WORK was waiting for her when she got back to the Philippines. Khaila was thankful that Jane already fixed her schedule, nakahinga siya dahil doon. She has time for herself, to rest in between modelling and managing the school and her father's agency.

Amanda and Gayle were the happiest people because of her comeback. Even Chris, kaagad nitong pinalinis ang artista van na gagamitin nila. He says he missed driving the van and he missed how busy they were.

"Ayos ka lang?" nag-aalala na tanong ni Jane sa kanya. First week and she's already grinding hard. Sa dami ba naman ng mga nakuhang trabaho para sa kanya ng pamilya niya.

Minasahe niya sariling balikat. "I'm good."

Malaki ang pasalamat niya kay Jane na hindi siya nito pinatigil sa pag g-gym, sa pag-practice ng lakad niya, sa lahat.

"Si Veron, hindi," singit ni Amanda at malakas na tumawa.

Hindi tinago ni Khaila ang pag simangot nang marinig ang pangalan ng babae. She's always kind. She wants to. But deep inside her, alam niya na malapit na maubos ang pasensya sa kapwa niya babae.

Khaila already expected that the news will reach her, alam na rin niya na hindi maganda ang magiging reaksyon nito.

"Kasama mo siya sa isang runway show…" Jane trailed.

She side eyed Jane, and answered, " Ayos lang, let's be professional. Don't say something that'll cause us trouble."

Khaila still wanted to work in peace. Kababalik niya lang. Trabaho ang binalikan niya, hindi ang pasiring na isyu ng babae.

"Paano kung napikon kami nung makeup artist niya?" tanong ni Gayle.

Jane chuckled. "Edi, tumahimik tayo. Titigil din naman ang mga 'yon."

"Paano kung hindi tumigil?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong sa kanya ni Amanda.

"Be kind to people as well as animals." Khaila sighed heavily.

Amanda snickered at her answer. She wasn't referring to Veron as animals. She just couldn't help it since she was acting like one ever since.

And the fact still remains that she left her daughter. Khaila doesn't exactly know what happened, but for her, that's what made her an animal.

Nang makarating sila sa destinasyon nila, agad na inayos ni Amanda at Gayle ang likuran ng artista van. Gayle turned on the vanity lights, siya naman ay umupo sa harap. Gayle fixed her makeup and Amanda re-do her hair style. Jane on the other hand was telling her the details of photoshoot.

"You're so gorgeous!" Tili ni Gayle sa tabi niya nang matapos. "Na-miss ko 'yang mukha mo!"

Natawa siya sa sinabi nito. Palagi naman niya 'yong sinasabi noon nang mag decide siya na tumigil sa pagmomodelo. Gayle only like touching her face, madali lang daw para sa kanya na ayusan siya dahil natural ang ganda niya.

Amanda, on the other hand, finished styling her hair. Her own van doesn't have a bathroom unlike Tally's van, wala siyang choice kung hindi ang magbihis sa dressing room ng studio with Gayle and Amanda as her bantay.

Khaila smiled when they entered the studio, halos umikot ang mga mata niya nang makita si Eli na naghihintay sa kanya. He wasn't wearing any top. May mapaglaro na ngisi sa labi nito.

The sly man slid her mother's engagement ring on her finger without her knowing. Binalik niya lang 'yon nang mawala na sa paningin nila si Atticus. It was her mother's treasure. Mawala na ang ibang gamit nito, huwag lang ang mga singsing na binigay ng Papa niya para rito.

"How's my soon-to-be wife?" nang-aasar na sabi nito. Agad na nagsilingon ang mga kasama nila sa studio nang marinig si Eli.

"Please, Eli, you're too young for me." Pabiro niya itong inirapan. Eli pouted and playfully dropped his arm around her shoulders.

"Hindi naman halata na matanda ka sa akin, ah? Look, Ate, I'm taller than you." Eli compared her height to his. "Oh, can you help me?"

"Saan?" tanong niya.

He sighed. Eli looks problematic. "Hindi na maingay ang pangalan ko, Ate. Hindi trending. Can we do a shot? Like, us, kissing?"

"Sira ulo ka ba?" natatawa na tanong niya rito.

Eli chuckled softly. "I'm not gonna kiss you for real, Ate! Kyrst will skin me alive! Ano lang, sa anggulo lang ng camera."

