Camp Andrea is a place nobody knows but the ones who really saw it for real. While the Androva Empowerment Center is a hub for re-educating citizens in the realm of nationalism, productivity, and straightforwardness, based on rules by a regime under Chairman Laude, this one’s a where-to for those who need to be taught lessons. It’s actually a workplace for people to contribute to the regime’s cause, like stamping a Laudenian emblem for merchandise or sewing uniforms and fashion wears with loud designs supporting the new, empowered Androvan society.
The workers here wear uniforms themselves. They come from various age groups, unlike at the Center where most of the students are young and teachable. They grew ten-fold once the Camp began its operations just a year after Chairman Laude was sworn into full power.
Tess visits this place every once in a while. She is personally summoned by her boss to check how things are going and assess the effectiveness of the workforce. To Tess and other officers working their butts off to ensure that the policies and visions of the regime are met, they’re valuable workers for the solidification of the peninsula, while the Camp is intrinsically necessary to establish an environment where work is done and the regime’s existence is primal.
These essential workers are here not to be paid but to be punished. For they are the enemies of the state. They vocally opposed the regime in their views and actions. They don’t agree with how Chairman Laude and his cabinet run the show, and they’re not one with the millions of others who expressly declare their support to the regime. For that they deserved to be arrested, brought to this detention center, and be given tasks they’d rather not do in accordance to their faith.
Faith may be the only thing they have once they’re incarcerated. But their fate is no longer in their hands.
Tess called upon one of the soldiers, one very popular and notorious in the camp, for a quick meeting in the commandant’s office. “Can I just call you Drago?”
“Yes ma’am,” the burly behemoth coolly answered.
“I believe you are tasked to do some work today and deal with five insurgents,” she said, letting the soldier know that she had studied his background. “The commandant chose you to do the work because he said you have a tough stomach. May I ask how you’re able to actually handle it.”
Drago shrugged his shoulders. “I’m trained to kill enemies and have fought in real battles where the losers are dead. I think I’m a born winner and I ought to win at all costs.”
Tess was listening intently.
“Also,” Drago added, “I always believe that a good soldier follows orders. I don’t ask complex questions. I only ask where and when.”
Tess nodded. She was beginning to like him. She wanted to examine Drago’s conscience further. “Do you mean to say you work for this regime primarily to earn and be a good soldier.”
Drago felt it was a slightly tricky question. “First and foremost, I believe in Chairman Laude’s cause. I was among the commandant’s first recommendations for a post here because he knew I’m an avid supporter of the Chairman – the man who finally saved our fatherland.”
No further questions.
The five insurgents lined up like usual suspects, a quarter before 11 in the evening. They’re all relatively young. None of them were showing emotions. Three had become emaciated bodies after weeks of hard labor and scarce food. They must be all too weak to even show what they’re feeling inside.
Drago stood in a combat stance. For a split second it felt like he’s in a battlefield aiming at some enemies behind the lines. He pulled the rifle’s trigger, first to the prisoner on the extreme left and the next and the next in quick succession. The few soldiers in attendance wouldn’t have missed each victim’s final fall even if they blink.
Drago’s known for his streak shooting.
***
Marriage must be a no-turning back commitment in Androva. You only get married to the person you want to spend your life with. Hugh fully understood what he was getting into before he proposed to Rachel. Of course, it never crossed his mind that Rachel would turn him down. That only happened in movies or public proposals gone wrong. He knew his girl was already so into him when he made the decision to pop the question.
When he agreed to meet up with actress-batchmate Margie Alonzo, there was not a thought of malice he’d be facing a female his age who disrobed in front of the camera in her sexiest period in life. And just like the one he had with Tess, it was also a more intimate chat in the aftermath of a reunion wherein some singles hooked up and a few separated, wandering souls found new mates.
That night Hugh also found himself engaged in a small talk with Margie after they bumped into each other getting Tequila shots at the open bar. They scheduled a business meeting related to Hugh’s craft. Now seated at a coffee shop with his hot drink of choice, he almost threw up the liquid he’s sipping upon hearing what Margie was proposing.
