"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.

She was clearly drunk. She reeked of alcohol. Saka niya napansin ang toilet na marumi na dahil sa suka. Mariposa must have visited the bathroom a few times last night to vomit. And she probably decided to just sleep there to save herself the trip.

Bobet shook his head and clicked his tongue. He put his hand on the back of her folded knees and the other behind her shoulder. With a grunt, he picked her up carefully to carry her to the bed.

Nakaupo na si Carlota si sahig nang lumabas siya ng banyo. Ginising yata ng katulong. Naniningkit ang mga mata nitong tumingin sa kanya. She was scratching her head, looking around with a confused expression on her face.

Maingat niyang ibinaba si Mariposa sa kama at saka ito kinumutan. Sunod niyang hinila patayo si Carlota.

"Pinayagan kitang uminom, hindi maglango sa alak," pangaral niya rito.

"Sorry na," ungot ni Carlota. "Si Ganda kasi... humirit pa e."

Tinutukan niya ito sa noo. "Pinagbigyan mo naman!" he hissed.

Ngumuso ito at sumandal sa kanya. "Bobet naman, pwede bang mamaya mo na 'ko pagalitan? Nangangasim pa sikmura ko," himutok nito.

He pulled Carlota by the arm out of the room and escorted her downstairs. "Maligo ka na. Amoy kang kural."

–

When Mariposa woke up, it was already almost noon. Pumipintig ang ulo niya sa sakit. The lights from the outside were blinding. Her throat was very dry and a bit sore. She remembered vomiting several times last night. Sa alaala niya, para siyang nasa bangka na inuuga ng malakas na alon. Even remembering what last night felt like made her want to vomit, but it didn't seem like she had anything left in her stomach to empty.

She frowned when she noticed that she was already on the bed. Sa pagkakatanda niya, nagdala na siya ng kumot at unan sa banyo. Napagod na kasi siyang magpabalik-balik sa banyo para sumuka. The tub was surprisingly comfortable. Nilamig lang siya nang kaunti.

Bumangon siya at nagtungo ng banyo para sana maglinis ng kalat niya roon. Pero pagpasok niya, malinis na ang toilet. It was like it was not even used since last night.

Naghilamos siya at nagsipilyo sa banyo bago siya bumalik sa kwarto para ayusin ang higaan niya. After fixing the bed, she opened the door and peeked outside. May narinig siyang nag-uusap sa hindi kalayuan. With her fuzzy slippers, Mariposa walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. Naabutan niyang nakaupo si Carlota sa dining area ng mga katulong.

"Magandang umaga," bati niya rito matapos makainom ng tubig.

Nakasapo ito sa ulo. Carlota groaned. Tumingin ito sa kanya, naniningkit ang mga mata. "Kumusta ang tulog mo, Ganda?"

"Medyo masakit ang ulo ko," pag-amin niya. Naparami ang inom nilang dalawa kagabi. Hindi niya matandaan ang lahat ng sinabi niya kay Carlota, but she was sure that she even cried at one point.

Dumukot si Carlota sa bulsa at inilapag sa lamesa ang isang banig ng paracetamol. May bawas na iyong isa. "Bumili ako ng gamot kanina," sabi nito.

Kumuha siya at uminom noon. "Salamat."

"Gutom ka na? Ipaghahanda kita ng almusal." Pagkasabi ay tumayo ito para sana kumuha ng pagkain, pero napaupo rin ito kagaad at sinapo ang ulo.

"Ako na," sabi niya rito. She walked up to the stove and looked for food. May isang malaking kawa na may lamang sinangag at isang mababaw na pan na may lutong longganisa. Mayroon ding food cover sa kitchen counter na tinatakpan ang iba't ibang luto ng itlog.

Kumuha si Mariposa ng plato at nilagyan iyon ng mga pagkain. She was about to sit on the dining chair when Carlota stopped her.