"Tigilan mo ako, Eli!" tanggi niya.

Hanggang sa mag-umpisa ang trabaho nila, kinukulit siya nito. She ignored him. But the photoshoot turns in favour of Eli. They're so close to each other, not to mention that he's half naked and her clothes were a bit revealing.

Sa buong linggo, paulit-ulit lang ang ginagawa niya. Photoshoot, attending practice for runway shows, managing their school and her father's agency, attending meetings, screenings for their new models and signing contracts after contracts. It was exhausting yet fulfilling on her part.

"Did you know?" Jane asked.

She hummed. Looked at her confused. Khaila was reviewing some contracts.

"Atticus and his daughter are now back in the country." Jane informed her.

Pinigilan ni Khaila ang sarili na magpakita ng kahit na anong emosyon sa mukha niya. Binalik niya ang atensyon sa trabaho. Their world was too small, sigurado na makikita niya ulit ang dalawa. The thought of meeting Fleair again stirred up something inside her.

"At mukhang alam na rin ng kambal…" Jane scoffed upon seeing the twins walked inside her office. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya.

They might be busy with their academic, pero may oras ang mga ito para bantayan siya sa trabaho. Last week, in her first photoshoot after years of being hiatus, buong araw na nasa tabi niya si Tally.

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa dalawa. Ky was pouting his lips while Tally's arms were crossed against her chest. Mataray ang tingin.

Khaila sighed. "Nag-away na naman ba kayo?"

"It was his fault, Ate. I just told him that I saw your ex and he looks much better than the last time I saw him, and he got mad and started to talk nonsense!" Tally hissed.

"Are you blind? He's not, Tally, he's not! That guy left our sister, he doesn't deserve to be praised!" He retorted.

Tally sneered. "I am just appreciating his beauty. What's wrong with that?"

"Wala ba kayong ibang pag-aawayan maliban sa ex ko?" walang gana niyang tanong sa dalawa.

"May balak ka bang balikan 'yon?" sabay na tanong ng kambal.

Minasahe niya ang sentido. So, they came here to ask her if she's going back to his arms?

"No." Khaila answered firmly.

"Then, what if he'll court you?" Tally looks hopeful. Or her eyes were just playing with her.

"Hindi ako papayag!" Ky hissed.

"Hindi naman ikaw ang liligawan! Ano ba?!" Singhal ni Tally kay Ky.

"He'll court me, so what? I won't give in." Tumayo siya at isa-isang binalik sa mga folders ang mga kontrata na binabasa niya kanina. She needs someone who'll understand the contract better than her. "I still have a meeting. Excuse me."

Taas ang noo na lumabas siya sa opisina niya. Her mind was occupied with her answer, she won't give in. She won't give in to his charm easily. Hindi siya ang Khaila noon na nagpapapansin sa lalaki. Hindi na siya ang Khaila na maintindihin.

What she needs right now was his explanation. The reason why he left her without saying anything. Does she not deserve any explanation?

Tahimik lang si Khaila sa buong meeting nila. She was giving her insight when needed. But most of the time, her mind was wandering somewhere.

After the meeting, bumalik siya sa office niya. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ang avocado flavored cookies and milkshake.

"Binili mo? Thanks!" Khaila chirped as she sat on her chair. She immediately took a quick sip on her milkshake.

"Ah, hindi… Ano, galing 'yan sa mag-ama." Jane answered.

She chewed on the cookies inside her mouth slowly. Hindi lang 'yon isang beses na nangyari. They've always sent her avocado flavoured cookies and milkshake after her exhausting day.

"She's busy, sir. I don't think she can—"

"Who's that?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya kay Jane.

Jane pressed her lips together before answering, "It's Atticus, Aila."

"You're talking to him?" hindi makapaniwala na tanong niya. They've been talking behind her back, of course. Paano madadala ng lalaki na 'yon ang cookies at milkshake kung wala itong connection sa mga tao na kasama niya.

"Ah, yes…"

Khaila sighed. "Ano raw ang gusto?"

"Nakiki-usap lang kung pwede raw ba na dumalaw ang bata sayo? Habang nasa Pilipinas sila…"

She missed Fleair so much that she agreed immediately. Without thinking twice. Her decision was based on her emotion that Khaila forgot to think that Atticus might be using his own kid again to get close to her.

