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[Past - 6 years ago]
"Ang ganda naman dito.. parang hindi ako nababagay.."
Leni, a newly transferred professor here in Ateneo, walking alone to where her faculty room is located. She was just looking at the view- the leaves of the trees were just swaying around, students were walking and some are sitting around the buildings, security guards are also greeting her 'good morning'.
Ateneo surely is one big school. But the scenario is also really pretty. Leni also passed by the Church of Gesu before she proceeds to stroll and walk to the building she's assigned to.
She was just wearing her usual attire- a blue oversized shirt, jeans and flats. "Good morning po!" Students that she's passing by were greeting her, which made Leni's heart swell. "Good morning sainyo." Her response with her iconic dimpled smile.
Upon Leni's arrival to the faculty room of Economics, professors greeted her as she enter. "Good morning, Prof. Robredo! Welcome to Ateneo!"
That's how the professors and faculty members greet Leni. The newly transferred professor once again, used her iconic dimpled smile to them. "Good morning sainyo. Maraming salamat po sa pa greeting!"
The professors and faculty clapped as they welcome the newly transferred professor. Leni walked pass through them with her smiling at each one of them. "Enjoy your stay here, Prof! Surely, mag eenjoy ka. It's quite fun!"
The head of the Economics faculty, Franciscus Pangilinan. Leni had to look up at him because, well- he's 6'0" and she's just near 5'1". Leni, as always, using her smile as a opportunity to be friendly with the professors and faculty.
"Maraming salamat po sir. May schedule na po ba ako?" The tall professor grabbed a paper containing Leni's schedule for her work, giving it to her. As Leni held onto it, she was reading and looking upon what her class schedules are.
"Schedule mo yan. At saka, daan ka nga pala sa faculty ng Department of History. May ipapabigay sana ako kay Prof. Hontiveros. Head yun ng faculty. Bigay mo 'to." Kiko then handed her a pack of papers- probably containing important stuff. Leni immediately carried it using one arm, securing it using her body.
"Sige po sir..?" "Sir. Pangilinan. Pero you can call me Kiko nalang. Malapit lang yung faculty dito."
Leni nods as she places her schedule on her table before proceeding to exit the room again just to walk to where the Department of History Faculty room is. Looking at the map outside, finding where it is located.
Upon arrival, she knocked first before twisting the door knob of the faculty room- opening it. Her presence caught the attention of the head, and that was Prof. Hontiveros. "Oh, hello Prof.! You're Prof. Robredo right? Newly transferred? Welcome to Ateneo!"
On the other side of the room, there was another professor. And her name, was Prof. De Lima- another faculty member that greeted Leni.
The room is quite empty since classes are on going but the head and one faculty member was left in this room for now in this hour.
"Good morning po. Bibigay ko lang po kay Prof. Hontiveros from Sir. Pangilinan." Leni greets the faculty member as Prof. De Lima points at the sitting Hontiveros in a swivel chair, reading lesson plans to approve.
Leni bows her head down a little as she continue to walk towards to where the busy History head is sitting. "Uhm, good morning po. From Sir. Pangilinan po itong papers, bigay ko raw po sainyo, Prof. Hontiveros."
It caught the busy professor's attention that she removed her reading glasses to look up at the new professor in the university. She looks kinda deadly with those glaring eyes, but she won't bite on a newly transferred professor.
"Alright. Lapag mo nalang dyan sa table." As the head orders, Leni places the pack of papers carefully on top of the glass table. She saw the full name of the Head, it was Prof. Therisa Hontiveros.
Leni stood up straight again after placing the papers down, with her hands held together in front of her. The head was just looking at her from head to toe, observing her. "So, what's next?"
Parang ang sungit naman nito. Leni inside of her head. "Ah, wala na po. Yun lang po. Salamat po." As soon as Leni was about to turn around, she was stopped by the head by saying, "Don't leave yet. Since you're new here, I want to know more about you."
That made Leni gulp in an instant. "O-okay po. No problem po." Leni nervously answered. "Umupo ka na muna dyan sa harap ng table. Lei, give us two hot tea." The head orders again, Leni now sitting on the chair in front of the table.
As Prof. De Lima leaves the room to grab tea for the two, Leni was just fidgeting with her fingers. "So, Professor Robredo, where was the last university or school you were teaching?"
Risa places both of her elbows on top of the table- with her fingers on both hands intertwined with each other and resting her lips in front, looking at the fidgeting Prof. Leni looked at her, it was hard to look straight at her eyes because of how it would poison her with her eyes.
"Uhm.. sa public college po ako last time. I studied in UP. Dapat nga po La Salle yung transferring ko kaso Ateneo nalang daw po dahil bumalik na raw po yung isang Prof dun na supposedly ako po yung papalit sa pwesto niya." Leni narrates the story of her past school that she used to teach.
"Mhm. Course?" Risa asks. "Economics po."
"Uhuh. Economics. All about the combination of politics, sociology, history and psychology. Good choice. Age?" This is how Risa gets to know newly transferred professors, asking a lot of questions.
"Uhm.. 32 na po." Risa nods at the answer of Leni. "Then don't use 'po' on me anymore since you're a year older than me." And that, made Leni's eyes widen on the professor. "Ha? 31 ka palang?" Leni, out of shock. Risa nods at her reaction to that.
"Oo. Got a problem with that?" Leni immediately shaking her head no. Nakakatakot naman to. "Wala naman. It's alright. Akala ko mas matanda ka sa akin hehe." As their conversation continue, De Lima walks in holding two tea cups on her hand.
"Eto na ang inyong mga tsaa." Lei places both of the cups in front of them. "Flavor?" Risa questions. "Ginger Green Tea."
"Alright." Risa grabs her own cup as Lei returns to her own table. Leni, just grabs her own cup as well, still nervous in front of the head. The two drank their tea together before continuing their conversation.
"So, how many years of teaching?" Risa comes back with the question. Leni places her mug down again but this time, still holding it. "5 years na. Still new." Leni answers.
"No actually, medyo matagal na rin yan. But it's good. Anyways, where are you staying right now?"
Whenever Risa asks the home location of a new professor in the campus, it means she's getting interested with the person that she's talking to. And in this case, Leni is starting to get interesting to Risa now.
"Ah, sa condo lang near Ateneo. Sa tapat lang nito actually." That made Risa's eyes widen. "Prince David?" "Prince David, yes."
"Omg. What if we go home together now? We live in the same condo. Is that alright? We can grab dinner also everyday, we can grab coffee if you like."
Hala siya, nag aya na nga.
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YOU ARE READING
pardon me, professor?
Fanfiction"Professor Robredo, you are just as important as the books." A History Dean and an Economics Associate Dean from Ateneo, trying to fight against all odds in terms of love. But will they ever succeed? lenrisa university professors au language: engli...
