After Don Sandro excused himself to rest, the three were left inside the study room with Bobet. Tumayo siya sa dating kinatatayuan ni Don Sandro para kausapin ang tatlo nitong anak. He was just about to open his mouth when the three started complaining again.

"Bobet, you know we had a deal. What happened?" ani Dario.

"Did you put this ridiculous idea inside his head? Hindi pa ba sapat ang pagmamanipula niya sa amin nang ilang taon?" reklamo naman ni Domingo.

"Paano pag puro babae ang naging anak ko? Hindi na ibibigay yung remainder ng mana?" was Danilo's concern.

Bobet let out an exasperated sigh. He addressed the oldest first, Dario. A few days earlier, nakatunog ito na kakausapin ang magkakapatid tungkol sa pamana ni Don Sandro. Dario asked to meet with his father to make a deal. According to Don Sandro, Dario was willing to let go of his inheritance as long as he would be granted his freedom. Don Sandro didn't even consider his son's request. "Do you think he's going to let you go just like that? The old man would never give you your freedom. At tingin mo ba papayag ang nanay mo na iwanan lahat ng 'to para lang magawa mo kung ano ang gusto mo?"

He then addressed Domingo, "He came up with this idea so don't shoot the messenger." And then, he turned to Danilo and smiled, "Up to three tries daw. Kapag wala talagang lalaki, ibibigay pa rin ang pamana kapag nakatatlong anak ka na."

Nilingon ni Domingo ang kapatid. "Are you seriously considering this?"

Danilo raised his hands and shrugged. As expected, wala itong masyadong pake basta siguradong hindi ito masyadong maghihirap. Among the three, Danilo was the least resistant. He would do what he was told as long as it would benefit him. Kaya sa tatlo, ito rin ang hindi masyadong pinuproblema ni Senyor. Danilo would cause small problems here and there, but not significant enough to get his father's attention.

Dario was only obedient because he thought he could use that obedience as leverage someday. Domingo... he was a whole problem on his own. The most stubborn, most defiant, and definitely the angriest among the three sons. Dito pinakamainit ang mata ni Senyor. Lahat ng galaw nito ay minamanmanan. Don Sandro also had hopes that he could bend Domingo's will someday. That would give the old man so much pleasure... to cut the horns of his most defiant son.

"They will be coming to town this weekend para sa fiesta," Bobet told them while pointing to the binders. "Sa fiesta rin ia-anunsyo ni Don Sandro ang engagement–"

"We have not agreed to this yet!" singhal ni Domingo.

Bobet raised his hand. "It's his engagement. Not yours."

Kumunot ang noo ni Danilo. "He's getting married again?"

"I guess your mother's finally getting what she wants, huh," Domingo told Dario.

The latter shook his head. "She would have told me about it. I don't think he ever intends to marry her."

Lalong lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng noo ni Danilo. "So kanino sya ikakasal? Is there someone else that we don't know about?"

Bobet crossed his arms against his chest and looked Domingo in the eye before delivering Don Sandro's punchline. Hindi pa man siya nagsasalita ay mukhang nakatunog na ito sa gusto niyang sabihin. As Domingo's eyes started to widen in disbelief, Bobet replied, "You've already met her earlier. Si Mariposa Salamanca."

–

Napapitlag ang mga katulong na nagkukunwaring maglinis sa labas ng study room nang biglang pataklab na bumukas ang pintuan noon. Domingo stormed out in big strides, face red with anger. Carlota managed to quickly remove the maid out of his way before he body slammed her. He didn't look like he was going to stop to say 'excuse me'.

Sunod na lumabas ang dalawa pang magkapatid. Dario looked defeated while Danilo looked inconvenienced and mildly annoyed. Huling lumabas si Bobet na may dala-dalang binders. The maids dispersed as soon as he got out of the room. Siya lamang ang hindi takot kay Bobet kaya naiwan siya para makibalita.

"Ano'ng nangyari? Bakit parang galit na galit si Sir Dom?" pang-uusyoso niya.

Napasapo si Bobet. Mukhang kunsumido ito kaagad sa magkakapatid, wala pang isang araw na nasa bahay iyong dalawa.

"Bobet?"

Bobet pointed to the indoor bar. Agad na tumakbo si Carlota papunta roon para kumuha ng maiinom nito. She took the whiskey decanter from the shelf and a glass from the nearby drawer. Iyon ang paboritong inumin ni Bobet kapag malapit na itong mag-altapresyon.

She poured whiskey into the glass and handed it to him. Bobet finished the glass in two gulps. And then, he exhaled.

Carlota waited for him to speak, knowing all too well that forcing him wouldn't do her any good. She gave him another glass of whiskey just in case his tongue needed more loosening.

