"Don't mess with me! It's not just Mangubat you're going to face if you'll disclose it, Tiara," she warned and quickly left the Domesticated Forest. Tiara didn't stop her, much to her relief.
She didn't know if Tiara would really do her threat on her, but there was only one thing she had to do and that's to look at Tiara's next steps. She would first see if the girl would spread about her marriage with Gideon. She didn’t believe Tiara would do that without regards to consequences. Not only her father would chase Tiara, but also the Hernandez and the University.
It was the reason why she didn't tell Gideona about Tiara's threat on her. She also hid the recording pen and did not inform the Guidance office, in the hope that no secret would spread in the campus. But she was too fool and naive to believe her wishes more than reality, because the next day, she was greeted with hostile and ridiculing stares from the students around her.
She had a hunch at that time what's happening so her heart beat faster. Did Tiara really spread her secret?
"She's married, dude."
"Alas. I plan to court her after Simoen but married? Tsk. I don't like to share my woman with others, bro."
She looked at the two men talking as if she was not there. They glanced at her and one of them even smirk at her.
Jewel continued walking forward, body trembling and her chest was tightening. She also felt worse and her bile rising at the degree of malicious stares she received from others. She restrained herself. No. She had to find a place where no one was. Her body couldn’t stand their stares any longer.
"That heiress, Jewel, is not a virgin anymore, girl."
"Oh, Simoen Saavedra will be mad when he finds out."
"The good thing is Saavedra's in the city and not right here else we'll enjoy a good show."
"You're right. A pity that we'll miss out the show."
Jewel quickly entered the Engineering building. Some look at her but eventually return to what they were doing. Fortunately, most of them were busy and had no time for gossip so she didn't hear anything ridiculous inside the building. Good. Gradually, the tremors in her body subsided. She quickly climbed the stairs and ran to the first classroom.
"Miss?"
She looked at the man with the eyeglasses and the others staring at her.
"Do you have something to say? We're going to start," the man said.
"S-Start?"
The man's brows met and he looked at her from head to toe. "You're not familiar. Are you a Civil Engineering student, Miss?"
She shook her head quickly and laughed slightly. "N-No. I think I'm lost. I'll go. Bye!"
Everyone inside looked at her in surprise so she quickly left. She shuddered as she ran down the hallway to the classroom of the first subject. She stepped inside, panting, and sat down weakly in the first seat.
"Do you want water?" someone asked her.
Jewel nodded and accepted Jasmine's offer. "T-Thanks ..."
"You know, if I didn't know you, I would believe the website article."
"Article?" she asked in surprise.
"Yup. Here." Jasmine handed a phone to her. "It was featured the UDM Website, and it's written...
[ Jewel Laine Mangubat is married. She tries to seduce Simoen and quarrel with Ms. Sheena --- the fiancee of Mr. Saavedra. The little girl is doing a thing with the boy that's why Ms. Sheena is seen with Ms. Tiara --- Jewel's ex -friend. And Ms. Selestales know this thing so she ended the friendship with Jewel. Rumors said that she slept with older man and her parents had no choice but to marry her off so they could hide this from everyone's eyes and ears. Pitiful girl but running around and sleeping with old man but still flirting with Mr. Simoen and other boys... this type of girl doesn't deserve sympathy! ]
I really don't know what's going on and why that person is insulting you. I already filed a complaint in the office about this, but according to them, they are still looking for the IP Address of the device used. Miraculously, the data was suddenly lost," Jasmine said.
She averted her gaze. Suddenly tears brimmed her eyes and she looked up and took a few deep breaths.
"The whole class is with you, Jewel. Don't worry. We don't believe the article. We've known you since grade eleven so we will never believe the allegations being thrown at you," Jasmine said.
She was shocked when someone grabbed her shoulder. Looking at him, John Drail. He smiled at her. "Joseph isn't here to make fun of you but when he comes back, he'll definitely beat up the culprit."
She smiled as her vision blurred. "Thank you."
The two consoled her. Until the whole class expressed their support to her. She just laughed at their awkwardness but inwardly she was grateful. She did not know that this is how her blockmates treat her, even though she does not bond with them because she's not the type who likes to socialize with other people. She was used to being alone in the room and only reading books that is why she is uncomfortable talking for long period of time with other people other than her three friends.
“I promise guys, I’ll be kinder to you all,” she said.
"Oh, don't you dare, Jewel. We're more used to aloof Jewel Laine. Aren't we guys?" Madeline laughed.
They laughed. Just stopped when someone cleared a throat. It's Professor Malkov. "So, what's happening here?" the professor asked.
"Nothing, Prof. Just a group hug," smiled John Drail. He even winked at her which made her laugh.
But sitting on the canteen didn't improve her condition. She could hardly breathe in the eyes of the students. This was how she felt when Sheena and her had a scandal in the canteen back then.
It's true that history repeats itself. She looked down. As soon as she entered the canteen, she felt the strange looks of the students on her. She even saw some of them whispering to the groups while staring at her. Eventually they get amused.
She knew they were talking about her. Her fist clenched. Her heartbeat is speeding up again. She didn’t like the look of judgment being thrown at her. Why? Why does she can't get rid of those looks? The same kind of looks they give her when everyone found out that she has a relationship with Simoen even though the man has alreadg a fiancee.
Jewel quickly put away all her belongings and hurried out of the canteen. She saw Sheena and Tiara coming in her way so she re-entered in the canteen and decided to use the backdoor that leads to the storeroom. The canteen keeper scolded her but she persevered until she got out of the warehouse.
She took a deep breath and looked up at the Agriculture building in front of her. At last, she was brought out to the this side of the specialized. How amusing. A broken laugh escaped from her lips as tears brimmed her eyes. Her feet took a step forward and she saw herself standing in front of the elevator.
She repeatedly pressed the elevator button.
"Come on ... C-Come on," she whispered, voice trembling. She could feel the ridiculous stares of the students behind her and she could hear their whispers as if deliberately speaking louder just so she could hear them talk about her behind her back.
"Shameless girl. Married even before she graduated. Didn't her parents tell her to prioritize her study first before flirting with men?"
"If I were her, I will hide in my marital home. Even if you study hard, but can you stay in the Unversity that long? One day, she'll surely leave because she needs to hide her big belly from prying eyes. Hayst, what a pity for such a beautiful girl like her."
"Right. What's the use of studying hard when you can't really contribute to society when all you have to do at home is to spread your legs for a man? I bet, she can't finish her schooling due to being pregnant this early."
"Imagining myself in her shoes, I really can't believe that she still has the guts to appear her. So thick-skinned!"
Jewel's face paled hearing all of those whispers behind her. The elevator was still in 5th floor and she could not stand those whispers anymore. Without a choice, she ran towards the stairs and climb her way up to the seventh floor.
She sobbed, gasping hard upon reaching the seventh floor. Dark spots appeared in her vision and she felt dizzy from the lack of air as she was holding her breathe everytime she encounter students glancing at her.
Even with difficulty, she forced herself to walk. Her knees were shaking and her eyes were squinting. She repeatedly whispered the name of the person she thought could help her, the only person she trusted the most. "G-Gideon," her voice trailed off.
Pressing a hand on the wall, she knocked softly on the door of his classroom. She waited but the longer it was, the stronger her anxiety attacked her. When the door opened, Jewel's tense body loosened and she fell on Gideon's arms.
"Jewel!" he called.
He lifted her body up and Jewel felt herself floating. She opened her eyes only to see Gideon's worried gaze. A soft smile tugged the corner of her lips.
"Who did this to you?" he asked in a low tone.
It was the first time she saw Gideon's anger and she felt a little itchy in her heart.