"Ganda, wag dito!" sabi nito sa kanya. Carlota took her plate. "Doon ka sa malaking hapag. Puro katulong lang ang kumakain dito."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Mag-isa lang naman akong kakain. Di ko kailangan ng malaking lamesa."

"Kahit na. Pagagalitan ako kapag dito kita pinakain."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Kapag sa kwarto ako kakain, may magagalit ba?"

Nang umiling si Carlota ay kinuha niya rito ang plato at saka siya naglakad pabalik sa kwarto. "Ganda, ako na!" Carlota said behind her, but she just kept walking. Bumalik ito ng kusina nang nasa may hagdan na siya. Halfway up, she noticed that Carlota came back with a woven basket tray. May laman iyong isang basong tubig, isang baso ng orange juice, at isang tasa ng kape. It also came with coffee creamers, sugar, and utensils. Saka ni Mariposa naalala na wala siyang dalang kutsara't tinidor.

She waited for Carlota to reach the top of the stairs before opening the bedroom door and letting the maid in. Ipinatong nito ang mga dala sa coffee table sa loob ng guest room.

"Kumain ka na ba?" tanong niya rito nang mailapag ang pagkain.

"Oo. Kanina pa." Carlota took the drinks out of the basket and put them on the table. "May kailangan ka pa?"

"Hindi ko ubos lahat 'yan," sabi niya rito.

"Okay lang, Ganda. Ibabalik ko na lang sa kusina yung hindi mo mauubos. Kain ka na."

"Dito ka lang?" tanong niya nang hindi ito umalis.

"Pwede? Tinatamad akong magtrabaho e. Uutusan ako pag may nakakita sa 'kin sa baba."

Napangiti siya sa sinabi nito. "Sige. Pwede ka ring matulog muna. Di naman kita isusumbong."

Tumingin ito sa kama. Saka pabalik sa kanya. "Talaga?"

"Oo nga. Matulog ka muna. Gigisingin kita kapag tapos na akong kumain."

Ngumisi si Carlota. "Sige! Salamat, Ganda!"

–

Danilo woke up with a start when he felt someone's fist punch his stomach. Napaupo siya. He was having such a difficult dream. Nasa labas siya ng mansion, pero disyerto ang nasa paligid nito. He couldn't find an entrance. Uhaw na uhaw siya. When he finally found a faucet outside the house, bigla naman niyang naramdaman na parang may sumuntok sa kanya.

He turned to his left and furrowed his eyebrows when he saw someone head on his chest. Nakakuyom ang palad nito sa ibabaw ng kumot. She was still sound asleep.

He could feel her soft skin against his underneath the blanket. Tumikhim siya at lumunok. He massaged his head trying to remember what happened at the party last night. He got so drunk. So, so drunk. He was slightly surprised he didn't wake up sleeping on the ground outside.

Dahan-dahan niyang iginalaw ang braso na hinihiligan ng katabi niya. Once freed, he turned to his side and slowly moved towards the edge of the bed. Umupo siya at hinanap ang mga damit niya mula sa kalat sa sahig.

His heart almost dropped when he turned and saw the woman already sitting up on the bed. "Shit," he muttered.

Her eyes were wide with shock and panic. Nakataas sa dibdib nito ang kumot. Matagal silang nagkatinginan bago siya muling nakagalaw.

"I'll... uhm... let you get dressed," sabi niya rito. He walked out of the bedroom and leaned beside the doorway while waiting for the woman inside to get dressed. He placed his palm on his forehead and groaned.

"Good morning!" Nang tumunghay siya, nakita niya si Margarette na lumabas ng kwarto nito. She has this knowing smile on her face. "You look like you had fun last night," nakangisi nitong sabi.

Danilo grunted. Yeah, he had fun all right. More fun than he was allowed to have.

Naalerto siya nang bumukas bigla ang pintuan ng kwarto niya. He quickly pulled the door closed. Tumawa si Margarette dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Don't worry. I won't tell on you." She moved towards him and put her lips close to his ear. "But next time, don't let them sleep until noon."