Moonlight Serenade

Gideon's house was hidden away in Cansanit, near Don Virgilio Gonzales at the end of a long peninsula. It's a three-story white house with a blue roof. A large gate rotates around the house's perimeter. In the front, there is a large garage beneath an enclosed porch. On the side, near the small pond, there is even a patio.

Because the gate was not automatic, Gideon led her to the small door. The man was the first to leave the pick-up outside the gate. The doorbell rang and a man in his mid-50s wearing a hat appeared. He smiled when he saw them. "Good day, Sir Manasseh. Is this your wife?"

"Yes, Tang."

The man smiled as he turned to face her. He lowered his hat and placed it on his chest while bowing in front of her. "Nice to meet you, Miss Jewel. I wish you a happy marriage with Sir Manasseh." She gave a sheepish smile. "Thanks..."

"Please come in, Sir."

The old man opened the door wide to let them in. She stepped in, inhaled the scent of roses, and sighed at the beautiful sight. The house was surrounded by flowers.

"Are you in charge of the flowers?" she inquired the elderly gentleman. Gideon walked beside her as the old man followed them.

"I am, Miss. Sir only comes home once a week and I'm the sole housekeeper."

"How's Iñigo?" Gideon suddenly asked.

She heard the old man sighed. "He couldn't stand the pain, Sir. He passed away one day and I laid him to rest in the backyard."

"Thank you for looking after him, Tang."

"It's nothing, Sir."

She opened her mouth to ask as they approached the main entrance "Who exactly is Inigo?"

"A K9, my companion during my service. When I retired, I adopted him."

She nodded her head and followed her husband inside the huge house, but was stunned to see a large portrait of her face in the living room when she was still seventeen years old. "Who painted that?" she asked.

She stood in front of the portrait, amazed at the fine strokes used. it was remarkable as the painter paid attention to the smallest detail that's included throughout the painting. "Someone sent it to me. I'm not sure where it came from but there's a letter on it, and it says Mi Amore."

Her brow furrowed. "What made you accept that?"

"It's good."

"Huh?" She turned to face Gideon. As he gazed at her portrait, the man smiled. "The portrait didn't lie. You're beautiful," he said and walked away. "Come on, I'll show you around."

Her eyes narrowed before running after him. "You shouldn't have accepted that thing," she whispered, embarrassed. It's weird to know that her portrait was hanging freely in a stranger's house for years.

Tang bid goodbye before slipping into the kitchen door. She and Gideon ascended the grand spiral staircase and onto the third floor. There was a lot of bonsai, particularly snake plants, on every corner that gave a cool ambiance to the surroundings.

Gideon just smiled and shook his head. "Explain why you don't want to pack your belongings."

She went silent. They came to a halt in front of a blue door.

Gideon went inside after turning the lock. She followed, stepping inside.

"I just don't want to," she explained after a moment of silence.

Gideon looked around the room before turning around to face her. "I don't think so."

She averted her gaze and frowned. Then, she drew her arms across her chest. "I have books that shouldn't be seen."

"Hmm?"

Jewel glared at the man once more. "I'd like Dalya or Pedro to wrap the books, and not the other maids. They might alert Mom and Dad."

Gideon gave a nod. "Why is that?"

She took another step back and averted her gaze again. She didn't want to say anything about her vices. Aside from the fact that she lacks confidence, it's also embarrassing. "Explain why, Jewel," Gideon urged.

"I don't dare."

"You don't want to say anything or admit anything?" he taunted.

Her gaze returned to Gideon, brows furrowing. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Gideon gave a bitter smile. "I heard you one night, on the balcony, calling your friend and talking about sex."

Her heart skipped a beat. "W-What?"

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Gideon's expression was solemn. "I suppose... you've invited the enemy. Let go of whatever you're concealing from me."

She took a step back and turned away. "I'm not concealing anything." "Jewel."

"I said I am not hiding anything!"

She could hear him sigh. "You should let it go before it kills you," he said, resting his hand on her shoulder. She leaped in surprise. Gideon released her shoulder. "There isn't a bathroom upstairs. My room is just beside yours, so if you need anything, knock on the door next to yours. I'll let you tour around the room first." He was about to leave when he remembered something, so he faced Jewel again. "I recall you having a student permit, so why can't you drive a car?" She looked away. "I don't have a student permit. That was a lie, and I can't drive. I can only ride a motorcycle."

Gideon gave a curt nod. The man walked right past her and out of the room. She inhaled deeply and looked around inside.

Blue was the dominant color. White bedsheets, pillows, and blankets. She fixed her gaze on the open balcony. The thin curtain was dancing by the wind. She approached it and parted the curtains.

She looked out at the blue ocean, which was glistening in the sunlight. The air smelled salty and mossy. The gentle crash of the waves on the shore could be heard.

The sight of kingfishers in the distance flying over the waves and soon descending under the water was what left her in awe.

She took a slow step past the curtains and grabbed the balcony railing. Below, she saw the flower garden that surrounds the backyard and the high gate that extends to the second floor. Sand lies beyond the gate. Fine and white sand runs straight up to the paved shore, which she believes was a yacht harbor. In the distance, she noticed a yacht.

She stopped appreciating the view when she heard a knock. After a few minutes, she went back inside and opened the door. She saw Tang and smiled at him.

"Miss, Sir wants you to join him for a snack."

Jewel shook her head. "Please inform him that I am still full."

She felt bad seeing that man's grin fade slightly. "Okay, Miss, call me if you need-"

"Fine." She sighed, "I'll go with you, Mang Tang."

The elderly man's face lit up and he bowed slightly in front of her. "I appreciate it very much, Miss Jewel."

"Please call me Laine."

"As you like, Miss Laine."

She exited her room and followed the old man. As they descended the circular staircase, she heard his happy whistle.

"Uhm... Mang Tang?" she called.

The elderly gentleman laughed. "This, Miss Laine, Tang will do."

"Alright... Kuya Tang?"

Tang burst out laughing. She gave a small smile and cleared her throat. "Is this Gideon's house?" she inquired.

Tang returned his gaze to the front. "I worked as a gardener at the Mayor's mansion for two years before he brought me here to take care of this house."

"Do you think I'll be able to last as his wife?"

Tang came to a halt as he reached the end of the stairs and waited for her. "The truth is that Sir was notorious, Miss Laine."

"What?"

The man grinned. "Sir was a bad boy who changed miraculously after what happened ten years ago."

"Ten years?" she asked, her brow furrowed. "The time when there's a virus outbreak in the country?"

Tang sighed and nodded. "The country's economy collapsed and the Mayor and his good wife were struggling. Sir Manasseh was sent back to Medellin to help grow the city. Sir didn't want to go home, but his mother's condition worsened, and he couldn't do anything but return. And it's incredible... He lost interest in women all of a sudden."

"What?" she exclaimed. "He has feelings for other women?"

"Don't be jealous, Miss Laine," the old man said with a smile. "Sir no longer has a woman."

"Wait a minute, I'm not jealous."

"As Medellin gradually regained its vitality, Sir Manasseh also returned to service. He returned to Dalaguete, claiming to be looking for a woman. Angela was her name."

"I don't care about his women, Kuya Tang," she said, her brow furrowed. "Why are you saying this?"

"I thought you want to know, Miss Laine. Jealousy is hard to control," the old man said with a smile.

"I'm not jealous!" she exclaimed. "Come on, I'm starving."

"Didn't you say you were still full, Miss Laine?"

Her expression darkened when Tang laughed.