Chapter Five

"Hey, man," dinig ni Cadmus na tawag sa kanya ni Seventh na siyang nagpabalik sa kanya sa kasalukuyan. Napatigil siya pagbabalik-tanaw. "You're spacing out. Are you with us?" Dugtong pa nitong may kasamang panunukso sa boses. 

Napakurap si Cadmus at wala sa loob na binawi ang tingin sa babaeng kasalukuyan nang nakaupo kasama nila. Damn but this is torture! 

"I'm sorry." Usal niyang pailalim na muling sinulyapan ang babaeng nakatingin din sa kanya. "What was that again?" Tanong niya kay Seventh. 

Shit, but how the hell could he ever forget that beautiful face that haunted him for years? He just couldn't believe what he's seeing right at this moment. Is he seeing her for real or this is just another part of his dream...again? 

"Man, stop throwing her those wild gazes. Why don't you talk to her if you like her?" Bulong ni Sun sa kanya na katabi niyang nakaupo. 

Cadmus hissed and glanced at him annoyingly. "Shut the hell up!" Singhal niya kay Sun na tumawa lang. Pamangkin ni Seventh si Dev Annie at anak naman ng isa sa mga tracker si Nirel na kasama ng babaeng tahimik lang na nakaupo sa tabi ng mga kaibigan nito. He just can't take his eyes away from her. Hindi mapigilan ni Cadmus na mapalunok kapag napapatingin siya sa labi ng babae kapag kausap nito sina Dev at Nirel. Biglang uminit ang pakiramdam niya lalo na nang mapatingin siya sa kopitang hawak nito. Napasunod ang mga mata niya roon nang dahan-dahan iyong i-angat ng babae at lumapat ang labi ng kopita sa mha bibig nito ay muntik nang mapamura ng malakas si Cadmus. Damn it! He's going crazy. If only he could be that lucky wine glass. 

"Dude, you're being obvious..." Muling bulong ni Sun sa kanya. 

Hindi kumibo si Cadmus bagamat bahagyang gumalaw ang panga niya nang mapatiim-bagang. Real shit! His member is reacting wildly down there. 

"Dev," tawang ni Seventh sa pamangkin nitong kaagad namang napalingon sa gawi ng una. "Care to introduce her to us?" Nakangiting tanong ni Seventh na may bahagyang ngiti sa mga labi bago pasimpleng sinulyapan si Cadmus na kaagad namang napatingin kay Dev Annie. 

"Oh, sorry, Tito. I forgot." Nakangiwing usal ni Dev Annie. "This is my friend, Calla Spear." Nakangiting ani nito sa kanila. 

Natigilan si Cadmus nang marinig ang pangalang binanggit ni Dev Annie. Kumunot ang noo niya. 

Spear? How is she related to the late Amado Spear? 

"Spear?" Kunot-noong puna ni Channum. 

Kagaya ni Cadmus ay pare-pareho ring nakakunot ang noo ng mga kaibigan niya. Curiosity filled their eyes'.

"Yeah. She's from Crimson Summit Territory. She bought a property four hours drive away from here and she's staying there now." Paliwanag ni Nirel na sandaling tinapunan ng sulyap si Cadmus bago tipid na ngumiti. 

"Oh, don't tell me, ikaw ang may-ari ng property na nasa hangganan ng teritoryo ko, Calla?" Tanong ni Seventh. 

Bahagyang tumango si Calla. "Yes, Alpha Sev." Tipid nitong sagot. 

"I see." Tumatangong turan ni Seventh bago sumulyap kay Cadmus na walang kibo at panay ang tungga sa hawak nitong bote ng beer. "By the way, this is Sun, and that's Channum. And of course, this man beside me here is Cadmus Hunt." Pagpakilala ni Seventh sa mga kaibigan nito kay Calla na biglang natigilan nang marinig ang pangalan ni Cadmus. 

"Cadmus Hunt?" Ulit ni Calla na bahagyang nginig sa tinig. Umulap din ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa pinuno ng Black Forest. 

Cadmus' eyes furrowed as he heard her mentioned his name again. Bigla rin siyang napaunat ng upo. Naalala ba siya ng babae? Nang una kasing magtama ang paningin nila kanina ay wala siyang naaninag na recognition sa mga mata nito. She just glanced at him blankly like they never met before and focused on her friends again. 

"You know me?" May pag-asam sa tinig na tanong ni Cadmus. Tinitigan pa nito nang matiim si Calla na dinampot naman ang kopitang nasa harap nito at deritso iyong tinungga. 

"No..." She mumbled in a low and steady tone. 

Natigilan si Cadmus at mas lalo pang napatitig sa babae. Napasunod ang tingin niya rito nang bigla itong tumayo. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Nirel. 

Calla smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah..." Sagot nitong napahawak sa gilid ng mesa nang biglang bumuway ang tayo. "I just need to breath. It's kinda suffocating here. Excuse me! " Dugtong nito bago dinampot ang dala nitong hand bag at tuluyan nang humakbang paalis. 

"You know her, right?" Tanong ni Seventh kay Cadmus na kagaya ng pinuno ng Black Forest ay nakasunod din ang mga mata sa babaeng naglalakad palabas ng Quantum Leap. 

"Shut up!" He hissed. Eyes still focused at the woman who's now capturing every man's eyes in Quantum Leap. 

Fuck these son of a shit, chauvinist wolves! 

"You are desiring her." Tukso naman ni Sun na umani ng katakot-takot na tingin mula kay Cadmus. 

"Go to hell!" Asik niya rito bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa babaeng palabas na ng salaming pintuan ng Quantum Leap. Mabini ang bawat hakbang nito na tila ba wala itong pakialam sa paligid. She walked like a queen. Well-poised and full of confidence. 

Damn but does she even have any idea how the hell she made those fuckin' mutts turned their heads and followed her moves with drooling stares that made him mad like an idiot? Jeez! He wanted to pull their eyeballs out of their suckets. 

Fuck! Cadmus cursed at the back of his head. Muli niyang dinampot ang bote ng beer at deritso iyong tinungga habang ang mga mata ay madilim pa ring nakatingin sa pintong nilabasan ni Calla. 

Shit! 

He stoop up as another cursed went out his lips. He wanted to go out and follow her! 

Mabilis ang mga hakbang na naglakad palabas ng Quantum Leap si Cadmus. At, nang tuluyan siyang makalabas ay kaagad na umikot ang paningin niya sa paligid para hanapin si Calla. He sniffed on tge air to track her scent and a devilish smile cracked on the corner of his lips as her familiar smell linger his sensitive nose. 

There she is, leaning her back on his car! 

Cadmus took his steps towards Calla only to get stuck on his tracks when she heard her talking to someone on the phone. 

"I miss you too, baby."

Cadmus' hand automatically fisted as he heard those sweet yet irritating words from the woman whom he's been longing for years. His breathing became heavy. He snarled a little that made Calla turn her back and look at him. And, as their eyes met, Cadmus could barely saw the hatred on Calla's eyes. 

Or maybe, he was just imagining things out. Why would she hate him when it seems like she doesn't remember her anyway.