Chapter 17

Nothing special about that day but she noticed the strange atmosphere in the University. She was not sure what's going on but her guts told her that some high rank persona will visit soon.

Jewel scooped up potato chips and glanced at the students below. She was on the 4th floor of the Engineering building and was facing the terrace. It was her vacant time and she didn't want to hang out in the canteen. Sheena must have been there.

Someone cleared their throat behind her. "Laine," a familiar voice called.

Her finger with a pinched chip stopped hovering in the air. A man walked and stood beside her. She glanced at him and saw Simoen staring at the ground as well. She looked away. "What do you want?"

Simoen took a deep breath. He smiled softly and shook his head. "I just want to say sorry for giving you false hopes."

She was taken aback. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry for that incident last year. I know nothing about that engagement and what Sheena did to you. I'm really sorry, Laine."

Jewel put away the chips she was holding and pursed her lips into a thin line. "So?"

She saw out of the corner of her eye Simoen turning to face her. "Laine, I want to restore our relationship."

She snickered. "What did you say?"

"Laine, look. I came back to UDM for you. I had canceled the engagement and talked with Sheena. She agreed. So, we can be together again, Laine. We can continue the relationship we had."

Her head slowly turned to face Simoen. She stared at him for few minutes before smirking. "But I don't want to."

"What?" Simoen was taken aback and looked at her in the eye. "Are you being serious, Laine?"

"Saavedra," she called and Simoen fell silent. "I don't want to entangle myself with you again. What we had is in the past. It's not my hobby to eat again the rice I spit out."

There was awkwardness between them and Simoen closed and unclosed his fist. "I understand," he whispered and sighed. "But I don't want to be a stranger to you, Laine. Can we be friends?"

Jewel smiled. "No."

Simoen froze. "No? Why?"

"It's not my thing to befriend my ex. Just a regular blockmate and we'll be fine. I will not treat you as a stranger."

"Laine ..." Simoen gritted his teeth but held himself back. "Is there someone new?"

A soft smile appeared on her lips as she silently stroked the finger on which her wedding ring was once placed. She put the wedding ring away to hide her true civil status.

When she didn't answer, Simoen took a deep breathe. "I hope we can still bring back what we had lost, Laine."

"Don't hope, it's impossible."

Those cold words made Simoen dumbfounded. He didn't expect Jewel to have her cold and unfeeling side. His mind wandered back on times when Jewel would cling to him and call him 'dear' but now, it was all gone. The sudden lost of her affection made his heart ached. He watched Jewel's retreating figure in sadness.

On the other hand, Jewel was happily strolling inside the flower garden near the Domesticated Forest. Her three girl friends were still busy in their respective classes. And in a University like UDM, there was only a small percentage chance that she'll meet them with how wide the campus and dense the student population was. So she decided to only meet them during break time.

Her eyes looked down on her wristwatch. It's time for her to go back. She sighed and walked out of the garden. Jewel didn't notice the eyes in the darkness following her steps.

Suddenly, someone took hold of her wrist and turned her around. She sucked in breathe and looked at the man who was holding her. It's Joseph. He smiled and let go of her wrist. "Will you attend the varsity game later?"

Her brow raised. "Why should I?"

Joseph laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Jasmine will attend too."

"Oh." The corner of her lips curved up. "So you are saying I need to follow Jasmine?"

He fell silent as awkwardness hovered around the air. Jewel shook her head and walked ahead.

She returned to Engineering building to attend Physics for Engineers.

As usual, she caught Simoen staring at her. She ignored him and focused on the lesson until the subject was over. Her feet moved out of the room before anyone else and some of her blockmates was unhappy.

"She's really thinking highly of herself," one of her blockmates complained while moving out of the classroom.

Jasmine glanced at the girl and grunted. "Jewel has a reason why she didn't wait for us. You should not blame her," she reasoned out.

More dissatisfaction from the girls arose while the boys were indifferent. Jasmine rolled her eyes.

Jewel used the elevator and walked out of the Engineering building. The next subject would be Chemistry and they will do a laboratory experiment. She stood in front of the laboratory door, taking a deep breath, she entered. Jewel saw the Chemistry Professor inspecting some laboratory paraphernalia.

