Chapter 27

I woke up a minute earlier than the alarm. I stayed lying and stared at the ceiling until I heard the inevitable sound. I sat down, stood up, and started to walk. Dumiretso ako sa coffee machine para gumawa ng kape. I made myself a cup—an extra strong one this time. I knew that I'd need energy to get through today.

Lots of things that needed to be done.

I needed to talk to Cheryl.

I needed to consult with a crisis manager.

And I still needed to have a talk with Abuela. I knew that she's aware. It's of no use to pretend that she's not aware of everything that's happening.

I stood there and waited as my coffee finished brewing. When it was done, I poured it in my cup. I took a sit and enjoyed the silence—this was probably one of the last few moments of silence that I'd have in a while.

"Nadia."

I looked at him. He had been watching my every movement simula nang lumabas ako sa kwarto. He looked like guilt was eating him alive. What for? He surely wasn't guilty when he was sticking his dick in that girl.

"Nadia, can we talk?"

"Later," I replied.

"Really?"

"I need to consult with some people first."

Napakunot ang noo niya. "What?"

I held on to my cup. It was still hot, but not as hot as I would have wanted. I wanted it scalding. I wanted to burn. I wanted to feel something because I felt nothing now. All I could think of was how to fix this mess that he started.

Because I was far too gone now.

Too many people were involved.

Promises were made.

Money were spent.

And people don't play when it comes to money.

"About what the next appropriate action is," I said.

"What? No. I don't care about that—"

"Well, start caring," I told him. "I'll be meeting with some people first. I'll have them meet you once we get everything fixed."

His forehead started to crease. "What?"

I finished my cup of coffee.

I looked at him.

"Trust me—you don't want to know," I replied as I stood up because I had a long day ahead of me.

* * *

Archibald had been blowing up my phone—so much so that I had to temporarily block his number because I could not be seeing his notification every time I would check my phone. I had other things that needed to be prioritized.

"Before we begin," Kerry, the crisis manager, said, "I need to know what your end goal is."

"Presidency," I simply replied.

She gave me a small nod. "How far are we willing to go?"

"Very far," I replied as I saw that Archibald was using a different number to message me to ask me where I was and to ask when we could talk.

He's relentless for all the wrong reasons.

"Alright," she said with a very serious face. She's quite expensive, but she's very good at her job. She's who Senator Velasquez use whenever he or his family would get in trouble. So far, the reputation's unblemished. I'd say she's worth the price tag. "First, we will need to know how far along she is," Kerry, the crisis manager, told me. "If she's far along enough that we can get a paternity test."

I nodded. The irrational part of my mind would think that it's a possibility na hindi si Archibald ang tatay kung totoong buntis man ang babaeng 'yon. But I'd seen how she looks at him. I knew that she'd jump at any chance to get in bed with him.

And Archibald? He's an idiot who would not see what was happening right in front of him. If any, I'd say they're a match made in hell.

"Do you have any question?" she asked.

Umiling ako. "Nothing," I replied.

"I'll contact you again once we get a word on the paternity—"

"No need," I said. "I just need you to take care of it."

Kerry's lips parted at the realization of what I was asking. She quickly regained her composure and gave me a tightlipped smile. Was she surprised? Why did she think I contacted her? I was sure that she's done worse than this.

"Alright," she replied.

"Great," I said. "I don't need to know the details," I continued.

"I understand."

"Plausible deniability."

"As always," she replied.

I stood up and headed to my next appointment. I figured that before I talk to Abuela, I needed to make sure that everything's fixed—or at the very least, getting fixed. Ayoko na pumunta roon na parang bata na nagsusumbong na may problema. If I go there, I will go there with both the problem and the solution. That's how it should be.

"Not now," I said nang subukan akong kausapin ni Archibald. I stood in front of him and pretended to fix his collar. We're in the middle of doing a campaign.

"Pagkatapos nito?" he asked.

I smiled at him. I heard the camera clicking. I pretended to fix his hair.

"No," I said.

"Kailan?"

Nanatili lang iyong ngiti sa labi ko. Was I still smiling? Probably. It's always been like this during campaign season. My face has the muscle memory of how it needs to look like at times like this one. "Let's focus on this first," I said in the sweetest tone I could muster because there were a lot of ears around us.

"Okay," he said. "Can... can I ask a question? Isang tanong lang."

I stared at him.

People were watching.

"Later," I replied.

"Nadia—"

"I said later," I said one more time, my tone never faltering. I gave his shoulders a tap. "Later," I repeated.

I could see how unfocused he was, but I ignored it and proceeded to shaking the hands of the voters. I listened to all their stories—they're all the same. I'd heard the same story a thousand of times, but every time I'd hear it, I'd listen to it like it was the first time I ever heard of it.

These people just wanted someone to listen and that's what I'll give them. As Abuela always say, promise these people a little and they'll give you the world.

