KHAILA WAS wearing a robe with her makeup done. Everyone was busy preparing for the fashion show, and as for her, she was born ready.
A month without Atticus' presence, she suddenly missed him, especially Fleair. They could visit her but opt not to. Alam naman niya sa sarili na it was Atticus' way to give her the space he promised. It was effective, though.
Her mind wasn't clouded with any doubts about him. Lalo na at kahit sa video call lang sila madalas mag-usap, palagi pa rin nitong pinaparamdam na nasa tabi-tabi lang ito.
Atticus reminds her to eat on time, mamaya lang ay nasa tabi na niya si Jane na may dalang pagkain galing sa lalaki, at may kasama pa itong bulaklak. She's avoiding too many sweets, but Fleair didn't forget to bake her avocado cookies. Pasok pa rin naman sa diet niya.
"It was from him? Hindi sayo?" nagtataka na tanong ni Khaila.
Jane sighed. "I told him you're in keto diet. Masyadong ginalingan niyang manliligaw mo, Aila, yung mga kinakain mo noong nakaraan? Sariling gawa niya lahat."
Her lips parted. All along ang akala niya ay naka meal plan na naman siya. But remembering the food she ate from the past weeks? Yeah, it wasn't a meal plan. Everyday, iba't ibang klase ang kinakain niya.
"Kumain ka muna. Maglakad ka na lang pagkatapos mong magpahinga, baka hindi ka na makakain mamaya." Jane worriedly said.
"It's okay, beh! Retouch ko na lang lip combo mo after." Gayle smiled at her and urge her to eat too.
Khaila had no choice but to fill her stomach first. After eating, inabot ni Jane sa kanya ang cellphone nito. Atticus send her a message.
Nang buksan niya ang message nito, she smiled immediately. Her heart throbbed, para siyang kinapos ng hininga nang makita ang dalawa. It was a picture of Atti and Fleair getting ready to attend the fashion show. Naka tiger pose ang dalawa. Atticus told her that Fleair was loving and pretending to be a baby tiger.
Atticus Klein: See you later, ma'am. Best of luck!
She was about to reply when someone tapped her shoulder, it was her sister, Tally. May dala itong bouquet. It was probably the bouquet they asked Ky to buy.
"Nakita mo na ba siya, Ate?" tanong ni Tally.
They're both wearing a silk robe. Khaila shook her head. Malamang ay nagtatago 'yon ngayon.
"Hanapin na lang natin, tara?" aya niya sa kapatid.
Kinuha niya kay Tally ang bouquet at tinawag si Chris para tulungan sila. The flower was too big for them. Mahirap na, baka mahubaran silang dalawa ni Tally.
Naikot na nila ang backstage pero hindi nila nakita ang hinahanap nila. They bumped into different models and asked if they could have a picture together. Some were saying that the atmosphere was much better than before.
"May isang bad vibes kasi sa atin…" Ani ng isang modelo. Pilit itong ngumiti sa kanila.
"At least, GV na ngayon!"
"What's GV?" Tally asked. Litong lito ang mukha nito.
"Good vibes, miss." Chris whispered to her.
Nagpaalam sila sa mga ito. And thankfully, bago mag start ang fashion show, nakita na nila ang bunsong anak ng Tita Sakki nila. She's a graduating student, madalas ay nahahalo ang mga design nito sa collection ng mama nito, and now she finally had her own collection.
"Kei!" tawag ni Tally.
She chuckled when Kei snapped her head towards them, kasama na ang mga reporters na nag i-interview rito.
"Excuse me…" Kei shyly said.
Nakangiti itong humarap sa kanila. Tally immediately jumped to her and give her a big hug and kisses her on her cheek. They were surrounded by cameras, they couldn't greet each others with their usual greetings. Kissing each others on the lips. Ayze started it. Hindi lang applicable sa kanya because of her age.
"Congratulations!" Tally playfully headlock her.
"Congratulations, Kei," nakangiti na sabi niya.
"Thank you! Thank you, Ate! Akala ko hindi mo ako pagbibigyan na maging model sa collections ko!" Kei faked a sob.
"Hey, sa akin ka dapat nagpapasalamat! You know she's always declining when it comes to wearing…" hindi natuloy ni Tally ang sasabihin nito at tiningnan na lang siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Her sister was judging her face to face.
"Whatever!" Kei pushed Tally's face away from her. "Is this your last… ahm, show?"
