Mariposa de Barrio

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home

The sound of incessant knocking woke Danilo up. Kunot-noo siyang tumingin sa paligid. It was still dark inside. Granted that the thick curtains were still drawn, pero hindi pa handang gumising ang katawang lupa niya. It was too early.

He looked at the clock on the bedside table and groaned. Who the fuck would knock on someone's door at four in the morning?

The knocker was persistent. Tuloy-tuloy ang pagkatok nito. Occasionally, they would twist the doorknob to attempt to go in, but the bedroom door was locked. Bumangon si Danilo at umupo sa gilid ng kama. Huminga siya nang malalim para kumalma. Ayaw niyang mag-init ang ulo. Hindi pa lumalabas ang araw, ang sama na kaagad ng mood niya.

Nasa penthouse unit siya sa pinakatuktok ng building. Dalawa ang apartment units na nandoon. Hindi niya kilala ang nakatira sa kabilang unit dahil bihira itong umuwi. The knocking came from outside his bedroom door, which meant that the person had access to his unit. Kilala niya ang kumakatok. Imposibleng magnanakaw iyon because what kind of thief would knock first?

"I'm up!" sigaw niya.

Saka lamang tumigil ang pagkatok. "Open the fucking door!"

Mas lalong nangunot ang noo niya. Bakit nandito ang half-brother niya nang ganitong oras? What would Domingo want at this hour? Napahilamos siya ng mukha bago pilit na tumayo at tinungo ang pintuan. When he opened the door, light flooded in. He raised his hand to cover his eyes.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Get dressed. We're going home."

Ibinaba niya ang kamay para tingnan ang mukha nito. Domingo's sharp jawline was tense. He looked so serious. Matalas din ang tingin nito na para bang may kasalanan siyang ginawa. His brother could be thinking about blaming him for not waking up sooner. With his unpredictable temper, Danilo has already learned that it was always safer to assume the worst.

"Now?"

"I'll give you 30 minutes to gather your things," sabi nito sabay alis. He clicked his tongue and shook his head. Bakit naman nito naisipang umuwi bigla? He was so adamant that he didn't want to go home? What changed?

–

"Good morning, Mars!" masayang bati ni Carlota sa kaibigan nitong tindera sa palengke. Carmelita chopped the head of a fish before looking up and smiling at her. Si Carlos naman ay sumingit sa gitna nila at ngumiti rin sa kanya.

"Morning!" bati nito. "Parang ang saya-saya mo ngayon."

"Gano'n talaga. Dapat palagi tayong masaya," sagot niya rito. "May hipon pa ba kayo?"

"Ito na lang." Carlos pointed to the small clump of shrimp spread on a banana leaf. "Ang dami kasing bumili kanina."

"Hala. Parang wala pang isang kilo 'to," simangot niyang sabi.

"Ilan ba ang kailangan mo?" tanong naman ni Carmelita.

"Limang kilo sana."

Napamulagat ang magkapatid sa sagot niya. Maramihan sila kung mamalengke sa mansion dahil maraming pagkain ang inihahanda nila. Pero bihirang umabot sa punto na bibili siya ng limang kilong hipon. It would always be a kilo or a couple of kilos of assorted things. Syempre, hindi pwedeng iisa lamang klase ng pagkain ang nakahain sa hapag, lalo na kapag si Senyor ang kakain.

"Ano'ng okasyon?" tanong ni Carlos.

"Darating yung dalawang anak ni Senyor," sagot niya.

"Talaga? Bakit?!"

"E, pinauuwi nung matanda. Kaya kailangan ko sana ng limang kilong hipon. Nag-request ng sinigang at buttered shrimp e. Saka dalawang kilong tilapia, apat na kilong tahong, at tatlong malalaking bangus."