KHAILA GROANED when someone pulled her blanket. Kinuha niya ang isang unan at tinakpan ang mukha niya, she already informed her family not to disturb her sleep. Sabado naman at ang plano niya lang ay matulog sa buong araw!

She's dreaming about her future wedding and Atticus was her groom. Hindi pwede na hindi 'yon matuloy!

"Wake up! We're going to the gym!"

Khaila wanted to cry when she heard the word gym and the priest turned out to be her manager slash assistant, Jane. Kaagad siyang naalimpungatan.

"Finally! She's awake. Get up, bebe! Tanghali na tayo!" Gayle said.

Jane, on the other hand, was ransacking her closet and got her a pair of her gym clothes. And she chose the expensive one, ang regalo sa kanya ni Ayze. Ayze and her mother like giving gifts. Extraordinary gifts.

"Wash up and change. Sa sasakyan na tayo kakain."

"May gagawin ako," pagdadahilan niya.

Jane scoffed, "Ang sabi sa akin ng Papa mo, wala na. Tapos ka na raw."

Agad siyang sumimangot. Well, going to the gym wasn't bad. It's not just for her body figure, para na rin naman sa kalusugan niya. Sinasapian lang talaga siya madalas ni katamaran.

She lazily stood up and got her gym clothes to Gayle. She's also wearing her own gym clothes, which means sasamahan siya nito na mag exercise.

Nag half bath lang siya at ginawa ang morning skincare routine niya. She doesn't need to prepare her gym bag, dahil naayos na 'yon ni Jane at Gayle. Her shoes were also ready, isusuot na lang niya. Gayle also handed her a clam for her hair.

Nang lumabas sila sa kwarto niya, they saw her mother— seating elegantly on her father's lap.

"Ready na ang almusal mo, nak." Her mother informed her.

"Morning…" Her father greeted her. Nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya. His head was buried on her mother's neck.

Kinuha niya ang almusal na hinanda ng mamu niya para sa kanya at nagpaalam sa mga ito. Hindi na siya nag-abala na lapitan ang dalawa, she did a flying kiss instead.

While they're on their way to gym, Jane was giving her a heads up on what's happening now in the chaotic industry she once loved. The work was much toxic now, some brands don't even want to hire models now for they have so-called influencers.

For Khaila, if someone's belief doesn't align with the brand's beliefs, it only proves that you're doing the job for money and fame.

When they reached the gym, nauna siyang pinababa ng mga ito. Well, kilala naman siya sa loob.

"Ate! Gym ka ngayon?" Havi asked. Nakapamewang ito sa harapan ni Arki, who was lifting bells. Heavy bells.

Tumango lang siya.

Nagulat siya nang bigla na lang sumulpot sa likuran niya si Archer at mabilis siyang hinalikan sa pisngi.

"Morning, Ate! Balita ko lagot ka sa manager mo ngayon?" Archer teased. Pawisan ito at nakaangat ang laylayan ng t-shirt nito hanggang sa dibdib. Showing his muscled stomach.

Khaila playfully rolled her eyes. Hindi na niya madalas makita ang panganay na anak ng Tito Esel niya. Probably because he's really serious about going to law school.

"Oh, please! Nanginginig na nga ako, hindi pa kami nag-uumpisa." Tumatawa na sagot niya.

"I'm here, Ate Aila. I'll spot you." Arki volunteered.

May coach siya before pero kalaunan ay pinatigil ni Khaila. She's feeling uncomfortable for unknown reasons. Her Tito Ryker was too strict, kaya umayaw rin siya nang mag presinta ito. Arki was less strict that his father, so she's good.

"Paano kami?" Havi asked. Tinuro rin nito si Archer na may binabasang libro ngayon. "Bro, mag decide ka nga muna kung magre-review ka o mag g-gym tayo?"

"Review and gym. I can do both. Ikaw?" mayabang na tanong ni Archer kay Havi.

"Kaya kitang sagasaan." Havi sarcastically answered.

Sabay silang nailing ni Arki sa sagutan ng dalawa. Their love and hate relationship somehow resembled how their father treated each other.

May naka-ready ng yoga mat para sa kanya. Nag warm-up muna siya bago sumalang. Arki helped her to set the treadmill, sakto naman na papasok sina Jane at Gayle sa gym. They greeted the receptionist and went to her side immediately. Si Gayle naman ay pumwesto na rin sa katabi ng treadmill na gamit niya.

