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.
Nalaman ng papa nila na ginawang tambayan ng kambal ang paaralan nila, they were scolded and got banned from visiting her and their mother.
"No." Itinaas niya ang kamay at pinakita ang pulsuhan nito. "You see that bruise? Hindi pa masyadong magaling oh."
Nauwi sa ngiwi ang ngiti na nakapaskil sa mga labi niya. Khaila was guilty as fuck because of what Ky did. Her brother was close to professional player, palagi itong nababangko dahil sa lakas ng palo nito. Pinipilayan talaga ang mga kalaban.
"I'm sorry about that…" Khaila sincerely said. Atticus shrugged his shoulders as an answer. "Do you have siblings?" tanong niya.
"Yes… She's not here." Atticus answered. He looked away as if he didn't want to add to his answer.
Khaila, then, realised that he doesn't want to talk about anything personal. Hindi pa pala sila pwede sa part na 'yon. Masyado siyang nag-assume. It's fine though, she has secrets too that she couldn't voice out.
Nang dumating ang order nila, gusto na maiyak ni Khaila nang itulak ni Atticus papunta sa kanya ang isang slice ng avocado pie, 2 pieces chocolate avocado bars, chocolate avocado truffles, and her avocado milkshake. Nakita na niya ang mga 'yon kanina sa menu pero iniwasan niya.
On the other hand, he ordered an iced americano for himself. Chocolate drink for the little guy, macarons, glazed donuts and choco muffins.
"You like avocado, right?" Ngumiti ito sa kanya. "Dig in, ma'am. Enjoy!"
Ang lakas mang-asar ng ngiti nito. Atticus can considered himself lucky because she still likes him. If not, nunkang kakainin niya ang mga binili nito. Khaila would surely asked the waiter na i-take out ang mga 'to para maibigay niya sa mga bata.
In-enjoy na lang niya ang mga binili nito para sa kanya. Habang si Atticus naman ay inaalalayan ang bata sa pagkain. She smiled when he wiped the little guy's lips using his thumb, hindi rin ito nag alinlangan na isubo ang daliri at dilaan 'yon.
Hanggang sa punasan na nito ang mga kamay ng bata at si Atticus na mismo ang nagpapakain.
Pagkatapos nila ay agad silang bumalik sa school. Buhat ni Atticus ang bata dahil inaantok na ito sa sobrang busog. Even her suddenly felt sleepy.
"Wow naman! Mukha kayong pamilya na galing sa date ah?" Lhey teased. Khaila only smiled. Nasasanay na sa mga pang-aasar nito.
Atticus playfully punched his friend using his free hand.
"Tumigil ka." Atticus warned him.
"Ito naman, parang nagbibiro lang… pero pwede naman totohanin kung gusto mo, yieeee!" Lhey teased his friend, Atticus, more. Nang hindi sumagot si Atticus at masama lang ang tingin na ipinukol sa lalaki, lumingon agad ito sa kanya at siya ang kinausap. "Ma'am? Saan ka nga pala noong nakaraan? May naghahanap sayo."
Khaila saw how Atticus avoided her gaze. His ears slightly reddened. Was he feeling shy because of how his friend acted?
Sumagot si Khaila, "Work."
"Work? Ah, modelling, ma'am?" Lhey curiously eyed her. Naningkit ang mga mata nito sa kanya kapagkuwan ay parang wala sa sarili na tumawa. "Ayaw nito sa modelo, ma'am! Sayang naman…" Humina ang boses nito nang pandilatan siya ng mga mata ni Atticus.
Khaila hid her hands behind her back. Pinisil niya ang palad at maliit na ngumiti sa lalaki.
"I just… did my father a favour. I've already quit. College pa."
"Former model naman pala!" Lhey whistled playfully.
She wanted to talk to them more but a car, an expensive one, stop beside them. Napalunok si Khaila nang bumaba ang bintana at nakita niya ang Tita Cj niya. Her eyes immediately looked for her Tito Ryker.
"Wala si Zion, Aila," natatawa na sabi ng Tita Cj niya. She crane her neck a little. "Get in, we're going home. Nasa akin na ang gamit mo. Ikaw na lang ang kulang."
Lumingon siya kay Atticus. "Thank you sa treat! Mauuna na kami, bye!"
Tumango lang ito sa kanya. Nagmamadali na sumakay si Khaila sa sasakyan at kaagad na nilagay ang seatbelt.
"That guy… I think I know him… or not?" Cj broke the silence. "I think I already did a background check on him."
