Chapter 33

"Big day for you, huh?"

"What?" I asked, my forehead creased in confusion. The past few days—weeks, even—had been very tiring. Sometimes, I was just running on four hours of sleep—five, if I get lucky. But I had no complaints.

In the end, it's all going to be worth it.

"New role," Aspen said. "Mom and wife of a senator."

"Right," I replied.

90% of the total number of ballots had been counted. He's number 2. Safe to say, Archibald's already a shoo in. I could finally breathe.

Natawa siya. "You don't look too pleased."

"I am," I said. "It just doesn't reflect on my face."

Mas lalo siyang natawa. Thankfully, he decided to talk to his wife and leave me alone. I like Aspen, but I was just in no mood to talk to anyone at the moment.

I stood up and decided to just go inside the house. We were at Abuela's house to celebrate. Maven won. Of course. Didn't doubt that for a moment. But I didn't want to dwell on it, really. The presidential election's gonna be six years from now. I could relax... at least for a moment.

I won the battle, but I needed to win the war.

"Congratulations," I said when I saw Abby.

"Thank you," she replied.

We both know that it's us who won—Maven and Archibald were just pawns.

Napatingin siya sa tiyan ko.

"When is the due?" she asked. I knew that she's just asking because she's trying to make small talk. I knew because if the situation was in reverse, that's what I would have done, too.

"Not sure," I replied. I was told, but it's been very busy. I'd check again. I just really needed a few days off. I needed to recalibrate before I go back to my normal schedule.

Abby just nodded. We're just all here gathered because Abuela's not getting any younger. No one likes to talk about it. We just... glide around the subject. I mean, she's evil, but she's still mortal. This was one of the things money can't buy, sadly.

"I have a question," I asked. She just gave me a shrug. "If you were in my position, what would you have done?"

"Not gonna happen to me," Abby replied.

Bahagya akong natawa. "That confident, huh?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Good to hear."

"Can I ask a question?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you do it?"

"That's not who I am."

"What's the difference?" she asked.

"You won't understand," I replied.

"Because of the plane thing?"

"Yes, because of the plane thing."

We don't really call it for what it was—multiple murder. And that really pisses Addie off because for her, calling it the 'plane thing' minimizes its effect.

"Then how can you beat Maven in the Presidency?" Abby asked.

I forced a smile on my face.

She was just looking at me—no expression on her face.

"Let me worry about that," I replied.

"You can just run after Maven," she said. "I'll even donate to your campaign."

My smile was still on my face. I couldn't tell her what I really wanted to tell her. I choose my fights and this wasn't it—at least not now.

"I think someone's looking for me," I said although we both knew that I just reached the end of my patience for her. Bumalik ako sa labas. I sat beside Addie because I knew that Abby would never go near her—at least as much as she could possibly help it. Abby's all things but she cares about Maven and she knew that Maven hates it when he gets brought in the Abby and his mother or Abby and his sister. Basically, Maven just really needed to get it through his skull that none of his family really likes Abby—we just really tolerate her a lot because we're scared of her.

"Your sister-in-law's really something," I said to Addie.

"Tell me about it," she replied in agreement. "Where's the new senator?" she asked.

"He said that he's extremely tired from the campaign, but I think he just really doesn't wanna go here."

"Can't blame him," Addie said. "Isn't it weird?"

"What?"

"That," Addie replied, pertaining to the moon bump that I was wearing. It was quite a huge moon bump, if I may say so myself. But I just really want to get in the part. I wanted everyone to know that I was pregnant. I mean, if I were to use this pregnancy, might as well milk it until the very end. People were speculating if we're having twins. I say let the people speculate.

"Not really," I replied. "But I'm starting to get used to holding on to it," I added. I really wanted to show that maternal instinct. Our advisors told us that the pregnancy announcement really helped boost Archibald's image. There's just really something about a good father of a family that makes a man look like he's going to be a good leader.

Let the public believe what they want to believe.

"What about Rosie?"

I frowned. "Don't say her name."

Natawa siya. "Pregnancy hormones? Sensitive ka ngayon?"

"Plane thing," I said with a blank stare and that made her frown.

"Fine," she said. "How's the baby mama?"

"Delusional," I replied.

"She with Gallego?"

"No," I said. I knew that there's no way that Archibald would go see her without me. That guy's too burned out from everything—the last thing he'd want was for me to discover that he's doing things behind my back. Again.

"Very certain," she commented.

"Yes," I replied. "Because if he does that to me again, I might seriously just resort to murder."

Tumawa siya.

She probably thought that I didn't mean it.

Maybe.

Abuela said some speech about family and power and I really wanted to listen and to relish this moment of winning, but I was just so exhausted that I could not enjoy anything.

Paguwi ko sa bahay, agad kong naabutan si Archibald. He was still there where I left him—he didn't even seem like he moved at all. He was just sleeping on the couch. There was a late news program on the background. Nakatulugan niya siguro.

I decided to be quiet. He deserved the sleep. It's been quite hectic for him. He did the physical campaign and he still attended some debates on live TV. In preparation for that, he had to review a lot of materials and he had to practice with some of the debaters we hired for this.

I saw him putting effort.

I'd say that I appreciated that, but he signed up for it. I was just thankful na hindi na siya masyadong nagrereklamo.