“Can you paint me in nude?”
He put his coffee back on the table. “Did I hear that right?”
“Yes, I think that can really help revive my career and turn me into a voice for body positivity.”
Hugh had done nudes long ago but the last time he did it, he had sex with the model. But now that he’s far from being that trigger-happy over women, he immediately thought of the business consequences if he jumps into the idea. He also didn’t see that Margie’s doing it as a ploy to lure him, being a single mom obviously eyeing for that true love.
There was an air of professionalism in the way they talked and Margie’s exposed enough in matters of undressing that she spoke about it without tension in her voice.
Hugh had to say it to clear the parameters. “I may have to consult it with my wife.”
Margie knew what to say, “You could bring her in while you paint me wearing nothing.”
The artist was quick either, “She’s my publicist and knows what to do to cash in on such an idea. Our batchmates should have a field day.”
“I guess the boys would love to be in that room, too!”
Hugh cracked up some toilet humor, “I will have to beg off when they ask to. I don’t like them filling up my painting room!”
Margie couldn’t recapture her old figure but there’s no denying she’s a hot-looking mom. Small wonder her latest boyfriend was a man years younger, but who left her anyway when he met someone his age. Whatever naughty image came over his head didn’t stay, even if at one point many years ago, he had the magazine issue that featured Margie’s sultry photos placed on a tray inside his bathroom. What’s bugging his mind was the would-be expression of Rachel after he lays the idea on their dining table later at home. He thought she’d take it with a make-face and then nod once he tells her that Margie’s no match to her allure.
But if there’s something constantly bugging Hugh’s head for days, for weeks, it’s Tess. He was struggling to keep off Tess unlike any woman he had met since Rachel gave in to his courtship. For some reason he couldn’t really get over his youth’s ultimate crush. She was always the dream girl he never had. It was only a few days ago when he had his separate meeting with her where they were baring each other’s soul more naked than what Margie could force him to imagine.
***
Nepotism is part of the political atmosphere hovering over Androva for over a century. While Mayor Baltazar may not be as well-liked as his father, he did win the election unanimously. There was no real opposition and voters, whether bribed or not, usually consider who’s more exposed and publicly admired. His father had a long, good run, anyway. It was a sure win for him.
A few years into his first term, he already cemented his reputation as someone competent enough to continue his old man’s unfinished projects. It is the only good thing about political post being handed over to the next kin. That means projects from the previous governing group will not be scrapped out unlike when an opposition took over.
Still, Mayor Baltazar had one weakness his old man was able to control early on in his adulthood: womanizing. Whether or not he is abusing his power, the mayor consistently made use of his charm to lure women. Some of these girls are truly flattered being his object of desire naturally because of his stature, not minding the fact that he’s kind of strike anywhere dumb ass. Women who see the dividing line between men caught head over heels and the purely animalistic often get out of the mayor’s ploy even before it goes out of hand.
He was partly the reason why Rachel expressed concern over her husband’s decision to attend his batch reunion party, knowing she had revealed her encounter with him. Prior to meeting Hugh, she went to the mayor’s office as part of a team doing a presentation of a project proposal aimed at providing the public a clear-cut exhibition of Mayor Baltazar’s accomplishments; things he did prior to becoming the city’s top leader. Ciudad Pablito’s most powerful man noticed her during the proceeding as she was among those who spoke and answered questions from a panel her group hoped to win over.
“I like your group’s presentation, Rachel,” the mayor told her when he himself reached out to the team to extend his hand, “You guys dug well into my colorful background outside of my father’s shadow. Most people don’t see beyond me being the offspring of this city’s most important leader in its history.”
“That’s why we needed to show you Mayor how necessary we are to do this publicity campaign,” she replied in her corporate swag.
Mayor Baltazar had less, formal thoughts running in his head. He was imagining Rachel blowing him off as soon as the words came out of her mouth.
When it dawned on Rachel that the Mayor was eyeing her, she didn’t blush. She instead felt threatened and found a way to disassociate herself from his office. She had done her job anyway since the media campaign proposal was okayed by the mayor’s panel. She doesn’t want to be part of a dubious statistic – to be one of the mayor’s pretty little birds. She often told friends she has a decent job and no reason will she ever grab an opportunity that will place her earshot from an indecent proposal. The mayor is said to be doing that to women he wants to place his hands into.
