Mr. Me

Chapter 2: The First Spark of Fire

The next few weeks were difficult. Professor Villarosa seemed to make it his mission to remind Miguel of his "place." He would deliberately spill coffee near Miguel's cleaning area, then complain loudly when it wasn't cleaned instantly. Once, he even accused Miguel of stealing office supplies just to watch him get searched by security.

Miguel never fought back with words. He simply smiled politely, cleaned faster, and continued studying at night. He enrolled in more affordable online courses and spent his off hours tutoring the children of fellow maintenance staff for free. Word spread quietly among the lower staff that "Mr. Me" was incredibly patient and good at explaining Math and English.

One sweet moment happened when a shy freshman named Lila got lost on her first day. Miguel not only guided her to her classroom but also drew her a simple map on a piece of scrap paper with little doodles. Lila later told her friends, "The janitor is nicer than most of my professors."

This small kindness reached the ears of Dean Carmen Reyes, a kind-hearted woman who had been observing Miguel for months. She started leaving him books on pedagogy and teaching methods on the faculty lounge table with a note: "For someone who already teaches without a title."

Meanwhile, Professor Villarosa's behavior grew worse. During a university event, he publicly humiliated Miguel by pointing at him while speaking on stage: "Even our cleaning staff dreams too big sometimes. Let's keep expectations realistic, shall we?"

The audience laughed awkwardly. Miguel stood at the back, holding a broom, his face burning. But that night, instead of feeling defeated, he opened his notebook and wrote down a promise:

"One day, I will stand in front of a classroom. And when that day comes, I will teach with kindness – something you clearly lack."

The fire inside Mr. Me was growing, quiet but steady.