Saka niya lang 'yon na-realise nang mapadalas na ang dalaw ni Fleair sa kanya.

And then, she remembered him joking if she could take care of Fleair while he's at work. Khaila was gaslighting herself that 'that' must be the reason.

Especially that Fleair was with her when that guy had to take care of something about his work. Palagi niya tuloy kasama ang bata sa mga photoshoot niya. And some people recognized Fleair as Atticus' daughter.

"Ano 'yan, Ate? Co-parenting?" Tally mocked her. Pero nang humarap ito sa bata ay todo ngiti, nilalaro pa nga.

Sumasakit ang ulo niya sa mga paper bags na nakakalat lang sa sala ng unit niya. Atticus way of thanking her was gifting her luxury things she doesn't even need. Khaila has her own place now. Wala nga lang gaanong laman dahil kakalipat lang niya. It was a gift from her Tito Ryker.

"Ate, uuwi na ako. Fleair is sleeping soundly in the room." Tally said.

Pagod siyang tumango sa kapatid at hinayaan na itong makaalis. She grabbed her phone and asked Jane to message Atticus, para makuha na nito ang bata.

While she was waiting, mabilis siyang naligo at ginawa ang night routine niya. Wala siyang trabaho kinabukasan, finally, her 'me' time.

"Good evening…" His baritone voice sent shivers down her spine.

"She's in my room. Sleeping," aniya at hinayaan na pumasok ang lalaki.

His gaze went to her sala, kung nasaan lahat ng paper bags na galing sa lalaki. Hindi niya pa 'yon nasilip, and she doesn't have the time to open his gifts one by one. She'd rather sleep and rest.

Sinundan niya ang lalaki sa kwarto. Khaila was watching him carefully scooping his daughter. Ingat na ingat ito na hindi magising ang bata. Until Fleair flung her arms around his neck and groaned.

"Papa… sleep tayo dito, please?" antok na sabi nito.

"We can't, Fleair. Uwi na tayo, hm?" malambing na sagot nito.

The small interaction between them was cute. Khaila chewed her bottom lip to forbid herself to smile.

"It's okay. Mukhang inaantok na talaga ang bata. You can sleep here."

"And you?" Atticus asked.

"I'll sleep in the other room." Sagot niya at tinalikuran ito. Closing the door at the same time.

NAGISING si Atticus sa malakas na tawa ng anak niya. He didn't hear his daughter laugh like that for so long. Lumabas siya sa kwarto at nakita ang dalawa na nag bi-bake, just like before.

He strode towards his daughter and snuggled her. Atticus asked, "Are you happy?"

"Yes, Papa!" Fleair answered.

"I'm glad…" He uttered.

Atticus glanced at Khaila and caught her staring at them. He smiled a little. They had their breakfast together, pero para lang siyang hangin sa dalawa. They were talking animatedly and his daughter was complimenting Khaila nonstop.

After eating, he helped her clean their mess.

"Nakakaabala na ba kami?" mahina niyang tanong kay Khaila.

"It's fine."

"I'm sorry," aniya. Atticus sincerely looked at her.

"For what?"

"For leaving. For lying." Atticus answered.

Marahan itong tumango at malamig ang mga mata na tumingin ito sa kanya. "May I ask, what was the reason?"

He coldly chuckled. "You might think na mababaw ulit ang tingin ko sayo dahil sa rason na 'to. Please, don't. I was really scared… Lahat ng babae na pinapakilala ko sa anak ko, iniiwan kami. Ako. They only want me. Hindi kasama si Fleair.

But you… You're different, Khaila. I was really planning to tell you my whole story after our date. Plano ko na talaga na sabihin sayo ang totoo… I don't want to lie and keep you in the dark anymore. I don't want to keep my daughter pretending…"

Shit happened when Veronica showed herself.

He was eyeing Khaila. Watching her expressions carefully. Pero habang nagsasalita siya, she didn't even blink nor change her facial expression. She was just staring coldly at him.

"You're talking to me. Kept sending Fleair to me. May I know what is your true intentions this time?" deretsahan na tanong nito sa kanya.

Atticus swallowed his nervousness and told her, "I want you back. I want to court you. Gusto ko na itama ang lahat. I want us to start all over again. I want to come clean, ma'am. If you let me, of course."

☕