My Mysterious Professor

Chapter 1 The Meet and Greet

The school gates were opened. The busy sidewalks were accompanied by the loud beeps of vehicles, running late to their schools and offices. The sun was scorching hot as it seemed to awaken every tired soul even if it's just Monday morning. 

Hindi mapigilang mapabuntong hininga ni Athallia nang mapagtantong mahuhuli na naman siya sa kanyang klase. She was running as fast as she could para lang makapasok kahit 30 minutes sa klase niya sa Siyensya. 

"Dumiretso ka muna sa faculty office at hinahanap ka ni dean Lia", mahinahong sambit ng guard na tila ba hindi na namanghang late na naman siya sa kanyang klase. 

"Thank you po ate Dana," humahangos na sagot naman niya sa babae at pagkatapos ay nagmamadaling pumasok na sa faculty office.

She fixed her hair and her skirt before she knocked and entered the office na kung saan tunog lang ng aircon ang maririnig. She walked past the cubicles and went to the dean's office. 

"Good morning ma'am. I was told that you requested me to be in your office po. What can I do for you po ma'am? ", she calmly asked. 

Miss Villanueza, their dean, picked up some folders and looked at her with disappointment and said, " You are late again and again Miss Medina. You were supposed to maintain a good record knowing that you're an exchange student here. Do you not worry about your scholarship? Huh?".

"Alam kong marami ka pang responsibilities but at least try to manage your time wisely, if not I do not know what to do with you", dagdag pa nito.

Tumungo na lamang si Athalia sapagkat alam niyang tama nga naman ang guro. 

'Kung sana lang ay mayroon kaming maraming pera at hindi kami pinagkaitan ng sapat na oras para gawin ang mga gawaing bahay ay sana hindi gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan ko ngayon', sa isip isip naman niya. 

Kung hindi nga lang naman niya kailangan mag doble kayod para matustusan ang sarili at makatulong sa gastusin sa bahay nila ay siguro'y hindi siya masyadong nahihirapan. 

"Anyways, bring this to your Science teacher and accompany him to the faculty office after his morning lectures. You may go", the dean broke the silence and gave her the folder containing the teachers' class schedules. 

"Okay po. I'll go ahead ma'am," sagot naman niya sa guro.

She shook off the early morning rant by their dean at nagmamadaling pumasok na sa klase niya. 

Medyo malapit lang naman ang dean's office sa room nila kaya mabilis siyang nakarating dito. She knocked on the door thrice bago tuluyang pumasok at dumiretso na sa upuan niya. Nasa likod na bahagi ang puwesto niya kaya hindi siya nag abalang umupo agad sa dulong upuan doon. 

"Dionne, patapos na ba ang klase? Pinatawag pa kasi ako ni dean kaya mas lalo akong na late," she whispered to her seatmate while getting her notebook and pen. 

Hindi siya sinagot ng katabi kaya lumingon sa rito, ang akala niya'y natutulog na naman ang kaibigan. Dionne is the only friend she has sa school nila dahil nga halos mga mayayaman ang mga nag-aaral dito na hindi naman niya makasabayan. While Dionne, also a daughter of an elite but sa sobrang aloof nito sa lahat ng tao ay siya lang din ang kaibigan. 

Sanay na siyang natutulog ang kaibigan sa klase dahil natural naman itong matalino. What just shocked her ay dahil hindi niya napansin na nasa harap niya ang kaibigan and not by her side. 

She looked sideways and saw a tall, dark and handsome man na sobrang hot habang nagti-take ng notes on what has been discussed in front of the class.