She left and returned to her room. Her hands took the books one at a time. She then placed each of them on the empty bookshelves until she reached the last one. She then placed the box in the corner alongside the books that had been inspected for damage.
Her lips formed a wide smile. Her hand reached for the book she was reading. She went to bed and continued reading there.His smile is devilish, almost demonic."It's time," he exclaimed.He stood up and —-Jewel yawned and set the book aside, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. She tried to rub her eyes to keep her consciousness from slipping away, but that didn't stop the weight of her eyelids.Even before she closed her eyes, she noticed someone at the foot of her bed.She awoke later, out of breath. She sat up quickly and panted heavily. Her fist tightened as she remembered that strange dream. She then heard a ring. The constant ringing of her phone jolted her awake.She reached for it and answered the phone without looking to see who was calling. "Hello," she exhaled."You won't believe what I'm about to say."Hazel's voice rang out to her. Her brow was creased with a frown. "What is it?" she asked, leaning back against the headboard. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her dream.It's the same dream as before.But not in a room this time. They were out in the middle of nowhere. She was on the sand, and the man was on top of her. It was very dark. In the endless dark sky, stars twinkled."Ara Toga agreed to be my friend!"Hazel's loud cry jolted her out of her trance. She coughed a little, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. While talking to her friend, she was recalling her lustful dream. "W-Well, that's nice, but who is that?"On the other end, she heard a laugh. Her lips pressed together as her brow furrowed. As her mind wandered again in that dream, she took a deep breath to calm her troubled heart.That man had something in him.She shivered whenever she remembered how he held her in his arms, and she didn't know why. Others may regard him as the literal man of her dreams, but she would rather have a man in real life than ponder a faceless man in her dreams.Hazel's laughter had ceased. "You don't know Arach? That's unfortunate, girl. She's the most followed erotic author on Bokipad!"When she heard Hazel yelling from the other end of the line, she jolted out of her trance again. Her face was twisted. For Pete's sake, she wasn't deaf!Even though Hazel couldn't see it, she put on a fake smile. "Is it Bokipad that you've —-"Hazel interrupted her. "Oh, yes!" The young lady squeaked. "You're right, girl! Come on, I told you to install Bokipad on your phone. You'll never regret it. There are millions of erotica in Bokipad. You don't have to hoard all erotica in bookstores, girl. Leave it to the others!"As excitement entered her body, her lips formed an 'o.' "Is it all erotica?""No, there are good stories there. Almost all genres are represented in Bokipad, so it's not just for erotica."She shook her head as her excitement faded. "However, I prefer physical books.""Of course, try it. You'll eat your words."She burst out laughing. "Are you sure?""Of course! I'm reading it right now."Her lips were pursed in a smile. She stood up and walked straight to the bathroom. "All right," she said, "I'll take a bath first.""Go! Let me know when you've installed it.""Okay."She hung up the phone and placed it in the bathroom sink. She then took a shower and then washed her underwear. There was something there that appeared to come from her. She didn't want Dalya to wash them. It's humiliating.She emerged from the restroom and changed into a new dress. She sat up in bed and went to her phone's app store. She found Bokipad and downloaded the app. She noticed it on her home screen a few minutes later. She finally got into the app after creating an account. Her upper lip twitched with a smile.She perused hundreds of professional and amateur book covers. What Hazel had told her seemed to be true. There were numerous books to select from.She texted the girl.[To Hazel: Completed. Suggestions? ]After a few seconds, she received an incoming call, which she promptly answered."Hey! Isn't it cool? I told you there are a lot of books in Bokipad."She sighed and rolled her eyes. "All right, what now? I've already saved some books in my library. Any recommendations?""Hello, did you know Ara has a Bokipad account? Check out her profile right now!""What is her username?"Hazel answered her. A few minutes later, the girl asked. "Did you find it?""Yeah, I'm looking through her profile. Mmm... 32 works? Erotica?""Oh yes! Happy long weekend, girl!" exclaimed Hazel.She smiled. "OK, I'll read that —-"A knock on her bedroom door startled her. She sat up in bed, her back straight."Jewel Laine?" asked someone outside the door. It was her mother's voice. "Please