"How's your tito's campaign?" I asked while I combed his hair with my fingers. He was sweaty but he still smelled really good.
He grinned. "Masaya naman pala 'yong campaign, ang babait ng mga tao tapos sobrang welcoming din nila sa mga lugar nila. Nagpapamigay pa nga sila sa amin ng mga produkto nila kaya may kinakain kaming mga snacks habang umiikot kami sa mga barangay."
I blinked several times because campaigns sounded fun when the stories came from him but in reality, it was tiring and annoying.
"Nakakatuwa 'yong mga tao, hindi sila mahirap pakisamahan o kausapin man lang. Tuwang-tuwa nga rin 'yong mga iba kong kasama. Nakakausap ko rin 'yong mga nagtatrabaho rito kaya pwede ako mag-volunteer dito sa susunod."
"So you'll be staying here often?" I asked and frowned.
"Hindi ko pa sigurado pero baka... Depende sa schedule ko sa training." He smiled. "'Wag kang mag-alala puro pinsan ko lang naman madalas na nakakasama ko rito."
"I saw you kanina, you were with that girl..." I rolled my eyes. "Why is she here?"
He smiled and cupped my face. "Magkasama kasi sa partido si tito pati 'yong tito niya at kaya magkasama kami kanina dahil nangangampanya 'yong tito niya rito. Bumisita rin siya rito sa City Hall dahil may mga itatanong siya tungkol sa mga buildings para daw may mai-suggest siya sa tito niya na mga projects."
My forehead creased. "Why do you have to be there?"
He held my forehead and tried straightening my brow but I was too pissed with that girl. "Eh kasi nga 'yong sa sports naman sa akin. Tsaka nagtatanong na rin siya kung maganda 'yong mga isa-suggest niya dahil hindi naman talaga siya laging nandito, hindi katulad ko na tuwing summer at Christmas bumibisita rito," he said softly but his voice cannot pacify me.
I pouted. "I really don't like that girl."
He sighed and held my hand. "Ako na ang bahala, trust me, okay?"
"I really trust you, Matty, but I also hate seeing you with other girls," I said sadly. "I can't control what I feel."
"Okay lang naman... Basta sinisiguro ko sa'yo na ikaw lang, kung nag-aalala ka pa rin iiwasan ko na lang siya."
"Okay," I said because I didn't want to talk about it further. I'm feeling bad that I'm requiring him to stop talking with other girls even though it wasn't my fault that I'm feeling this way. Girls don't have their limits and I'm sure that Olivia is one of them.
"Papayagan ka kaya ni tito lumabas mamaya? Maraming pwedeng puntahan dito." He kissed the back of my hand. "Ipagpapaalam na lang pala kita kay tito mamaya."
We talked more until my dad and the other senatorial candidates went out of the conference room where they had a meeting with the mayor.
"Oh, Matteo, you're here," dad said and shook Matty's hand. "Akala ko nagha-house-to-house campaign ka pa para sa tito mo?"
"Inagahan ko po ngayong araw 'yong kampanya para maaga rin po matapos," Matt answered.
"At sino naman ito?" Senator Cantabria butted in and offered his hand to Matty.
"Matteo Torre po, pamangkin ni Mayor Vitale," Matt introduced himself and shook Senator Cantabria's hand.
"Oh! I see... Paano mo nakilala itong batang 'to, Leon?" Senator Cantabria looked at my dad.
"Best friend siya ni Callie," dad answered and gave us a just-go-with-it look.
Senator Cantabria looked at me with a smile. "I didn't know you have friends other than the Cantabria children, Callie."
"Bata pa mga 'yan magkaibigan na. Kapitbahay kasi namin 'yong pamilya nila Matteo," dad answered for me as if he was preventing me from talking about my connection with Matt.
"Overachiever ka rin siguro, we have always known Callie as someone with really high standards so I'm assuming that she surrounds herself with the people who can keep up with her," Senator Cantabria said as if he was looking down on Matt.
Matt chuckled and shrugged. "I can't say that I'm an overachiever but I finished junior high with high honors and received several awards for sports and academics."
I held onto Matt's arm because I noticed that he was a bit tense. I knew how he hated flaunting his awards and abilities but right now, he needs to do that.
Matt looked at me and smiled as he caressed my hand.
