HINDI NASUNDAN ng isa pa ang dinner nila ni Atticus. Hinatid lang siya nito sa unit niya at nagpaalam. Khaila took her time to digest everything, his explanation was enough for her. But not enough to let him in again. To take him back.

Atticus was generous enough to give him the space he promised. He was sending her messages like, good morning, good evening, reminding her to eat, and such. Hindi ito nagpapakita sa kanya, dinamay pa pati ang anak nito. Fleair wasn't visiting her for a week now, either.

"Ang galing mo talaga pumili, 'no?" Amanda praised her while eyeing their new models.

"Ang ganda at gwapo, grabe!" Gayle exclaimed. Mahina siyang natawa nang pumalakpak pa ito.

There's a lot of applicants, and recommendations. Pero iilan lang ang tinanggap niya sa mga 'yon. She's being careful, ayaw niya na may isang Veron pa na makapasok sa agency nila.

"And looks like they all admire you…" Jane noticed. Napalingon siya nang marinig itong tumawa. "Oh boy, look at them gawking at you. They're gonna be in trouble, kung nandito lang ang kapatid mo."

Her gaze went in front. All eyes on her. May mga ilan pa na ginanahan at nagpasikat. Khaila shook her head. There's a lot of them, at sanay na siya sa ganoon. They admired her, she let them.

"Am I super busy this week?" tanong niya kay Jane.

Kanina, habang nagpapalit siya sa dressing room, she heard one of the models talking about her vacation. Khaila got curious and asked her right away. Ang sabi nito maganda raw. A peaceful place to stay.

"Medyo…" Jane answered.

Khaila smiled when she handed her an avocado juice, and it was from the café near their school. Kung saan sila unang beses na kumain ni Atticus, kasama 'yung bata na pinaliguan nila.

"May cake pa, gusto mo?" tanong nito.

"Hindi ka pupuntahan ni sir?" Gayle asked. Kaagad naman siyang siniko ni Amanda at pinanlakihan ng mata.

Umiling siya. "He's busy…"

Jane showed her phone and saw Atticus' message.

Atticus Klein:
In case she'll ask, kindly tell her that we need to go back. Uuwi rin kami ni Fleair within a week or so. I also informed the cafe. Order lang kayo, ako ang magbabayad. Thanks.

"That's why Fleair is not coming home?" tanong niya kay Jane.

"Yes, hindi ko natanong kung ano ang rason. You two are talking, right? Bakit sa akin nagpapaalam? Nanay ba ako?" Jane laughed at her own remarks.

Hindi siya sumagot sa tanong nito. She read his message again and again. He was messaging her yet he wasn't talking about him, leaving the country again. Sa assistant slash manager pa talaga niya ito nagpaalam. Khaila mentally facepalm.

"Next week, pwede ba na i-reschedule lahat ng trabaho ko? I promise, I'll work hard this week. I need a few days to rest."

Umawang ang mga labi ni Jane sa sinabi niya. Halata ang gulat sa mukha nito. She never asked for a vacation before, ngayon lang.

"I can do that… Kailangan mo ba ng kasama?" nag-aalala na tanong nito.

Mabilis siyang umiling at sumagot, "No, I want to be alone."

"Uy beh! Anong trip 'yan? Sure ka ba?" Gayle interrupted.

"Ikaw lang talaga mag-isa? Wala kang kasama? Kahit kapatid mo?" sunod-sunod na tanong sa kanya ni Amanda.

She chuckled lightly at their reaction. "Please, I am not a kid. Of course, kaya ko."

"Beh, hindi ka sigurado sa sagot mo." Gayle said in a matter of fact tone.

Khaila laughed nervously at them. She wanted to be alone, and she choose to have a vacation wherein she need to travel. Malamang ay mag-aalala ang mga ito sa kanya. All her life, hindi pa siya umalis na hindi nakadikit ang mga ito sa kanya.

"Pati ako kinabahan na!" Jane exclaimed. "Ganito na lang, Aila. Saan mo ba balak pumunta?"

"La Union."

"Beach?" Amanda asked.

Khaila shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know? I just want to go there. Ang sabi kasi sa akin, maganda roon."

Gayle nodded her head. As if she was agreeing to her. "Of course, maganda roon. Elyu na 'yon, e!"

"Your mother will surely have my head kung hahayaan kita mag-isa na pumunta doon." Problemado na sabi ni Jane sa kanya.

"Sasama tayo?" Gayle excitedly asked.

Agad siyang ngumuso. Gayle saw that and laughed at her.

"Ihahatid ko." Jane answered.

