A chance to flee prison
“He saved me.”
“So, knight in shining armor? What’s wrong with him?”
She frowned when she turned her gaze back to the phone’s screen. She saw Hazel and Tiara looking at her expectantly. She also saw Gabbi’s frowning face.
She cleared her throat and tried to change the subject. “Gab, what’s with that face?” she asked.
The girl sneered. “That idiot toilet bowl is playing with me again! It’s Kuya’s fault! He left his brief in the bathroom and it accidentally fell into the toilet bowl while I’m pouring water on it! Come on, how to unclog a stupid toilet bowl?!”
Hazel laughed. “Suck it, girl.”
Jewel smiled as Gabbi’s expression became more ugly than before. “You’re the only one who can suck a stupid toilet bowl and maybe you can suck the septic tank as well,” Gabbi said.
“That’s enough,” Jewel hushed and typed on the keyboard again. Hazel and Gabbi were not really good in playing jokes as they often take jokes in personal level which will lead to a nasty fight. Gabbi was cranky and Hazel loved crankiness.
“What are you typing, Laine?” Tiara asked suddenly.
“Email.”
“Email to whom?”
“To Prophetic John.”
“Who’s that?”
“I don’t know. I just read that he interpret dreams. I want to know who’s that man.”
“Man?” She heard Hazel’s voice.
She turned her gaze to the phone and saw Hazel’s frowning as the girl stared at the screen.
“Yes. I’m asking him to interpret my dream. The man I said… you know,” she said. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Hazel’s lips parted and jokingly covered her mouth. “Don’t tell me that’s Gideon?”
Her forehead furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Hazel laughed and brought the screen closer to her face. “I believe that the man in your dreams is your fiance! You’re not sure what he looks like, right?” Jewel nodded and Hazel grinned. “Right! Marry him, Laine! Then when you’re done banging with him, you might remember the face of your man of dreams! Gosh, girl! You’re living your fantasy! If I were you, I’d get married right away!”
Jewel’s face contorted, a sign that she did not like what Hazel had said. “Stop fantasizing, Haze. I don’t want to be tied up early. I still have a dream. I told you I’m going to leave Mama and Papa’s mansion. I’ll just waste that dream of mine if I’ll marry him.”
“What?” A laugh was heard from Hazel’s side. “He will take you away from your parent’s mansion!”
She squinted her eyes at the camera. “I thought you don’t like me to get married soon?”
Hazel’s beaming smile dominated the whole screen. “Of course, Laine. But can’t you see you’re being hypocrite? I insulted your man yet you defended him. You don’t like it when I make fun of him. And you’ll tell me that you don’t like him? Girl, grow up!”
Jewel was left dumbfounded at Hazel’s words. She like Gideon? What? How? When?
“Oh, that look you give… it’s confirmed! You like the Mayor’s son! So go on, marry him and we’ll get this over! If you don’t want to marry him, I’ll volunteer. Go ahead and deny your feelings. I will steal your man,” Hazel chirped and held the book again in her hands.
She made face. “Try. Let’s see if you can’t pee in front of Mayor Calixto.”
Tiara and Gabbi laughed when Hazel put the book down and stared at the screen wide-eyed. They knew the fact that of the four of them, Hazel was the one who’s most afraid of the Mayor. The girl was once caught on a curfew and was reprimanded accordingly by the Mayor. Jewel was second of the rank, as she only have seen the Mayor’s anger only once on local news.
Hazel’s eyes rolled. “I’ll just elope with him.”
“Eww, Hazel. Have some delikadesa,” Tiara said with a laugh.
Hazel grinned once again. “Girl, tell that to Laine.”
The two looked at her at once. Jewel frowned. “What?”
“I dare you, Laine. Read erotica in front of your mom,” Tiara said, trying hard not to laugh in front of her.
Her eyes rolled. “As if it’s that easy? I’m more afraid of Mama. If you only knew how she …” She glared at the three girls at once at the screen, mimicking how her mother glared at her when angry. Her friends laughed and she grinned.
“Okay, not that. How about… I dare you to seduce Gideon.” Tiara’s eyebrows went up and down. “Let’s see if he’s worth to try.”