"Good day, Prof."

The Chemistry Laboratory of the Education building was small. It was just one of the branches of the main chemistry lab in the Science and Technology building, located in the SHS department area behind the woods opposite the College of Technology.

"Where are your blockmates?" the prof asked.

Her lips twitched. "They're following me behind, Prof."

"We'll just wait for them and please, have laboratory gowns and some protective gears outside. Wear appropriate clothing before entering the laboratory, Miss."

"I understand. I'm sorry, Prof," she said and quickly left the lab.

She searched the stockroom outside. There's a separate door outside where the lab gears were stored. After wearing appropriate gear, she went out and tied her hair into a ponytail.

"Hmmp! This princess jewel is really shameless," someone whispered, but because the hallway was silent, Jewel heard it clearly.

Her eyes locked on a girl at the back of the group approaching her and her brow raised.

Joseph grunted and turned to the girl. "If you slander Jewel again, I'll cut your tongue!" he warned. Even Simoen expressed his agreement to Joseph's words.

The girl's face paled and she looked away. Jewel didn't say anything and just motioned the block president to remind him of wearing appropriate clothing before she entered the lab.

After three hours, Jewel walked out of the lab with dark expression with burning red cheeks. She could feel the gazes of her blockmates on her back and she walked faster. Her lips pursed into a thin line.

This started when she almost mixed the Zinc in the beaker containing the diluted HCL during their experiment earlier.

Simoen grabbed her hand holding the zinc. "Don't."

Her eyes darted to Simoen as he took the small piece of Zinc from her palm. Looking from afar, they looked like flirting with each other.

"What's happening to the two of you there, Mr. Saavedra and Miss Mangubat? Were are still in class. Save your things outside," the Professor scolded.

Jewel's face flushed in embarrassment and side stepped to avoid Simoen, but the man was really trying to create an ambiguous atmosphere with her because he kept on moving closer to her. She knew that her blockmates were watching her and Simoen's vague interaction but she could do nothing but to shot him a glare. It's forbidden to make a scene inside the laboratory.

"Laine!" Simoen called her but she did not stop and used the stair instead of the elevator.

Fortunately, Joseph dragged Simoen back when the later wanted to follow her. "Man, don't push it. Jewel might want to be alone after what you've done earlier," Joseph sneered.

She was thankful to Joseph who came to her rescue. Jewel sighed but stopped when someone blocked her path.

When she looked up, she saw Gideon's face. There's a smile hanging on his lips but his stare were cold. Jewel stepped past him but almost tripped herself if not for Gideon who hastily caught her arm.

She gulped hard as her heart could not stop beating so fast. A cold sweat trickled down her back and she smiled sheepishly at him. "What do you want, Sir?"

Gideon chuckled and helped her stand on her feet. "Is it hard to greet your husband?"

Boom.

Jewel slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Don't do dare go around telling others that you're my husband!" she yelled in a hushed manner.

"Oh?" He moved his face close to her and Jewel stiffened. Gideon smirked. "Someone told me that my wife is fooling around. I want to check whether it's true..."

"Gideon!" she hissed and looked around to check anyone but saw nothing. Her tense muscles relaxed and she squinted her eyes on him. "I'll explain later, okay? This is not the right place to talk about those useless rumors... please?"

When Gideon noticed how nervous Jewel was, he sighed and patted her head. "Alright. If you need anything, just send me a message. I'll be there." He smiled and looked down on her bare fingers. "You're not wearing your ring."

Jewel looked on her ring finger and blushed. "Of course, I don't want anyone to know that I'm married at this age. What do you expect?" Her eyes darted on his bare hand. "And you didn't wear your ring too. You dare to persecute me?" She snorted and rolled her eyes.

There was a lingering emotion in Gideon's eyes.

She was startled when Gideon took hold of her hand and pushed a simple ring on her finger. "W-What are you doing? I said I won't wear a ring. Take it back!"

Her heart skipped a beat when Gideon kissed the back of her hand and looked at her straight in the eye. "Wear this ring for me, Jewel..."

His hoarse voice tickled her heart.