Chapter 10 A chance to flee prison

"He rescued me."

"So, knight in shining armor? What's the matter with him? "

She frowned as she returned her attention to the phone's screen. She noticed Hazel and Tiara looking at her with anticipation. Gabbi's frown was also visible to her.

She coughed and attempted to change the subject. "Gab, what's up with that expression? " she asked.

The young lady sneered. "That stupid toilet bowl is messing with me again! Kuya is to blame! He left his boxer brief in the bathroom, and it fell into the toilet bowl as I was pouring water on it! How do you unclog a stupid toilet bowl?! "

Hazel burst out laughing. "Suck it, lady."

Jewel grinned as Gabbi's expression darkened. "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 said quietly, returning to the keyboard. Hazel and Gabbi were not very good at playing jokes because they often took jokes personally, which resulted in a nasty fight. Gabbi was grumpy, and Hazel adored grumpiness.

"Laine, what are you typing?" Tiara asked after some time.

"Email... to John Prophet."

Tiara raised a brow. "Who is that?"

"I'm not sure. I recently learned that he interprets dreams. I'd like to know who that man is," she reasoned.

"Man?" Hazel raised her head and asked.

Jewel returned her attention to the phone and noticed Hazel frowning as the girl stared at the screen. "Yes. I'm asking him to interpret my dream. The man I said... uh, you know," she explained. Her cheeks began to flush slightly.

Hazel parted her lips and jokingly covered her mouth. "Are you sure that's Gideon?" "

She raised a brow. "What exactly do you mean?" "

Hazel laughed, bringing the screen up to her face. "I think the man in your dreams is your fiance! You have no idea what he looks like, right?" Jewel nodded, and Hazel's smile widened. "Right! Laine, marry him! After you've finished banging with him, you might remember the face of your dream man! Oh my goodness, girl! You're living your dream! I'd get married right away if I were you! "

Jewel's face contorted, indicating that she disagreed with Hazel. "Haze, stop fantasizing. I don't want to be tied down too soon. I still have a dream. I told you I'm leaving Mama and Papa's mansion soon. If I marry him, I'll be squandering my dream."

"What? " Hazel laughed. "He'll take you away from your parents' mansion!" "

She averted her gaze from the camera. "I thought you didn't want me to marry soon?" "

Hazel's bright smile filled the entire screen. "Of course, Laine. But can't you see how hypocritical you are? Despite the fact that I insulted your man, you defended him. You don't like it when I mock him. And you'll tell me you don't like him? Girl, grow up!"

Jewel was taken aback by Hazel's words. She like Gideon? What? How? When?

"Oh, that expression you give... it's confirmed! You have a thing for the Mayor's son! So go ahead and marry him, and we'll get this over with! I'll volunteer if you don't want to marry him. Deny your emotions if you want to, and I'll steal your man," Hazel chirped, clutching the book once more.

She made a face. "Try. Let's see if you can't pee in the presence of Mayor Calixto."

Tiara and Gabbi burst out laughing when Hazel put the book down and stared blankly at the screen. They were well aware that, of the four of them, Hazel was the most terrified of the Mayor.

The girl was once caught violating a curfew and was chastised by the Mayor. Jewel was second in line because she had only seen the Mayor's rage on the local news once.

Hazel rolled her eyes. "I'm going to elope with him."

"Hazel delikadesa, will you?" Tiara teased, chuckling.

Hazel smiled once more. "Tell that to Laine, girl."

The two of them both looked at her. Jewel scowled. "What?"

Tiara snapped her fingers. "I challenge you, Laine. Read erotica in front of your mother!"

Her eyes rolled. "As if it were that simple? Mama scares me more. If you only knew how she..." She stared at the three girls on the screen at the same time, mimicking how her mother glared at her when angry. Her friends laughed and she grinned.

"Oh. Too bad." Tiara shook her head, narrowing her sly eyes. "Then... I dare you to seduce Gideon." Tiara grinned. "Let's see if he's worth a shot."

Jewel pursed her lips. "What are your plans?"

"Seduce him. If he is big, then marry him!"

She choked and coughed for a few times before she glared at her friend who was laughing so hard!

Jewel saw the sly smile on Gabbi's lips. Uh, it's a trap!

Gabbi wrinkled her brows as she beamed at her. "I'll show your mom that picture if you can't do the end of our deal," she said as if giving her a favor.

