Moonlight Serenade

Warning: Theme and Language.

She was sweaty while sitting on the bed. She looked down at herself and closed her eyes. Still the same, naked. Jewel looked up at the wall clock and saw that it's already three o'clock in the morning. 'And it's still the same dream. Sex with the same man,' she thought.

But the dream this time was something strange.

She already remembered the man's thin and red lips, as well as the goofy grin that never faded throughout the scene of her dream. Her hand clutched her bare and sweaty chest, catching her breath. Her wrists hurt as if someone was holding them tightly. Her scalp ached as if someone had pulled her hair. And she's not surprise to see the light red marks on her arm and chest.

Jewel swallowed hard. Her hair stood on end and her chest tightened as her mind tried to remember the man in the dream. She remembered his grin clearly as if it was not a dream and she can still feel his warm kiss on her neck. She bit her lower lip.

At first it was okay for her to let the man come and share bodies with her because it was just a dream and she thought she wouldn't lose anything, but as time went by, her dreams became even more strange. It was like becoming true in the real world and she was no longer happy.

The man in her dream was terrifying.

She slapped her cheek gently. "You're awake, Jewel. You're awake now," she reminded herself and quickly got up from the bed.

Jewel ran to the bathroom and immediately turned on the shower. She cursed when cold water poured out from the shower head and sighed as she balanced the temperature. After she took a bath, she walked in the closet and got dressed. She left the room and ran down the stairs.

She didn't want to stay in the room because she felt as if someone was staring at her all the time. For a week after she woke up naked and full of bruises, she could feel the eyes following her inside the room. That's why everytime she woke up from the dream, she would immediately take a bath and run out of the room.

Jewel doesn't believe in ghosts but she doesn't know why there is such a feeling in her room. She didn't tell her parents because she didn't like to share them her feelings and thoughts. Dalya and Pedro doesn't use cellphones since when they were evicted from the mansion, and she doesn't have friends to talk to ever since she cut ties with the three girls.

She is left with nothing but herself alone.

And... Jewel gets hurt every time she thinks she has no one to lean on when she needs someone to talk to. Everyone close to her then, left her and betrayed her.

This was perhaps the compensation for her selfish behavior. Back then, she loved her own happiness more and didn't care about the people around her. And she is now paying for her selfishness. Everyone has left her.

Her vision blurred as tears brimmed her eyes but she blinked quickly to keep her tears from falling. She would not cry. No. Never!

"You're early, Senyorita! Good morning!"

Jewel jumped back in shock and clutched her chest, heaving. She turned and saw the old maid, smiling at her. Her brows met and she glared at her. "Don't startle me again!"

The old maid just shrugged and her smile never left her lips. "I'm sorry, Senyorita. Are you going to have coffee today?"

"Y-Yes." Jewel swallowed then quickly went to the kitchen. The old maid just followed her. "The brewed one and give me some creamer also," she added.

"I've noticed since last week that you've been waking up so early. You're also very nervous. You still drink coffee a lot. Senyorita, you probably know that too much coffee is bad for your health."

"I know. I don't need your words, Manang."

The old maid sighed and went to the kitchen counter. Jewel walked to the dining chair and lowered herself. She wondered if she had a deadline today.

"Here's your coffee, Senyorita." The old maid set the cup of coffee and creamer down on the table. "Andeng bought mangoes. The mangoes are from Mantalongon and can only be eaten early to avoid spoilage. Do you want to taste them? They must be sweet."

Her head tilted up to look up to her. Suddenly, the idea of A Seed to Care project came to her mind. Now's the deadline! She slapped her forehead. Why did she forget the project?

She had told Gideon that she would not get back her pot from his house. She would have planted last week if she hadn't forgot it. What would she submit now on to her Professor?

"Is there a problem?" the old maid asked when she noticed Jewel's changing expression.

Jewel looked at the old maid and sighed. "Nevermind." She averted her gaze. "Senyorita."

Her hand reached for the creamer and poured some in the coffee mug. "Why, Manang?"

"Later, I'll let Augustine wrap your things up."

Jewel raised an eyebrow and sipped on her coffee. "I'm being kicked out?" she joked then grinned.

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The old maid laughed. "Not like that. But Donya ordered me to wrap some of your belongings because your husband will take you again, Senyorita."

"Gideon?" she asked in surprise. The old maid nodded so she laughed. "What did he think of me? A doll? After handing out, I'll just take it back just like that?"

"Are you mad at your husband, Senyorita?"

"Yes." Her two eyebrows met. But later her expression softened. "He's angry because I slapped him." "You two fought?"

Jewel frowned again and looked at the old maid. "Why are you asking so many questions, Manang?"

The old maid just smiled and didn't say another word. Jewel sighed and then lowered herself again. She was bored in the kitchen but she didn't want to go back to the room, afraid to feel that creepy feeling of being watched by someone all the time. She might go back later ---

"Senyorita, who held your wrist? Did someone mistreat you?"

Jewel sat up straight and looked down where the old maid was looking at. The sleeve of her dress went up so she could see the red mark on her wrist. She quickly hid her hands under the table. Her heartbeat quickened. She had calmed down after running away from her room, but because the old maid saw the marks on her wrist, she trembled with nervousness again. But the old maid should not know what's happening to her.

Else, her parents would know about those strange kiss marks on her body and they would be mad again --- more mad than finding out her x-rated books --- because it's a taboo for a married woman to have sex with a man not her husband.