Mayor Vitale went out of his small cubicle and looked at Matt. Matt excused himself and went to his tito, they conversed in Cebuano so I didn't really understand what they were talking about.
"Come on, Callie, the mayor and Matt are both busy with their campaign so we should leave them," dad said when the other senators started walking out of the Mayor's office.
"But I want to stay with Matt, dad," I said and pouted. "I haven't seen him for days and we just started our relationship a few days ago."
"Callie, we're in the middle of the campaign and there are only a few weeks left before the elections. You should focus on this first," dad said as if he was begging me to put this first.
Gosh! I didn't even want this!
Matt approached us and greeted dad. "Mangangampanya na po kayo mamaya?"
"Oo, dadaan muna kami sa ibang mga city bago kami mangampanya rito sa Cebu City. Nakaikot na ba kayo rito?"
"Sa ibang barangay pa lang po. House to house campaigning po kasi ginagawa namin para mas makita raw po noong mga bagong tumatakbong konsehal 'yong sitwasyon ng mga tao rito," Matt said.
Dad smiled. "I'm glad you're enjoying the campaign, Matteo."
"Opo." Matty smiled and looked at me. "Kailangan po ba isama si Callie mamaya sa campaign niyo?"
Dad nodded. "Bakit mo tinatanong?"
"Gusto ko po kasi sana siya igala rito sa lugar namin. May driver at bodyguard naman po 'yong pamilya namin dito kaya safe naman po kaming makakapunta sa mga lugar. Kung okay lang po sa inyo."
Dad looked at me with hesitation. "Hindi ko sigurado. Baka magalit 'yong mommy niya kapag bigla ko na lang siya pinasama."
I gave him a pleading look. "Pumayag ka na, dad, please."
Dad shook his head and sighed. "Sige na pero bumalik ka agad sa hotel natin mamaya. Maaga tayo sa campaign bukas."
I grinned. "Yes, dad! I'll entertain the people tomorrow."
"Sige na, umalis na kayo bago pa magbago ang isip ko," dad said and held his temples so I pulled Matt away from him.
I held Matt's hand as we walked outside the City Hall but I couldn't help but roll my eyes when we bumped into Olivia, she was with another guy who I think was older than us. The guy was looking at me with a confused expression.
"Nandito na raw kasi si daddy may meeting daw ulit sila ni Mayor Vitale para sa donations sa isang kalye na ipapagawa at gusto niya kasama kami ni kuya."
I wrapped my arm around Matt's arm so she would notice. This girl is really suspicious and I don't like it.
"Oh, hi!" Olivia greeted me and waved her hand. "Your dad will be campaigning here, right?"
I just nodded because I wasn't in the mood to act nice. I'm sure as hell that she's not a voter yet so her opinions about how I act don't really matter.
She just gave me an awkward smile and motioned to the guy beside her. "By the way, this is my brother, Oliver Aragon."
Aragon? Why does that last name ring a bell? They're probably a business family or something.
Oliver smiled and offered his hand. "Hi, have we met before? You look really familiar."
I shook my head and didn't accept his hand because I was certain that I had not met him or his sister. "You've probably seen me in interviews. My dad is a senator."
"No... Are your relatives part of the business world?"
"Yeah, my grandfather is Henry Montagne," I answered confidently with a smile.
"Oh, you're Hunter's half-cousin?" Oliver asked.
I scoffed and leaned on Matty to tell him that I don't want to talk to Oliver and Olivia anymore.
"Mukhang naiinitan na yata si Callie," Matt said and smiled at them. "Mauna na kami."
"Oh, okay. Take care," Olivia said and waved at us.
Matt guided me to his family's van and they really have a driver and bodyguards here.
Matt opened the door for me. "Daan muna tayo sa bahay namin, may kukuhanin lang ako."
"You really have a driver and bodyguard..." I trailed as I looked around the van. There were two bodyguards seated behind us and another bodyguard was sitting on the passenger seat.
They were all wearing matching dark blue polo shirts that I think were the political color of Matt's tito.
"Eleksyon kasi kaya lahat sa pamilya namin laging may kasamang bodyguard kapag lalabas," Matt said and he smiled at the bodyguards. "Si Callie po pala, girlfriend ko."