* * *

"Is that what you're wearing?" I asked when he came out of the room. We had decided before that he'd officially move to the guest room—which I guessed was now his room. It's just better this way. We could live together in peace if we can go to sleep in peace. And that's just a bit hard to achieve kapag magkatabi kami sa kama tuwing gabi.

"Yes," he replied. "Do you want me to change?" he sincerely asked.

Archibald's been nice.

Awfully nice.

Like the fight in him died.

Seemed like I finally kicked him until he's down on the ground.

I stared at him and what he was wearing. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and light blue polo. He looked very presentable.

"Barong," I replied. "Embrace the Filipino pride."

"Kahit ano don?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he said and then without any more word, went back inside his room. There's no fun to even think about trying to pick a fight with him.

"Okay na ba 'to?" he asked. He's now wearing a barong Tagalog.

I nodded. "Yes."

Archibald poured himself a coffee. He was quiet just like the other mornings before.

"When's the due date?" I asked.

Hindi agad siya sumagot.

"I'm not trying to pick a fight," I said.

"I don't want to discuss this with you," he replied in a calm voice... almost like he was begging me that he really did not want to do this.

"I was just asking," I said. "I don't want to wear a bump in public anymore."

Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita.

"Also, I'll have Cheryl schedule showing. We need a bigger house," I told him. Our place right now was perfect. A kid could live perfectly fine here, but personally, I needed a bigger place—iyong tipo na kaya kong tumagal ng ilang araw na hindi ko nakikita o naririnig iyong bata. I should've looked for a new place before, but things got on the way—and also, I was kind of hoping that maybe the universe would want to give me a break and just take the baby away naturally.

Just because I couldn't do it myself doesn't mean that I wasn't wishing that it'll be gone on its own.

"Okay," he replied. "Ikaw na magdesisyon."

"Okay," I said with my forehead in creased.

He sat there and quietly finished his coffee. When he was done, he put it in the dishwasher. And then he looked at me.

"Should I wait for you o sasama ka sa akin sa trabaho?" he asked.

I really wanted to go with him.

That was the plan.

I wanted to relish the victory.

"I'll stay here."

"Okay."

"Are you okay?" I asked him. I couldn't stop myself.

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Lots of okay thrown in a hot minute.

"I'll just introduce myself to everyone. No important decision will be made without your permission," he said.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Okay," I replied.

Muli siyang tumango. "Great."

Archibald grabbed his bag.

He started to walk.

"Gallego," I called. He stopped on his track. "Are we okay?"

Because we didn't work out as... husband and wife.

But we're working out as business partners.

He nodded. "Yeah, of course. Bakit mo natanong?"

Umiling ako. "Nothing."

"Okay," he replied. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Nadia," he called my name. "Can I ask for a favor?" he asked.

"Depends," I said.

"Can you... can you be nice to the baby?" he asked. "I'll do what you want—I'll work hard as a senator. I promise I'll do my best to do anything you'll ask of me. Just... don't take your hatred out on the baby," sabi niya habang pahina nang pahina iyong boses niya. Like he's afraid I was going to torment his spawn.

"I'll do my part as long as you do yours," I simply said.

"Thank you."

It's no fun conversing with him when he's like this. I realized I liked him more when he's putting up a fight. I always dreamed of Archibald just following my lead without any questions asked. He's doing it now. I found it yawn inducing. Ganito ba sina Abby at Maven? Because I was sure as hell that Maven would follow Abby to the depths of hell. Didn't Abby find that boring?

* * *

"Nasan si Archie?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Can't you put her to sleep?" I asked the nurse but she just shook her head.

We're in the delivery room. It was not her schedule to give birth, but of course, Rosie, the ever inconvenience of my life, decided to give birth right around the busiest time of my life.

"Nasaan si Archie?" she repeated again.

"Conference," I replied.

"Bakit ikaw ang—" she said and then paused because of contraction. I just watched as her face contorted in pain. She could literally be dying of thirst and I'd use the water to water the plants.

"You're not supposed to give birth now," I told her. "If you wanted him here, you should've stuck to the plan. You know he's busy with work."

The nurses were looking at me with disapproval. I ignored them. As long as the NDA is signed, I could not care less about their opinion. Besides, I just needed to care for their opinion four years from now—kapag malapit na ulit ang election. For now, I'd be a little bit more of myself in public.

"Mukha bang gusto ko 'to?!"

My plan was to just sit on the side and let them do their own thing. I wanted to take a nap, but how could I with Rosie shouting like she's breaking in half? But on the brighter side, hindi ko na ulit kailangang magsuot ng bump. I missed being able to wear my clothes.

I tried to tune the noise out. Archibald should've been here. He's already on his way back, but with the way Rosie's shouting, I doubted kung maaabutan pa ni Archibald. Sana maabutan niya. I was the one who told him to go attend the conference. I didn't want him to think na sinadya ko para hindi siya makapunta rito.

"Nadia..."

Napatingin ako nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. My forehead creased when I realized who called my name. I didn't say a word, but I just arched my brow at her.

"Pwede... pwede mo bang hawakan 'yung kamay ko?" she asked. Her voice sounded scared. She looked scared—reminded me of the very first time that I saw her. Who would've known? Definitely not me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that that little orphan girl from before would be the one who would destroy my marriage.

"Natatakot ako..."

She was all alone.

No family.

No 'Archie.'

Once again, she was at my mercy.

"I don't care," I told her. And maybe that was evil of me... but if it was, then why did the universe decide to grant my wish? 

**

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