Chapter 14

The days passed quickly and she didn’t realize the school days was about to start. By nightfall, her suitcase was ready. She also informed Gideon that she was leaving early the next day. His kind of smile was intriguing but she didn't mind it.

And as the car passed through the Aisle and the town of Tindog, a sweet smile never left her lips. She was already excited. At last, she'll return to UDM.

The car stopped in front of the gate. She took a deep breath and quickly got out of the car. She smiled and looked up at the large arch on which the famous University of Medellin was engraved.

The driver's seat door opened and closed. "Jewel," Gideon called.

"Right. No need to help me. I'll lift it up myself," she happily approached the second cabin and pulled out the suitcase and a backpack. She hurried back to the front of the car and looked at the gate.

"You seem excited," Gideon commented, folding his arms.

Jewel glanced at the corner of her eye and her lips curved into a smile. "I'll be moving to my dorm, why won't I suppress my excitement?"

Gideon frowned at her remarks. "You can always stay in our house."

"No need." She chuckled and stared at the majestic university in front of her. "I like my dorm more than your house," she whispered.

Gideon's two eyebrows met but did not say a word.

She smiled, tightened her grip on the suitcase, and started walking towards the gate. She didn't forget to look over her shoulder and raised her hand. "See you in ten months!"

Some students entered the gate with her. She waited a few minutes before entering and walked towards the left pathwalk of the Administrative building.

It was only seven in the morning so the path to the girl's dormitory was not too crowded. She walked passed between the College of Engineering and the College of Education. She continued to traverse the path between the College of Forestry and the College of Arts and Sciences which are both just adjacent to the previous departments. The never changing College of Technology stood not far away. Before reaching the girl's dormitory, she passed through the Domesticated Forest.

A man who seemed like a security guard opened the gate for her. "ID?" he asked. Jewel showed her ID card. He nodded. "UDM graduate. Same room." And he grimaced looking at her. "Next time Miss, please just wear it to avoid trouble."

She wrinkled her nose and smiled sheepishly at him. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

Entering the building, she pulled the suitcase in and onto the third floor. She even noticed out of the corner of her eye the boy's dormitory next to her dorm. The two buildings were simply separated by a gate between them. And there on the third floor, where her room was located, had a short cemented brigde that connects the third floor of both buildings. But there was a small gate so that no one can easily cross the bridge.

She stood in front of her room and looked at the other side of the brigde where the boy's dormitory was. No one was around the hallway of the other building. Her brow raised as she entered her room.

It's been a few months since she last smelled the scent of freshly picked tulips. It was the natural scent of her dorm because she requested the dorm mistress to clean her room during summer.

She opened the cabinet. Three sets of uniforms hung there. That was part of the scholarship she got. She took one and got dressed. A smile plastered on her lips as she stared herself in the full-length mirror.

'Alas, why so pretty?' she exclaimed in her mind and grinned.

Since she entered UDM in her Senior High years, she was ranked as the most beautiful girl in her grade. Now at college, she would be the most beautiful girl in her department. Jewel was proud of that title.

She combed her long hair and tied it into a ponytail. A hand reached for her backpack and she walked out of her room, locking it with keys. The school bell rang. She ran.

"Laine!"

Her feet stopped and she turned around to see Tiara. Just as she waved her hand, two doors opened near her room and she saw Hazel and Gabbi.

"Let's go!" She motioned for three and ran first.

"What the ---!" Tiara yelled.

"Wait, Laine!"

Three fast footsteps rang behind her. A smirk formed on her lips as she quickened her steps. Hazel complaint yet again behind her. Jewel chuckled.

It was one of their habits -- to run on the first day of school. This habit first started at Senior High when the four of them was given punishment on the first day because of tardiness. Not a good experience. Since then, they would always run when the bell rings.

They had met a few girls in the hallway, and like them, they were also running. Her lips twitched. The dorm mistress would be frighten to see them running like it was their last day. One should know that girl's dormitory was known for order and silence.