Iniabot sa kanya ni Bobet ang hawak nitong binders. "Maraming darating na bisita this weekend," simula nito. "Nandyan sa binders yung list of preferences ng special guests. Aralin mo. Gusto ni Senyor na ikaw ang personal na mag-aasikaso sa kanila."

Binuklat ni Carlota ang isang binder. May pangalan iyon sa harap. Maria Celestine Morales Agoncillo, anak ng may-ari ng isa sa pinakasikat na local pharmaceutical companies sa bansa. Carlota was familiar with the brands under their corporation. Halos lahat ng hygiene products sa mansion, galing sa kumpanya na iyon.

"Sino sila? Bakit sila importante?"

"Mga napili ni Senyor yan."

"Para?"

He turned to her and answered, "Ipapakasal doon sa tatlo. Yan yung kay Sir Dom mo. Itong si Margarette, kay Danilo."

She took the binder with the name Margarette Alejandra Diaz, galing naman ito sa pamilya ng celebrities. They also have hundreds of food chains and franchises.

"Ito naman ang sa Sir Dario mo." Carlota took the last binder. Gabrielle Evangeline Chua Sy, dominante naman sa real estate ang pamilya nito at nagmamay-ari ng pinakasikat na mall chain sa buong bansa.

"Ikakasal na silang tatlo? Kelan?"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Depende kung gaano kalaki ang gusto nilang makuhang mana."

"Ibig sabihin?"

Bobet narrowed his eyes on her. "Marami ka pang gagawin, Carlota. Ilang araw na lang, darating na ang mga bisita."

Ngumuso siya. "Ikaw napakadamot mo sa tsismis!"

"Ipagkakalat mo lang sa mga kaibigan mo e." Bobet waved his hand to dismiss her. "Sige na. Marami pa akong gagawin."

–

Ilang araw na naging abala ang lahat ng tao sa mansion dahil sa mga bisitang darating. Napakaraming trabahador ang nabigyan ng trabaho na pang ilang araw. Mga mag-aayos ng hardin. Magpipintura. Mga karpintero na gagawa ng mga kubo... Arkilado rin ang mga magagaling na mananahi sa bayan.

Excitement filled the air. Malapit na naman kasi ang fiesta. Kilala si Don Sandro sa bongga nitong handaan. Kapag may okasyon, maraming bumibisita sa mansyon nito para makikain. This would be no different, lalo na at tatlong araw ang fiesta sa bayan nila.

Mas engrande pa ngayong darating na fiesta dahil iaanunsyo ni Don Sandro ang plano nitong pakasalan si Mariposa. Everyone would be shocked. A lot of people would probably be disgusted, pero sigurado rin si Bobet na tikom lamang ang bibig ng mga tao kahit maraming gustong sabihin ang mga ito. No one would really contest the Don's decisions.

Si Bobet ang punong-abala sa pag-aayos ng mansyon at pag-aasikaso ng mga bisita. He had to delegate some tasks to Carlota and his brother or else he would be overwhelmed. He tasked Carlota to oversee the preparations for the fiesta. Si Biboy naman ang nag-entertain sa tatlong magkakapatid.

Bobet had to double the security detail because of the important guests that would be arriving soon. Siya rin ang kausap ng mga katiwala ng mga bisita. They were all very demanding, but understandably so. Dadayo ang mga ito sa lupain ng mga Jimenez.

"Bobet!" Carlota came rushing into his study Friday afternoon. "Nandyan na sila, Bobet!"

"Nasa harap na?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Hindi! Nasa bayan pa. Bumili raw kasi ng softdrinks yung Margarette kina Pacita. Nakwento lang nya sa 'kin. Mukha raw kasing taga-Maynila. Ang ganda raw ng sasakyan," tuloy-tuloy nitong sabi.

Bobet let out a sigh. "Ang layo pa pala. Aligaga ka naman masyado."

"Malapit na yun! Nasa bayan na sila e. Ngayon din ba ang dating nung iba? Tatlong kotse raw yung magkakasabay na pumarada sa tindahan nina Pacita."

"Tatlong kotse talaga ang darating. For each of them," he explained. "Isang kotse para sa mga tauhan ni Senyor. Isang kotse para sa tauhan ng mga dalaga. Tapos isang kotse na sasakyan ng mismong bisita."

Carlota's mouth formed an 'O'. "Kakasya kaya sila sa parking? Anim na sasakyan na yung nakaparada rito. Meron pang apat sa likod."

"Chineck mo ba yung mga sasakyan sa likod kanina?" tanong niya kay Carlota.

Umiling ito. "Hindi. Bakit?"

"Isa na lang ang nakaparada dun ngayon. Yung tatlo, umalis kaninang madaling-araw."

