Nervously, she knocks on the door while her hand is shaking. As per seconds pa.s.sing by, the thumps of her heart becoming louder. She gasped when the door opened.

"Oh. Ca.s.sie? Can I help you?"

"Good morning, Mr. Bastien. Did I disturb your cla.s.s?" anxious, I asked.

"Ah, no. I cancel my cla.s.s this morning. Why?"

"Oh, okay... I just wanted to ask if how much to pay you to teach me how to cook."

She saw how Mr. Larry got surprised. He then chuckles. "You want to know how to cook?"

Ca.s.sie nodded as a reply. Larry smiled then open the door wide. "Come on in! Help me make soup. You were just on time!" he invited her inside.

"So, you were expecting a visitor, Mr. Bastien?" she asked after seeing the big pot on top of the stove.

Though she knew that Quinn was upstairs and drunk last night. But she will pretend she doesn't know anything of what will happen next.

"No. Someone still drunk from last night. Will bathe him with this soup." His jokes at her.

She just pretended confused. Then Larry laughs and continues.

"Nah. That guy. He has been like that since his adopted parents and sister died. He still doesn't accept it. He goes drowning himself if he got a chance."

'Quinn…'

Although, it is not Quinn from her lifetime; her heart sharing the same pain. Because she's also separated from the one she loves so much. Her tears threatened to escape from her eyes, and so, she calms herself and smiles.

"All right. Come here. Help me slice them into cubes." Larry then began discussing each of the ingredients of the soup he's cooking when someone spoke up.

She already antic.i.p.ates for him to show up but still, her heart was not prepared. Because she is missing Quinn so badly. Hearing his voice, her chest flutters. Oops, his name is Shun in this lifetime.

"Hey, where's your shampoo?" Shun asked who suddenly came out from one of those closed doors.

Ca.s.sie glanced at the man, but she quickly turned around for him not to recognize Ca.s.sie… not only that, because he only wears a towel to cover that part of his body. Remembering Quinn's nakedness makes her face too red.

"Why are you walking around in my lecture hall just wearing that? Are you planning to give a heart attack to my student?"

"You said you have no cla.s.s this morning?" he reasoned.

He sounded bored but her heart skips a beat hearing that s.e.xy voice of him. She held her tears. 'It is really Quinn! His voice...' She misses him so badly. But she must not suddenly cry in front of Mr. Larry and Quinn of this lifetime.

"Yeah, but still…" Larry paused.

"Okay... go back inside now and wait in the bathroom. Stop staring at my student. You are making her uncomfortable."

"Ca.s.sie, can you watch for the soup?" Mr. Bastien patted her shoulder, and it startled her.

"Um…" she nodded, never dares to take a glance, or looking in that direction even she's tempted to. She needs to bear it until she gets out of this room.

* * *

Larry came back, and she bid goodbye; promising to come another day. Ca.s.sie quickly got out of the building. Levi wonders why she looks about to cry.

"Ca.s.sie? What happened?" he asked curiously. "Did Mr. Bastien insulted you or something?" he asked further.

She shook her head. She can no longer hold the tears that kept protesting to come out. She gives Levi her back to free her tears.

"Ca.s.sie? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just accidentally scratch my eye using my hand that contacted the pepper powder," her excuses.

"I see. Did you wash it already?" Levi sounded very concerned. So like him.

She nodded. "Mr. Larry told me to take a rest instead." She told Levi then began walking away from that building.

Not long after then, the door of the Academy opens, then a tall man stepped out from the building.

"Oh, that guy!" Levi exclaimed.

She already knew who is it according to the book. Quinn will get out of the Academy to go to his work today.

"Looks he sober up now," Levi commented.

"Did you meet him last night?" she asked curiously.

"Yes. In an alley. I was actually buying you a cake and a gift, but some guy blocked my way and plan to rob me and beat me. But he's pa.s.sing by and help me out."

Ah... the Quinn she knew. He also helps her that stormy night when Lydia ordered her to but some pastries. Three teenagers bullied her but Quinn was there to save her and even help her out too. She glances over her shoulder to take a peep at Quinn. May only his broad back she has a glimpse of; Her heart feels a familiarity from the Quinn she made love with…

But the Quinn in this lifetime is losing weight and those lifeless shoulders. Quinn halted and waited for a taxi. She had chances to look half part of his face... sympathy touches her heart. He looks too sad, like from mourning.

Quinn... be strong. Hold on! She was here all along. She never left you!

She wanted to tell him this, but she must not meddle in what will happen in the future in this lifetime. Ca.s.sie reached for her chest as it throbbed; tightening inside.

"Anyway, hope you will like my presents."

Ca.s.sie gets back to her senses when Levi spoke again.

"Someone advises me to buy something that you can use, and he was right." Levi scratching his head.

"Who are you talking about?"

Levi pulled his bag from his back then open the zipper. He took out a book with a pink lace ribbon tied in the middle. "Um, nothing I could think of a better present."

Levi handed here a cooking book printed in English. "When that man told me to get you something you could use every day, I came up with this. But if you don't—"

"No! It is exactly what I needed!" she took the book from Levi. The one Levi talking about is Quinn according to the book. Somewhat, this will become like a connection between them.

"Thank you, Levi!" She thanked him in a hasty before another set of tears trailing down her cheeks. "I'll go home now to check out what recipes are easy to learn."

"You are welcome always. But please, tell your Uncle Martin that Lydia and Mimie are making your life harder."

"Thanks. Don't worry about it!" she was smiling now. After bidding goodbye at Levi, she walks hurriedly and goes back home.

She runs upstairs and dropped herself to her bed and cry once again. "Quinn..."

She cried. And she didn't notice that she fall asleep...