Moonlight Serenade

She and Gideon had a good relationship. She has learned to understand his unique way of disciplining her and even if he does not tell her directly, she sees her husband taking care of her. After all, that man is not vocal in how he feels. And because of that, she often misunderstand him.

But at that moment, she tries to remove Gideon's face from her mind to talk seriously with Tiara. The girl stares at her and is silent since a few minutes earlier. Tiara Reina Selestales is her full name, the daughter of Captain Roma of Dayhagon. Beautiful and smart. Her former friend. Now, she looks at her as if they were strangers who have not known each other.

What's worst is that Sheena's standing beside Tiara, grinning at her from ear to ear.

Jewel ignored Sheena and faced her former friend. "Tiara, can we talk?" she asked.

Sheena shook her head. "Mangubat, she's not Tiara anymore. She's Reina. Don't you know that?"

"I'm not talking to you," she warned Sheena. She was serious and stared at Tiara. "I know what you've done two years ago. That's why I'm here."

"Hazel texted me. I know you already cut your ties with her. That's good," Tiara said.

She just laughed. "I know it do good to you. You're the first to cut ties, wasn't you? Or was it Gabbi?"

Tiara blinked. "Why do you care? Just keep your distance from me and we're good, Jewel Laine Mangubat."

"I will keep my distance, if we can talk right now."

Tiara's brows met and she looked down at her wristwatch. "Fine. I have my vacant time now."

"Reina!" Sheena protested.

Tiara turned her sharp glare to Sheena. "Mae, I'll do it fast. You should go, you still have an exam today."

Sheena glared at Jewel before marching away outside the Domesticated Forest. Jewel simpley moved the strand of hair that covered her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her hand let go of the broomstick she was holding and sat down on a wide rock under the tree.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

Tiara folded her arms. "That?"

"Simoen made a portrait of me. He planned to give it in our first monthsary. So, why have you stole it?"

Tiara was stunned for a few seconds before averting her gaze. "I don't know what you're saying."

"Will you stop lying? I know now the truth. Tang told me."

"Tang?" Tiara laughed. "And who's that? Come on, you're making stories, aren't you?"

"Am not!" She took a deep breath. What's Tang's real name?

Her lips pursed into a line. She did not know.

Jewel just sighed. "You'd stole it. And tomorrow that night, you came back to your house in Dayhagon with the portrait. Your father threw a party and you put it outside while you're having fun inside your house. Later, a man approached you, to ask for the portrait. And you gave it to him. That is the truth right, Reina?"

Tiara backed away. "H-How did you..." Then she retrieved her calm, inhaling deeply, Tiara shook her head. "It doesn't matter. The portrait is gone. And that man is gone now." She laughed. "You can't accuse me of something without an evidence, Jewel Laine."

She shrugged her shoulders and snatched the cellphone out from the pocket of her pencil cut skirt. "The truth is... I have. I'm so sorry, Reina. I've got an evidence for you."

She showed her selfie while Tang was in the background together with the large portrait. She smirked broadly in the picture and was obviously happy, the opposite of Tiara's face that was in the verge of crying.

"No! That's edited!" cried Tiara.

"I haven't seen the portrait so why would I bother myself making edited photos if I don't know what it looks like? And how do I know that there was a portrait for me if this picture is not true?" Tiara had no answer. Jewel laughed.

"Do you know what you violated in the rules and regulations of UDM?" She blinked and grinned. "You're right, Reina. You have stole a good and marvelous portrait from the nephew of the campus director. A two weeks suspension plus a good community service from the Discipline Committee. And we don't know if Saavedra would beg to add anythin for your punishment, knowing that he is so strong in the office, right?"

Cold sweat formed in Tiara's forehead. After a while, the girl laughed again. "Well, I don't have the painting. You have it!"

She nodded and smiled. "Right. Because you gave it to Mr. Tang. So, basically, he owned it now? But then you, Reina ..." Jewel chuckled. "You don't have the permission to get it! Nor having the right to take it away from this University!" "Shameless b*tch!"

Jewel blinked. "Don't cuss at me. You're the one who made it to yourself. So, now, can we talk the reason why you did it?"

Tiara's face was already red in annoyance. "I said I didn't do it!"

She angrily unscrewed the recording pen from the pocket of her upper uniform. "You'll tell me the reason or I'll submit it to guidance office? You choose!"

