Chapter 05

I was in the middle of choosing which clothes I'll bring with me to Tagaytay when I received a call. That was strange.

"What's up?" Addie said as she answered the call.

"I'm being summoned."

"By Abuela?"

"Yes. Who else can summon me?"

I wouldn't say that I'm a bitch because that sounds so horrible. Ewan ko. I just have that 'vibes,' I guess. I mean, kahit si Archie ay minsan sinasabihan ako na psychopath. Why? Just because I'm not warm and cuddly? Please.

"Because of your boy toy?" Addie asked.

"He's not my boy toy."

"I'm sorry. Because of your latest project?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's not."

I heard her laughing. "Oh, please. You can be honest with me."

"He's really not my latest project," I answered because Archie's my only project. This is a long game. I intend to invest a lot in him kaya una pa lang ay sinabi ko na sa kanya iyong mga expectations ko. I just wanted to lay all my cards on the table para alam niya. At para na rin wala akong maririnig in the future na niloko ko siya o kung anuman because if any, I had been nothing but honest with him.

"Sure..." she said. Kahit wala siya sa harap ko ay naiimagine ko na iyong marahan na pagtango ng ulo niya.

"We're actually going to the Tagaytay rest house this weekend," I said.

"Why?"

"To bond."

"To bond?" she asked with such shudder in her voice.

"Yes, to bond with my future husband, Addie," I said and explained to her that it's better this way. If possible, I wanted Archie to be one of those guys who would do anything for the woman that they love. It's possible. I'd seen it. I mean, at the top of my head, I could give my cousins as prime examples.

"Do whatever you want," Addie said.

"That's what I want to hear."

"But why do you think you're being summoned?"

"No idea as to why exactly, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Archie."

"She's not a fan."

"Obviously."

"You saw how she died a little when you brought him over."

I chuckled. "I know. I wanted to frame that exact moment and display it over my living room," I said as I made my final turn bago ako nakarating sa destinasyon ko. "I'm here."

"Good luck."

"Don't need it," I replied as I watched the gates being opened for me.

Of course I was told to meet Abuela at the office. That's where I almost exclusively talk with her—hindi kagaya ng ibang mga pinsan ko na nakakausap nila siya at times about random things. Ako? Not really. I think I was in high school when I formed the conclusion in my head that my Abuela hates me. She just treats me differently. I could feel it. Kahit pa sabihin nila Addie na nasa isip ko lang iyon, I knew that there's something different about the way she treats me. It made me so curious that I began to watch her every move every time I'd get the chance to. Kaya siguro alam ko na bawat galaw niya. She pushed me to be like this. The more she pushed me away, the more I got to know her. It's ironic.

"Good afternoon," I said after I knocked on the door and opened it.

"Good afternoon," she replied with that icy tone of hers na naririnig ko lang kapag kami ang magkausap. "Have a seat."

I did as I was told. It was eerie na kahit hindi naman siya nakatingin sa akin ay ramdam ko pa rin na pinapanood niya ang bawat paggalaw ko.

I wanted to ask her kung bakit niya ako pinatawag dito, but I knew better. I should just wait dahil sigurado naman ako na sasabihin niya rin sa akin kung bakit ako nandito. That's the better option than the alternative na baka may masabi pa ako na hindi niya naman pa alam.

You don't always have to show your deck of cards—that's one of the things I learned from her. Always keep your enemies on their toes.

"That boyfriend of yours," she began.

"Archie," I corrected her because although to be completely honest, I don't fully respect Archie. I believe that respect is something to be earned. Wala pa siyang ginagawa na kaya kong irespeto, but I was sure that we'll get there. Pero hindi naman alam ni Abuela 'yon. At least in front of her, I would not tolerate disrespect towards my future husband. We needed to show a united front.

"Archie," she said with such a sneer on her face. "He's running for mayor?"

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko.

First mistake.

I saw the slight delight on her face.

"Don't be surprised, hija," she said. "That's the logical step for him—at least politically speaking," she continued. "That... and being associated with us."

"He's marrying me," I replied although kahit sa isip ko, I sounded ridiculous at best.

"Sure, sure," she said as she waived her hand like she's just letting me get away with my own lie. "What are your plans so far?"

"Plans?"

"For him to win," she said. "If he's gonna be associated with us, he definitely should win a local election. I wouldn't be embarrassed like that, Nadia."

I forced a smile. "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Abuela."

She gave me a stern look. "Bring him to the party this weekend," she said. "Introduce him to our family friends," she continued, pertaining to the people who 'support' our family during campaign period and in turn, they win the biddings for the government projects. It was never a 'donation.' Donation means expecting nothing in return. The money given was more like a loan... with usurious interest. A lot of this people earned ridiculous money once the people they supported got elected.

I mean, that's life.

Never really fair.

And if you think life's fair, I want to have whatever you're having.

