Jewel's brows met. Jasmine sounded desperate. What if Gabbi was just a victim of a set-up and was just framed? What if Jasmine just fabricated the story? Gabbi still didn't speak so there's probably a reason why Jasmine was so desperate to make her believe her words."And you expect me to believe your accusation, Jasmine?" Her eyes narrowed.Jasmine swallowed hard and shifted her gaze from her and to her parents. "Y-Yes! Haven't you severed your relationship? She's no longer your friend! One more thing, we're classmates since grade eleven so you know if I'm telling the truth!"She laughed wryly. "We're only classmates, not bestfriends. How will I know if you're telling the truth?"Jasmine's body stiffened. "J-Jewel Laine ..."She folded her arms and glanced at Gabbi. Still the girl's not saying a thing so there must be something wrong here. "How did you meet Gabbi?"Jasmine swallowed the lump in her throat, trying her best to calm her breathing. "He's my grade school classmate. I know
Hazel and Joseph entered the Director's office at the same time. Jewel looked away, averting her gaze from the two. Joseph had returned to class the other day from the intercampus competition in Cebu City. She heard UDM took second place in the Regional and held a celebration party last night at the function hall. She did not attend even though she was invited."Good morning, D-Director," Hazel greeted.Joseph smiled. "Good morning, Sir." He looked at her and her parents. The smile disappeared from his lips and restrained himself. "Good morning, Jewel."But she did greet Joseph back, not when her father was throwing daggers at him through sharp glares. The Director let the the two be seated in the visitor lair opposite the table. "Do you know why you're here?" he asked. Hazel shook her head. "No."Joseph just shrugged. "We have a class today, Sir, when suddenly your office called for us.""Miss Hazel and Mister Joseph, I have a video to show you and you explain afterwards." The Dire
Warning: Theme and Language.She was sweaty while sitting on the bed. She looked down at herself and closed her eyes. Still the same, naked. Jewel looked up at the wall clock and saw that it's already three o'clock in the morning.'And it's still the same dream. Sex with the same man,' she thought.But the dream this time was something strange. She already remembered the man's thin and red lips, as well as the goofy grin that never faded throughout the scene of her dream. Her hand clutched her bare and sweaty chest, catching her breath.Her wrists hurt as if someone was holding them tightly. Her scalp ached as if someone had pulled her hair. And she's not surprise to see the light red marks on her arm and chest.Jewel swallowed hard. Her hair stood on end and her chest tightened as her mind tried to remember the man in the dream. She remembered his grin clearly as if it was not a dream and she can still feel his warm kiss on her neck.She bit her lower lip.At first it was okay for h
"It's nothing," she denied. "Who did that ---""I said it's nothing, Manang.""Iha ---""Shut up!" she yelled, frowning hard. Jewel sprang to her feet and ran back into her room. She bit her lip as her heartbeat quickened. She stopped first in the hallway and took a deep breath, before resuming her walk to the room and entering it, slamming the door shut. Her body trembled with fear. No one should know her secret. No one!She quickly went to bed and sat on the bed side. Her hand reached for the cellphone under the lampshade then opened the reading app.It's still three in the morning so she still had a lot of time to spend reading erotica. The online one-on-one class session will begin later that day. Jewel smiled, a kind of smile similar to the smile of the man in her dream.But she didn't see nor notice it because she was so focused on reading a bedscene. A few minutes of reading erotica stories before she covered herself with a blanket, and did the 'thing' again.After that, Je
"Why, Ma?" Jewel swallowed hard, not believing what her mother had said. "We can take the land title back from them. And we have been planting and reaping harvests on Aisle for ten years so it's possible to take it back when they let us use the Aisle for ten years!""That's because your father asked the Mayor. The Hernandez already has a lot of land so they let us plant and harvest in Aisle. But that doesn't mean they will allow us forever. So your father and I had planned to marry you off to the Mayor's son to make sure that our clan will not lose ownership..." Her mother smiled softly. "For the sake of the next generation of our clan, Jewel.""Maybe we can buy the Aisle again!"Donya Belinda shook her head. "You can only buy a title if the current owner sells it, Jewel. We can't take it back until the Hernandez decides to sell, but how long should we wait for it? We don't want to pass on to you and your children the weight of the Aisle's responsibility.""But you married me off to G
She gave a last look for the mansion she grew up to before entering the pick-up. All her belongings were in the back of the car and the car stereo was ringing loudly. In fact, her ears were almost shattered by the noise but she remained silent and stared out the window.The driver glanced at her in the rearview but did not waste his saliva to ask if she was okay. That's better. Jewel was not in the mood to speak. A part of her wanted to go back to the mansion but there was also part of her who wanted to go back to Gideon's house. She was confused.The part that wanted to go back to Gideon's house was partly afraid of what she found out earlier. And the part that wanted to go back to the mansion's the part that's ashamed of what she found out -- the truth of those strange red marks on her skin.She was confused, didn't know if she regret that she put on the camera or be relieved because she knew no one's raping her every night?The volume of the music lowered. "Maam, same house in Cans
It was way too early in the morning. The sun had not yet risen but Gideon's spirit was wide awake. He was sitting in a hotel lobby while leaning on his back and facing his cellphone, typing a text message for Jewel.'Good morning, Jewel. Do you want to taste dried mangoes? I'll buy you some.'That's what he wanted to send to the woman but he couldn't press the send button. He just stared at the letters like an idiot.He is currently in a private hotel somewhere in Bogo City, just kilometers away from Medellin, at the hotel he spent the night. This is where he and Angela's older brother Arnel met, and this is where he plans to leave the car.Arnel insisted that they should take a bus. And he agreed. After all, they were going to a getaway conference. It would be better if he will took off some of his comforts for better experience.When he heard Arnel's voice, he put the cellphone in his pocket, stood up, and slung his backpack into his back. He no longer sent Jewel the text message.A
He slung the backpack on his back and followed Arnel down the bus. The sunlight kissed his cheek."Analisa's house is near Poblacion Market. She offered to take us to the camp," Arnel said."I see."Arnel turned to him for a moment. "Angela told me you've already talked to Analisa.""Yes." He clutched the backpack in the back and looked around. "We've settled. There's no fight between Analisa and I.""No fight?" Arnel laughed. "You just told me you got along. And the woman was hurt. You gave her false hope."Gideon nodded. sighing. "My fault.""Well you know, Gid." He gestured for him to follow. Gideon walked after him. "She was your girlfriend but you got married without letting her know. Pitiful lady. She did hope you'll return to Mantalongon after few months.""I've already apologized to Analisa." He sighed. "Let's not talk about that."Arnel just shrugged his shoulders and fell silent. Gideon suddenly felt sad for Analisa and Jewel.He didn’t let Analisa know he was getting marrie