"Nag warm up kana?" Gayle asked her.

"Yes, how about you?"

Gayle sneered. "Hindi na kailangan, 'no! Sa sobrang tagtag ng katawan ko sa studio hindi na sasakit ang muscles ko nito kahit tumambling tambling pa ako!"

Natawa siya. May kumukuha na model kay Gayle at Amanda pero humindi ang dalawa. Ang dahilan nila, kung hindi lang naman siya ang pagsisilbihan ng mga ito, hindi na bale na maging staff sila sa studio sa agency mismo. Habang si Jane naman ang nag ma-manage ngayon sa mga aspiring models nila.

The loud music changed and Gayle's face lifted up.

"Ang tagal na kitang hindi nakikita na sumasayaw!" Gayle exclaimed.

Kahit malakas na ang music sa loob, dinig pa rin ang boses nito.

"Kami rin! Ate, baka naman!" Havi yelled.

Tinanggal niya ang support na nasa baywang niya. Arki on the other hand pressed something, para bumagal ang treadmill.

Khaila waited for the chorus part and started swaying her hips while still walking, para hindi siya mahulog. She was minding her own business and feeling the rhythm and blues.

"Ang galing!" Gayle complimented her. She even clapped her hands.

Ngumisi lang siya at tuloy lang ang paggalaw ng balakang niya. She was enjoying it when she met Atticus gaze. Muntik na siyang madapa dahil sa titig nito sa kanya.

"Ay bat ka tumigil?" reklamo ni Gayle.

Her eyes remain on him. He was in his muscled shirt and a normal short plus his gym shoes, may dala rin itong duffle bag at flasks sa kabila nitong kamay. He was standing in front of the gym front desk, the receptionist was talking to him but it seemed to her that he wasn't listening at all.

Namumula ang mukha ni Khaila at umiwas ng tingin nang ibaba nito ang duffle bag na dala at nag-umpisa na rin ito na mag warm-up.

"By the way, Aila… Naaalala mo pa ba yung babae, I mean the owner of the brand…"

Lumingon siya kay Jane. "Hmm, yes? That was my last photoshoot."

"Yes, that one. I saw the owner last time, may event kasi kami na pinuntahan kasama ang isa sa mga model na hawak ng agency. She was asking about you." Kwento nito.

"About me? Why?"

"Well, people are curious on what's going on in your life now. Lalo na at hindi ka malapitan ng mga media, with your father's connection and of course, ang mga Tito mo. Wala silang balita tungkol sayo. In a matter of fact, they were all asking me, of course I kept my mouth shut. Mas mahalaga ka kaya sa akin."

"Bakit daw ako hinahanap? Wala naman silang mapapala sa akin."

"Hakotera ka kasi ng mga customers, girl!" Gayle flipped her hair playfully.

"Some of them knew that you're a teacher now… Nalaman siguro noong dinagsa ng paparazzi ang school niyo." Jane said.

"It's fine. As long as they're not doing something I won't like." Khaila sighed.

"Balik tayo doon sa owner na sinasabi ko. Pinapatanong niya kung kailan ka available? Baka raw pwede kayong mag dinner?"

"I'm not available." Mabilis na sagot niya.

She's only making herself available if the one who's asking her out was her crush. Her ultimate crush!

After the treadmill, may ipinagawa pa sa kanya si Arki. She was hissing and asking him if pwede na siyang tumigil pero matigas ito. They only stop after two sets, pagkatapos ay nag cool down na siya.

"We're not done yet…" Jane said in a singsong voice.

Her jaw almost dropped when Gayle showed her the pair of heels. Lagi niyang gamit ang mga 'yon kapag may practice siya sa runway shows or kahit normal na practice lang.

The gym had another room for Zumba fitness class, may malaking salamin sa harap at kita pa rin ang kabuuan ng gym. Khaila gulped hardly when she saw Atticus lifting a damn barbell effortlessly and his muscles just flexed!

"Khaila! Game na?" Jane asked.

"I'm ready."

ATTICUS was surprised and mesmerised at the same time when he saw her dancing gracefully. Sa treadmill pa!

They were just talking about lifting and such yesterday, sino ang mag-aakala na sa iisang gym lang pala sila nag wo-work out?

"Shit…" mahina na mura niya nang muntik na bumagsak sa kanya ang hawak niyang bell.