HER MOTHER was worried about her going on a vacation trip alone. But when Jane said, she'll accompany her, kaagad itong napanatag and asked to update her. Jane and Chris accompanied her. They booked another room and promised not to meddle with her business.

She enjoyed the view and the food alone. Watching the people enjoying their day freshened her mind. Her mother was constantly checking her, this was her first time that she's alone. Jane, sometimes, asked her to take a quick picture para may mai-send lang ito sa mamu niya.

"Ma'am Khaila?"

Napalinga siya nang may tumawag sa kanya. Her eyes widened upon seeing Lhey. Atticus friend. She remembered that he resigned too after Atticus.

"Hey…"

"Ang ganda mo pa rin talaga 'no? Kung hindi ko lang nakikita ang mukha mo sa mga magazine at balita, baka hindi na kita nakilala." Lhey blabbered.

"Madaldal ka pa rin," sagot niya at mahinang tumawa.

"Gwapo rin, ma'am!" Lhey did a pogi sign.

"Palabiro rin," aniya.

"Huy, hindi biro na gwapo ako. Totoo 'yon!" pilit nito. "I heard, he's courting you again?" biglang tanong nito sa kanya.

"Atticus?"

Lhey brows furrowed. "May iba pa ba na nanliligaw sayo? Name drop nga, ma'am. Babanatan ko para kay Atti."

Umiling lang siya sa lalaki, hindi maalis ang ngiti sa mga labi. "How's life?"

"Teacher pa rin naman ako, kung saan nagturo si Atticus for three months and currently taking a quick vacation."

"Nagtuturo pa rin siya?" gulat na tanong niya.

"Part-time. He was busy learning how to manage their business. Mahirap lang talaga bitawan 'yung nakasanayan mo na, 'yung gusto mo talaga." Lhey knocked the table and smiled bitterly.

Khaila bit her lower lip. Of course, she knows that. Hindi man niya sabihin, modelling was already her life. She likes it. No, she loves it. She fell in love the moment she saw her father doing it.

"Is he… still doing it?"

Lhey slowly nodded his head and answered, "Yes, kaya nga siya bumalik sa London. He's visiting the school to be a speaker. Nonetheless, it's still teaching."

"You look so proud of him, 'no?" nakangiti na tanong niya kay Lhey.

His eyes were almost sparkling as he spoke of Atticus.

"Who wouldn't be? Simula college kami, alam ko na ang hirap niya. He pursued his profession, kahit ayaw ng papa niya. He worked hard for it." He sighed and continue, "Wala nga lang siyang choice kung hindi bitawan ang pagtuturo… He lost you, he lost his father, and lost his dream job too. Don't get me wrong, okay? Alam ko naman na kasalanan niya bakit ka nawala sa kanya."

"It's fine…"

"I know Atticus' pain, ma'am. But I don't know yours. Take your time. I'm sure he'll understand you." He smiled genuinely at her.

Lhey accompanied her. Dahil nauna ito sa kanya sa lugar, he toured her and made her try lots of food he discovered. Pati na rin ang mga activities na nagawa nito.

KASAMA NIYA SI Jane at Chris pauwi. Kalmado na ang utak niya ngayon. She's not overthinking. Khaila was lazily lying on her bed when she received a message from Atticus, asking her for dinner.

She's taking her time to know Atticus more. They haven't met for a year, marami ang nagbago sa kanya at sigurado na ganun din sa lalaki. Khaila could see the effort he's making, para lang masigurado na kumportable siya.

Hindi lang isang beses na pinagbigyan niya ito kapag nag-aaya ito ng breakfast, lunch, or dinner date. Halos sunod-sunod na 'yon. Kahit silang dalawa lang, at kasama si Fleair.

"Eat slowly, Fleair," pansin ni Atticus sa anak nito nang napansin na sunod-sunod ang subo nito. Fleair just smiled at her father. "You're gonna be busy later?" baling sa kanya ni Atticus.

"Yes, may practise kami."

"You heard that, Fleair? You have no choice but to stick with me." Pang-aasar nito sa anak. Khaila flatly looked at him.

Atticus teasingly smiled at her. Alam nito na kahit busy siya, willing pa rin siya na bantayan ang bata. Lalo na at hindi naman ito magulo kapag nagtatrabaho na siya. She was about to open her mouth when she remembered something important.

"You want her?" tanong nito sa kanya.

Khaila rolled her eyes. "Sayo na muna, siguro… Kasama ko si Veron mamaya."

"Thanks for reminding me about her. I'll asked my lawyer to file a restraining order against her. Mahirap na, baka lapitan na naman ang anak ko." Atticus seriously said.

