Behind Every Man (COMPLETED)

Chapter 07

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."