Chapter 12

"Good morning, future first lady," Archie whispered in my ear as he was pulling me closer to him. I was so tired. I had never felt that tired in my life. I don't think I ever came to a point where in I was the one telling the guy to stop because I literally could not handle the sensation anymore.

But last night?

Last night was different.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang nangyari sa araw ni Archie. He was so... aggressive. In a good way. I mean, sure, sometimes hindi kami magkasundo sa mga bagay, but if there's one thing we always agree about, it's that together, we have great sex.

That's one thing we have that's certain.

It was just... surreal. Our sex life has always been great kaya naman hindi ko akalain na may mas pa pala roon.

Archie could surprise me sometimes.

"Good morning," I whispered back as I snuggled closer to him.

"Stay in bed," he said.

"I am in bed."

I felt him chuckling. "I know... I mean, I'm gonna get up and prepare breakfast."

"I'm good with coffee."

"I know... but I want to make you breakfast."

"Okay."

I was still comfortable in bed, but if he wanted to make breakfast, wala naman akong magagawa. My eyes were still closed. Ilang minuto na ang lumipas, pero hindi pa rin siya tumatayo. Dinilat ko ang mga mata ko at tumingin sa kanya.

"Why are you still here?" I asked.

"So hard to leave you here."

Bahagya akong natawa. "You're the one who wanted to get up to make breakfast."

"I know..." he said as he pulled me even closer. I was already close, but he wanted me closer. Sometimes, I felt like if he could crawl inside my skin, he definitely would just so he'd have me close.

"Then get up."

"I mean, you said you're good with just coffee..."

"So, no breakfast?"

"I can be your breakfast," he said as he wrapped his legs around my body.

"Tempting, but I can't..."

"Still sore?"

"Yes," I said. "I think I'm gonna work from home today."

Natawa siya. Pinutol niya iyong yakap at tumingin sa akin. "Seriously?" he asked. "You're that sore?" I nodded. Humalakhak siya. He looked rather pleased with himself. "Nice."

Napairap ako. I gently pushed him away.

"Go make breakfast," I said, but he just kept on pulling me back.

"No. I'm more needed here. You're injured," he replied.

"I'm not."

"You are," he said. "Sexually injured."

My lips parted. "You did not."

Muli siyang humalakhak. "I did."

"Whatever," I said. "That was a one-time thing."

"Oh, love. I will rewind last night in my head and figure out what exactly it was that I did that made you this sore," he said. "And I shall do that again... and more."

The entirety of the morning, he was just teasing me for being sore. I let him because he looked happy and to be fair, I was having fun, too.

He still needed to go to work, so he just toasted bread and spread butter over it. It was fine. I really didn't like eating in the morning, anyway. And the coffee he made was good.

"I'll send you the list of the people I'll be appointing," he said.

Napatingin ako sa kanya habang hawak iyong mug ng kape ko. I simply nodded. I tried not to initiate discussion about politics. I patiently wait for him to bring it up dahil ayoko na isipin niya ulit na iyon lang ang habol ko sa kanya.

It seemed like the plan was working.

The more I show him that I was developing feelings for him, the more he'd let me in and the less he'd struggle with me being included in the decision making.

Other guys, you can control through sex.

Archie? He's a feelings kind of guy.

Took me quite a while to figure it out.

"But I'll need your approval in three days," he continued. "Need to appoint people."

I nodded. "I'll get it back to you tonight," I simply said.

"Alright."

Naglakad siya papunta sa akin at saka hinalikan iyong gilid ng ulo ko. "Have to prepare for work," he said.

"Alright. I'll be here when you come home."

Bigla niya akong niyakap. "I love it when you say home."

"Why? It is your home."

"I know, but you know? A house is a house until someone makes it a home." Napairap ako. Naramdaman ko na natawa siya. "I know you rolled your eyes," he said.

"Do you have eyes at the back of your head?"

"No. I just know you very well now," he said as he hugged me even tighter. "Need to let go," he said but then continued to hug me. "Have to work."

"If you have to go, then let go."

"I'm trying."

"Try harder."

"I am hard."

"Archibald."

Humalakhak siya. "That's the first time you ever said my name!"

"Wrong," I replied. "I said your name during our vows," I continued and pushed him away. "Now, go prepare. Long day ahead for you."

He groaned, but nonetheless complied.

* * *

The rest of the week was... surprisingly normal—or dare I say domestic? I finished transitioning most of my responsibilities in my business, so I really just needed to do final approval on major decisions. Natapos na rin si Archie sa pag-aappoint ng mga bagong tao. Next week, start na ng proposal for new resolutions and new initiatives. I also needed to meet with the campaign team. It's never too early to prepare for the next step.

"Noted on that, Ma'am," sagot sa akin ni Cheryl.

We just finished the meeting. Archie's in an out of town gathering kasama iyong mga ibang mayor. It's kind of a meet and greet thing, but in reality, it's the governor confirming the mayors' loyalty. It's gonna be good for him. I just hope that he's holding up well. He kind of gets nervous when he's around powerful people.

Speaking of powerful people, I needed to meet with Preston once again. Mabilis lang 'tong term ni Archie as a mayor. Mas malaking campaign iyong sa congress. We'd need more donation and support.

