Moonlight Serenade
In the forest

They went to the office. She was with Gideon and Sheena was accompanied by Prof Khalil appearing as a guardian. They explained for several hours in front of the Prefect and because they clearly violated the rules, the Prefect still punished them. She sighed and took a bite on a poor bread.

"So you'll be with Sheena for two weeks?" Hazel asked.

She sighed. Hazel immediately reached for the mango juice. Jewel took a deep breath. "You make it sound ridiculous," she said.

"Ridiculous?" Hazel turned to the other two. "Girls, is there anything funny?"

Tiara shook her head slowly. "None but Laine, how come? Simoen didn't even defend you? You know, he's the reason why you and Sheena fought, right?" Gabbi nodded in agreement with what Tiara had said. "I thought he loves you, Laine?"

Jewel looked away, embarrassed. "He's worried."

"Just worried?" Hazel asked. "He should have talked to the guidance or maybe Sheena's parents to forgive you," she added.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I also don't want to receive help from him."

Gabbi smiled. "Ahya... Laine can be so proud, huh?"

Tiara laughed. "If I were you, I would have accepted his help. He is so strong in the office. You forgot that he is the nephew of the campus director." "My husband was there."

"And he didn't get you out of trouble?" Tiara asked.

Jewel sighed. "He tried."

"At least, tried. But admit it, you regret it," Hazel teased, brows raising up and down while looking at her.

Jewel grimaced and chuckled. "Of course." Her brows met. "He's different. He's not like the male protagonists in the novels..."

Gabbi laughed. "A male who's willing to die for you? Laine, you are too naive to believe that all males are like that, except Saavedra of course."

She sighed. "I know but I'm wondering. Ever since Gideon disappeared into the city and came back, he's changed. You know, there's something wrong with him."

"Changed? Your husband has changed?" Hazel tsked. "Men are really untrustworthy."

She looked at Hazel for a few seconds, not able to refute the girl's words.

"So, what's wrong with him?" Tiara asked, eyebrow was raised.

She stared at the glass of mango juice. "I can't name it. But there's something different in him and it bothers me."

HOW MANY sighs would she take to speed up time? Her sweat was dripping and her skin was red as she swept under the tall trees.

"Come on, stop giving me mess!" she yelled, pointing a finger on the tree.

Jewel closed her eyes as the wind got stronger. The tree branch shook and some dry leaves fell from above. Her frustration raised above the clouds as she angrily ran her hand over the messy hair. And there, she will begin her work again! "What a face, Mangubat," Sheena laughed. The girl fixed her loose hair and tied it into a ponytail. "And can you stop cursing, princess? I can't stand hearing curses, you know." She folded her arms. "Stay away. This is my area."

Sheena shrugged. "I'm done with today's work." Sheena's eyes swept across the area full of dry leaves. She chuckled. "That's a lot of work, Mangubat." She flashed a sweet smile.

Jewel glared at her smiling face. Sheena even teased her, waving a hand to her direction, before running towards the gate of the Domesticated Forest. She drew a breathe and sat down on the wide rock, wiping her sweaty forehead. Her foot kicked the lying broom stick away.

The sun was about to set but she was still under a tree. She was given an area inside the Domesticated Forest to sweep every day after class. The problem was she didn't sweep in all her life, so she hadn't cleaned yet even a small part of her area since she started.

"Well, this job's too hard! The leaves always fall. How can I finish that?" she grumbled. She burst into tears of annoyance.

"Speed up your sweeping so you can get ahead of the falling dry leaves," a voice answered her from behind.

Jewel stood up and immediately turned around. She saw Simoen. His arms were folded against his chest while leaning against the nearby tree. She squinted her eyes and wiped her wet cheeks. "Why are you here? Are you still stalking me?" she asked and averted her gaze.

She saw out of the corner of her eye Simoen's smile. "Not really. I enjoyed watching you. You look helpless ... and disoriented. Not the typical heiress I always see around the campus," he commented. The corner of his lips twitched as if holding back a laugh.

Jewel rolled her eyes. "You're free to laugh!"

