Chapter 07

"This is so weird," Archie said while he was 'stalking' his Facebook page. We were out having lunch. I figured it's a good thing to make this a regular thing. It's like hitting two birds with one stone—I get to eat and bond with him. "This doesn't even sound like me."

"Well, learn how to sound like that," sagot ko sa kanya.

We hired a team to manage his social media pages. I also just approved the activity calendar. The page will be conducting some games and give prizes, of course, sa mga mananalo.

"Is this necessary?" he asked tapos ay pinakita sa akin iyong post regarding sa schedule nung game.

"Why not?"

"Just feels a bit forced," he replied. "Like I'm buying their approval."

"That's exactly what we're doing," sagot ko sa kanya.

How he managed to win the previous election will forever confuse me... Kapag ganito na parang litung-lito siya sa mga gusto kong gawin at sa mga gusto kong mangyari...

"Speaking of which," I continued. "Naka-ayos na ba iyong isusuot mo?"

"Para sa?"

"Party this Friday."

"Oh... Right."

"Did you forget?"

"Not really," he said.

"Okay."

"Just not excited is all."

"You don't need to be excited," I told him. "It's just work. Treat it as any other work that you do."

Did he think that I actually enjoy going to parties and attending functions? Of course not. It's not fun to pretend to enjoy talking to probably some of the most boring and self-absorbed people I'd met in my entire life. But I still do it. Because I see it for what it was—an investment. It's a fucking long game and I always keep myself in check to make sure that I was playing it good.

"I know," he replied with a shrug. "I haven't seen some of these guys in a long time."

"Good idea to catch up, then."

"Yeah..." he said using that sad tone of his.

"Just give them your best smile and we can talk shit about them in private," sabi ko sa kanya. Napatingin siya sa akin at napaawang ang labi. Tapos ay napangisi siya. "What?"

"Nothing," he said as he slowly shook his head. "You really are my partner in crime."

I gave him a smile.

Archie continued to stalk his page. I'd see him cringe and frown oftentimes. I let him do it. Masasanay din siya. Did he seriously think that the politicians he sees on TV? The one who wins national elections actually really do care? Maybe some of them does... Most of them? It's just a big farce. Kasi paano sila mananalo kung hindi nila lalambingin iyong mga tao? You have to give what the majority wants. Tapos kapag nakuha mo na iyong gusto mo, then you can step back a little. Tapos gawin mo na lang ulit kapag malapit na ang election.

It's just a cycle.

Predictable.

"What is this?" tanong niya sabay pakita sa akin nung screen ng phone niya.

"What?" I asked nang makita ko na isang post iyong regarding some raffle.

"This."

"Yes, what about it?"

"I'm giving away money?"

"Yes," I replied. "We're running for mayor. It's still a local election, Archie. You need to be more personable with the people who will vote for you. When we're running for congress, we won't have the need to do this as much... I think. We'll have to check again the political climate once the time comes."

Nakakunot ang noo niya.

"Seems excessive."

"Not really."

"Why can't I just do normal campaign? Do door to door campaign?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

How naive.

I held his hand and looked him in the eyes. "Of course, we'll do that," I told him. "And then just let the social media team do their job."

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

I subtly took a deep breath.

"Archie, almost everyone has social media nowadays," paliwanag ko sa kanya. "It's a whole new playing field."

"I know but—"

"But what? I thought we're partners in crime? Do you think I'll be pushing for this if I didn't think that it'll help us win?" I asked him.

In one of the functions I attended, I talked to someone who was so passionate about social media as the new key player in politics. I was just trying to be polite at first, but I did realize that he made a lot of sense.

And then I read more about it and I became more intrigued. I got really interested with how Cambridge Analytica works, but I didn't think it's needed at this point. I mean, Archie's family background is not ideal, but not to the point that I needed to bring in the big guns. Besides, I couldn't afford CA's service. If I did, I'd probably have to sell one of the Philippine's islands to China or something.

He sighed. "Yeah, okay..." sagot niya. "Pero lalabas ba ako d'yan sa page na 'yan? Ayokong mag-Facebook live," he continued, looking really worried.

Bahagya akong natawa. "I'm not sure," I said. "I'll have to ask the team."

He groaned. "Kailangan talaga?"

"Not sure. But if it's needed, you have to do it," I replied. "Remember, it's just any other job."

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Fine," he replied in a dragging tone. "But if I do it, you'll have to appear with me.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What?"

"We're a team, remember?" he asked, squeezing my hand. "And you said we'll announce the engagement before the start of the campaign period. So, what's wrong if my fiancée makes an appearance in my... Facebook live," he said with such shudder.

I saw him fighting a laughter nang makita niyang ipilit ko ang pagtango at pagngiti. He looked so delighted with himself.

* * *

The next days, hindi ko masyadong nakita si Archie. I still had a business to run and he had people to serve... kind of. I did ask him if he enjoyed being a councilor. He said he did, but it's a very limiting job because of the limited power. I took that as a positive sign na mas magiging madali na iyong mga susunod na araw. I just had to constantly remind him na kapag naging mayor na siya, he'd have to answer to no one—at least in the city.

But one step at a time.

One day, we'll be ruling over the country.

"Wow..." sabi niya nang makita niya ako.

I was wearing a simple black evening gown, black stilettos, and a dainty diamond necklace. I wanted to look nice, but I didn't want to catch too much attention. Too much eyes means too many people watching your every move. I didn't need that.

