Mariposa de Barrio

Chapter 6: Loving You Had Consequences

Domingo gave the mic back to the host, who had shock written all over his face. Carlota didn't know what information was told to the host. At the very least, siguro alam nito ang dapat na iaanunsyo ni Senyor.

Mariposa looked so confused. Alam kaya nito ang plano ni Senyor para rito?

"Okay ka lang, Carlos?" tanong ni Pacita sa kaibigan nila.

Carlota looked at her friend who was as white as a sheet. Matagal nang may gusto si Carlos kay Mariposa. Teenager pa lang yata ito. Maraming manliligaw ang dalaga simula nang katorse anyos ito. Nobody considered how young she was back then. Mapa-matandang malapit na sa hukay o mga may asawa, nagpakita ng motibo sa dalaga. She was a flower in their eyes, a flower that just bloomed and was waiting to be plucked.

Todo ingat si Aling Marites noon. Ang tanging nakakalapit lamang kay Mariposa ay si Don Sandro at si Domingo. But Domingo was just a friend back then. If they shared something more than friendship, Carlota wouldn't know. One moment they were inseparable, and the next, Domingo was acting like he didn't know her at all.

Carlos had hoped that he could at least woo her. Sa isip ng kaibigan niya, hindi ito "worthy" na manligaw kay Mariposa. Dahil daw sa tindero lang ito ng isda sa palengke. Kahit na tindera lang din naman ng prutas si Mariposa sa palengke.

Maybe because everyone knew that Mariposa could get any man she wanted, even the richest man in the land.

Tinapik ni Carmelita sa balikat ang kapatid. "Ayos lang yan. Sinabi ko naman na sa 'yo dati pa, di ba? Tigilan mo na yang kahibangan mo." There was a twinge of sadness in Carmelita's voice when she said that. Na para bang sarili nito ang pinangangaralan nito. Alam ni Carmelita na may posibilidad na hindi rin ito papatulan ni Bobet. Try as she might to mask her own insecurity, Carmelita also didn't think she was worthy of Bobet's affection because she was just a fish vendor.

Kinuha ni Carlos ang bote ng alak sa lamesa at walang kaabog-abog iyong tinungga. Shaking her head, Carlota got up to get a few more bottles of beer for her friends.

–

Bobet held his breath as they exited the stage. Naunang bumaba sina Mariposa at Domingo. Bumaba na rin ang dalawa pang anak ni Don Sandro na naguguluhan din sa nangyari kanina. May ideya naman siya sa plano ng matanda, he just didn't trust that Domingo would take the bait.

Bobet groaned when he saw Isidro approaching. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito sa galit. "What the fuck was that?!" tanong nito sabay tulak sa kanya. "Why the fuck did he make that announcement? Kay Celestine sya ikakasal, di ba?! Pinapunta nyo lang ba kami rito para insultuhin?!"

Celestine came running behind him and held his arm back. "Hey! Calm down! I'm sure there's an explanation for this."

She looked at him as if waiting for him to provide said explanation. But all he could do was open his mouth and say, "I'm sure there is."

Bobet stepped aside when the old man touched his shoulder from behind. Nilingon niya ito. Alam naman niya ang dahilan. Hindi lang niya masabi nang walang permiso galing sa matanda. The old man nodded at him and looked at Celestine and Isidro. "I am sorry for the confusing turn of events." He turned to Bobet. "Magpatawag ka ng meeting sa study room ko."

"Opo, Senyor."

He excused himself to instruct the guards to round up the old man's sons and their fiancées.

–

Ilang beses nang nakapasok sa study room ni Senyor si Mariposa. But this was the first time that she was in it with Don Sandro's sons and two visitors na mga mapapangasawa raw ng mga anak nito.