Her chest throbbed. There's a bad feeling about how Gabbi and Tiara was making fun of her. She drew her face closer to the screen. "What? What picture?"

"Wait," Gabbi said, "I'll send it to your email."

She quickly switched to her laptop and refreshed her inbox. After a few seconds, Gabbi's message arrived. Her pupils dilated. "Gab! No way! "

"I'm quite serious, aren't I?" Gabbi said with a gloating smile on her lips.

It was the image she posted in their group chat. A selfie with the new erotica books from Dalya and Pedro's delivery box.

"Tiara! Take a look at Gabbi! She saved my photo! " She took up the phone and pressed it against the laptop screen. She got a laugh from the girl.

"I apologize. Gabbi thinks in a certain way. Just do it, Laine." Tiara pretended to comfort her.

She scowled. "I'm not interested in that."

"Haze? Do you still have Mrs. Mangubat's email address?" Gabbi inquired, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Ah, yes. I don't delete emails. You know ~"

"All right, send me -"

Jewel jerked her head. "Wait a minute! Arg! Gab, you little jerk!"

"Is that a challenge accepted?"

"Fine!" She shut her eyes. "How should I proceed?"

"Sleep with him?"

"That, too much. I don't want to do it so no. A big no!"

Gabbi shrugged her shoulders. "All right, all right. Send me a picture of you kissing him."

She simply laughed. "Seems like a simple task, isn't it? You're having a great time. Be thankful that Mom won't let me come to your house. Otherwise -"

Gabbi stifled her words. "OK, fine. It's fine if you can't send it right away. However, there is a time limit. Until next summer's wedding."

Her brow furrowed. "A whole year?" "

"Yes, a full year."

"I'm confident I'll send it before the end of this summer."

Gabbi arched her brow. "Really?"

She pursed her lips. "I'll be married by tomorrow. "Civil marriage."

"What?!" Hazel yelled.

"Oh," Tiara widened her eyes.

"How come you didn't tell me, Laine? I should be there to prepare a lechon for you!" Gabbi yelled, laughing hard.

Her lips twitched. Why laugh so hard? Is changing one's surname funny?

Jewel sighed and waved her hand in defeat. "It was a spur of the moment decision. Gideon said..." She paused in her speech. She remembered the Mayor's wife's funeral being held in private. It was bad if more people found out about it.

"That... ?"

Sh looked up at the large wall clock above the wall and said, "Nevermind. It's past nine o'clock, girls. I need to get some sleep."

"But wait, aren't we supposed to be invited?" Tiara asked, raising a brow.

She shook her head and shrugged. "It's only a small gathering."

"Oh," Hazel tilted her head to the side and cleared her throat. "Does that mean you'll sleep in the same room as Gideon?"

Hazel's question sent shivers down her spine. She hadn't considered that either. Furthermore, she had no intention of surrendering herself to the man. When she cast a glance at Hazel, she saw the innocent eyes in that beautiful face if not for that malicious smile on her lips. She grimaced.

"Please send a photo of your husband lying naked on the bed, okay? I'll wait for it. I promise," Hazel said, as she pout her lips to act cute in the camera.

Jewel hurriedly pressed the video call's end button. Her entire room returned to silence and she shivered while imaging Gideon lying on her bed, naked. Ah! She shook her head. 'What on earth am I thinking?' she thought.

She sighed and placed her phone and laptop on the nightstand. She got out of bed and went to the balcony, where she stood for a few minutes.

She took a deep breath and expelled all doubt from her mind. She'd already considered it and decided to go to court tomorrow to sign the marriage contract, after which she'd return to the mansion. She will not rebel against her parents. She will not betray the surname that her father and mother adore.

Drawing a breath, she watched the moon shone at the distance. She wondered what Gideon was doing in the next room?

Just as she peeked on the next balcony, she saw a man standing there. Under the moonlight, Gideon's physique excluded a majestic aura that Jewel was left frozen on spot, specially when the man cast a glance on her way.

"Why are you in daze? Go back inside or you might catch a cold," he said.

She did not know how she responded but she saw herself walking back inside her room. Before she close the balcony's sliding glass door, she heard Gideon's faint laugh.

It seemed like the man was making fun of her again. Jewel's face crumpled.