Moonlight Serenade

The next day, she entered the University. It's refreshing since she's not used to pass by the UDM campus gate on a regular school day. Jewel realized that she had been enjoying the privilege of dorm for almost two years. But, it's not too bad. At least, she won't meet Sheena early in the morning. She wasn't sure that she wouldn't be able to meet Simoen in the College of Engineering though. They are in the same department after all. The more she worries, the more she will definitely meet the two.

Just like that, she kept on thinking plans to avoid the two. Shifting course next semester? Hah. She won't shift. She likes BSABE and even struggled to get a Municipal Scholarship to enroll in such a course. "Miss!"

And also a ball was sent flying her way and hit her arm. "Oh! Aray ko!"

Her lips parted as she gently touched the bruised arm. Jewel bit her lip and glared at a volleyball player running towards her direction. She took a deep breath and looked up in the sky so as not to cry in pain.

"Miss, I'm sorry. My friend just hit the ball too hard." He picked up the ball that stopped at Jewel's feet. "It must hurt you big time." And he looked apologetic to her. "It came to a stop when it hit you. That means... The force that your body exerted is equal to the force of the ball. And knowing my teammate is a guy, and the force we exerted to the ball is high, if it was 100 Newton, an equivalent amount was ----"

"Stop right there!" she yelled. "I don't need your explanation, geek. Just help me pick my bag and bring me to infirmary!"

"Thank you for understanding, Miss." He picked up her shoulder bag and led her forward. "I'm Bernard, a BS Physics student. How about you?"

She turned her head away. "Geek," she whispered under her breathe, which Bernard heard due to stillness of the place.

Bernard smiled wryly. "Not really. Just few of us. And we understand that people misunderstood us sometimes. Actually, I'm mastering the lessons that's why I speak a lot of jargons. Sorry if I appear geek but I'm not really a geek." She simply ran her finger through the hair. "You should know how to approach people without driving them nuts." And faked a smile before saying goodbye to him.

"Wait, I thought we'll go to the infirmary?"

"I'm okay. No need to worry. You should go continue your game."

She's not repulsive to Bernard and she would gladly visit the clinic, but she suddenly remembered Nurse Julie. Yes, she still held prejudice against the nurse for flirting with her husband. And she didn't feel like it to visit and see that woman's face.

Jewel crossed between the Education and Administrative building and went straight to Engineering building. Because her arm was still slightly sore, she lost her fondness for stairs and decided to use the elevator instead. Fortunately, she did not meet Sheena. She was gone for another week, and she knew that girl would only tease her.

But there's still a person she didn't want to see. She meet Simoen on the first subject who were glancing occasionally at her direction. But he couldn't get close else he'll report him immediately.

Her blockmates noticed Simoen's behavior as usual. He had one jokingly said that they didn't care if they were meddling in his private life. Simoen smiled when their blockmates fell silent and went back to what they were doing before. Easy as one to three.

Lunchtime. Jewel went to the canteen. She just didn't expect to see Hazel eating alone at their favorite spot. She queued up and ordered foods before approaching Hazel who only ordered a sachet of juice. "Hazel," she greeted.

The girl looked up. Hazel squinted her eyes at her before looking down again and played with the straw. Jewel sat down and crossed her fingers. "Alone? Where are the two?" she asked. "I don't know."

Her brow raised. "Come on, spill. You didn't call when I was gone for one week. Even if I can't hear a sorry from you, I'll forgive you. So... what's the matter this time?" "Just... gone."

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"Gone?"

Hazel met her gaze. "Can't you see, Laine? Tiara and Gabbi are gone."

"I can't understand you."

"When you left the dorm, they left too. And we don't have the same course, so I can't find them. I can't contact them. No replies in the GC. When I asked their blockmates, they said that Gabbi is present, as well as Tiara. So I didn't bother to look for them in this huge campus."

"Why? Why you'd stopped looking for them?"

"You still don't get it, Laine? They don't show up because they don't want to show up. And I don't have time to look for them. I'm busy!"

She stared at Hazel. Tears welled up in Hazel's eyes. "You miss them," she said.

"Of course! They're my friends!"

"And mine too... right? They're my friends too," she whispered.

Hazel wiped her wet cheek. "Y-Yes."

"But I didn't know them."

"What are you talking, Laine? You know them. Silly."

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She just laughed. "It's only you, Haze. That I can run whenever I'm sad, worried, or... confuse. I don't remember opening up to Tiara or even Gabbi. I feel so indifferent towards them." She toyed with her soda.

"You must be kidding me, Laine. We're friends!"

She smiled softly. "I just... think of it. You know, you're the bridge. You connects us, Hazel. The three of you are true to each other that I sometimes feel outcasted." "Don't say that."

"But it's true." She sighed. "Maybe, my husband is right. I should put an end to this friendship."

"L-Laine ..."

"Goodbye. This friendship is over, Hazel. Let's see each other as strangers once again."

"No, no. Laine! You can't do this to me!"

She smiled sadly. "Find a circle of friends far more better than we had, Hazel."

"N-No." Tears brimmed in Hazel's eyes. "The three of you are the best that I've got, Laine. And now, you're the only one left. Please... don't leave me."

Jewel bit her lip. "You can find another. A friend that you can trust all your secrets and can give you back the trust you gave."

She quickly turned around and walked away from the canteen. She heard Hazel's cries but she didn't look back. Swallowing a few times, she held her tears and went straight to the Agriculture Building, to the seventh floor where Gideon's classroom was.

Jewel had severed their friendship and she wanted Gideon to see how she felt right now. She wanted to make her husband see what she's done was not easy, to feel guilty and take back what he had asked of her!