Chapter 03

"You're mad," he said as soon as we were out of anyone's earshot.

"Later," I replied as I gave a smile to the waiter who passed by us.

"Nadia—"

"I said later," I repeated, cutting him off.

He looked a bit taken aback by what I said. Sure, maybe he thought na pwede na kaming magusap dito dahil wala ng tao... but you'll never know. You'll never know kung may nakikinig ba sa 'yo. And if there's one thing I learned in life is that your words can and will be used against you. Kaya minsan, naniniwala talaga ako na less talk, less mistake. Because words can be twisted, can be interpreted to serve anyone's interest.

And I am only interested in serving my own interest.

"Stop sulking," I told Archie when I caught him with his forehead creased.

He scoffed. "So, now I can't even scoff?"

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Why are you acting like a child?" I asked him. Hindi siya nagsalita. He stayed silent until the car pulled over in front of us. "Thank you," I said when he still opened the door for me.

Nang makapasok siya sa loob, I looked at him.

"Now, we can talk," I said now that we're in the privacy of the car. Sure, the driver's here, but he knows he can't talk about what he hears. Whatever conversation he hears, it's gone as soon as he leaves the car. Sure, he signed and NDA, but I think he's more scared with what could happen to him and to his family kung may makalabas sa mga naririnig niya—same with all the people who work for my family. There's a reason why they're all well-compensated. They're not only being paid for the service, but for their silence, as well.

"I don't want to talk," he said like a child.

Napailing na lang ako. I wanted to think that I made a mistake by choosing him, but I refuse to think that. He's just... challenging. And I do love challenges.

"I'm not mad," I told him. "And seatbelt, please."

He begrudgingly put on his seatbelt. "Embarrassed, then."

"You're the one who said that," I said.

Saint, bless him, managed to set a dinner for Archie to be introduced to Preston. All Archie needed to do was to show up, smile, shake his hand, and that's it. But for some reason, it felt like he felt the need to impress him. He kept on doing all this 'big talk.' I didn't know why but it came off as a bit desperate. So, yes, I was embarrassed.

"So, you're embarrassed," he said in an accusing manner.

"Why do you think I'm embarrassed?" balik tanong ko sa kanya. "Did you do anything embarrassing for me to be embarrassed?"

Napailing na lang ako nang ipag-krus niya iyong mga braso niya na parang bata.

"You're the one who told me to be more 'relatable,'" he said using air quotes.

"I did say that."

"So, what's wrong with me talking about soccer?" he asked. "Preston used to play soccer in college."

"Exactly. In college. He doesn't play anymore. Had you listened, I would've told you that he's more into collecting vintage cars and investing," I reminded him na sinabi ko naman talaga sa kanya, but he was more focused on my breasts. Maybe the next time that I would be talking about something important, I should be fully clothed because clearly, Archie couldn't multitask. It's like his brain can only handle one thing at a time—or maybe two things at a time.

"But it's fine. We can work on it," I said.

Tumingin siya sa akin. "I didn't mean to embarrassed you."

Inabot ko iyong kamay niya na nasa lap niya at hinawakan iyon. "You did not," I said. We're a team now—whether he likes it or not, we're a team. If he's embarrassing himself, he's embarrassing me. And I would not have that. Mabuti na lang at may sinabi si Saint kanina na dahilan kung bakit doon nagfocus si Preston.

"I don't believe you, but sure," he replied as he rested his back against the seat of the car.

The remaining ride was quiet. Nang huminto kami sa harap ng condo niya, he looked at me and invited me to stay over.

"I have a busy day tomorrow," I replied because I still had a business to run. I care about the business, sure, but I care more about not running my business to the ground. If that happens, I can already imagine the concerned looks (but in reality, judgment) that I'll receive from my family.

"Okay..." he said in his sad, sad tone.

I watched as he got out of the car. I was about to tell the driver to proceed when I found myself shaking my head and telling my driver to go park first.

"Shut up," I said when I caught him grinning nang maabutan ko siya. He knew that his sad sigh worked. I didn't know why it always worked on me. I should really be immune to that at this point dahil lagi niya iyong ginagawa.