"I'm sure you did, Ta!" Kinakabahan na sagot niya.
Hirap silang makahanap ng mga guro noon para sa paaralan nila even though marami ang nag a-apply. They're thoroughly assessing every applicants. And by saying, thoroughly, bina-background check nila ang mga ito isa-isa. It was one of their requirements. The applicant either allowed them or backed out.
"It's been a long time though… Ganito na lang, hindi ako magsusumbong sa mga Tito mo. Payagan mo ako na i-background check ang dalawa na 'yon."
Kaagad siyang umiling. "Tita, please, don't… There's nothing special going on. Magkatrabaho lang. Ayon lang."
She's still in the process of getting close to him because finally! Atticus finally acknowledges her existence.
"If that's what you want. Pero kung magbabago ang isip mo, alam mo na kung sino ang una mong lalapitan." Her Tita Cj reminded her.
Khaila smiled at her. Siya talaga ang itinuturing na panganay ng bawat pamilya sa village nila. She's too precious. A princess. They all showered her with love and care.
Ang swerte niya sa pamilya na natagpuan ng mamu niya. Ang swerte nila.
Nang makauwi sila sa Luca's village, dinaanan muna niya ang mga tito niya na nag-iinuman sa mini bar ng tito Alistair niya. Saka siya dumeretso sa bahay nila para magpahinga.
"Ate…" Ky called her.
Nasa sala nila ito, sa harap ng mga lego blocks. He was trying to build a building pero mukhang flat surface lang ang kaya nito. Those lego blocks were own by her tito Castiel's son.
"Hindi ko mabuo…" Parang bata ito na nagsumbong sa kanya.
Khaila chuckled. "Okay, let me help."
Umupo siya sa sahig at sinubukan na tulungan ang kapatid niya na buuin ang building na sinasabi nito without instructions. Nawala raw kasi. But after an hour of trying…
"Tigil na natin 'to." Naiinis na sabi ni Ky at tumayo. "May binigay pa sa akin, ate. Let's build a flower instead."
Tumango lang siya at hinintay ang kapatid. There were times that Ky made her feel she doesn't need anyone to accompany her. A boyfriend.
Palagi nitong ipinakita sa kanya na kaya nitong gawin ang lahat para sa kanila ni Tally.
Khaila was so focused on the blocks that she didn't even notice the time and her phone.
PAGKAALIS NI Khaila, kaagad niyang tinakasan ang kaibigan kanina. Sigurado na bobombahin siya nito ng mga tanong na hindi rin naman niya sasagutin. Sasakit lang ang ulo niya dahil sa ingay ng kaibigan.
Hinatid niya rin ang bata sa bahay nito, dala naman niya ang sasakyan niya.
"Late ka umuwi ngayon?" His mother asked.
"Busy lang sa school, Ma…"
"Siguraduhin mo lang, Aleir."
Tumayo ito at umakyat sa taas. Napailing na lang siya at pagod na hinubad ang uniform niya. He took a quick shower first before going to his room. He went straight to his bed and rest.
Atticus badly wanted to think about his lesson for tomorrow. But a certain woman always popped up in his mind. She looks cute— gorgeous, even when she's messily eating her favorite.
Parang hindi ito modelo. Khaila doesn't care if someone was looking at her, familiarising her face. Pansin niya 'yon kanina habang kumakain sila sa café. Some were taking a picture of her.
"She's a former model…" Atticus uttered to himself.
That industry was a bit… messed up. If you're poor and don't have anything, some higher ups were taking advantage. But that wasn't the reason why he started to hate models.
His hatred towards models started because of her ex-girlfriend. Atticus left everything for yet she cheated on him. He was working while studying, supporting himself and his ex's whims and career.
Hanggang sa tumigil ito sa pagmomodelo. She was always blaming him and Atticus accepted it wholeheartedly. His money wasn't enough to put her in the same stage with those famous models.
That woman did something unforgivable, but he still forgave her. Atticus was blinded by his love for her.
After years of fighting and accepting harsh words from her… Atticus finally woke up from his so-called dream. Nightmare. The woman left her for an old guy who promised her to give her the spotlight she wanted. To be the top model.
Atticus sighed and shook his head. After years of trying, ni minsan ay hindi niya pa nakita sa balita o sa front page ng magazine ang babae. She was still having a hard time.
As if there's a big wall blocking that woman to reach her dreams. A tough wall that she couldn't easily penetrate. A lady who captured everyone's heart just by standing and doing nothing. Her beauty was irresistible.
It's always Khaila Miller. The top model.
☕