Moonlight Serenade

The whole University is in turmoil. Ordinary students don't feel it but the Administrative Building feel the tension. Everyone with access to the offices is tense. Even all the student leaders did not bother to pass the paperworks. Mayor Calixto, Don Sebastian and Donya Belinda came. The leaders of two most powerful families that holds great power in politics and business, Hernandez and Mangubat, visits UDM. And it is because of the recent chaos in the campus. Don and Donya are angry but they still keep their calm, holding back the strong emotions they feel for this whole ordeal. The Mayor's eyes were calm but occasionally squinting at the woman sitting behind the table. Rosalinda smiled wryly. "Mr. And Mrs. Mangubat, we don't ---"

"Is there no proper policy within the University making my daughter fell ill within the campus?" Donya's sarcastic question cut the Counselor's words.

"Tell me the truth what happened to my unica hija," Don Sebastian said with a gritted teeth and smiled meaningfully at the lady. "I don't accept unbelievable lies, Rosalinda Hernandez-Policarpio."

The lady smiled and looked to Mayor Calixto for help. The latter shook his head. "Gideon told me about Jewel Laine's Community Service. Don't you know she's not allowed to get tired, Rosalinda?"

"Kuya ---" [A/n: Kuya, an endearment of younger siblings to an older brother]

"Call me Calixto. I'm talking to you as the father of Gideon Manasseh who is the wife of the woman now lying in the hospital."

The lady sighed and could not look directly at Calixto. "Mr. Calixto, there is nothing in the records of the University about Mrs. Hernandez's medical condition. She is also guilty for disobeying the University's rule that's why I passed the case to the Prefect office who gave Mrs. Hernandez the sanction."

Don Sebastian's brows met. "What's wrong? How could Jewel Laine disobey the rule if I raised her to be obedient and fearful of authority?"

"Mr. Mangubat, Ms. Marquez and your daughter had a fight. She and Ms. Marquez were beating each other up. It was a physical offense so I had to follow the University's protocol."

"Beaten..." Don's forehead furrowed even more and blushed in anger. "Who beat up my daughter? I didn't raise her to be beaten by others!"

"Mr. Mangubat, calm down..." the lady whispered. "It was Ms. Marquez because ---"

"Give me a full name!" Don Sebastian blurted out in anger.

"Sheena Mae Marquez," the lady said narrowly. "I found out the two were fighting because of Mr. Saavedra ---"

"Name!"

"Simoen Castler Saavedra." The lady took a deep breath with nervousness. "There's something about the three... Love triangle ----"Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

"Who says she can flirt? She's married!" Don Sebastian's shoulders moved up and down, face was red due to anger. "Sebastian," Donya called. "I think --"

"Don't talk," the Don whispered to his wife. Taking a deep breathe, he spoke calmly. "Tell me everything that happened from the beginning. And don't make the mistake of lying because I can destroy your beloved University, Rosalinda," he warned.

The lady's eyes widened and nodded. She told everyone about Jewel's first entry into guidance that was due to an accidental kiss, three footage of the kissing in the private part of the University, her fight with Sheena, and the current gossip due to the article posted on the UDM website.

Don's eyes narrowed and he groaned. "Did the University take no steps?"

"There is an action from us, Mr. Mangubat."

"So the two didn't receive heavy punishment?" Donya Belinda couldn't hold back hereelf and asked.

"Ah..." The Counselor was speechless. There was indeed no heavy sanction enforced on both Sheena and Simoen because the campus director was the latter's uncle.

"I won't allow it," Don Sebastian huffed. "Marquez and that Saavedra should to be punished for hurting my unica hija!"

The Mayor sighed. "We have a policy to follow, Sebastian. Ms. Marquez has already been given the appropriate punishment, and..." The Mayor frowned and turned to Rosalinda again. "Was there a punishment given to Mr. Saavedra?" The lady shook her head. "During the accidental kiss, I gave them counsel. It was just an oral reprimand. But the second time Mrs. Hernandez came here, Mr. Saavedra had nothing to do with the trouble so he was not included in Community Service."

Don Sebastian took a deep breath. "He has to answer to me!"

"Sebastian," the Mayor called. "By law, if there is no complaint, there is no lawsuit. If there is no evidence, the case will be dismissed. And if it is proven to be irrelevant, it cannot be implicated in the mess. I am here as Gideon's father but that doesn't mean I forgot to follow the law and system. I hope you understand."

Don Sebastian and Mayor Calixto looked at each other. Don sighed and looked at his wife. "I will not let the name of the two clans be tarnished."

"Don't worry, Sebastian. Whoever spread that article, he can't run from the law," the Mayor finally said. He held out his hand to Don to shake his hand. "My son has neglected his wife too much. I will give all the rights to you and you can hope that this will never happen again."

Don Sebastian smiled meaningfully and accepted the Mayor's handshake. The latter smiled. The two already knew what to do.

JEWEL FROWNED in the light. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was white ceiling. She could not feel her body at all that seemed to be floating in the air. Suddenly, Gideon's face appeared before her eyes. She stared at him, blinking for few times.

"Relax. You're safe," he whispered.

She closed her eyes and tried to move her finger. She still could not open her mouth to speak and she felt disheartened.

"Be calm, Jewel. You'll feel better soon," Gideon assured. She heard him sigh. "You were still unconscious yesterday so I took you to the hospital. I also called the Mayor and your parents. They went to the University to find out what happened to you. What really happened, Jewel?"

Jewel blinked.

Gideon continued. "I heard rumors while you were at the clinic. They already know that you're married." He stared at her for a few moments before speaking again. "Your father is sorting out this mess and I hope everything is fine by the time you get back to University."

"I've also checked my mails. Someone posted an article about you." Gideon squinted his eyes. "Don't worry, I won't let that person get away with this."

Gideon moved his lips near her ear and kissed her earlobe. He whispered softly, "Close your eyes. I'll be there when you wake up."

Gradually her whole consciousness fell into darkness.

Jewel wake up in a familiar room, familiar smell, and familiar scene where sunlight penetrates the window. If she's correct, she must be in her room in her dad's mansion. How did she get here?

She ran a finger through the hair. Everything is familiar to her; the noise of the aircon every time she wakes up in the morning, the moan of the wind outside the balcony, and the song of the birds in the woods.

It's true. She finally returned to the mansion. Jewel closed her eyes tightly and thought how she ended up here when a knock interrupted her thoughts. Her lips parted when she recognized the person who walked in. "M-Mother?"

Donya Belinda smiled. "Get dressed. It's past seven and you'll be late for class. Hurry up, Jewel Laine. You don't want to miss your class, do you?"

The door closed again. She swallowed and blinked. Her mother seemed not upset with her vices and she even smiled widely at her. Jewel looked down on her fingers.

Was she really married off to someone? Did she really take the desired course? Did she really live in a house in Cansanit?

Was Gideon Manasseh Hernandez real? Or was it a dream afterall?

Her eyes caught the sight of a gold ring on her ring finger. Taking a deep breathe, she raised her hand to take a closer look onto it. So it was true that she was married off to the Mayor's son.

But... how come she's back to her dad's mansion? Didn't Gideon promised that he'll be there when she wake up and that he'll never let her go?

Did he break his promise?