Chapter 04

After confirming with Archie that he's at work, I prepared to leave my office to go see him. We needed to go shopping. Normally, I'd rather leave this to a professional shopper, but I knew that I needed to bond with Archie some more. Sure, sex with him was great, but I needed him to be more attached to me. I knew that the more attached he was, the easier it would be for me to make him do my biddings.

Sure, sometimes, I like arguing with him, but it's a waste of energy. We could be doing something else than argue. I was reminded of this when I was out with Maven and I saw how teenagers reacted to seeing him. He's lucky he's a good looking guy. These hormonal teens will let him get away with anything. And these hormonal teens will become voting adults who will most likely vote for him, too.

So, no.

The fight's not fair.

I knew that even if I try, I can never beat Maven in any election. Are you kidding me? He's literally the golden boy—at least that's what the public thinks of him. He's good looking, he's a literal genius, and as far as they're concerned, he keeps himself out of trouble. They will literally vote for him first kahit na gaano ko pa patunayan ang sarili ko na mas magaling ako.

That's life.

And instead of fighting it, I'd just work around it.

Hence, Archie.

He's also good looking. He can be smart at times. He just needed to behave now. It'll be fine. We have time. He just needed to listen to me dahil alam ko ang ginagawa ko.

"Good morning," bati ko sa mga tao sa city hall.

"Good morning, Ma'am," sagot nila.

"Just Nadia," I replied with a small smile.

She smiled at me. "Ay nakakahiya naman po..."

I just smiled. "Si Archie?" I asked.

"Nasa office niya po, Ma—" she paused and took a deep breath. "Nadia."

"Salamat," I replied.

I was fluent in Filipino, but I prefer to talk in English—or maybe depending on who I was talking to. I usually reserve my Filipino skills when I'm talking with the masses. They appreciate it kapag kinakausap sila ng Tagalog. Still, English is considered as the language of the elite... which was honestly a bit weird for me dahil nakakaintindi naman halos lahat dito sa Pilipinas ng Ingles.

Ngumiti ako sa lahat ng nakakasalubong ko. Dati, sumasakit pa iyong mukha ko sa dami ng ngiting binibigay ko. Now, I was already used to it. Kaya kapag puro reklamo si Archie, lagi ko lang sinasabi na masasanay din siya. Because I'd been there.

I gave his door three knocks and paused for five seconds. I learned knocking the hard way. Once, I opened the door to my dad's office and saw some woman spread wide eagle on his table while my dad's head was in between her legs. That was a terrible view. Since then, I learned to knock to give them warning that someone's outside. The five second pause is for them to get dressed. I didn't want to see anyone naked.

"Why didn't you just go in?" Archie asked nang buksan niya iyong pinto at makita niya na nakatayo lang ako roon.

"It's your break already, right?" I asked instead.

He nodded. "Why?"

"We're going shopping."

"Now?"

I nodded. "You got any other plans?"

"Well, no, not really," he said. "Being a councilor's boring. You're basically just a yes guy to whatever the mayor wants," he continued as he got his things.

"Right, but never say that in public."

He scoffed. "I won't," he replied. "Magaling magtanim ng sama ng loob 'yung mayor dito."

Tahimik lang kaming naglakad palabas hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan. Then Archie began his rant about the mayor. I just quietly listened to him. It's always better to listen because sometimes, people do slip up. And people can reveal their fears and weaknesses. Always something you can exploit.

"Election's coming up," I told him.

"I know."

"We have to announce the engagement first and then your bid for the mayoral election."

"Is there a reason why?" he asked. "Kung bakit kailangan may announcement muna ng engagement?"

I nodded as I crossed my legs. "So that people will know," I said. "You should know by now that name recall is very important in politics. That's why artists win over those who really know the law. Because as horrible as it sounds, a lot of people will vote who's familiar. Kaya nga tadtad ng posters at jingles kapag election. Because you need to be etched in people's mind."

I felt him staring at me.

"You thought about this a lot," he said.

"I did. Didn't you?" I asked.

"I did... but apparently not as much as you."

"Well, you do want to become the president, right?"

He nodded. "Every politician's wet dream," he replied.

"As you said, I'd thought about this a lot. So, if you're smart, you'll let me take the lead."

Tumango siyang muli. "Why didn't you consider just running yourself?"

I just smiled at him. We're already at the mall and I didn't have time to discuss how we're already in the 21st century but misogyny is still prevalent. How I'm a woman and because of that, I'm not capable of running a country—only running the kitchen because that's where I belong.

"Just polo shirts?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Also, I'll have my assistant ask for your passwords for your social media pages."

