Moonlight Serenade

She slowly ran her finger through the silky, black hair. Her scalp ached and her cheek was swollen from the force of Sheena's slap earlier. Jewel guess they just the same. She could see from the seat the red mark of her palm print on the girl's cheeks.

"You!" Sheena yelled. "You can't get away with this! I still have an exam in Physics!"

"Ms. Marquez, lower your voice a little okay? I'm still calling your parents."

Jewel and Sheena looked at the Guidance Counselor at the same time.

"You shouldn't call my parents!" Sheena's hysteria.

Jewel's face paled. "They shouldn't be here, Mrs. Policarpio. You shouldn't call them," she pleaded, holding her breath.

If Sheena's parents were being sent to UDM, they will probably call her parents as well. She did not want her Mama and Papa to visit UDM because they would definitely drag her back home to the Mansion. Jewel hadn't talked to them yet after finding out that her vices.

The old woman smiled. "Don't worry, Mrs. Hernandez. I've called your husband."

Her lips parted and her pale cheeks went hot. "Mrs. Hernandez?" she whispered, bewildered.

Mrs. Policarpio raised a brow. "Aren't you already married to Calixto's son?"

"Y-Yes, but how did you know, Mrs. Policarpio?"

Sheena laughed. "See? Simoen and I aren't the only ones who know you're married. You should prepare for the day when everyone in this University know it too!"

"It's a secret civil marriage between the two powerful families in Medellin, Ms. Marquez. You must never disclose this information to anyone here at the University. If, by chance, the entire University finds out, you are the one to blame for spreading it," the woman warned.

Sheena nodded. "Of course, I'm not stupid. That's why I didn't spread it, right? Even if I know it since first day."

Her eyes darted to Sheena. "How did you know?" she asked.

Sheena grinned. "Really? You don't know how? How stupid."

"Ms. Marquez, you're in the office. Watch your words!"

Sheena frowned and folded her arms. "My family is one of the primary sponsors for the church wedding. But since they held a civil wedding, my dad was invited. And tell me if you still don't get it so I will make you remember the deep-eyed man whom you've talked in that event."

Jewel was silent. Her forehead creased but she couldn't remember the man that Sheena's talking about. It might be because she was not optimistic at that time and she easily threw in the back of her mind the information that Gideon told her while introducing her to handful of important guests.

"I didn't ---"

Suddenly the door opened and it spat Gideon in. Jewel's heartbeat jumped in surprise. It had been days since he last saw him and she admit, she miss her husband.

His eyes roamed around and when their gazes met, he took big strides towards her.

He looked at Mrs. Policarpio when the woman talked. "Okay, girls. I know you've read and memorized the campus rules and regulations. You're adults and you know which ones are right or wrong. Go to the clinic first while I call and wait for your parents."

Sheena frowned as she stood up and glanced at Gideon and her. Jewel also stood and was about to walk to the door when Gideon grabbed her wrist.

"Jewel will stay," her husband said.

Sheena looked down at their intertwined hands. She raised a brow at Jewel before walking out of the office. Jewel's cold sweat trickled down her back. That girl's gaze had another meaning but she didn't understand what that girl meant by that look. "What is this, Manasseh?" asked the guidance counselor while stealing glances at their hands clasped together.

Jewel's cheeks burned red in embarrassment and she took back her hand before sitting on the opposite chair where Sheena was sitting earlier. Gideon took her former seat and made himself at home. Her lips twitched a little and she looked away.

"Your wife had a fight before, Senyor Gideon. I called you because you are the one responsible for what Mrs. Hernandez does here at the University."

Gideon looked at her for a moment. Jewel quickly averted her gaze and folded her arms, sulking. He sighed. "I apologize, Aunt. I have been too busy in these past weeks and I neglected my wife. This won't happen again." And he smiled. Her brow raised but she kept her stoic expression when Mrs. Policarpio looked at her direction. The old woman sighed. "I remember you were the one I gave advice to last year. And Ms. Marquez has also visited once because of a minor violation." She turned to Gideon again. "I'll pass it up to the Committee --"

"Auntie, it'll be a mess," Gideon said. "I'll talk to my wife, then I'll talk to Analisa."

For a few seconds Mrs. Polycarpio stared at Gideon. "Son, it's impossible to know that you and Jewel Laine are married. It will be a big scandal at the University if everyone knows especially when she's your student." [A/n: She called Gideon 'son' as old woman's endearment towards younger men]

"I know, Aunt."

"I still have to pass it up to the Committee. The fight between the two was not just verbal. It was a physical offense. You saw your wife, beaten up. And we don't know if there is an internal bleeding or not." The old woman opened a folder. "Someone has to come for Ms. Marquez, she will sign a written reprimand. There is no problem with Jewel Laine because you are here. They also have to undergo community service. The Discipline Committee will decide where to place the two."

"I understand, Aunt." Gideon turned to Jewel. "I'll take her to the clinic first. We'll be right back," he said while staring at her.

Gideon pulled her out of the guidance office. She flung his hand holding hers as they walked down the hallway and out of the Administative building, towards the specialized building. They went up to the fifth floor. They were silent to each other. Occasionally, she grimaced whenever she caressed the swollen cheek.

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Gideon led her inside. A nurse in the practitioner ward approached them. She was even surprised to see Gideon behind her.

"Oh, Deon, you've visited," the nurse greeted and smiled from ear to ear.

Gideon smiled at the nurse. "Nice to see you again, Julie. My student had a fight. Can you take a look at her injuries?"

The nurse's smile widened. "Of course." And she turned to her. "Come on, Miss."

Jewel raised an eyebrow and glanced at Gideon before following the nurse. She felt Gideon following her behind.

The nurse took her to the part of the clinic where the clinical bed was separated by a green curtain.

"Your cheek looks so swollen, Miss." The nurse sat her on the first vacant bed. The woman brought her face close to her cheek to take a closer look before walking away. "Deon, her skin is so thin. She's not used to being slapped." She looked at Gideon standing at the foot of the bed. "Just treat her, Julie."

The nurse laughed. "You're still the same. Until now, you're very impatient."

Gideon sighed. "All right, we'll talk again some time later."

"You still haven't changed, Deon." The nurse swallowed the lump in her throat and averted her gaze. "I'll just get the medicine. I'll be back."

The nurse quickly passed Gideon and returned to the ward. Jewel folded her arms and looked at her husband badly. Just a few weeks ago, a woman named Elise was buzzing around this man, and now, a medicine practitioner's showing her interest to Gideon. Seriously, her husband's like a flower being sorrounded by noisy bees.

Jewel rolled her eyes. "If you're going to fight me, please, save it for tomorrow. My head hurts."

"Who started the fight?" he asked, folding his arms on his chest.