Simoen just shook his head and walked closer to her. He picked up the broom stick and held it to her. She's confused about what he's holding, and was surprised when Simoen grabbed her hand holding the broom. She was about to withdraw her hand when he spoke. "Relax. I don't bite," he whispered and laughed.

Her expression darkened. "What are you doing?"

"I'm teaching you how to sweep properly."

Jewel rolled her eyes. "You don't have to."

"Hmm... My service is free, Laine. Just let me," he whispered near her ear.

Simoen guided her. Slowly. Until she gets the right timing to sweep. A smile appeared on her lips and did it better than before. She could see how the dry leaves would gather somewhere -- something she hadn't done since she started sweeping earlier.

She stood straight and looked at Simoen. "Where did you learn it?" she asked.

It was surprising to know that he knows how to do it since like her, Simoen also grew up with a golden spoon in his mouth.

"My nanny. I was curious so learned from her," he answered.

"Do you know any other work?"

Simoen smiled. "Planting crops. That's the family business. But livestock and poultry are more interesting to me."

"Oh, so why take this course?"

Simoen looked down at the small mountain of dry leaves. "Because I want to be with you, Laine," he whispered.

Her lips parted and she averted her gaze. "I thought you're done with that nonsense."

Simoen sighed. "I've tried, Laine. But I can't. I can't get this feeling out of me. I still longs for you."

"Simoen," she warned.

But the man stepped forward, approaching her. "I long to touch you again. To feel your lips on mine... Baby, it's still you."

She took a step back. "I think I need to go."

Jewel turned around but was stopped striding ahead when Simoen hugged her from behind. "Laine, why are you so away? You love me, don't you? Then fight for me, Laine. I'm so hurt by what you're doing to me." "L-Let me go. Simoen, let me go. Now!"

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Her eyes widened as his embrace tightened. She struggled but Simoen was too strong.

"Let me go! You're harassing me!" she yelled.

"I can't, Laine! Why can't you understand that I can't let you go? I'll die without you, Laine!"

A lone tear escaped from her eyes.

"Laine," Simoen uttered with difficulty. He buried his face on her neck. "Baby, believe me. I still love you dearly. Every time I see you, I have more and more hope that we will get together again. That we will also return to what we were before." "You're crazy. You know that I'm married." She looked up and took a few deep breaths. "You have Sheena."

Her body went stiff when she felt hot liquid pouring on her shoulder. Simoen was crying. "You're the one I love, Laine. I can't live without you."

"Can't live? Oh please, that's not true."

She gathered all her strength to struggle and escape. A sigh escaped from her lips as Simoen backed away. Jewel then ran fast but she screamed when Simoen caught her and locked her in his arms.

"No! I don't care if you're married. I don't care if Sheena's here. It's just you, Laine. You're the only one I want!" Simoen yelled right at her ear.

She trembled at the strength of his voice. "Let me go, heck!" She kicked him. When she escaped, she quickly ran to the gate but before she could reach it she tripped on a stone and fell down, facing the ground. Simoen kneeled beside her. He reached for her hair, caressing it softly. "Why, Laine? Don't you love me? I thought your 'I love you' was true back then? But why you didn't fight your love!"

Jewel pushed her body up and sat. Her hand raised and slapped Simoen hard on his cheek. His face turned to left. She gasped and slapped him again on the other cheek. She was about to slap him again but he immediately grabbed her wrist. "You can't slap your lover's face again, Mi Amore."

Jewel laughed, tears trailing down her cheeks. "You're asking why? Why I let you go that easy?!" She took a deep breath and glared at Simoen. "You tried to rape me, bastard!"

Simoen grabbed her other hand when she tried to hit him again, locking both of her wrist on the cold ground. "You wanted that, Laine! I just gave you what you want!" She bit her lip as her tears brimmed her eyes again. "I never... ever want that, S-Simoen. I never ask you to rape me!"

"But I didn't do it, Laine. I stopped midway... So please, let's fix this."

Jewel just laughed. "Why? Did you expect me to act like nothing happened?!" She sobbed. "The pain will last a lifetime, Simoen! And you can't take it away from m-me!"