My heart started beating quickly when I heard how he introduced me to other people. I can't help but smile because of the giddy feeling that he gave me.
I rested my head on his shoulder as we made our way to his home.
I was in awe when we arrived at his family's home because it was an old mansion but it still looked new like they really maintain it.
"You didn't tell me that you're a rich kid from Cebu," I teased him because I knew how much he hated that.
He frowned and pinched my nose. "Hindi naman... May maliit na mango farm lang dito 'yong pamilya namin at ang produkto namin mangga lang hindi katulad noong mga farm ng mga mayayamang pamilya katulad noong mga Fiorentino na halos lahat ng ginagamit nilang raw material sa mga produkto nila sila rin nagha-harvest."
I just raised my brow to tease him more.
"Tsaka 'yong bahay matagal na 'yan sa pamilya."
"You are so defensive, Matty." I laughed. "But seriously, you're rich, why are you riding the jeepney to school?"
"Ayaw ko naman magpahatid lagi kay mommy at daddy, sobrang hassle noon. Mas gusto naman nila mommy na simple lang kami tsaka hindi naman kami kilala masyado sa Maynila." He shrugged. "Ayaw ko rin naman ng masyadong pansinin na buhay, kung hindi nga lang kami pinapunta rito ni tito at pinasali sa campaign niya, hinding-hindi ako pupunta rito habang eleksyon."
We got out of the car and he held my hand and we started walking towards his house.
"Wait." I pulled my hand back. "Your whole family is in there?"
He nodded. "'Wag kang mag-alala. Marami namang pumapasok sa bahay namin kaya hindi ka naman siguro nila guguluhin. Anong gusto mo ipakilala ko sa'yo? Girlfriend o best friend baka kasi may makasalubong tayo na mga tito o tita. Nakalimutan ko nga kanina ipinakilala kita sa mga bodyguard namin na girlfriend ko."
I frowned. "Of course I want them to know that I'm your girlfriend."
"Baka kasi hindi pala pwede kasi diba sinabi ni tito kanina sa mga kasama niya mag-best friend tayo?"
I grimaced because I hated that. I hated how I wasn't allowed to tell everyone that Matty was my boyfriend. "Hayaan mo si dad. Introduce me as your girlfriend."
He smiled and patted my arm lightly. "Okay."
When we got inside their mansion, I was dumbfounded when I saw that there were a lot of people inside the mansion carrying sacks of I don't know what.
"Oh? You're early, where's your tito?" an old woman asked Matty. She looked regal even though she was dressed in a simple carnation pink semi-formal dress that complemented her fair skin tone.
"Tito has a meeting with Engineer Aragon, Mamita," Matt said and kissed the woman's cheek before he did the traditional mano. "By the way, this is Callie, my girlfriend."
I forced a smile even though I was really nervous. I'm not really the type that will fold at other people's stares but Matt's mamita was really intimidating.
"Magmano ka, Callie," Matt whispered.
"Oh," I said and approached and I was about to take her hand but she stopped me.
"No need for that... If it's not part of your culture, you don't need to force yourself," she said sternly which made my heart race.
"It's not a part of my family's tradition but as a sign of respect, I should still do it," I said in a calm manner, trying to hide the nervousness that I was feeling.
She just shrugged and just let me do whatever I was supposed to do. It was a good thing that I'm used to having a strong demeanor so even though I'm nervous and intimidated I still have a calm facade.
After making mano, I went beside Matt immediately and held onto him. Gosh! That was nerve-wracking!
She turned to Matt and chuckled. "I didn't see you as someone that would have a girlfriend this early, Matteo. Frederick doesn't even have a girlfriend yet."
"Mamita—"
"Anyway, it's nice meeting you, Callie, I hope my apo isn't giving you headaches because of his attitude," she said before leaving us.
"What are those?" I asked Matt and pointed at the sacks that were being carried by workers.
"Mga fertilizer 'yan," he answered and held my hand as he lead me to the second floor of their mansion.
There was a huge hallway with a red-carpeted floor and several vintage empire chandeliers with yellow lights were hanging on the ceiling that lit up the whole floor.
It was a huge old mansion but it didn't look haunted because of all the lights. "Your house has a lot of lights."
"Ayaw kasi ni mamita na may madilim na parte rito dahil nga luma na at kaya rin kahit sino sa mga kakilala nila nakakapasok para buhay na buhay daw 'yong bahay."