Marahan lang siya na tumango. Nang matapos si Fleair na kumain, hinatid lang siya ng dalawa sa tapat ng agency nila. Fleair kissed her cheek and bid her goodbye. Atticus, on the other hand, just smiled at her.

"Slay?" hindi sigurado na sabi nito.

"Saan mo naman natutunan 'yan?" natatawa na tanong niya.

"Just heard it somewhere," masungit na sabi nito at umiwas ng tingin sa kanya.

Mas lalo lang na natawa si Khaila nang makita na pulang pula ang leeg nito, pati ang mga tenga nito. She wanted to tease her but she needs to go. Pinanggigilan niya muna ang pisngi ni Fleair bago tuluyan na lumabas sa sasakyan.

Everyone greeted her, ganoon rin ang ginawa niya. Amanda showed her the heels she's going to wear for today. Umupo lang siya sa tabi ng dalawa at mabilis na sinuot 'yon.

"Am I late?" nagtataka na tanong niya.

Gayle crossed her arms. "Hindi ikaw ang late. 'Yung bruhilda, wala pa."

Khaila shushed her. Umiling siya sa mga kasama niya. It was her way to tell them not to fight back if ever they'll cause a scene here.

After an hour of waiting, nakapag warm-up na silang lahat. Saka palang dumating si Veron. She was walking proudly as if she never done something. Ngumisi kaagad ito nang makita siya.

"Oh well! The former sugar baby is here. Kumusta ang pagiging kabit?" Veron taunted her.

Hindi siya sumagot. Khaila knew better. She's not a sugar baby nor a third party.

"Masaya bang kasama sa kama si Atticus?" Veron sarcastically asked her.

"Kailan ka tatahimik?" iritado na tanong sa kanya ni Gayle.

Natahimik ang lahat ng mga kasama nila at may iilan na pasimple siyang tinitingnan. Some were worried and some were silently judging her based on what they've heard.

"Stop it, Gayle." Khaila commanded her.

Veron scoffed at her. Sobrang bigat ng hangin sa studio dahil sa ginawa ni Veron, hindi pa ito nakuntento, panay pa rin ang parinig nito sa kanya. Her patience was running thin and it wasn't a good sign for Khaila.

Bago pa niya ito mapatulan, nagpaalam siya na aalis na at dinahilan na lang na may photoshoot pa siyang kailangan na puntahan.

After that day, hindi na siya nagulat na nasa balita na ang 'away' nilang dalawa ni Veron. They made her looks bad. Making up things that she walked out because the allegations was true.

Khaila was about to turn the television off when she saw Atticus' face on her TV screen. He looks tired yet still handsome. There were securities blocking the reporters and Atticus was in between them.

"Mr. Klein! Totoo ba na may relasyon kayo ng famous model na si Khaila Miller habang kasal ka kay Veronica Gracia?"

Tumigil si Atticus nang marinig 'yon at nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito.

Atticus faced the reporter and answered, "Last time I checked, I am not married. She's not my mistress. She will never be."

Bakas ang iritasyon sa mukha nito nang itutok ng reporter ang maliit na microphone sa lalaki.

"What is your relationship with Ms. Miller, then?"

"I am courting her. We're dating."

Atticus answered was a big slap to his ex, Veron. Sa practice nila, nag backfire ang ginawa nito sa kanya. She wasn't happy about it. Khaila even told her co-models not to taunt her and work professionally.

On the day of the fashion show, um-attend si Atticus para suportahan siya. He was holding a damn bouquet and gave it to her.

"You're amazing. As always." Atticus complimented her.

"Thank you."

Atticus faced Jane and asked her, "Pwede ba na ako na lang ang maghatid sa kanya?"

"Sure!" Jane answered. Hindi man lang ito nagdalawang isip.

Khaila saw Veron staring at them, nanlilisik ang mga mata nito. She smirked at her and wounded her hand around Atticus arm.

"Did she do something?" mabilis na tanong nito.

"Wala naman… masama lang ang tingin sa akin." Khaila honestly answered.

"Hindi ka ba kumportable na kasama mo siya?" Atticus worriedly asked.

Her lips thinned. Khaila know to herself na kung ayaw niya itong makasama, madali lang niyang magagawan ng paraan na mawala sa landas niya si Veron.

But she's a professional.

"Hindi, pero matitiis ko naman."

"Do you want me to get rid of her?" tanong nito.

Tiningnan niya si Atticus. His face was dead ass serious. Kapag um-oo siya, sigurado na mawawala sa landas niya ang babae.

"We can't do that…" she trailed. Ito lang ang kabuhayan nito.

Atticus smiled at her. "Always the kind, Khaila. My Khaila."

☕