it wouldn't work," sabi sa kanya ni Dario bago nito ibaba ang telepono.

Muntik nang itapon ni Bobet ang phone sa inis. Pabagsak niya iyong inilagay sa lamesa at saka siya sumandal sa swivel chair. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, wondering how he could convince the two guys to go home.

"Kuya?" Sumilip si Biboy sa pinto na kakabukas nito. "Kumusta? Ano'ng nangyari? Uuwi daw ba sila?"

He sighed exasperatedly. "Di ko alam."

It was not exactly an easy task. Gusto ni Don Sandro na pauwiin ang tatlo nitong panganay. Pero hindi naman magkakasundo ang tatlo, especially Dario and Domingo.

Sa tatlo, ang ina ni Domingo ang tunay na asawa ni Don Sandro. Dario's mom was Don Sandro's woman before he met Domingo's mom. Mas mahal ni Don Sandro ang ina ni Dario. That was why when Don Sandro and Domingo's mother got married, hindi pa rin pinutol ni Don Sandro ang relasyon nito sa ina ni Dario.

Dario was born a couple of years before Domingo. Domingo was only conceived because Don Sandro needed a legitimate heir. Dahil doon, may hidwaan ang dalawa simula pagkabata.

Domingo hated how Don Sandro disregarded his mother during her short life. Mas lalong sumama ang loob nito nang patirahin ni Don Sandro sina Dario at ang ina nito pagkamatay ng ina ni Domingo.

Si Danilo naman... anak ni Don Sandro sa isa sa mga katulong. He didn't exactly resent the old man, but he loved his freedom too much to the point that when Domingo was permitted to leave, he left shortly afterwards.

"Ano'ng plano mo?" tanong ni Biboy sa kanya.

Ano'ng plano niya? Hindi rin niya alam. But he has to succeed. He just has to.