Chapter Three

Pagkarating sa Quantum Leap ay kaagad na ipinarada ni Cadmus ang dating sasakyan sa parking space na nakareserba para sa kanya bago mabilis na bumaba at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok sa loob ng pag-aaring bar. Wala pang gaanong sasakyan sa labas kaya maluwag pa ang parking area. 

Ang Quantum Leap ay isang kilala at eksklusibong bar na nasa bukana ng Black Forest Territory. Walang sinumang nakakapasok rito na hindi registered member ng Quantum Leap. There are certain methods and standards to be able to get a membership card in the bar. And all of its clients are high-profiled people in society that's why Cadmus always makes sure that the service in his bar is good. His employees are all well-trained and so far, he hasn't heard any bad complain yet. 

Malayong-malayo na ang Quantum Leap sa dati nitong anyo. Nang mapunta kay Cadmus ang pamamahala sa bar ay halos palubog na ito. Cadmus did his best to rebuild the bar and made it out of the well-known luxury bar in the Black Forest and to its nearby territory. 

Pagpasok sa loob ay kaagad na binati si Cadmus ng bartender na nasa bar counter at abala sa pag-aayos ng mga baso. Bahagya nitong ikiniling ang ulo bilang paggalang sa kanya na tinugon lang niya ng marahang tango. 

"Kapag dumating si Alpha Sev kasama ang iba pa, tawagin mo ako. I'll be at my office." Bilin niya rito bago tuluyang humakbang paakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng Quantum Leap kung saan naroroon ang mga VIP rooms at ang opisina niya. 

VIP rooms were designed for those who want private moments or sometimes, business meetings with pleasure. Inside the VIP rooms are round lounges and a minibar to avoid the customers from going out of the room just to have their orders. There are also two assigned persons to assist them. The bartender, and the waitress. Sound-proof ang loob ng VIP room kaya hindi dinig ang ingay na galing sa labas. 

Cadmus immediately check the pile of papers that was on the top of his table as he sat on his swivel chair. Minutes had already passed and Cadmus was already engrossed in what he's reading when soft knocks got his attention. 

"Come in!" Aniyang nanatiling nakayuko at ang mga mata ay nakatuon sa binabasang papeles. 

"Sorry for disturbing you, Alpha, pero ipinagdala ko kayo ng maiinom." Ani ng babae pagkatapos pumasok habang hawak ng magkabilang mga kamay ang tray na may lamang basong may yelo at alak. 

Nag-angat ng ulo si Cadmus para tingnan ang bagong pasok na staff ng Quantum Leap. As his eyes darted to the woman that was standing a meter away from him, a small smile made its way to the corner of his lips. It was his favorite drink—scotch on the rock. 

"Thank you!" Aniyang bahagya pang suminghot sa hangin at sandaling napapikit nang punuin ng mabangong aroma ng alak ang kanyang ilong. 

"You're welcome, Alpha!" Tugon nito bago tuluyang nagpaalam at tumalikod para lumabas ng opisina niya. 

Muling itinuloy ni Cadmus ang pagbabasa nang muli siyang makarinig ng sunod-sumod na katok pagkaraan ng ilang sandali. 

"Tuloy..." 

Bumukas ang pinto at mula roon ay bumungad ang waiter na bahagyang nakatungo ang ulo. Kumunot ang noo ni Cadmus nang mapansin ang anyo ng lalaki. He seemed afraid and uncomfortable. Panay ang kamot nito sa batok habang nakayuko. 

"Look at me before you open your moto speak." He mumbled in a serious manner. "Now, talk!" Dugtong niyang bahagya pa ring kunot ang noo. 

"Dumating na po si Alpha Sev kasama ang iba pa at hinahanap po kayo."

"Okay." Turan niyang sinabayan ng pagtango. "Tell them to wait for me. I'll be there in a minute." Dugtong niya bago muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa binabasa.

Malapit na niya iyong matapos basahin pero dahil importanteng papeles iyon ay kailangan niya uling basahin bago pirmahan kaya ipinasya niya itabi na lang muna amg mga iyon at iuuwi na lang niya mamaya. 

Inayos muna ni Cadmus ang mga nakakalat na papeles sa ibabaw ng kanyang lamesa at pinatay ang computer bago siya tuluyang humakbang palabas ng opisina. 

Pababa pa lang siya sa hagdan ay tanaw na kaagad ni Cadmus ang mga nagkakatuwaang kaibigan na naka-upo sa panglabing-dalawang pabilog na lounge. Si Chann na siyang nakaharap sa gawi niya ang siyang unang nakapansin sa kanya. 

"Hey!" Bungad niya sa mga ito nang tuluyang makababa bago umupo sa tabi ni Riva. 

"Hey, man!" Sabay na bati naman ni Rio at Tyler. Si Rio ang beta ni Seventh at si Tyler naman ang beta ni Riva. 

Tumango si Cadmus bago bumaling kay Sun na nakangisi namang nakatingin sa kanya. 

Cadmus' brows furrowed. "What?!" He hissed. 

Hanggang ngayon ay naiirita pa rin siya sa pinuno ng Madwolves Territory na siyang dumukot kay Cristina noon. Sino ba naman ang hindi magagalit sa lalaking siyang dahilan ng matinding kaguluhan noon? But it was all in the past and Sun already proved himself to them. They all have to leave those hardships away, the pain and the hate, and let it be bygone. Just leave it behind and start again. 

A smile cracked at the corner of his lips with his thoughts. 

Hell, yeah! Leave everything behind and let it be bygone yet the memories of the past kept haunting him for years. It seems like it was just yesterday. He just pretended that he's already over that stupid one-night mistake but damn it! Who is he fooling here? He knew exactly that at the deepest corner of his mind nor his heart, he was still dreaming about seeing her again. 

Napatigil sa pag-iisip si Cadmus nang biglang humalo sa sari-saring amoy na naghalo na sa loob ng Quantum Leap ang isang pamilyar na amoy. He sniffed on the air and as the familiar scent lingered to his nose straight to his nostrils, Cadmus clinched his hands out of excitement. How can he ever forget that minty strawberry scent that haunted him almost every night? 

Pasimpleng umikot ang paningin ni Cadmus sa loob ng bar para lang matigilan. Just a few meters away from where he's sitting, a woman was standing wearing her elegant purple dress. Kapapasok pa lang nito kasama ang dalawang babaeng kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay pamangkin ni Sev ang isa. Si Dev Annie. 

Damn you, woman but you can no longer run away from me now that I already found you after years of searching. 

You are mine and I will make you mine...