When she later learned that Hugh was a batchmate of Mayor Baltazar, she immediately revealed to him her experience which reached a point where she was personally asked for a dinner chat about some business matter. She knew what she was getting into and was careful enough to send the message that she’s not buying it.
In fairness with the Mayor, he knows when to pull the plug. Hugh felt relieved having learned of the outcome of his wife’s brush with a well-groomed maniac. He even wanted to see his now mayor-batchmate and inform him he’s married to a woman he tried his charm on but miserably failed.
Truly enough, while they never spoke about the episode when they extended high fives, Mayor Baltazar earned Hugh’s respect. And that of his wife.
“I’m glad that you pursued your art. Others would get into 8-to-5 jobs and tell others they’ve gotten over their childhood pastimes,” he said to Hugh while in the middle of a noisy pool of former classmates catching up.
“You eventually get the respect, Balti. Art is not a pastime. It’s a passion,” he answered.
***
The Felicity batch is quite a bunch for having recallable characters during its heydays growing up under school rules and discovering who they were and what they hoped to be. A young Gary Villegas was vocal about his ambition to become a lawyer because he said he wanted to protect people through the pangs of law and justice.
Well, some people stick to their goals. But bend with the nature of their dream profession. Idealism is often the territory of youth. Once grown, the ideals succumb to practicality. Or even give in for the sake of basic survival.
Atty. Villegas, who finished among the top ten of one of the weakest bar exam-taking batches, with its topper’s grade same as that of the seventh placer from the previous year’s group, didn’t expect Tess to come into his place and gave an offer he doesn’t know how to refuse. He somehow knew something was amiss when the most powerful girl from his batch reached out to him.
Coming along with her personal bodyguards who stood like some breathing sign that there’s nothing kinky about Tess’s call and it shouldn’t be mistaken for a scene straight from porno where a man and woman ought to have sex anywhere, anytime, the government’s favorite lady didn’t go roundabout to inform her reason for visiting him. Seated on his favorite chair and table in his veranda, Atty. Villegas tried pretending he’s not stupefied by Tess’s statement.
“You are to take the case of Chairman Laude’s nephew. We will twice double your acceptance fee and take care of your safety in case some anti-regime groups threaten you,” Tess said.
“Are you asking me if I want to take the case?” he asked with a sarcastic smile.
“Gary, do I look like I’m asking?” she asked him back.
For Tess, her lawyer-batchmate is fine for the job as he possesses the qualities, being one who has never lost a case. He’s also a vocal supporter of Laude’s cause, believing that an iron hand is desperately needed to correct the wrongs of an undisciplined society. They’re personally close and technically business partners helping feed the impoverished with their affordably delicious meat supply.
Back in school they were part of a pool consisting of some of the coolest boys and girls in the class. Membership to this group was determined by looks, status, and personality. Not all of them were attractive and strong; a couple of them were of the submissive kind like Felicity who was quiet, prim and proper to say the least, and yet not ugly as commonly perceived to those too quiet to say anything because no head will turn anyway.
Tess had the tendency to bully other girls, in particular those with weak character. Her parents were loud and assertive. Their bullying was not stereotypical; more of taking advantage of others by way of their strong personality. They’re the ones who don’t know they’re going overboard already. They won’t admit they are.
Felicity was with Tess the night she met Chairman Laude’s nephew at a gathering of the New Androva Peninsula Party, N.A for short. Tess tagged her along in the hope of recruiting her to the newly established cause. The nephew felt a more personal goal as the night wore on. There’s something in Felicity’s quietness he found really interesting. Not to mention he’s into older women.
“The woman you brought here is too quiet but smokin’ hot. Can she and I go home together tonight?”
Tess didn’t find the idea entertaining and she pulled the gun quickly. “You can’t do that to her. It won’t be good for the Party. I like this lady because she’s a friend and has a good employment record. The nephew stepped away and he was clearly drunk. Even if Laude had yet to position his nephew for a very high post, the charming-in-his-own-right brat was already winning the crowd. He always found ways to get what he wanted.