open this door."Her pupils dilated. She quickly gathered all of the erotica books on the bed and stuffed them under the mattress. "Haze? You call later. Mom is here!" she said quietly.She didn't wait for Hazel's response and immediately disconnected the call, exited Bokipad, and set the phone down on the bedside table.She took big steps to the door while fixing her hair and dress. She also smiled before opening the door. "Yes, Ma?" she greeted.When their gazes met, her mother's brow furrowed. "Your father told me you fell into the river. Is that true?"She scratched the back of her neck to demonstrate her shyness in front of her mother. But she was taken aback when her mother exclaimed, "Don't scratch your neck, Jewel Laine! Stand up straight!"She swallowed forcefully and complied."Did you get that?"Jewel gave a nod. "Yes, Ma.""Who gave you permission to go out at three o'clock? Are you insane?"Her shoulders shook. "Sometimes...?"Her mother snorted and purposefully dragged her back into her room. Her pupils dilated. The forbidden books may be found!When her mother shoved her inside the walk-in closet, she sighed in relief. She almost got busted!She turned to face her mother, who was perusing the dresses. "What's the matter, Ma?" Jewel inquired, perplexed."The Mayor is downstairs, and you must dress appropriately. They have come to ask for your hand in marriage.""W-what?" she wanted to argue, but the words were stuck in her throat.Her mother chose a blue dress for her and handed it to her. It had a simple yet elegant appearance."I'll send Dalya here. Prepare yourself. I'll spank you if you look ragged in front of the Mayor. Don't embarrass our family name. Hurry up and they've been waiting downstairs for a while."It was their second marriage proposal to her. A frown was gradually drawn on her face.Mayor Calixto Olmedo Hernandez is feared by all. During his fifteen years in office, he was known as Medellin's iron hand. Several ordinances were enacted in Medellin during the Mayor's tenure. The ordinance prohibits assaulting women and sentences those caught illegally logging in any part of the municipality to prison.Those who violate the ordinance face imprisonment or fines, as well as sanitation for the entire community.So when she saw his solemn expression, her knees almost shook. When its sharp eyes landed on her, the color faded from her entire face.She was afraid of the Mayor because she had witnessed Gideon's father's rage at local news. She had refused to meet with the Mayor since then. Fortunately, the Mayor was not present when his spouse came to the mansion for the first time a month ago to ask her hand in marriage. She was given time to consider the offer, but the circumstances were unkind to her that summer, when she met Gideon on the Aisle and the Mayor stood in fr
Jewel sat bored in her seat, as the three of them laughed. Gideon remained silent as he sipped his cup and occasionally glanced at her."Let it go, Sebastian. At the next wedding, I will delegate all decisions to your family," the Mayor said. "Have your questions been answered? I can't stay long because there's still work to be done in the municipality, but I'd like to speak with you two privately."Donya Belinda faced her. "Jewel, you'll take care of Gideon. We'll just talk to your prospective father - in - law," she explained.The three stood up and exited the dining hall at the same time. Jewel sighed and leaned back in her chair, relieved. She shut her eyes. She appeared to have lost her cool after hearing what the Mayor and her parents had said. Her head ached as she considered the marriage contract she would sign the next day.But what could she possibly do? She lacked the courage to stand up to a Mayor and chastise her parents. She was certain that if those three discovered her
“What? You don't want to marry the Mayor's son? ”Jewel fixed her gaze on the monitor of her laptop. She was inside her room, on a video call with three of her friends. She sighed, her lips pursed. “Yes. He informed me that he is twenty-nine years old. It's fine if you're 4 or 5 years older, but 10 years? That's a decade difference, Tiara! ”"You will only harm your reputation. That's correct. Don't get married to that old man! " Hazel chirped as she held a novel with a lewd cover in her hands. "If you marry that egotistic Mayor's son, girl, you'll be the town's next laughingstock!" ”Jewel's lips curved into a smile, but she pouted when she remembered something. She returned her attention to the screen of her phone, where the video call was still in progress. “Egoistic? I didn't describe him in that way. He's actually quite good... and quite attractive."Hazel set down the novel and stared blankly at the screen. "Why are you defending that old man, Laine? I assumed you didn't like h