He couldn't focus at all because of what he saw! She looks carefree while dancing. Malambot ang katawan nito.

Nang magsawa siya, nagkunwari na lang si Atticus na nagbubuhat ng barbell kahit na ang totoo… pinapanood na lang niya si Khaila na maglakad sa kabilang banda ng gym. She was walking with grace, elegant, her head was held high.

Atticus wanted to watch one of her runway shows before she even stopped, pero ni isa ay wala siyang makita. The videos were always cropped.

Alam niya sa sarili na dapat umuwi na siya. But he found himself waiting for her to finish even though he heard her earlier that she's not available. There's something inside him that wanted to ask her out.

"Hi! You're done?"

He came back from his reverie when he heard Khaila's voice. Pasimple siyang tumingin sa pinanggalingan nito, wala na doon ang mga kasama nito.

"Yeah… Ikaw rin?" He wanted to smack himself for asking the obvious.

Nakangiti itong tumango sa kanya. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na pareho lang pala tayo ng gym na pinupuntahan?"

"Hindi ka naman nagtanong." He chuckled softly when he saw her rolling her eyes. "Are you free? O may gagawin ka pa after this?"

"Wala na." Umiling pa ito.

"Do you want to eat? With me?" Atticus asked.

Nakita niya ang bahagya na pamumula ng pisngi nito at tumango bilang sagot. He usually avoids woman who only likes him, it's superficial, he doesn't want it.

"Shower lang ako," sabi nito.

"Sure," sagot niya.

Atticus thought that she'll used the gym shower, malinis naman kasi ang shower room ng mismong gym at hiwalay ang lalaki sa babae. Her thoughts fled from his head when he saw her talking to her manager. Nanliit ang mga mata ni Atticus nang makitang may inabot itong susi kay Khaila.

"Sir? May sasakyan ka bang dala?" Khaila asked.

He shook his head as an answer. Hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang gym sa bahay nila, sumakay lang siya ng tricycle papunta sa gym.

"Hintayin na lang kita sa labas?" Khaila asked. Nagtataka man, tumango pa rin si Atticus.

He showered quickly and wore the clothes he brought. Lumabas siya at nakita si Khaila na naghihintay sa labas ng isang Van, she was actually talking and laughing with the driver.

"Sir, saan tayo?" tanong sa kanya ng driver nito.

"Nearest mall…" Atticus answered.

Binuksan ni Khaila ang pintuan ng sasakyan. He sighed softly when he saw the interior inside, it was an artista van, not just some ordinary van. May two seats sa harap and that alone could make the passenger feel like they're riding a plane. Sa business class.

Sa bandang likod ay may maliit na banyo, there's also a small sofa and small vanity mirror.

"Yours?" Atticus asked.

"Hindi, walang comfort room yung akin. Kay Tally 'to, hiniram lang namin."

Nagpababa sila sa malapit na mall. Khaila let him choose a restaurant and when he joked about eating at the fast food chain, hindi niya akalain na papayag ito.

Natawa si Atticus nang itaas nito ang kamay, he pulled her hands down immediately.

"What are you doing?" He asked amusingly.

"Bill out? We're not going to pay?" Inosente na tanong nito sa kanya.

Atticus couldn't hold his laugh anymore. Her cuteness was overload.

"Is this your first time? Na kumain sa ganitong klaseng kainan?" tanong niya.

"I always ate take outs…"

"First time mo nga," natatawa na sabi niya. "Nagbayad na ako kanina. No need to do that…" Pigil ang tawa na sabi niya.

Khaila bit her lower lip and avoided his gaze.

"Cute…" He uttered and shook his head.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain, naglakad-lakad lang sila sa mall hanggang sa mag-aya ito na maglaro sila ng Arcade. And so, Atticus found himself playing with her. It was fun and there's no dull moments.

Sa bawat laro nila, mas lalong lumalawak ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Khaila. And every version of her smile, lagi niyang natatagpuan ang sarili na natutulala. He likes her.

Nang magsawa na sila sa paglalaro, sunod nilang pinuntahan ang grocery store. Khaila shopped for kids. She bought everything she thinks the kids would like.

Atticus liked it so much. He's unconsciously seeking for her presence. That one date wasn't enough. Naulit 'yon nang naulit. Hanggang sa maging routine na nila ni Khaila ang lumabas pagkatapos ang trabaho.

☕