***
Years of engaging herself in political exercise made the idea of getting infatuated over someone trivial. Tess became so immersed with political theories she developed a mindset that ideology supersedes everything. It’s all that mattered to her. Somehow, he found the Chairman’s grasp for it convincing. But it was also quite tiring having to think about it over and over. It’s part of the mental exercise to keep it rolling in the head to be good at it.
It may have been perfect timing that on the night of the batch reunion she felt it was a much-needed breakaway from the life she’s leading, a few hours of forgetting the serious nature of her role in the way things go in Androva. On the morning of that day she was at Camp Andrea overseeing some unfortunate prisoners get shot, executed because they appeared too weak to work and were selected by the commandant himself. All ten were asked to stand against the wall before the two soldiers tasked to liquidate them aimed their armalites. They pelted them with bullets and blood still squirted off their malnourished bodies. She’d been used to hearing the sound of machine guns and seeing blood-soaked victims. But there are times when her stomach won’t easily take in the scene of a carnage.
Tess threw up at the officer’s bathroom minutes after the morning massacre. She knew two of the victims. They had been her co-activists back in the day but who didn’t see fit to be swayed to the ideals of Chairman Laude. She tried to convince one of them as she described what could possibly be ahead of him if he changed his mind. Seeing him down to his ribs and staring blankly, she felt uncomfortable having to watch his demise. To her shock, the condemned glanced one last time at her before his body took in the bullets. That was something hard to let go in the mind.
The Lady with an Iron Heart, as the Chairman teased her about, needed something to take that image away. She wouldn’t have expected it’s Hugh.
The moment Hugh made his presence felt, Tess felt uneasy.
“Is this seat taken?”
For her all-day tough stance, even her quick reply to Hugh’s question showed her vulnerability. “No, you can sit there if you want.”
Though both of them knew the awkwardness of the situation, they wanted to be in such a spot where there’s no more reason not to converse. Hugh was more relaxed trying to handle it. In the back of his head, it’s not his business to flirt with anyone that evening.
“What an honor to be seated beside a famous government figure!”
Tess wouldn’t hear of it. “Shut up, Hugh. Tonight, I am back as a cheerleader.”
Hugh reacted with the wit Tess never recalled he had. “That puts me in a better position. Now I can give you flowers.”
She laughed. Hugh felt like it was quite an accomplishment he made her giggle.
For Tess, her laughter was a release from the nightmare she witnessed hours ago that remained in her head. She started talking to Hugh. For the first 30 minutes, they were breaking up some barrier.
***
It made Sarah flash a wide grin the moment she learned that her best friend allowed her husband to paint his former schoolmate, a familiar actress and former bold star for that matter, fully nude.
She’s not that convinced that such a project could merely be for art’s sake. She’d take it if the artist and the model are strangers to each other. But the fact they were classmates, and Margie Alonzo had grabbed showbiz news in the past for her flirtations with various gentlemen, including family men, she couldn’t be blamed for her cynicism.
“You don’t have to react that way, Sarah. I was there in the room with them,” Rachel assured.
The two were having a coffee break at the pantry of their office. They’re discussing promoting the latest project of their client and now-Rachel’s husband-artist.
“How was she staring at your husband?”
“I understand that you don’t like Margie Alonzo. That’s a girl thing,” Rachel commented.
Sarah was somewhat slighted by that. “No, it’s not. It’s plain and simple that she’s someone that shouldn’t be emulated by girls. I’m not fine with promoting someone with a checkered past.”
Rachel, quite irritated that she had to defend her husband’s project she herself initially frowned upon, said, “It’s Hugh’s work that we will promote to the media. We will just make use of Margie’s fame to sell his work. That’s the selling point that made me say yes.”
It took another subject to come into the conversation before Sarah cooled down. And they started having a laugh about the one-time starlet’s now-less attractive curves and bulging waist.