Matt went inside a huge living room with narra furniture that complemented the cream walls. There was also a huge portrait of Matt's whole family with their mamita seated in the middle holding a white marble urn.
"Dito ka na lang muna, Cat, may kukuhanin lang ako sa kwarto ko," he said.
"I'll come with you," I said because I didn't want any of his relatives to see me alone.
"Hindi pwede baka makita tayo ng mga tita ko, ayaw kong sirain 'yong image mo sa pamilya ko." He kissed my forehead tenderly. "Babalik ako agad, kukuhanin ko lang 'yong mga kakailanganin natin mamaya."
I just nodded and sighed. I stared at the family portrait that was on the wall, Matt has a huge family and it seemed like Carmela was the bunso out of all of their cousins.
"Hi," I heard a guy's voice from behind. "You're probably a visitor of one of my cousins."
I turned around and my eyes settled on a man who was I think older than Matt but he looked similar to Matt around the eye area and skin tone, he's probably one of Matt's cousins.
"I'm Matt's visitor," I answered politely because it seemed like he was older than me.
His lips formed into an 'O' shape. "Really? You must be his girlfriend, then? Callie, right? I'm sure as hell that my snobby cousin wouldn't bring visitors here unless he's comfortable with them."
I smiled and nodded proudly. So they knew about me, that's a relief.
"I'm Rick Vitale, by the way. Nice to meet you," he said and offered his hand and I accepted it. "Matt really has a girlfriend. Wow."
"Rick, anong ginagawa mo rito? Hindi ba tutulong ka dapat sa campaign ni tito?" Matt said and walked towards me. He was carrying a huge backpack while holding a baseball cap.
"Yeah, paalis na nga ako... Nakita ko lang 'yong girlfriend mo." He chuckled and patted Matt's shoulder. "I should really get myself a girlfriend. Naunahan mo pa 'ko."
Matt just rolled his eyes at his cousin before putting the cap on my head. "Halika na, baka matagalan tayo sa pupuntahan natin."
Rick covered his mouth and looked away as if he was trying not to laugh or tease Matt.
Matt held my hand and looked at Rick. "Una na kami."
Rick waved his hand and grinned. "Ingat!"
Matt and I traveled from their mansion to a farm we also passed by other tourist spots but we didn't stop because there were a lot of people taking pictures and I wasn't planning on campaigning for my dad today.
Matt was greeted by several old men who were all holding a basket of mangoes. They were all speaking in Cabuano so I couldn't really relate to them. Matt even introduced me to them as his girlfriend.
"Halika na, Callie," Matt said and held my hand.
I looked around the farm and it was a huge farm with a lot of mango trees and each mango tree was full of yellow mangoes. They all looked so beautiful because of how the mangoes' yellow color and it looked like they were reflecting the rays of the sun.
"Are those men farmers here?" I asked Matt as we walked around.
Matt nodded while still looking at the mangoes as if he was choosing which one to pick.
"Really? They look really friendly to you," I said. Some of my relatives from my dad's side own farms and their workers aren't as friendly as the farmers here.
Matt nodded and smiled. "Mababait talaga mga tao rito sa amin masyado nga rin silang mapagpasalamat kahit deserve naman nila lahat ng binibigay sa kanila na bayad at benepisyo."
"Yeah, this farm is huge. They must be working really hard," I said because the farm was well-maintained.
"Kung makikita mo 'yong ibang farm dito, itong farm namin ang pinakamaliit sa lahat." He chuckled. "Pero okay na sa amin 'to dahil nakakapag-supply naman kami sa mga nag-o-order sa amin."
We continued walking and he picked two mangoes from a tree. "Ayan nakahanap na ako ng kakainin natin mamaya."
"Mamaya?" I asked him.
He nodded and pointed at a small gazebo. He held my hand and pulled me towards the white gazebo.
He put his backpack down and took a blanket from inside it. "Dapat talaga magto-tour tayo rito kaso alam ko naman na ayaw mo sa mga lugar na matao kaya dito na lang tayo."
He looked at me after arranging the blanket and the food that were all inside his huge backpack. "Hindi pa tayo nakakapag-date dahil parehas tayong busy kaya babawi ako ngayon."