Also, I needed to check with Maven kung saan ba siya naka-address. Archie's gonna run for this district. As far as I was concerned, sa ibang district naman naka-address pa si Maven, but I never really know with that one. Most of the time, he'd like a rotting body buried six feet deep, but it only takes one thing and suddenly, he's all over.

Always needed to be prepared sa kung anuman ang maging plano niya.

"Also send me a list of places for a conference," I said.

"For the barangay captain?"

"And the SK," I replied. "Just give me a list of places."

"Okay," she said. "Budget?"

"No budget," I replied. I mean, I wasn't gonna get it from my personal account. The government has money. And as of the moment, Archie has control over the money of this city.

Tanga lang ang maniniwala na walang pera ang Pilipinas. There's money—tons of it—you just don't have access to it.

After the meeting ay dumiretso na ako sa brunch. It had been quite a while since I last attended brunch. I had been busy with the wedding and the last leg of the election. I mean, they understood how busy campaign period could get.

"Been so long," Addie said nang makita niya ako.

"Indeed," I replied. "How's everything?"

She simply shrugged at me. I knew that above all, Maven's got her loyalty. I understood. They're twins, for heaven's sake. But I also knew that she wouldn't screw me over. At most, she'd just stay neutral.

"Have you talked to Abuela?" she asked.

"Not really," I said. "She's still alive, isn't she?"

Aspen snorted. "How's married life treating you?" he asked.

"It's been nice," I replied.

Aspen grinned. "Sex that good?"

Napatingin din sa gawi namin si Psalm. Even Saint who's usually just minding his own business and who usually looks like he couldn't wait to get out of here ay napatingin sa gawi ko.

"No, I won't be discussing my sex life with you," I told Aspen.

Humalakhak siya. "So, he's that good! Nice."

I looked at him, disgusted. "When did I ever discuss my sex life with you?" I asked. "And what made you think that I'm gonna start now?"

Tawang-tawa sila Psalm at Saint sa reaksyon ko. The entire time, iniinis lang ako nung tatlo. I didn't know what's with today at ako ang naisipan nilang guluhin. Natigilan lang sila nang dumating na si Abuela. That always works—her mere presence is always enough to take the joy out of any room. That's the level I aspire to reach.

The brunch started. I did my best to enjoy the food kahit na ramdam na ramdam ko iyong pagtingin sa akin ni Mama. I didn't know why she always acts like she's scared of me. It wasn't as if I was going to kill her in her sleep.

Nang matapos iyong brunch, as expected ay kinausap ako ni Abuela.

"Congratulations," she told me.

I was taken aback.

For a second.

Quickly, I composed myself. "Thank you," I replied. "You should congratulate Archie, Abuela," I continued.

"I will," she said.

"He will appreciate it."

"What is the plan?" she asked, instead.

"What do you mean?"

Tumingin siya sa akin. Bahagya akong natawa. Why did I even bother? There's no use in playing coy with her. Whenever I'd look at her, I only see who I would be in the future—better, even, if I could help it.

"Congress," I said.

Gently, she nodded. "Okay."

"You'll support Maven, of course," I stated.

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Don't you want my support?"

I did not know the purpose of this talk. I did not know why she needed to know kung anuman ang plano ko. I mean, it's her. Of course she already knew. Baka nga hindi ko pa naiisip ay alam niya na.

Sometimes, it's eerie how she could predict what I'd do. Like she's in my head.

Parang si Archie.

Maybe I was just easy to read? That's disappointing.

"Of course, I do," I replied. "But at the same time, I won't be begging for it."

She clasped her hands together. "Why do you think I'll make you beg? We're family."

I shrugged. "I know Maven's the favorite. It's hardly news."

"There are a lot of seat in the Congress," she said.

"I know," I replied. "And as far as I'm concerned, Maven resides in a different district."

"Why can't Archibald run for Senate, instead?" she asked.

"Senate?"

Abuela nodded. "He can run for Senate and Maven can run for congress. Together, we'll have control of both the lower and upper house."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Why can't Maven run for senate?"

"He can," Abuela replied, "But Archibald is unknown."

I rolled my eyes. "You talk about him like he's some unknown species," I said. "He's a mayor of one of the cities here in the Metro."

"One of the cities," Abuela replied. "Not even Manila," she continued. "Running for senate means national coverage."

Hindi ako nakasagot agad.

It's a national election—bigger coverage, more funds needed.

"I'll think about it," I replied. I didn't know what's in it for her... Besides, it's risky. Kapag natalo kami sa senatorial election, it will always reflect poorly on Archie. He'd be known as someone who didn't make the cut in the senatorial line. It's a huge risk as compared to the Congress with less people we'd have to court.

"Alright," Abuela said.

"What's in it for you?" I asked.

"Nothing," she replied.

"Nothing..." I said as I slowly nodded my head.

"Not everything has an agenda," Abuela said. "Should you decide to agree with my proposition, you will have my full support."

"And the presidency?" I asked. "Did you promise Maven that?"

"I did," she replied. "But should you two decide to run at the same time, I will keep my hands off it."

Slowly, I nodded.

May the better de Marco win.

**

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