After hours of shaking people's hands, I was sitting and watching as Archibald gave his speech. He was good at doing this, thank God. It's at least one less thing to worry about.

"Ma'am," Cheryl said.

"What?" I replied.

"About what you asked me—"

"Did you do it?"

"Yes."

"Then I don't wanna hear about it," I said, cutting her off.

This campaign was too important for me to be distracted. I did not care about that girl nor the baby inside of her, but the last thing I needed was her to act all pregnant in public. She has no boyfriend. She's all over Archibald. It did not take a rocket scientist to put two and two together.

So, I told Cheryl to get a new assistant for Archibald and if anyone asks, tell them that she's sick. I mean, she's probably sick from all the morning sickness.

Whatever.

My hands automatically clapped for Archibald as he finished his speech. It was a good speech, of course—full of promises and hope for the future. In his defense, he'd probably fulfill some of those. Ganon naman talaga sa pulitika—overpromise and under deliver.

After the speech, I was immediately escorted to the car. If it were up to me, I'd leave immediately and go home. It had been a long day and all I wanted to do was to be in my tub and to drink wine and to plan the next day. But of course I needed to wait for my husband.

I quietly listened to some classical music while I was waiting for him to finish talking to some people. My eyes were closed and my head was resting, but all my senses were all too aware when he opened the car. I knew it was him. I knew his energy and his cologne.

And just like that, I was more tired than ever.

I knew he'd want to talk.

"Nadia," he called after a full minute passed of him just staring at me.

I opened my eyes. "What?" I asked as I stared at the ceiling of the car.

"I just... I just need to know that you did not do anything to Rosie," he said quickly like he just needed to get the words out of his system. Hindi ako nagsalita. He knew what I'd do. I told him right from the beginning. I did not care if he takes on another woman—I draw the line on having kids out of wedlock. If he wanted kids, he'd have it with me and we'd have a surrogate.

I had been nothing but clear.

"Hindi siya pumasok ngayon," he continued when he received nothing but silence from my end. "Nadia..." he called again.

I sighed. I was so tired from this day. I needed a glass of wine and a good night sleep because tomorrow might be another day, but it's still the same.

"She's safe," I said.

"Okay," he replied. "And... the baby?"

Umayos ako ng upo at tumingin sa kanya. "You know how I feel about babies born outside of my marriage," I told him. I saw the blood drain out of his face. Why was he surprised? This should be the least surprising thing about me. He knew about my family. I did not want a repeat of that.

Hindi siya nakapagsalita.

"Any more question?" I asked him.

He remained quiet.

Thank God.

"Great," I said as I knocked on the window, signaling that it's time for us to go home.

Tahimik lang siya hanggang sa makauwi kami. I thought his silence would continue until the morning, but I heard his voice while I was trying to pour myself a glass of wine. He was standing behind me.

"It's been a long day," sabi ko na inunahan siya.

"It happened once," he said.

"Immaterial," I replied.

"I... I don't even know if I'm the father."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "God, you're such a disappointment. You got her pregnant. At least take some accountability."

"One time," he said. "I was drunk—"

"I don't care," I told him. "You know the rule—no bastards."

"Nadia—"

"No," I told him because I knew that he'd just promise me things and if there's anything I know about him, it's that his words meant shit. He's got no follow through. He makes promises like the politician that he was.

"If the baby is not yours, nothing will happen," I told him. I only care about bastard from my marriage. I could not care less about other people. I have a lot of things going on in my life to care about others.

"It's just a baby..." he said.

"Well, you should've thought about that before you got someone pregnant," I replied.

Hindi siya nakapagsalita.

I was clear.

He couldn't put this on me.

"That baby's innocent," he said.

"Surely, you would feel the same if I got pregnant with someone else's baby," I told him and I saw his jaw clench. So, what now? It's only bad if I do it? If it's him, he gets to have a free pass?

It's a man's world and we all just live it in.

"I'm sorry," he said after he probably managed to calm himself down. Great. I had no energy to continue with this worthless conversation. It sounded sincere, but who cares, really? Not me.

"Sure," I replied.

"I didn't mean for it to happen. I didn't want it to happen. You have to believe me."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "It doesn't matter what I believe," I said.

"It does," mabilis niyang sabi. "It does matter to me. I want you to believe me, Nadia. I never meant for it to happen. I know that our marriage was struggling, but I never really gave up on us. I knew that one day, we'll get back together again. I just..." He took a step forward, but I shook my head. His lips parted. His face reflected the face of a person whose heart got stepped on. Probably.

"I messed up."

Seconds passed.

"I messed up real bad."

I gave him an empty look.

"Don't worry about it," I told him. "I grew up with men like you. I know how to fix your mess," I continued before I walked away with my glass of wine. 

**

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