Chapter 01

"Is there a contest or something?" Aspen asked upon seeing me. It was Sunday and Sunday means brunch. I was dressed to the nines. I'd always been a firm believer that whatever shit life throws at me, at the very least, I'm well-dressed.

"What?" I asked although alam ko naman kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"About who will give Abuela that heart attack that finally will kill her?"

"Aspen," I said, holding my laughter.

"Don't be jealous if I can say it out loud."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever," sagot ko. "Are they all inside?"

"Yeah. Already discussing the newspaper articles."

I shrugged as he threw the cigarette on the ground at sinamahan ako na maglakad papasok. Even from afar ay rinig na rinig ko na iyong mga boses niya. I wasn't sure, but I heard someone question if I was having a mental breakdown because why on earth would I associate myself with the Gallegos after the scandal that their family went through?

What could I say? I like challenges.

"Ready?" Aspen asked as we were few steps away from the dining area.

"Born ready, my dear," I replied as I gently tapped his cheek.

Pagdating namin doon ay mabilis silang natahimik na akala mo ay hindi nila pinag-uusapan ako at kung nasisiraan na ba ako ng bait. I was sure I heard a suggestion of sending me to one of those resorts. I scoffed internally. Archie would lose his shit kapag nalaman niya na ganito ang reaksyon ng pamilya ko–not after him being sure that I specifically chose him because of who he was.

"Nadia."

Lahat sila ay napa-tingin sa akin nang banggitin ni Abuela ang pangalan ko.

"Yes, La?" I replied politely. I would never lose my shit–at least not in public. I like the fact that the public thinks that I was someone who's level headed and always in control... But I just like playing my part and I'm a pretty vindictive person.

And I always want to be the one to control the narrative.

"You and that boy Gallego," she calmly said, but we all knew better.

"Archie, you mean?"

Her face was neutral as she reached for that cup of tea. "Archie," she repeated with that split-second look of disdain on her face. I held my smile. Ganyan din ang itsura ni Archibald nang tawagin ko siyang Archie. But if we'd sell that we're getting married, I needed to call him Archie because Archibald's a mouthful and I refused to call him Arch like his friends.

"Yes, La. We've been dating for quite a while. Archie's nice–you'll like him," dugtong ko pa. Napapailing na lang ang mga matatanda sa akin habang nagpipigil ng tawa ang mga pinsan ko. Well, I was glad to be a source of entertainment for these people.

My mom looked like she was begging to quit talking, but she's the one who harassed me into finding a potential husband. I was doing fine on my own–running my own business and keeping my private life private. Sila ang nagsimula ng topic na pagpapakasal ko.

"Invite him next Sunday, then."

"He'll love it," naka-ngiting sagot ko. I knew this game–I wasn't the first person to date someone they do not approve. They'll invite you and be polite to you while subtly making you feel like you don't belong. They're–we're–all masters of making people feel like they could not get in the club.

I didn't know exactly why... probably because a lot of shit has happened and is still happening in this family and there's just too much dirt under the surface. You can never really be one of us unless you've been there right from the beginning.

Nothing personal, though. It's not fun being one of us–it probably looks fun, but behind the pictures lie a shit ton of drama.

The lunch ended faster than imagined. Abuela looked like she's brewing something, but please, I'd been sitting on the front row. I'd seen every move. She could not surprise me.

"Are you seriously dating Gallego?" Addie asked.

"What? He looks nice," sagot ko. Archie's face could pass as a movie actor, but that wasn't what lead me to him–it's his ambition to be the next president that made me look his way.

"Yeah, but we both know you won't settle with someone just because he looks nice."

I laughed. "Okay fine," sagot ko dahil alam ko naman na wala akong maitatago sa kanya. We were in the middle of the garden and no one was within hearing distance. "Obviously, I don't really love him, but we both know that love's overrated, anyway."

She shrugged. "I half agree."

"But we can both agree that love makes people do stupid shits?"

She nodded. "That, we can both agree on."

I smirked. "And you know me, Adelaide de Marco–I hate looking stupid."

"All about public perception."

"You know it," I said.