If not for the little argument, Rachel was extra enjoying her snack because she was having a big slice of her favorite cheesecake. One of their clients sent it for her and she shared it with her officemates.
For a minute she thought about how she carried herself during Hugh’s painting session with Margie. She was trying her best to be really cool about it and not feel any bolt of jealousy. She even joked by handing her husband a glass of water to wet his apparent dry throat.
Hugh only smiled and kept his concentration. In fact, he’s losing his focus not because Rachel is around. His mind was struggling between the naked body in front of him and images of Tess likewise bare all over. Tess, by now, is sexier than her once-starlet batchmate.
He painted three poses of Margie who after the session said that she’s ready to write down her script to emphasize that this undertaking is all about spreading the value of self-pride.
The three of them had dinner together. Margie was sensitive enough to make Rachel feel it’s not part of her agenda to steal her husband from him. She pointed out, “Rachel, I’d bet my head that this dish you cooked is more enticing for Hugh than me posing naked for hours in front of him.”
Rachel acknowledged and liked their visitor’s perception. “I’m thankful this session materialized. I can’t wait to inform our team in the office that we have something exciting to promote.”
Conniving with his buddy to make it appear that he came over by coincidence, Hugh’s buddy Anton arrived as soon as the supper talk went headway. He had hots for Margie and asked Hugh to be introduced to her.
It was quite a move and Margie found Anton likable.
***
A house with a large framed portrait of Chairman Laude in its living room must clearly be owned by someone who idolized him. To think there are other frames on the floor, most of them still in boxes or covered in specially made plastics, only stressed the point that the man is truly special.
Tess’s place is spacious and solemn, with only the running water from a fountain dared to make a consistent noise. Hugh uncomfortably sat on the big sofa facing the portrait he’s staring at.
“You live in tranquility, Tess. There’s something very artistic with the way things are arranged here,” Hugh said as he took the cup of tea she brought out.
“I suppose you’d find this house soothing to your sense of being, Mr. Artist,” Tess answered.
How they appeared to each other proved unaffected by the serenity of the place. They’re both feeling uneasy. Something’s telling them it’s wrong that they’re together inside Tess’s house all by themselves.
“You live here by yourself?” Hugh asked.
“Basically. I’ve got a couple of maids who come by to clean up when I tell them so. My bodyguards live next door and are on-call. I believe nobody would ever want to hurt me so this house is the safest for a lone woman resident.”
Hugh could only beam at his lady host’s conviction. Here’s a lady who’s so self-assured, someone he can’t fool around with. “I think I’ve come to the wrong address.”
Tess leered at her guest. She had found Hugh’s calculated wit very sexy.
“Do you think your bodyguards are not playing peeping toms?”
Tess took that cue. She jumped onto Hugh. They French-kissed each other hard, like teenagers grabbing the opportunity to taste someone else’s lips by the throat. Tess, still in her stately uniform, lumped her whole body built. The sofa struggled its hold on two people wrapped around each other, stuck by the mouths and arms rolled into one.
Thirty-minute drive away, Anton is still working his way to his showbiz crush Margie who accepted her invitation for dinner. He’s an extrovert and very aggressive when it comes to flirting with women. Margie’s an expert in such situations and buying her time to assess her latest suitor. There must be something in Anton that she can use to her advantage.
“I really liked my friend’s painting of yours. I think I’d try buying one of them.”
“That’s so kind of you. I’d like to see that happen. I believe that Hugh’s marketability has risen in recent years so it should be a pricey possession.”
Anton pushed his cause further, “Well, I’ll sell my collection of toys if only for the opportunity to put into my room a painting of my dream crush baring her soul.”
Margie actually found that not corny. “I expect Hugh to be poetic but not you!”
It turned out that both of them like cow meat and so they devoured the finest beef steak in town. While having chocolate dessert and iced cold beer for wind-up, Anton’s phone rang. It was Rachel, “Hey, Anton. I wonder if Hugh informed you where he’s going tonight. I’ve been contacting him. He’s not answering.”
Anton didn’t sense anything wrong. His pal would often be in a meeting and be overwhelmed by it. He’d forget that his phone is on silent mode.