He's almost like a... sad boy with all his sad sighs.

"Okay," he replied, still with that stupid grin on his face.

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa elevator. May mga tumitingin sa amin. I wouldn't say that I was exactly famous per se, but I am still a part of the de Marco clan. I don't really appear on headlines much because I prefer to live my life quietly. My cousin, Maven, is quite famous. Look at how well that's working for him. Masyadong maraming matang nakatingin. That way, even the littlest mistake you make can be noticed.

And I couldn't afford that.

Not when the end goal is me in Malacañang.

"Can I make an observation?" he said.

"Of course," I replied.

"Don't be offended," he began. "But it almost feels like you have... two face."

"What do you mean?" I asked habang nakatingin ako sa mabilis na pagakyat ng mga numero sa elevator.

He shrugged as he rested his back against the elevator. "You're very different in public as to when you're with family and friends. And I'm just mentioning because the difference is huge."

"Why will I be offended with that?"

"Because you can be kind of a bitch in private. In public? You almost look... kind," he replied with a small shiver.

Finally, we reached his floor.

"Archie, when will you get in your head that in politics, perception is everything?" I asked as we began to walk towards his unit. "Those people will only see me once in their life—probably. How I interact with them in that one time will be their image of me for the rest of their lives," I continued.

Nakakunot ang noo niya. "What?"

I shook my head. This poor boy. He really has a lot to learn. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagawang manalo as city councilor kung ganito siya.

"Say God forbid I get into a scandal one day," I began, "Those people who I treated nicely once will tell the people they know that 'she's not like that. She's nice. I met her.' Even when most probably, the rumor's true because you know what they say? When there's smoke, there's probably fire somewhere."

He stopped walking.

I stopped walking.

"What?" tanong ko dahil nakatingin siya sa akin.

"Your mind..." he said. "It's scary sometimes how your mind works."

I cocked my head to the side. "Are you scared?" I asked.

Slowly, he shook his head. "Scarily enough? No," he replied as he took a step until he was standing right in front of me. He held my waist with his hands. I felt his thumbs caressing the side of my waist. "I'm actually a bit turned on."

He leaned down and tried to kiss me pero mabilis akong umiwas.

"I told you, no PDA," I said as his lips landed on my neck.

He groaned. "Come on. They know we're dating. So, what if we kiss?" he asked as I felt his neck on the skin of my lips.

"Your unit is literally a few steps away."

"You didn't answer the question," he whispered against my ear.

"I'll answer it when we're inside." He put his hand on my ass. "Archie," I said in a clipped tone.

"What if I want to fuck you in a parked car? Is that not allowed?"

"What's so wrong with a bed?"

Sometimes, he could be very frustrating.

Sometimes, I do think he's dumb.

But if there's one thing he's actually good at? It's sex.

Oh, the things he could do with that tongue of his—if only he could use that tongue to talk sense and not just to lick me senseless.

"Doing it in a place where you're not supposed to have sex is hot," he whispered as he bit my neck.

I drew a deep breath and pushed him away with as much strength as I had. I was starting to feel hot with how his hands were touching my body and how he was licking my neck and how he was whisering in my ears.

"You're gonna be a president one day," I said as my hands were against his check and as I was looking him in his eyes. "Whenever you wanna do anything, think about this—if this ever goes out, will people still vote for me?"

His lips parted. "I don't wanna live like that."

"Learn how to live like that," I replied as I straightened my clothes.

"That doesn't sound like fun."

Inayos ko iyong collar niya. "You can have fun when you're the president," I said as I stared into his eyes. "But for now, behave. Always think that someone's watching you."

"Is that how you live?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Wow."

"It gets easier," I told him.

"How?"

"It's because I know why I'm doing what I'm doing," I said. "Eyes on the prize always, Archie," I continued as I gently tapped his cheeks.

I'm pretty sure that from the moment I brought him home and introduced him, they knew that I was planning something... and anything and everything that we'll do can and will be used against us.

I know so.

Because that's how my family got to where we are now. 

**

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