Irresistible Pulchritude

Chapter 8

DINAIG pa ni Khaila ang nanalo sa Lotto sa laki ng ngisi sa mga labi niya habang pinagmamasdan si Atticus na inaasikaso ang bata. He was a good example of a father figure. Para niyang nakita ang Papa Kyst niya sa lalaki.

There's more to like about him, bukod sa gwapo nitong mukha.

Sa malapit na café lang sila nagpunta, nag-aaya siya kanina sa cafeteria na lang pero umayaw ang lalaki. Saying he wanted to treat her.

Khaila patted her cheeks and squished her face after. Masyadong halata sa mukha niya ang saya na inaya siya nitong lumabas.

"Ano ang gusto mo? Pumili ka lang, hm? Si kuya na ang bahala…" narinig niya na sabi ni Atticus sa bata.

Atticus choose a table near the glass walls, kung saan kita nila ang labas.

Kinuha ni Khaila ang menu at isa-isa na tiningnan ang mga available na pagkaing ino-offer ng café. In her mind, she's already calculating how many calories she took the whole day. She clicked her tongue silently and chose her favourite drink. Good thing, it was available.

"Sayo?" Atticus asked.

Nanlalambot niyang binitawan ang menu sa lamesa at tinuro ang Avocado milkshake.

"Milkshake lang?" naninigurado na tanong nito. Matiim siya nitong tinitigan.

She nodded her head and answered, "Yes, milkshake lang. That's my favorite and…  Jane is still strict when it comes to my diet. I think I ate too much today…"

Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang mapansin na lumalim ang gatla sa noo nito. She shrank a little because of how intense he stared at her. No one dared to look at her like that. She never felt so shy in her whole life just because someone stared at her. Ngayon lang. Kay Atticus lang.

Parang sinusukat nito ang buong katawan niya sa titig.

"Your body looks good."

Umawang ang mga labi ni Khaila sa gulat. There's no emotion in his face, he was just staring at her. Or maybe, he was just good at hiding it! Men usually compliment her with adoration in their eyes.

"You should eat. Hindi sapat ang milkshake lalo na kung buong araw kang nagtatrabaho."

Humaba ang nguso niya. Wala silang pasok kinabukasan, for sure kapag nalaman ng manager slash assistant niya ang kinain niya ngayon— even though she's not into modelling anymore— hindi siya nito titigilan hanggang hindi siya nito makaladkad papunta sa Gym ng Tito Ryker niya.

At kahit tumigil na siya, there's always a time where Jane asked her to practise her walk right after she exercised.

Atticus ordered her avocado milkshake, kasama na ang pagkain ng bata na kasama nila ngayon. Hindi niya narinig ang ibang pagkain na in-order nito sa kaiisip paano malulusutan si Jane.

Khaila wanted to spend her weekends, sleeping soundly in her bed. The materials she needed for teaching were all done, even her lesson plan for next week.

"Are you… on a diet?" alanganin na tanong nito sa kanya.

"Not really. Binabantayan lang namin ang kinakain ko sa isang araw since… I don't have time to go to gym."

"You lift?" Tumaas ang kilay nito.

"Before, kapag may runway show. Ikaw?"

Atticus glanced at his arms, then his gaze met hers. "It's not that obvious, huh?"

Khaila scoffed, "Hindi nga."

"Your brother… hindi ko na ulit sila nakita sa school."

"Gusto mo makita?" She teased.