"I'll bet," Gabbi gasped. "I'm late for Organic Chem."

She slowed down when she reached the first floor and the three girls immediately caught up with her. Then they walked side by side out of the building.

"I'm late too. I'm sure of it," said Tiara. "Goodbye to my cost accounting good records."

"It's not our fault," Hazel said angrily, huffing in annoyance. "We always run every morning, not just on the first day. If they just give us a transport? The Marine is still on other side of the map." The girl gritted her teeth. "It's not just men who enrolled in that program!"

She smirked at Hazel's words. "Who asked you to be a marine student?"

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Did I know that the Marine building is on the edge of the world? Hello, I was informed late. Tsk. Men are luckier to pass by that building."

The Marine building where Hazel should study was nearer to the boy's dorm than the girl's dormitory. It was one of the grievance that Hazel would complain to them from time to time.

"Then, ask your boyfie to swap program with you," Tiara said, sarcasm was evident in her voice.

Hazel blinked and snorted. Silence descended between them until they walked out of the dorm's gate. When they passed the gate, Hazel bid her goodbye.

Just as she walk forward, someone grabbed her arm and pushed her aside. She gasped and glanced at the girl who stood before her.

Arrogant look, smart eyes, and malicious smirk on the lips. Sheena, her nemesis, was blocking her path.

Jewel stood straight. "Move aside," she ordered.

Sheena raised a brow and looked at her from head to toe. "You're blocking my way, idiot."

Her fist clenched hard. What did she want?

"Laine!" Gabbi and Tiara stood beside her and stared angrily at the girl who was clearly looking for trouble.

Gabbi snorted. "Why? Are you looking for a beating?" she asked and moved her head from side to side. She even clenched and unclenched her fist.

Sheena frowned and rolled her eyes before walking past them. "Loser," she whispered to Jewel when she past by her.

Jewel drew a breathe and walked forward. Gabbi and Tiara followed her and silence hovered between them for a few minutes.

"Why you didn't fight back?" Tiara asked, raising a brow and looking around. "Don't tell me you'll endure again?"

"No." Jewel frowned. "I don't want trouble on the first day."

"Tsk. If I'm not running after time, I will beat Sheena's face until she admit her mistake!" Gabbi yelled and punched the air.

She chuckled and shook her head. There's still a lot of time to teach Sheena a lesson.

Tiara said goodbye to them when they passed the College of Technology. Gabbi and Jewel said goodbye to each other when they reached the gap between the College of Engineering and the College of Education.

"Bye. You'll be fine on the first day," Gabbi said and grinned. "Unless you encounter that scumbag, right?"

Jewel waved her hand. "Don't fight with your boy classmates on the first day. Remember, a girl is always gentle and elegant."

Gabbi rolled her eyes before turning around and entering the Education building. Jewel just shook her head before she entered the Engineering building and climbed the stairs.

But she saw Sheena sitting on the top of the staircase with her circle of friends. Jewel eyes darkened and she turned. That girl was definitely waiting for her at the top but she didn't like to have anything to do with Sheena.

She used the elevator but unexpectedly, she saw a girl of her age inside. She remembered that the girl was one of her blockmates. "Jewel Laine, it's good to see you here! I thought you'll transfer after what happened between you and Simoen."

She pursed her lips and stood beside the girl. There were a lot of students who rushed inside before the door closed.

"Now that it happened, what are your plans for Sheena? You won't eat the grievance between you two, right?" the girl asked again.

Jewel's head throbbed as she looked sideways. "Why are you asking?" she asked impatiently.

"Oh, I'm just curious. After that incident, your reputation took a blow. Many students believe that you'll transfer because of shame and that Sheena's the winner between you two."

Her lips pursed into a thin line. "Sheena is just a small fly. Why should I care about her?"

"You should!" the girl urged. "You should care because Simoen is back. And you'll meet each other later in class. Are you ready to face the boy who caused you to lose face, Laine?"