Chapter 17

"Did you ask to see me just to insult me?" Addie asked.

"No, not at all," I replied. "I'm just thinking out loud."

"At the expense of my family?"

I shrugged. "Not my fault that your family's a great example," I told her.

Ever since I told Archie that I was willing to start a family with him, things went back to normal... kinda. But I also knew that I needed to hold up to my end of the bargain. I wanted to have a family with him—it was on the calendar. I just wasn't sure if this was the right time. Also, when I told him about us having kids before, I did tell him that a surrogate would carry the baby, not me. But knowing what I know about him, I knew that he would not be open to the idea. I know a lot of people who do this. But Philippines being the country that it is, I knew that most people would raise a brow to this idea kaya naman kahit na surrogate ang magdadala ay magsusuot pa rin ako ng moon bump.

This was becoming more complicated than intended.

"On one hand, having kids seems like a great idea—exhibit A, Maven," I said since that woman would forever have a hold over Maven because of that kid. "On the other hand... your mom," I continued with a slight shaking of my head.

"Wow, thanks."

I chuckled a little. "I did not hear a disagreement on your part."

Addie rolled her eyes. "My dad's something else."

"I mean, aren't all the men in our family?"

"True that," Addie said as she raised her glass. "But... will you be a good mom?"

"The baby will be well provided," I replied.

"You know that's not what I mean."

"I'll do my best."

Napailing si Addie. "Can't you control him without putting an innocent child into the situation?" she asked. "The guy's obviously head over heels in love with you."

Hindi ako nakasagot agad.

"Surely, you can use that to your advantage."

"Maybe."

"Jere is only beneficial to Avery because she did something horrible..." Addie said. "Unless you're planning on doing something like that as well, I think you can dispense with the idea of having a kid like it's some bargaining chip?"

I shrugged. "Doesn't hurt to be prepared."

Napailing siyang muli. "Just think about this again," sabi niya. "Bargaining chip or not, this child's going to be your child as well. I don't think you understand that."

I didn't know why I was asking Addie for her opinion. Bata pa lang ako ay alam ko na na magkakaroon ako ng pamilya. It's part of the package, anyway. Dating, engagement, marriage, family—all these to get to the top. Alam ko na 'yan kaya bakit ba nagdadalawang-isip ako ngayon?

I tried to focus on work. I needed to finish these before I go home. Ayaw ni Archie nang nagsasabi ako ng kahit ano tungkol sa trabaho. It pisses him off for some reason. I wanted to ask him why, but at the same time, I didn't want to open a can of worms. I worked hard for this peace and I didn't want it to be disturbed for as long as humanly possible.

"He's just been swamped with work, Ma'am," Cheryl said.

"That's it?"

She nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

I also did ask Cheryl to keep an eye out on that girl Rosie. I mean, sure, nakakaawa naman talaga iyong nangyari sa kanya, but I couldn't help but think that she's nothing but bad news. And normally, I would just brush it off. It's just a silly crush, anyway. But we're so close to the end of Archie's term. The stakes are much higher. I wouldn't let her silly crush get in the way of my dreams.

"Just keep me updated," I said.

I still couldn't get rid of her. She's always a good reminder of how good of a leader Archie can be... but at the same time... those hugs that linger?

She needed to be watched.

I continued working. While I was in the middle of reading proposals for campaign, bumukas iyong pinto. I didn't bother to look at who got in because I did ask Cheryl to grab me a cup of coffee from my favorite café.

"What is it that you're reading that's so interesting?"

Agad na napatingin ako nang marinig ko iyong boses na 'yon. Nakita ko si Archie na nakatayo sa may harap ng pintuan. His arms were folded against his chest. He looked so good with his 'uniform.' He's wearing a black slacks and light blue polo—a little more formal than his usual polo shirt na sinuot niya nung election.

"Is it five already?" I asked.

Umiling siya. "Just needed to take a break."

"From the meeting?"

He nodded. "I feel like I'm developing a migraine," he said.

I stood up from my chair and sat on the couch. Agad na sumunod sa akin si Archie. I was slightly taken aback nang pagkasyahin niya iyong sarili niya at humiga sa couch habang nakapatong iyong ulo niya sa mga hita ko.

"Here, I thought you're perfect from all angles," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin mula sa direksyon na iyon.

I quickly covered his face with both my hands at rinig na rinig ko iyong halakhak niya.

"I was kidding!" he said nang tanggalin niya iyong mga kamay ko at imbes ay hinawakan iyon. "Of course you're perfect—aside from the occasional mood swings."

I arched my brow. "I have mood swings?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"You're the one who have mood swings," I told him.

"You have more mood swings," he replied.

"You're the one who didn't talk to me for weeks."

"I still said goodbye bago ako umalis."

"That's not considered talking," I replied.

"Still, it wasn't complete silence from my end."

Napairap ako. "Sure," I said. "Why are you here, really?"