Her face looks worried.
Khaila smiled widely and answered, "Definitely not."
Her name was tainted but that wasn't enough to shake her will to continue her career. Modelling fits her the most. At the same time, she was still going to help her parents to manage both agency and their school. Kung sakali man na nagkukulang ang mga guro sa paaralan nila, kung may emergency, siya ang pumapalit.
"Miss Miller! Fancy to see you here!"
Sabay silang lumingon ni Tally sa reporter na tumawag gamit ang apelyido nila. She simply waved her hand, nang makilala niya ito.
"Anyway, can I interview you? Please?" Pinagsiklop nito ang mga kamay. "Just a few questions and it's not related to Veron. It's part of the magazine we will publish. I promise!"
Pasimple na tumingin siya sa kapatid at tumango lang ito.
"Sige…" Khaila smiled, professionally.
Nagmamadali nitong kinuha ang cellphone nito at nilagay sa recording. They started greeting each other first. Pinaglalaruan niya ang mga daliri niya habang sinasagot ang mga tanong nito.
"Are you ready for marriage?" bahagya siyang nagulat sa tanong nito. Kalaunan ay mahina siyang natawa.
She still couldn't imagine herself wearing a white long gown and walking down the aisle. Her father was always reminding her to take her time, do what she loves the most, and explore the world. Marriage can wait.
Sumagot siya, "Not yet."
"How silly of me! Ano na ba ang balita sa inyo ng business magnate na si Mr. Klein?" He asked. Ilang segundo pa ay dinugtungan nito, "In all fairness, his surname suits you, ma'am. Khaila Miller-Klein."
Khaila could feel her cheeks burning. She swayed her body a little and tried to hide her face.
"We're still… in the dating stage."
"There's no wedding… Wala rin baby number two? You're still not ready to be a mom?" confused na tanong nito sa kanya.
She was always ready. Khaila already prepared herself to be a mother. The reason why she always surrounded herself with kids. It was a dream that she really wanted to fulfil.
"What do you mean? I am already a mom. I have Fleair. I am her mom." Khaila chuckled when his lips parted.
Hindi ito makapaniwala na nakatingin sa kanya. She waved her hand at him and let Kei and Tally pull her because the show was going to start.
Jane was waiting for her. Hawak nito ang see through cream wide leg na isusuot niya. Amanda took her robe off of her while Jane and Gayle helped her to wear the see through pants.
She was wearing a bra that only covers her breasts, nakatali ito sa likod niya at sa leeg.
May nakaalalay sa kanila habang nasa backstage sila. Tally laughed a bit and pointed their families holding a damn banner again. This time, hindi na lang talaga para sa kanya. Her name, Tally, and Kei were written on it.
"The heck?" Tally chuckled.
Khaila patted her sister's back to signal her that it was now her turn to walk. Masyado itong natuwa sa pa-banner ng mga Tito nila.
When it was her turn, lumabas siya na walang ekspresyon ang mukha niya. Nang makarating siya sa dulo, she did some poses, and smiled at her family who were silently cheering for them. She was about to turn when she saw Atticus.
Muntik na siyang mawalan ng balanse nang ngumiti ito sa kanya at sabay silang nag flying kiss ng anak nito. Fleair was giggling as she clapped her hands. He was holding a bouquet as well as Fleair, holding a rose.
She had to turn and walk back. Khaila will surely wait impatiently for tonight's photos.
"PAPA? I think we're already late!" Bossy na sabi ng anak niya na naghihintay sa passenger seat.
Inabot niya sa anak ang isang piraso ng rosas na binili niya para rito. Fleair immediately stop sulking and thanked him instead for giving her flower. Inaamoy pa nito ang bigay niya.
"Can you drive fast, Papa? I wanna see my Tita Khaila!" pananaranta na naman nito sa kanya matapos ang ilang segundo na nanahimik ito.
"I can't, Fleair. I'm with you, so I need to drive carefully." He doesn't need to explain further. Alam ni Atticus na matalino ang anak niya at naiintindihan na nito kung bakit hindi niya pwedeng bilisan.
Nilibang ni Fleair ang sarili sa labas. She'll squeal when she sees a billboard with Khaila's face on it. Ituturo nito 'yon sa kanya, and Fleair would mumble how pretty she was.
"My Tita is sooooo pretty!" Fleair exclaimed. She cupped her own face as she stared at Khaila's tarp.