"He rescued me.""So, knight in shining armor? What's the matter with him? ”She frowned as she returned her attention to the phone's screen. She noticed Hazel and Tiara looking at her with anticipation. Gabbi's frown was also visible to her.She coughed and attempted to change the subject. "Gab, what's up with that expression? " she asked.The young lady sneered. "That stupid toilet bowl is messing with me again! Kuya is to blame! He left his boxer brief in the bathroom, and it fell into the toilet bowl as I was pouring water on it! How do you unclog a stupid toilet bowl?! ”Hazel burst out laughing. "Suck it, lady."Jewel grinned as Gabbi's expression darkened. "You're the only one who can suck a stupid toilet bowl, and maybe you can suck the septic tank as well," Gabbi said."That's enough," Jewel said quietly, returning to the keyboard. Hazel and Gabbi were not very good at playing jokes because they often took jokes personally, which resulted in a nasty fight. Gabbi was grumpy,
"You may kiss the bride."She looked at Gideon. She smiled, leaned back, tiptoed, and smacked his lips with hers. Gideon's eyes widened in surprise at what she had done, but Jewel didn't care and instead grabbed both of his cheeks and wouldn't let go until the camera flashed."The bride is excited, eh?" chuckled the civil officer. She let go and turned to face the officer, who was laughing.She would not do it if she had a choice. But the wager remained, and she couldn't afford to lose."Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez."People in the audience applauded. Gideon took her hand in his and they faced the crowd. She saw her father and mother both smiling at her. The Mayor was by their side.She could count the number of witnesses who came to the civil wedding on one hand. There were also some well-known figures, such as the Vice Mayor, the party's president, Medellin's business magnates, and others she was unfamiliar with. However, there were no media. It was exactly what she expec
Jewel exhaled a sigh of relief. A pick-up truck was parked in the corner of the parking lot, and Pedro was standing on its side, waving at them. "Senyorita, Senyorito! You two are truly on par when it comes to beauty!"Gideon smiled as she shook her head, not responding to what her assistant said.Jewel jumped into the car without waiting for her husband. She didn't want her University acquaintance or friend to see her in a wedding gown. They will undoubtedly inquire and may even discover that she is married. She intended to conceal her true civil status. Fortunately, the car's windshield was tinted.After a few moments, Gideon boarded. He drove out of the Municipal Hall and onto the road that led to Dayhagon.The journey was peaceful. She opened the window to let in some fresh air. Because the car was in the Aisle, she didn't have to worry about anyone seeing her. She examined the green sugarcanes. They shone brightly in the sunlight. Her lips formed a smile.She drew her head and h
Gideon's house was hidden away in Cansanit, near Don Virgilio Gonzales at the end of a long peninsula. It's a three-story white house with a blue roof. A large gate rotates around the house's perimeter. In the front, there is a large garage beneath an enclosed porch. On the side, near the small pond, there is even a patio.Because the gate was not automatic, Gideon led her to the small door. The man was the first to leave the pick-up outside the gate. The doorbell rang and a man in his mid-50s wearing a hat appeared. He smiled when he saw them."Good day, Sir Manasseh. Is this your wife?""Yes, Tang."The man smiled as he turned to face her. He lowered his hat and placed it on his chest while bowing in front of her. "Nice to meet you, Miss Jewel. I wish you a happy marriage with Sir Manasseh."She gave a sheepish smile. "Thanks...""Please come in, Sir."The old man opened the door wide to let them in. She stepped in, inhaled the scent of roses, and sighed at the beautiful sight. The
She saw a round table in the dining room. Gideon was sitting there, reading a devotional book. Jewel sat down in the opposite chair and she spotted Tang turned to the back door."Where are you going, Brother Tang?" she asked.The old man smiled when he turned around to face her. "I'm gonna tend the garden first, Maam Laine. You and Sir Manasseh should talk a little more to improve your relationship."As she cleared her throat, she looked at Gideon. She caught a glimpse of her husband's smile. Jewel looked away, embarrassed. "Tang had cooked bananas and sweet potatoes," he said, pointing to the table.Her eyebrow twitched and her expression darkened. "I'm not going to eat that."Gideon's brow rose. "As I expected of you, little princess."Jewel grimaced when Gideon emphasized the word 'princess', but she just shrugged her shoulder and did not meet his eyes. Sure enough, the man asked. "What do you want to eat then? I'll cook for you.""Really?" She narrowed her eyes. "I want fried one