"But why Gallego? You like the challenge?" tanong niya dahil alam naming lahat iyong eskandalo na kinakaharap ng buong pamilya niya. He's already a city councilor, but how could he move up the ladder pagkatapos ng kinasangkutan na eskandalo ng pamilya niya?

"He's ambitious."

"Aren't all politicians are?" she asked and I nodded. I'd seen a lot of politicians do stupid shit to please my family. Minsan, nakaka-tawa na lang. Madalas, nakaka-awa.

"I don't know... there's something about Archie. I can make him something." If he would not mess up my plans, that is. I have a lot of plans for us. We can be the next first family if he'd let me have my way.

I left when I saw my parents approaching. I was not in the mood to discuss the articles again. I went to Archie's condo and he was frowning upon seeing me.

"Hi there," I said as I kissed his cheek. I straightened the lines on his forehead nang halikan ko ang pisngi niya. "Control your facial expression, future president," pagtawag ko sa kanya. His scowl deepened. "Can I come inside?" I asked and he widened the door for me.

I made myself comfortable.

"Free your next Sunday. You're invited to brunch," I said.

"Your family invited me?"

"Yes."

"This is fucking happening–"

"Archie, language, please," I said that made him scowl harder. "You can show your disdain without using such word. Is your vocabulary limited?"

He poured himself a glass of whiskey. "I don't know what your plan is, Nadia."

"We'll date for a few months and then we'll announce our engagement. We'll have the wedding of the year and then we'll announce your bid to be the next mayor," I said as I crossed my legs.

"What about the scandal?" he asked.

"Will be forgotten by then," I replied. "Archie, the public is like a... gold fish. You give them something new to talk about and your scandal will be yesterday's news."

"You're confident."

I smiled. "Yes. Because I was raised in this environment," I said. "And you are, too, so don't disappoint me."

Ipinatong niya ang kamay sa island at tumingin sa akin. "How sure are you that I'll win?" he asked. "I don't want to marry you and get nothing."

'See, Addie? I chose the right guy.'

"I don't want to sound cocky but Archie, as long as I'm by your side, you'll be fine... at least politically speaking."

He scoffed. "You talk as if you know what will happen."

"You just have to trust me," I said.

"That you'll make me the president one day?"

I stared at him.

There's a reason why I spent my childhood listening to stories about my grandparents...

There's a reason why people say that history is bound to repeat itself.

"Trust, Archie," I simply said.

"What if that doesn't happen? What, then? I would have married you for nothing."

I rolled my eyes. "I told you, we'll give it a year and if you still hate the sight of me, you're free to get mistresses–just be discreet about it."

I wasn't naive. Almost every married man I know has a mistress or two. It's almost like the norm... Thank god my cousins do not do shit like that–probably because we all knew what happens when you do something like that.

Feelings get hurt—children mostly.

"Right," he snorted. "A year."

I cocked my head to the side. "Archie–"

"Stop calling me that."

"Archie," I repeated, much to his dismay. "When we get married, I'm going to be your wife. We'll do what husband and wife do," sabi ko sa kanya. Napaawang ang labi niya. Napa-kurap. "Sex, Archie. We'll have sex."

I almost laughed at his reaction.

He's almost too easy to read.

We have a long way to go.

"That's why I told you, we'll give it a year. Better if we develop feelings for each other, that will make everything easier," sabi ko dahil mukhang hindi siya magaling umarte sa harap ng mga tao. "But if you really do not like me, I won't stop you from seeing other people."

I stood up and looked at his closet while he was gathering himself. Namili ako ng isusuot niya sa brunch namin. I didn't need my family's approval, but it would still be nice to get them on board. I didn't want to waste more energy proving this relationship to them. I needed to focus on Archie and how I'd make him more likeable in public. So far, he still gives the... privileged vibe. People won't vote for him. He's not relatable. Not in the slightest.

"Nadia," he called from behind me.

"What–" But I abruptly stopped when I felt his lips on mine. "What–"

His hand was already unbuttoning my top. "Maybe I'll feel closer to you if we do this," he said as he unhooked the front of my bra. I stopped myself from laughing when I saw his reaction. Why are men so weak for breasts?

"Fine," I said as I pushed him to his bed and started to get undressed before him. 

**

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