He sighed as he closed his eyes. Sinabi niya sa akin na literal na sumasakit na iyong ulo niya dahil sa mga nagpupunta sa opisina niya. Most of them were asking for 'favors.' And I knew that Archie didn't like getting favors because he knew that one way or another, he'd have to give it back. He said that he didn't want to be like his dad. Ewan ko. So, I just took it upon myself to do the 'hard' part.

He didn't like getting his hands dirty... but he sure did like being in power.

Archie could be a hypocrite sometimes.

"Just checking," he said.

I arched my brow. "Really..."

He nodded. "Just checking if you're feeling nauseous..."

"Why would—" agad akong napahinto nang maintindihan ko kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. "I am not pregnant, Archie."

"Yet," he replied like a stubborn child.

"I took pregnancy test earlier," I told him. He bought a box. Kung siya lang ang masusunod ay gagamitin ko iyon araw-araw. I just put water on it para mag-negative. I was still taking pills behind his back, but even I know that it doesn't always work 100%.

"Yes, I know, but it can always be a false negative, right?" sabi niya at muling dinilat ang mga mata niya.

"Can be," I replied.

He shifted his position hanggang sa iyong mukha niya ay kaharap na iyong tiyan ko. He was staring at it like he was trying to put a baby inside me magically.

"Archie," I called.

"Hmm?"

"Will you get disappointed if I can't get pregnant?"

Nakita ko iyong pagkunot ng noo niya. Hindi agad siya sumagot. Napaupo siya at humarap sa akin.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice serious this time.

I slightly shrugged. "What if I can't get pregnant?"

"Can't?"

I nodded. "Can't," I repeated. "If I have problem internally... or something," I continued.

Of course I would never tell him about my intense dread of the thought of me being pregnant. I just didn't see the appeal. Kahit hindi naman ako ang magdala ng bata, anak ko pa rin 'yon. It's still my DNA. But I knew that Archie would never approve of that unless I have a legitimate reason.

"We'll both get checked," he said.

"What?"

"We'll get medical opinion," sabi niya. "At kung may problema ang isa sa 'tin... then we'll think about other options."

My heart was slightly racing inside my chest. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako. Bakit nga ba ako kinakabahan sa kanya? Since when did I start to worry about his opinion? Dati ay ang iniisip ko lang ay kung paano siya papaikutin.

"Options such as?"

He shrugged. "IVF?"

I arched a brow. "You know about IVF?"

He shrugged again. "Been reading about it..."

"And why are you reading about it?"

Hindi siya agad sumagot, pero hindi ako tumigil sa pagtitig sa kanya hanggang sa makakuha ako ng sagot.

"Fine," he said, slightly rolling his eyes. Minsan, ang arte niya. "It's just that we've been having a lot of sex," he continued. "And I mean a lot."

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Hey!" he said like he was offended. "Pagod ako sa trabaho, pero nagagawa ko pa rin 'yon. If anything, I deserve an applause."

I arched my brow once more. "Really? You want me to applaud you?"

He shrugged. "I mean, I did give you some of the best performances of my life..."

"Oh, so some of the other performances, you gave to someone else?"

Mabilis na napaawang ang labi niya. He looked like he was confused with how the conversation turned into that. I mean, I was raised in a family where words are often used as ammunition. There's a reason why most of us, at least the ones from the de Marco side, ay hindi mahilig magsalita. It's not just because we don't like talking—it's more like our own words have been used against us a lot of times that it had taught us that silence is more often the better choice.

"Wait what?" he asked, confusion still evident on his face.

"Don't bother," I said. "I knew you were quite a slut before."

His eyes widened. "A slut?"

I nodded. "Yes, a slut."

"Wow..."

"It's fine. Past is past," I said.

"You really had me investigated."

"Yes," I replied. "I never denied that."

Napatitig siya sa akin. Tapos ay napangiti. This weirdo.

"I have no idea why that just sounded so... hot."

I rolled my eyes. "Because you're a psycho," I said. "You like to think that between the two of us, I'm the insane one, but we both know that deep inside, it's really you."

Napahalakhak siya.

"Our baby doesn't stand a chance," he said. "Two psychos for parents."

I stared at him.

Nawala iyong ngiti niya.

And then he held my hands.

"IVF, surrogacy," he said, "I'd say adoption, too, but I seriously don't think your family's gonna be welcoming."

I nodded. "Yes, I don't think so, too."

"So, if we can't get pregnant by ourselves, we'll explore other options," he said as he caressed my knuckles with his thumbs.

"Okay," I replied.

"Okay," he said. He looked at me and smiled. "See? We can solve our problems only if we talk things through."

I nodded. "Right."

"So whatever happens, good or bad, just tell me."

"Okay."

"No secrets."

"Okay."

"Great," he said and then quickly planted a kiss on my lips before standing up. "Now, I have to go back dahil baka nagpapatayan na sila roon."

"Dinner later with my family," I said.

"Already dreading it," he replied before he got out. Napailing na lang ako at natawa. 

**

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