Her brow raised. “What’s your plan?”
“Just seduce him. When you see how big he is, get married right away.”
“Tiara!”
The two laughed. Gabbi smiled. “If you don’t, I’ll show your pic to your mom,” Gab threatened.
She was stunned. Her chest suddenly throbbed and she brought her face closer to the screen. “What? What picture?”
“Wait, I’ll send it to your email,” Gabbi said.
She quickly turned to the laptop and refreshed the email inbox. A few more seconds and suddenly Gabbi’s message came in. Her eyes widened. “Gab! No way!”
“Yes way!” Gabbi screamed, triumph was written all over the face.
It was the picture she sent in their group chat. A selfie picture with the new erotica books from the box delivered by Dalya and Pedro.
“Tiara! Look at Gabbi! She saved my pic!” She picked up the phone and held it close to the laptop screen. She received a laugh from the girl.
“I’m sorry. You know how Gabbi thinks. Just do it, Laine,” Tiara said, pretending to console her.
She frowned. “I don’t want that.”
“Haze? You still have Mrs. Mangubat’s email, right?” Gabbi asked with a teasing smile.
“Yes, girl.”
“Ok, send me —”
She jerked. “Wait up! Arg! Gab, you little donkey!”
“So, are we ok? Challenge accepted?”
“Fine!” She closed her eyes. “What should I do?”
“Sleep with him?”
“That’s too much,” she complained.
“Okay, okay. Send a photo of you… kissing him.”
She just laughed. “Seems like an easy task, huh? You’re really enjoying this. Be thankful, Mama won’t let me visit your house. Or else —”
Gabbi cut her words. “All right. If you can’t send it right away, it’s okay. But there’s an expiration. Until your wedding next summer.”
Her eyes rolled. “One whole year?”
“Yes, one whole year.”
“I’m sure I’ll send it before summer ends.”
Gabbi’s brow raised. “Really?”
She smiled. “I’ll be married by tomorrow. Civil wedding.”
“What?!” Hazel yelled.
“Oh,” was what Tiara said.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Laine? I should be there to make you a lechon!” Gabbi joked.
She laughed at what Gabbi said. “It was a sudden decision. Gideon said that…” She stopped what she was saying. She remembered the funeral of the Mayor’s wife was held in secret. It was not good if more people will know about it.
“That… ?”
“Nevermind.” Sh looked up at the large wall clock above the wall. “It’s past nine, girls. I need to sleep early.”
“But wait, aren’t we invited?” Tiara asked.
She shrugged her shoulderd. “Just a small gathering.”
“Oh.” Hazel cleared her throat. “Does that mean… you’ll sleep with Gideon in the same room?”
A cold feeling ran down her spine by Hazel’s question. She hadn’t thought of that before either. Moreover, she had no plans to give herself to the man.
She was startled when Tiara and Hazel suddenly screamed. “Send a pic of him topless, Laine!”
Jewel hastily pressed the end Button of the Video Call. Her whole room went back to silence. She sighed and put her phone and laptop at the bedside table. She left the bed and went to the balcony and stood there for a few minutes.
She took a deep breath and cleared her mind of all doubt. She had already thought about it, and had decided she’ll go to court tomorrow to sign the Marriage Contract, then she’d return to the Mansion. She will not disobey her parents. She will not embarrass the surname dearly loved by her father and mother.
She was still in the control of her parents so she should not disobey them. She angrily ran a finger through her own hair. “They’re controlling me,” she said stiffly.
She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes at the lighthouse in the distance. She remembered Gideon saying that he would not imprison her. She bit her lip. He should keep his word, now that she have no choice but to marry him.
And she would not see Gideon when the school will start either. Three more weeks and she will return to the University of Medellin. She would not be allowed to go home to the mansion every day. Jewel will make sure that she will live in the dormitory for the next ten months.
That would be long enough for her to enjoy her freedom before people will know that she’s married.
She looked up at the night sky. There was a full moon and it had shone yellowish bright light from the sky. The stars were barely visible because of the bright and proud moon sitting in all its glory in the dark sky. She sighed.
“Let’s see if he can honor his word,” she whispered.
A clumsy and cold wind blew through the balcony, passing by her.