"Ah.... so kakasya lahat?"

"Sa labas ng gate ipaparada yung ibang sasakyan ni Senyor." Bobet looked at the clock and stood up when he realized it was time to meet the guests. He put on his light brown coat over his white shirt and pulled the sleeves up to his elbows. Don Sandro instructed him to wear coats and suits for the weekend, kahit alam naman ng matanda na mas kumportable siya sa button up shirts at jeans.

Para raw mas mukha siyang presentable.

"Mukha kang magmi-meeting," kumento ni Carlota.

"Weird, no?" He kept adjusting the lapel of his coat. It was loose enough and breathable enough, but in this weather? He never had to wear a uniform before. Don Sandro really meant business this time.

"Hindi naman. Ang pogi-pogi mo nga e." Carlota gave him a big grin and a wink.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Wala kang makukuhang increase ngayon, Carlota."

"Pero may bonus?"

Bobet exhaled. "Galingan mo ngayong weekend. Bubulungan ko si Senyor," pangako niya.

"Yan ang gusto ko sa 'yo, e!" Kumapit ito sa braso niya at hinila siya palabas ng maliit niyang office. "Tara na. Feeling ko nakapasok na sila sa gate."

–

Carlota was right, as usual. Agad siyang bumitaw kay Bobet nang makalabas sila ng mansyon. Right on cue, the three cars that her friend, Pacita, spotted earlier stopped in front of the fountain. Kasunod siya ni Bobet para salubungin ang bagong dating. The first one to arrive was Margarette. Unang bumaba ng sasakyan ang mga tauhan ni Senyor at mga bodyguard ng dalaga. Then, an old lady in uniform got out of the middle car first. Binuklat nito ang hawak na pamaymay at saka inalalayang bumaba ang dalaga mula sa loob.

Napamaang si Carlota sa hitsura ng dalaga. Nakasuot ito ng maiksing denim skirt at puting t-shirt na hindi umabot sa pusod nito ang laylayan. Naka-boots din ito na may takong. Tapos ay may suot na sunglasses na halos sakupin ang kalahati ng mukha nito... ng napakaliit nitong mukha. Tuwid na tuwid ang mahaba nitong buhok na kauunat lang yata sa salon bago ito magbyahe. Nag-ayos kaya ito sa loob ng sasakyan bago ito makarating? Carlota has traveled to places before. Granted na madalas sa palengke o karatig-bayan lang, pero nakapagbyahe na siya. Sigurado siyang hindi ganoon kapula ang mga labi at pisngi niya kapag nagbibyahe... unless sobrang lamig.

Pinaningkit niya ang mga mata para suriin kung pinagpawisan ba ito sa byahe. Fresh na fresh kasi ito.

Carlota followed closely when Bobet approached the newcomer. Margarette touched her sunglasses and lowered it a little to eye Bobet. Kumurba ang mga labi nito.

Carlota couldn't blame her. Madalas mapagkamalang anak ni Senyor si Bobet dahil sa hitsura nito. Gwapo ito at malakas ang dating. He would quietly occupy a space but rest assured all eyes will follow his every move. Gwapo rin si Biboy, but not in a grown man kind of way. Si Biboy kasi medyo boyish pa, saka palangiti. Approachable kumbaga. Si Bobet medyo antipatiko ang dating, pero gustong-gusto iyon ng mga babae sa bayan, lalo na ng kaibigan ni Carlota na handa siyang alayan ng ilang kilong isda para lamang mabitbit niya si Bobet sa palengke at masilayan nito.

Sabay silang lumaki ni Bobet. Nakababatang kapatid na ang turing nito sa kanya. Para siyang middle child, between Bobet and Biboy. Kaya wala siya ni katiting na pagkagusto rito. But what she has for him is admiration. She couldn't think of anyone who can do what he does. Kapag wala si Bobet sa mansyon, nagkakagulo ang lahat. Wala kasing ibang mapagkakatiwalaan doon kagaya ng pagkakatiwala ni Senyor dito.

"Hi. Ms. Margarette? How was your trip?" bati ni Bobet.

"It's fine. A bit dusty," sagot ni Margarette. "You are...?"

"I'm Bobet Aguirre, katiwala ni Senyor."

"Oh." All the lingering admiration in Margarette's eyes was gone in a snap. Pasimpleng tumango-tango si Carlota. Naintindihan niya kaagad ang pagbabago sa demeanor ng dalaga. She was attracted to the name, more than anything.

"Come this way, please," Bobet ushered her and her staff. "Carlota..."

Agad siyang lumapit at tinulungan ang katulong sa pagbubuhat ng mga personal na gamit ng dalaga.