"Indeed…" nangingiti na sabi niya.
Kinuha niya ang bouquet na binili nila ni Fleair sa likod ng sasakyan. Fleair immediately held the hem of his blazer. The sounds coming from the speakers inside was nothing compared to how loud his heartbeat was. Huminga siyang malalim.
Fleair was jumping from excitement, habang siya naman ay gustong mag stay sa labas dahil sa kaba. He's nervous as hell!
"Papa! Pasok na tayo!" Fleair whined.
Wala na siyang nagawa nang hilahin siya ni Fleair papasok. His little girl was more than ready to throw tantrums if he wouldn't move his ass.
Nang makapasok sila, kaagad nilang nahanap ang pamilya ni Khaila. Khaila's brother glanced at him, Atticus offered a smile and thankfully, Ky nodded his head. May hawak itong camera pero nang makita ang anak niya, inabot niya 'yon sa katabi at binuhat si Fleair.
"Fleair, magmano ka muna anak…" Atticus rubbed her hand.
Nauna siyang nagmano sa mga magulang ni Khaila, sunod ay sa mga Tito at Tita nito. He was dumbfounded when he saw them preparing a tarpaulin. May picture ni Khaila, at ng kapatid nito na si Tally. The other girl was not familiar to him, but her name was Kei.
"Bakit late kayo?" Khaila's brother strictly asked.
Atticus showed him the bouquet. "I have some errands to do and I personally picked up the bouquet."
Binitawan na nito ang anak niya dahil kailangan nitong bumalik sa trabaho. He took a candid shot of Fleair first before leaving them. They were silently watching.
Atticus went numb when it was Khaila's turn. Marahas siyang napalunok habang tinitingnan ang ganda nito.
"Papa! Let's do a flying kiss!" Fleair asked.
When her gaze caught the two of them, they both smiled at her and did a flying kiss gesture. Fleair gasped and jumped again when Khaila turned around and did a flying kiss too.
They patiently waited until the show ended. Pagod na kakatalon ang anak niya pero hindi ito nagreklamo sa kanya. Even when Khaila's father offered to carry her, Fleair politely declined.
Bumalik ang kaba niya nang makita si Khaila na kasama ang mga kapatid nito. Nakabihis na ang mga ito. Hinayaan muna ni Atticus na maunang bumati at yumakap ang pamilya nito bago silang dalawa ni Fleair.
"Fleair! I missed you, baby!" Lumuhod si Khaila sa harap ng anak niya at mahigpit 'tong niyakap.
He smiled when Khaila got up to hug him too.
"Congratulations, ma'am. You look stunning, as always…" His eyes held admiration as he stared at her face. Atticus couldn't forget how beautiful she was while walking on that stage. "For you…"
"Thanks!" She chirped.
"This one's for you too." Ani Fleair at inabot ang isang piraso ng rosas na hawak nito.
Atticus gulped hardly as he watched his daughter giving Khaila the velvet box. He bought that for Khaila. Hindi niya alam kung paano napunta 'yon sa anak niya. Her father was looking suspiciously at him when he saw the box.
He nervously licked his bottom lip. His throat went dry as he heard his daughter saying, "Can I call you… Mama? Can you be my father's partner for real?"
Khaila's eyes widened as tears formed in her eyes. Sa mga namumuo na luha, mas lalo na kinakabahan si Atticus.
"How can I resist that beauty?" tanong ni Khaila at hinaplos ang pisngi ni Fleair. "It's a yes, baby. Of course, you can call me 'Mama'."
Umayos ito nang pagkakatayo at hinarap siya.
"As for you… I want to take you back."
Atticus doesn't care if her parents and extended family were watching them. Kaagad niya itong hinagkan at paulit-ulit na hinalikan ang noo ni Khaila. His heart was aching because of happiness.
"Thank you… Thank you for taking us back, ma'am." Marubdob na bulong niya.
Khaila wrapped her arm around him and answered, "I'm weak when it comes to you."
"I love you… God, I really do!" Atticus sincerely said.
Fleair hugged their legs and buried her face in between. Flashes of cameras surrounded them but Atticus only cared about Khaila and the fact that she took them back to her life.
'Her Irresistible Pulchritude leads us here, she captive our hearts, hindi man lang kami binigyan ng pagkakataon na umahon. She brings him good, all the day of her life. Me and my daughter belongs to her. We belong to Khaila Miller.'
☕