Irresistible Pulchritude

Chapter 20

HE WANTED to start all over again, he says? Khaila was caught off guard. She pushed her tongue on her cheek and shook her head.

She hid her shaking hands behind her back. Her heart hammered inside her chest real fast and she's not liking it even just a bit.

Khaila's voice trembled a little as she said, "We can't. I am getting married and I like Eli so much—"

Atticus clicked his tongue to cut her off. He asked, "You like younger men now, ma'am?"

Her eyes flickered at his question.

"I guess not. You can't fool me twice, ma'am." Mayabang na ngumisi sa kanya ang lalaki at nagpatuloy, "The wedding? It is not happening, am I right? Great."

Masyado siyang nagulat at hindi siya agad nakasagot sa tanong nito. Mas lalo na tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito.

How did he find out? Gusto niya 'yung itanong pero parang nabuhol ang dila niya. Did she forget that she can speak because of her nervousness? Damn.

Kagat ni Atticus ang pang-ibaba nitong labi at humakbang palapit sa kanya. Her eyes narrowed down to his face, seryoso na ang mga mata nito na nakatingin sa kanya. For the first time since they met again, Khaila shrank back.

She really can't fool her heart.

"Please, give me a chance?" He asked. Umangat ang kamay nito at marahan na pinisil ang baba niya bago bumalik sa anak nito.

"What the fuck…" She finally found her own voice. "What the actual fuck?!"

Napa-padyak siya sa sobrang inis sa lalaki. He didn't even give her an explanation and yet he's here in front of her a while back, asking her to give him a chance? For what? To court her? Oh damn him!

Khaila closed her eyes. Inhaled a large amount of air and exhaled slowly. That was her way to calm herself down. To release her anger towards that man.

Nang lumingon siya sala kung nasaan ang mag-ama, biglang lumambot ang puso niya. Marupok talaga siya pagdating sa dalawa. Atticus was watching a TV show for kids with his daughter. It reminds her of the past. Siya at ang Papa niya. Hanggang sa madagdagan sila, siya, ang papa at mamu, at ang kambal.

Ang pangarap niya na panandalian na natupad noon, bumabalik ngayon.

"Uwi ka muna sa bahay natin?" narinig niyang pakiusap ni Atticus sa anak.

Fleair strongly shook her head before facing her father and answered, "Dito lang ako, Papa. Dito na lang tayo. Sige na, please?"

"We can't, Fleair. What did Papa tell you before?" tanong nito.

The little girl shrank a bit and pouted her lips as she answered, "My Tita needs to rest because she has a lot of work like Papa."

"And?"

Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay nang makita na biglang lumungkot ang mukha ni Atticus. Was he manipulating his own daughter just so she can rest?

"Papa is gonna be lonely in our house." Fleair answered.

Fleair was pouting her lips. Halata sa bata na napipilitan lang itong umuwi sa bahay nila, kasama ang tatay nito. Kung hindi lang pagod na pagod ang katawan niya, hahayaan niya ito na dumito muna sa bahay niya.

But after the talk with Atticus, lahat ng energy na naipon niya sa pagtulog, nawala. She needs to sleep and recover her strength, she was fighting for her dear life as she works.

"Uuwi ko muna ang makulit na 'to. You should rest more. Don't cook, okay? Magpapadala na lang kami." Atticus smiled.

Napipilitan siyang tumango bilang sagot. Binuhat ni Atticus ang anak at nakita na may binulong ito sa bata. Her brows furrowed immediately.