Tiara's eyes widened. She had quite admitted Jewel's accusation earlier and it would raise the suspicion of the guidance. Her lips parted and her hands trembled.

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She laughed. "Choose faster. Time is ticking!"

"You!" Tiara cried. "I thought you're a role model but look at you, threatening me. What do you think you're doing, Laine?!"

"I never said that I'm a good student. Why?" Jewel grinned. "Did you forget what I've told you?" And glared at Tiara with eyes full of resentment. "Never ever backstab me, you b*tch!"

She took a step ahead and slapped Tiara's face. Tiara fell to the ground. She heard her moan in pain but she was deaf to the girl's cries. "You thought I wouldn't know? You're really good at hiding things, aren't you?" She raised her feet to kick the girl but decided against it at the last minute. She pulled herself together in annoyance. "You told my parents!"

"I didn't do anything!" Tiara lamented.

Jewel bit her lip and she faced the tree. hitting its trunk. "I already talked to my Dad! He said you were the one who told him about my addiction to erotica!"

"No... N-No..."

"No? Stop lying will you! I'm tired of all nonsense! Just tell me the truth!"

Tiara burst out laughing. "Yes, it was me! Are you happy now, Laine?!"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. The real reason why she was here to confront Tiara was not because of the portrait for she really didn't care if it was from Simoen or not. Jewel looked for Tiara because it was Tiara's doing why her parents knew of her vices that resulted for the burning of all her books in the mansion.

Jewel first thought that it was just an accident why her parents found her books but when she talked to her father last night over the phone to reconcile with him, he told her that it was Tiara who informed them about her vices.

"Why, Tiara? Why did you betray me?!" "Because I want you out of this University!"

Her heart skipped a beat. "Y-You... what?"

Tiara looked her up in tears. "I love Simoen, Laine. But he never paid me attention because of you!" She wiped her wet cheek in annoyance. "That's why I told your parents because I want you out of this University! I assumed that if they'll know, they will be more strict on you or even home-schooled you. So I can get rid of you and Simoen will be free from you, Jewel Laine!"

She shook her head. "You don't know what you're saying, Tiara."

"I know. I tried to suppress it but I can't! I love him, Laine."

"Stop saying that you love that jerk! You don't even know what love is!"

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She stilled for a moment. The words she uttered were familiar but she could not remember where and when she heard them.

Jewel glared at Tiara before turning around and walking out of the Domesticated Forest. But she was stopped by the girl's scream.

"Why, Laine? Do you know what love is?" Tiara laughed. "Or do you still love Simoen despite being a married woman? You never really learned your lesson that night, do you?" That night?

Jewel's brows met. What was she saying?

Tiara huffed. "I thought you're wise enough to let him go after he tried to rape you, Laine."

Jewel quickly turned around to face Tiara who was now smiling.

"W-What?" she whispered.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Flower garden, right?" Tiara laughed again. "I've seen it with my two eyes. You were struggling underneath him. Pleading. Asking for him to let you go. But guess what? He listened afterward. You really must be something. A drug that causes him to lose his consciousness. What are your secrets, Jewel Laine?"

Her lips parted and pointed a finger to Tiara in disbelief. "You were t-there?"

"Of course. You don't expect me to watch, right? I need to follow him though. And oh, I happened to know the secret between you, Simoen, the Campus Director, the Guidance Counselor, and the Discipline Committee." Tiara's smile widened. "It's impossible that there's no CCTV cameras in the flower garden and no gossip spread about what happened, right?" Tiara shook her head. "Even that so-called b*tch Sheena know not even a single detail of that night. Such a pity for a girl who declared herself stalker of Simoen."

Jewel's tears flowed one after another. Her body trembled. She averted her gaze so that Tiara would not notice how she affected her that much. "So what if you know that secret? I'm sure... you can't disclose it," she whispered to console herself. Tiara grinned. "Who told you I'll disclose that secret? I'm not so stupid. The Director will chase me out of this University." Tiara shook her head. "Have you forgotten the other secret you have, Laine?"

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You're married."

Her eyes widened. Jewel's lips pursed into a line and clenched her fist hard.

If that secret were to spread, it would not be just her reputation at the university that would be affected. Even Gideon could not escape judgment. It was no secret that student and teacher relationship's against the ethical code of a teaching personnel. Although there is no law prohibiting that relationship, the reputation of the two families would plummet down. They might as well just get a divorce.

Her brows met. She didn't want to divorce Gideon!