Miguel went on a business trip after the night we spent. He has been in Europe —Poland to be precise — for close to a week. We converse on the phone. And every night before he sleeps, he video calls me. Though I still have my doubts about his relationship with his ex, he has not given me any reason to question most of his actions. It has been a week since he left, and he's returning today. He promised to pick me up on his way back, so, I'm at the cafeteria, trying to buy some snacks before I leave the building. He called an hour ago to tell me he had boarded a plane. I don't know how long it will take for him to arrive in the country. However, I kept my phone on the table should in case he calls or sends a text. P and I ordered doughnuts and soft drinks. I was the one who paid because I promised to buy lunch for her weeks ago. Since then, we have not had the chance to eat lunch because she's either having classes or running home to meet her boyfriend. She moved in with him a wee

*Trigger warning*Mention of rape.P and I shelved most of his books for him before Mr Matt sent her out to get soft drinks for him from the cafeteria in the next building because the one in his building had long been closed. Unlike the other buildings, the cafeteria in the teachers' offices closes with time because most of the teachers hardly return there to eat. They mostly eat out when they return from classes. I would have gone with P to keep her company, but Mr Matt gave me more tasks. “I will be back before you miss me, babe.” She pecked me on my cheeks before she left his office, to get the soft drinks for him. Mr Matt and I were enveloped in silence after the door closed. None of us said a word to each other as I graded the papers while he logged them into the database. I checked the time on my wristwatch, noting that it was just remaining ten minutes until my husband comes up here to get me. As much as I would love for him to come, I don't want him to meet Mr Matt, so he

I haven't been to school since the incident, and that's close to two weeks. Miguel took a leave of absence for me. He wanted me to fully heal before I return to school.P visited me three days ago, and when she heard of what happened, she was distraught. She blamed herself for what happened. But I had to convince her that she was not the one at fault. Mr Matt seems to have planned everything. Had she not forced me to help him, he would have found ways to get me to do that. He has been arrested and charged to court for the raping of ten students and the murder of two. The pieces of evidence were found in his house. Five days ago, four of his victims stepped out to testify against him. And according to Miguel, he will be persecuted for murder, by hanging.I sat on the couch watching the tail of the nine-tailed. The series has completely aired, but I'm only watching it now because I love binge-watching movies. I don't have the patience to wait for an entire week for two episodes to be

“Jewel?” His voice was cautious.“Wait, I need to process all these things.”It's not every day that you get to learn that your husband has been stalking you for a long time.“If you want to annul this marriage, I understand, I'm just a bastard who stalks a student.” He bowed his head, “I'm sorry.”I watched him without saying a word. Right now, I don't know what to do. “Jewel?” He called out to me, but I didn't reply. My mind was still trying to come to terms with what was happening. I can't seem to wrap my head around this.“Say something.”“You were stalking me?” Those were the only words that came from my mouth.I couldn't process any other word.“I'm sorry, it was wrong of me to do that. I needed to—” “Not only have you been stalking me for years, but you lied to me. You made me trust you!” I yelled at him. Had his office not been soundproof, there is no doubt that his workers might have heard —not that I care. I'm too heartbroken to think of anything else besides this.“What

“I'm sorry,” she sighed. “I'm not asking you to forgive me easily. I just hope you will understand my reasons for doing what I did. Back when he was still treating you unwell, I wanted to help you. That was why I spoke with him.” She peered into my eyes, “I thought it was the best solution until you developed feelings for him. I know asking you to stop dating Day will sound suspicious, that was why I egged you on. This way, you won't suspect a thing.”I sat still without saying a word. Half my attention was on her words while the other was on what happened. I can't help the thoughts that threatened to envelop my mind. “Please forgive me, Jewel. I won't ever repeat it.”“The last night I went to the ball,” I suddenly said.She sighed, “I was the one who told him where you went.” She placed her hand on my thighs, “I hope you won't fault him for that.”“He's a stalker,” I murmured, feeling how heavy my heart is. “For years, he has been keeping my pictures and painting me every chance he