HER LIFE continued as if nothing happened. As if she wasn't happy in the morning and got broken when night came. As if there's no man who bravely took a part of her and left.

Khaila acted as if she wasn't hurt in front of her family, at sa harap ng mga Tito niya para hindi mapasama si Atticus. They were asking about him and she only told them that she grew tired.

Pinagtatakpan niya pa rin ito sa kabila ng sakit na iniwan nito. He left without saying anything. Without a fucking message. They didn't even have a proper break up.

"Papa?" Khaila called her father.

Pumasok siya sa kwarto nilang dalawa ng Mamu niya at nakita ang Papa niya na nagtatrabaho. He quickly tore his gaze at his laptop and looked at her. Malamya itong ngumiti sa kanya.

"Come here…" He spread his arms and Khaila found herself sobbing as her father caged her in his arms. Her father was caressing her back as he let her cry her heart out. "You're doing great, princess… I love you, hm?"

Parang may bumara sa lalamunan niya.

"You don't have to lie to us… lalo na sa akin, 'nak. Kilala kita, mula ulo hanggang paa, kilala ko kayo." Her father whispered as he kissed her head. "You don't have to worry about his safety. Hindi naman siya gagalawin ng Tito Ryker mo. He's mad… we're all mad, but what can we do? You want us to leave him alone."

"Pa? Ang sakit…"

"Na may anak siya sa iba? O dahil bigla na lang siyang nawala?" Kyst asked her. His voice was low, it was soothing.

"I don't really care if he has a daughter, Pa. Masakit sa akin na itinanggi niya ang bata… You know how sensitive I am when it comes to that."

Marahan na hinaplos ni Kyst ang ulo niya bago siya nito inalalayan na maupo sa upuan. Her father dried her tears using his thumb and smiled at her.

"I know, princess. I know."

The way he looked at her, parang nakikita rin ni Khaila ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Her father was mirroring every emotion she had.

"Niligawan mo ba si Mamu kasi gusto mo talaga siya?" Khaila asked.

Her father chuckled. Tamad itong sumandal sa backrest ng upuan at hindi makapaniwala na tumingin sa kanya. She was crying a while back and now she's questioning her father.

"Noong una… I really thought that my ex-wife was alive. I mean, kamukha talaga niya ang mamu mo."

"Hmmm…" She hummed. Khaila saw a picture of her father's ex-wife and they do really have some similarities.

"But the main reason was you," he said. Her head snapped to her father. He was smiling gently and lovingly at her.

"Me?"

Tumango ito. "Yes, princess. When I first saw you and told me you like me, my heart melted. I badly want to have a daughter. I have this feeling to make you feel love, I wanted to complete you even though deep inside, I know, your mother is enough for you at that time. I want to be your father and I want to be the perfect husband for your mom."

Hindi siya nakasagot sa sinabi ng Papa niya.

"Did you… perhaps, feel the same?" Kyst asked him. He tapped his fingers against the table as he was waiting for her answer.

If maaga pa lang sinabi sa kanya ni Atticus. No, even if Fleair wasn't really his daughter. Alam ni Khaila sa sarili niya na there's still a big chance that she'll do the same thing as what her father did. She definitely felt the same.

"You love his kid more than him, don't you?" Kyst teasingly asked.

"I do, Pa." Tumango siya at mahinang tumawa. "I do love Fleair more than her father."

"Do you want us to find them? It'll be easy." Her father offered. It was tempting.

She shook her head. Declining his offer.

"He left me here, Pa. That only means he doesn't want me anymore to be part of their lives."

"Are you sure?" Kyst asked. "What if—" Khaila cutted her father off.

"I do not want to rely on 'what if's', Papa. Above anything else, I choose my sanity."

Kyst, her father, smiled at her proudly.

"That's my first born. Feisty."

The way he claimed that she was his. Khaila wanted to tear up and at the same time she wanted to show her father that she's strong and nothing could make her cry from now on.

She overworked herself. Teaching and helping her mother manage the school. Hindi naging madali sa kanya noong una dahil panay ang tanong sa kanya ng mga estudyante niya kung nasaan na si Atticus.

She did everything. Para lang hindi sumagi sa isip niya ang mag-ama. She's not part of his family now. She needs to move forward. Just like what he's doing.

"You want to handle our agency too?" her father asked. "Princess, kaya ko pa naman magtrabaho. I'm not that old."

"You're helping me to manage our school, Aila. Nagtuturo ka rin. Anak, you're working too hard." Segunda ng Mamu niya.

The twins glanced at her, as if they wanted to say something too but decided to keep it on themselves.

"At least, let me help? Turuan niyo lang po ako paano i-manage ang agency natin." Pangungulit niya.

Their parents sighed heavily. Walang nagawa ang mga ito kung hindi ang payagan siya. She started fixing her schedule after their dinner. Jane was still monitoring her. Ilang beses sa isang buwan na lang silang mag gym, she still jogged in the morning though. Kung noon ay bantay sarado ang calories intake niya, ngayon naman ay hindi na.

Jane always makes sure that she's eating. Normally. To balance her new lifestyle.

A month after, she heard that Veron was now back in the country and was pissed because her sister was taking the spotlight she wanted.

Tally took her modelling career seriously. She's a proud sister. Because unlike her, Tally managed her time so well.

"Ate?" Tally knocked on her room's door.

"Yes?"

"Can we talk?"

"What is it?" nag-aalala na tanong niya sa kapatid. Tally was used to bottling her feelings.

Umupo ito sa dulo ng kama niya at niyakap ang isang unan. "I'm going to stop."

Kumunot ang noo ni Khaila.

Khaila asked, "Modelling?"

Marahan ito na tumango sa kanya. Tally took her modelling career seriously in just two months and her name started to boom. Just like that.