"Thank you for the invite, but sadly, we already have plans this weekend," sabi ko. "We're going to be using the rest house in Tagaytay."

I stood up and smiled at her.

"I really appreciate the invite for Archie, Abuela, but we're gonna be fine," I said.

She looked at me that almost felt like a warning. "If that's the case..."

Ngumiti ako bago nagpaalam.

Now, I really needed Archie's frat buddies to come fucking through.

* * *

"Hey," Archie said as he kissed my cheek.

"Hey," I replied. "Have you talked to your friends?"

"What?" he asked with his forehead creased.

"I know I said no politics—"

He dramatically rested his head against the headrest of his seat. "But?"

"I just need to know," I replied. Tumingin ako sa kanya mula sa rearview mirror. "Fine," I said dahil kita ko iyong inis sa mukha niya. This weekend lang naman. Pagbalik na pagbalik namin sa Manila, kailangan ko nang simulan ang plano namin. I needed to find a social media manager for his pages and start to get him more acquainted with the people in his place.

"Do you want to go drive thru?" I asked dahil tahimik lang siya at nakatingin sa labas. "You're seriously gonna ignore me?"

"I'm not ignoring you."

"Sure."

"You said no politics this weekend."

"I know," I said, sighing. "I'm sorry."

Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita.

"Abuela just called me. That got my head wrapped up around politics again. I apologize. I won't speak about it again this weekend."

Tumingin siya sa akin. It was like he was gaging if I were being honest. I was. Hindi ko naman kailangang magsinungaling kay Archie palagi. He'll be my husband. It won't be possible for me to lie to him all the time. Besides, he'll be my partner in crime. He needed to know some things about me.

"Fine..."

"So, do you want to get coffee?"

"Yeah," sabi niya. "And I'll drive."

"Okay," I replied because I'd rather be a passenger. Hindi ako nagdala ng driver para naman maramdaman ni Archie na kaming dalawa lang kahit na ang totoo, maraming nakasunod sa amin. I was already used to it to the point na minsan, hindi ko na ramdam na nakasunod sila. I wonder kung napapansin kaya sila ni Archie?

He ordered his iced latte while I got my Americano. He played some song on the radio while we were on the way.

"What? You feel weird?" tanong niya nang ipatong niya sa binti ko iyong kamay niya.

"No," I replied as I felt him caressing my leg and even squeezing it. "What—" sabi ko nang maramdaman ko iyong kamay niya na gumagapang papunta sa gitna ng mga hita ko.

"I'm driving," he said.

"Amongst other things," I said habang pinipigilan ko iyong kamay niya.

"Come on..."

"No."

"Just wanna see if you're wet."

My lips parted for a moment. "It's just sex 24/7 in that mind of yours, isn't it?"

He chuckled. "Overestimate," he replied. "I think about it like 70% of the time, if I were being completely honest," he continued. "Besides, can you blame me? Sex with you is mindblowing."

I remained silent.

I hated that I felt my cheeks reddening.

"But then again, why was I even surprised? Best sex is always with the crazies."

I arched my brow. "So, you had sex with lots of crazies?"

He shrugged. "When I was younger."

"Like in your teens?"

"Like college and law school."

"Not anymore?"

"Not until you," he said and then threw me a look and a grin. I gave him a deadpan look. He chuckled. "Just that one of my friends used to date this crazy girl. Sex was insane, of course, but the aftermath is as insane."

"What do you mean?" tanong ko sa kanya.

In my experience, generally, guys like talking about themselves. Just ask them questions tungkol sa sarili nila. Make them feel important, make them feel good. That's generally a way to make them like you.

"She'll scratch him, throw things at him, threaten him. You know? The usual crazy stuff."

"But he still did go back to her?"

He nodded. "Told you, the sex was insane."

"All that for a good sex?"

"Great sex," he corrected me. "Besides, he knew he's never going to marry her. She's more like a placeholder who's great with sex until the right one comes along."

"And what happened? Did the right one come along?"

He nodded. "Yeah, she did... And my friend's the one who went all crazy for her. Circle of life, you know?"

"You think you'll get your circle of life?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're not opposed to it?"

"Not really," he said. "I mean, I know my friend. He's really you know? In love. And to be completely honest, I don't know if I'll ever fall in love in this lifetime. So if it means I'll fall in love but I'll have to go crazy? It's fine, I guess."

"You wanna fall in love?"

"Yeah. Who doesn't?"

'Me,' I thought to myself.

Not if I can help it, anyway.

Love's a weakness—at least that's how I see it based on the people around me.

"You don't wanna fall in love?" Archie asked me again.

Tumingin ako sa kanya. If I tell him I want to, he'd be able to call my bluff.

"Not my first choice, not if I can help it," I replied. "But if it happens, it happens—if that makes sense."

Tumango siya. "It'll happen," he said. "You got a heart hiding inside that ice cold chest of yours."

**

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