"My social media page?"

"Yes. Don't you have one?"

"I don't."

Napahinto ako sa pagtingin ng mga damit. "Seriously. How did you win the election?" I asked him. "Did you cheat?"

His lips parted. "The hell?"

"Because you look like you have no idea what you're doing," I told him as I looked at him. Maybe he did win because of his good looks. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised, really. The bar is in hell with politicians here.

"Anyway," I said as I brought my attention back to shopping. "Since you don't have any, I'll have the campaign manager create one for you."

"Campaign manager?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Isn't it too early?"

"No," I replied. "Campaign started the moment the new mayor was elected." I gave him the clothes. "Try them on."

Naupo ako habang sinusukat ni Archie iyong mga damit. I wanted him to look good, but also relatable. It's a delicate balance. I wanted people to know he's untouchable, but also that his feet's on the ground. At least that's how my Abuela plays her game. People know we're the de Marcos, but still, for some reason, people think we're one with them. Please.

"Are you still in contact with your friends?" I asked him habang kumakain kami.

"Friends? Sino sa kanila?"

"The one who can donate funds."

"What?"

"For the campaign," I said. "Weren't you in the same frat as my cousin?"

He nodded. "Won't your cousin run?"

"I don't think so," I replied. "He'll go straight for the congress. He's more interested in making laws."

"Right... But I'll be in congress, too, right?"

"Yes. That's the next step," I said. "Invite your friends for a dinner. Catch up. So that they won't be surprised when they get invited for our wedding."

Tumango siya. "We're really getting married..."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Well, yeah. Did you think I was kidding this whole time?"

Umiling siya. "Not really... but it just feels more real now."

"How come?"

"I don't know," he said. "I just... I just never thought that this is how I'll get married."

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. I wanted to listen. I wanted to know him more. The more I know about him, the easier it'll be for the both of us.

"I always thought I'll get married for love," he said at saka siya nagiwas ng tingin. "No matter how corny that sounded."

I reached for his hand and held it. "Isn't that the dream?" sabi ko habang nakatingin nang diretso sa mga mata niya. "Everyone wants to fall in love, Archie. I told you—I'm not opposed to the idea of falling in love. But if it happens, it will happen. Do you get me?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"We still have a few months to fall in love."

Natawa siya. "You talk about love like it's a chore."

I shrugged. "It's just chemicals in your brain that makes you think that it's love," I told him.

Natawa siyang muli habang naiiling. "I'm so curious about how you were raised as a child, Nadia."

"Raised by nannies," I said. "How about this? Free your weekend. We'll go on an out of town trip."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "For what?"

"To try to fall in love."

Napaawang ang labi niya. "Are you being for real?"

I nodded. "Yes. Well, how can we fall in love if you only see me for sex and all we talk about is politics, right?" sabi ko sa kanya. "This weekend, I promise no talk about politics. We can just have... fun," I continued.

I couldn't remember the last time I had genuine fun. Sure, sometimes I have fun with my cousins, but now, rarely since we all have our own things.

I could have fun with Archie.

"What?" I asked when I saw him holding a laughter.

"Your face," he replied. "You almost shuddered when you said the word fun like you're almost allergic to it."

I shook my head with disapproval. "Just tell me if your weekends are free."

"Of course it's free," he said. "Pero saan tayo pupunta?"

"My family has a resthouse in Tagaytay. It's cold. We can cuddle or something."

"Malamig na tapos malamig pa iyong ica-cuddle ko?" he asked. I knew he was joking but I just gave him my usual dead expression. Muli siyang natawa. "Kidding. But yes, Tagaytay sounds great."

"Okay."

"May kailangan ba akong dalhin?"

"Change of clothes."

"Can't I be naked the whole weekend?"

I shrugged. "Your choice, really, but I prefer you with clothes when we're not having sex."

"Why? I'm very proud of my body."

"You sure are," I said because whenever I'd come over to his place or him to mine, he likes to walk around naked. I can safely say that I can pick out his ass if there's a police line-up. Already very familiar with that ass.

"You have a very nice body, too," he replied.

"Thank you," I said, "But I'd rather be complimented for my brain."

Napailing siya. "Of course, but sometimes, I do think you're a psycho. I did tell you that."

"You did," sabi ko sa kanya. "So, be very careful never to cross me. You have no idea about what I can do."

He smiled at me. "I promise I won't," he replied as he reached for my hand and held it. "Let's go back to my office," he continued as he caressed my knuckles with his thumb. "I'll bend you over before I go back to my boring job," he added before we stood up and left.  

**

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