"You look good yourself," I said as I fixed his tie.

The party was held in a ballroom in a hotel. Mabuti na lang at sakto na ngayon iyong annual reunion ng fraternity nila. We'll be meeting a lot of people tonight. Archie better be in his best behavior. Sana ay hindi niya na ulitin iyong ginawa niya kay Preston. That was... hard to watch.

"Pupunta ba si Maven?" he suddenly asked.

"No, I don't think so," I replied.

"Bakit daw?"

I shrugged. "Who knows?" I asked.

We're family, sure. I do love him, yes, since we're family. The kind of love that's obligated, you know? But when I forget that he's family, I kind of despise him. He's handed everything—literally everything... And he always acts like he's better than everyone else—actually, silang dalawang magkapatid. I mean, if they hated the privilege so much, then stop using it altogether. I find it highly hypocritical when they only hate certain parts of it, but enjoy the other parts that they deem acceptable.

Choose a struggle and stick with it.

"Do you think we'll get donors?" he asked.

"Of course," I replied and then looked at him. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged. "Nothing."

Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya. "Don't you trust me?"

"I do," he replied at saka tumingin sa akin. "It's just that even back in law school, they all pertain to Maven as the future president," dugtong niya. "I'm pretty certain a lot of the alumni will be pledging to support him."

"Perhaps," I said as I held his hand. "But he's not running as mayor."

"Because he doesn't have the need to," he replied with a scoff. "He can disappear from the face of the earth and then one day declare that he's runnning for senate and people will still vote for him."

Bahagya akong natawa. He was not a big fan of my cousin, was he.

"Yes," I said because there's no point in sugarcoating things.

"But remember that we still have the time," sabi ko sa kanya. "We'll build a good image for you. People will love you. Don't you trust me?" I asked as I let go of his hand and cupped his face. "Partners in crime, remember?"

Slowly, he nodded.

"Yes," he breathed.

"Good," I replied with a small smile. "We're here," I said when the car stopped.

"I'm fucking nervous," he said.

"Language," I reminded him.

"Sorry," he replied like a child na napagalitan.

"These are just normal people," I reminded him. "Just... be normal."

"Not embarrassing like how I did in front of Preston."

"Exactly," I said.

I saw a lot of familiar faces in the event. Karamihan sa kanila ay kilala ako, pero walang ideya sa kung sino si Archie. I introduced him to them as my boyfriend. Would've been better if I introduced him as my fiancé, but that's fine.

"Gallego..." Senator Velasquez said.

Archie gave an uneasy smile.

"Yes, the infamous Gallego scandal," I quipped as I gave the senator a knowing smile. Please. He knew a thing or two about scandals. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang nila ng pamilya ni Archie, mas magaling si Senator Velasquez maglinis ng kalat ng anak niya.

"Of course," he replied, knowing what I was pertaining to.

Like him, I knew a thing or two about scandals. I just don't always talk about them nor use them as blackmail material. I don't like making enemies if I can help it. The world is too small to be always burning bridges.

"Archie's actually planning on running this election," I began. Archie looked visibly uncomfortable, but thankfully, he managed to relax kahit kaunti. It was obvious that he struggled at first, but I managed to guide him. Soon after, he finally caught on.

We talked to a lot of people. A lot of them were easy to talk to because they'd do anything to be in my family's good graces. I also reminded them that early investment's always a good idea. They did ask me about Maven, though. I could never escape that one.

"Weird seeing you here," sabi ko nang puntahan ako ni Mama sa opisina ko.

"What are you doing, Nadia?" she asked.

"What do you mean what am I doing? I'm working," I replied.

Naglakad siya at huminto sa harap ng lamesa ko.

"You know what I am talking about," she said using her clipped tone.

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "What about it?"

"Why do you insist in going against family, Nadia?" she asked me, sounding like she's tired of me.

I drew a deep breath. It was supposed to be a good Monday morning. Yesterday's brunch was cancelled for some reason I really didn't care about. I played golf with Addie and had dinner with Archie. I was actually excited to work today, and then this.

"How am I going against family, Mama?" I asked. "I am minding my own business."

I saw her calming herself.

When did she become like this?

If I asked her when was the exact moment she gave up on herself, may masasagot kaya siya sa akin?

"You know Maven's the one being prepared for presidency," she said. She was clutching on to her Hermés. Every time my father would cheat on her, she'd get one. She's got quite the collection.

"What about it?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Nadia."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "I'm not doing anything, Mama, and if I am, so what? This is still a democratic country, as far as I'm concerned. And if you're all so sure that Maven's the future president, then why are you all so concerned about me and my 'little project?'" I asked because I was aware na iyan ang tawag nila kay Archie kapag wala ako—Nadia's little project.

"You know campaign costs money. Where will you get funds?"

"Donors," I said. "I know a thing or two about elections. I've been dragged since I was a kid, remember?"

Muli siyang humugot ng malalim na hininga.

"And if any, maybe I'll spend my own money on this little project of mine. It's a good tax write off—something I learned from dad," I said.

Her lips parted.

"Now, if you have nothing more to tell me, I seriously have a lot of things I need to finish," I told her as I opened my laptop. Totoo naman na marami akong gagawin. This business didn't run itself. How I wish.

"I wish you'd stop fighting family," she said.

"I wish you didn't just completely give up," I replied as I typed away on my laptop. 

**

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