"May I ask why?" lumapit siya sa kapatid at tumabi ng upo.

"I'm bored. I feel like it's not my calling? It's weird." Tally answered.

"It's okay, Tally. It's okay to stop if you're not feeling it. But…" The contract.

"If it's about my contract, Ate, it's fine." Tumango lang siya sa kapatid.

Biglaan ang desisyon nito. Unlike her, she settled everything that needed to be settled first before backing out.

After Tally, she decided to stop teaching too. Her mother supported her decision as always. Mas nag-focus siya sa agency ng Papa niya at sa pag-ma-manage ng paaralan nila.

SHE WAS drinking water on her flasks when Arki sat beside her. Holding a dumbbell in his left hand.

"Are you really sure, Ate? You don't want to?" Arki asked her again. Khaila couldn't help but to sighed heavily. Nilayo niya sa bibig ang flasks.

They've been pestering her for a while now. Her Tito Ryker and now, his son, Arki. Sa tuwing pumupunta siya sa gym nila, agad na lumalapit si Arki sa kanya at magtatanong kung hindi ba talaga siya interesado.

"I am not interested, Arki." Umiiling na sagot niya sa lalaki.

Mabagal na tumango si Arki at pinisil ang tungki ng ilong nito saka sinabi, "Just text or better call me if you change your mind."

"No thanks. I won't change my mind." Diin niya.

Khaila looked around the gym and sighed. She wasn't interested if the information was about the guy. But if they are going to feed her information about Fleair then… Khaila would gladly sit and listen.

Months, turns into years. Wala siyang narinig na balita tungkol sa mag-ama. That's because she refused to listen. They're always including Atticus. She doesn't like it. Even a bit.

"Ate? Please? Ikaw lang ang maiiwan dito." Kyrst held her hand and almost knelt down in front of her.

He was asking her to attend a fashion runway event, it's actually a special birthday celebration for a famous designer— next to her Tita Sakki, Brandon Winston.

"Ate…" Tally started to whine too. "Sama ka na sa amin? Sige na, please? I'll be very uncomfortable if you're not around."

Alam ni Khaila na hindi 'yon totoo. Na inuuto lang siya ng dalawa. She left the spotlight because she wanted to have a peaceful life and pursue her dream. Ilang taon siyang umiiwas sa camera pero nakuha siya sa lambing ni Kyrst at Kyrstal.

She found herself flying with her family to attend the fashion runway. She worked once with him. His designs were fabulous. Breathtaking.

"Ate? What do you think?" Ky asked him. Showing her a white satin long gown.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya nang makita ang damit nang malapitan. It was a pure satin, walang kahit anong design like small beads or whatever, and she likes it. The front was cut in a very low v-shape, the back part too. A soft smirk appeared on her lips upon seeing the high slit on the right part. There's also a satin fabric attached on the shoulder parts, making it look like her wings.

"Sa akin?" nakangiti na tanong niya sa kapatid.

"Only the best for our best sister." Inilahad ni Ky ang kamay sa gown at pabiro na yumukod sa harapan niya.

She was in awe when she finally wore the gown. It fits her, like the gown was really made for her. Khaila was surprised when she saw Gayle and Amanda, together with Jane. Sila ang nag-ayos sa kanya.

Amanda straighten her hair and clip both sides with a pin. Gayle, did a light makeup on her to compliment her outfit. Habang si Jane naman ay may nilagay na arm cuff at leg chain sa kanya.

"Snake?" kunot ang noo na tanong niya.

"Manunuklaw ka raw kasi mamaya doon beh!" biro sa kanya ni Amanda.

She laughed. Nauna sa kanila ang Mamu at Papa nila. Their father was still famous even though he retired a long time ago. And when she stepped out of the car, flashes of cameras surrounded them. She smiled nervously.

"Shall we?" Ky asked. He offered his arms to her and Tally.

Ngumisi siya sa kapatid at kumapit sa braso nito, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Tally sa kabila. Khaila breathed softly when they finally got inside the venue.

She roamed her eyes around. The party was lively.

"He's here, right? Did you see him?"

"How I wish he'd choose me for tonight!"

Khaila smiled when someone offered her a glass of wine. She sipped a little as she listened to the girls at her back. They were talking about a businessman, a single father, dominating the business world in London.

"Khaila! Goodness, you're here!" Nagulat siya nang makita ang Tita Sakki niya. She immediately kissed her cheek and she did the same. "You're wearing my gown. Could you do me a favour? One of my models is not in good shape."

"Sure, Tita. It's my pleasure."

Khaila knew that Ky planned this all along. That little mongrel wants her back. Back to her old self. Where her work revolves around studio, runways, in front of cameras.

Sumama siya sa Tita Sakki niya at inihanda ang sarili. She never stop practicing her runway walk, sigurado si Khaila na hindi siya kinakalawang. However, her heart was beating insanely fast. She's nervous!

Khaila shaked her hands and inhaled a large amount of air.

"I can do this…" bulong niya sa sarili bago umakyat sa stage.

Pinauna niya ang iba. She wanted the spotlight all by herself.

Her facial expression remained poker when she started to walk. She smiled inwardly when flashes of cameras almost blinded her. Khaila was feeling the moment when  she noticed her sister and brother walking behind her.

Gumilid siya ng kaunti para mapunta sa gitna ang kapatid nilang lalaki. Khaila and Tally stop walking and let Kyrst walk passed them. Nang makarating na ito sa gitna, saka lang sila ulit naglakad ni Tally. She's on Ky left side, and Tally was on his right. Sabay nilang ipinatong ni Tally ang kamay sa magkabilang balikat ni Kyrst, while Kyrst arms snaked on their backs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, The Miller's!"

☕