Objection, Ms. Professor

Alessia Guerrero’s POV I stood in front of the wrought-iron gates of Resian University, while my palms damp, and my heart pounding like it was about to betray me. For a moment, ay nakalimutan kong huminga. The university looked unreal, like something you’d only see in foreign films or postcards from Europe. Tall marble columns framed the entrance, ivory-white and polished to perfection. Beyond the gates stretched a long stone pathway lined with manicured gardens, fountains quietly flowing as if whispering secrets of success and power. Everything was grand. Hindi ito ‘yung klaseng eskwelahan na sanay akong makita. This wasn’t just a university. Coz, it was a statement. Literal na makalaglag panga sa ganda at garbo. Glass buildings rose elegantly against the sky, reflecting the soft morning light. The architecture was modern yet timeless. steel, glass, and stone harmonized in a way that screamed prestige. Students walked around in tailored uniforms, confident, polished, like they already belonged to the elite world waiting beyond graduation. And here I was. Alessia Guerrero. From a small public university, and from a family that barely scraped by. And applying as a professor in the most prestigious university in the country. Nababagay kaya ako dito? I asked myself, while gripping my folder tighter. But I needed this job. Hindi lang para sa pangarap ko, kundi para sa pamilya ko. For my mother’s medicines and for my younger sister’s tuition. And of course, for a future that didn’t involve constantly choosing which bill to pay and which one to ignore. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The interior was even more breathtaking. High ceilings with crystal chandeliers, marble floors so shiny I could see my own reflection. The air smelled faintly of expensive perfume and freshly brewed coffee. Every detail felt intentional, from the minimalist artwork on the walls to the quiet hum of efficiency everywhere. I approached the reception desk, while my heels clicking nervously against the floor. “Good morning,” I said softly. “I’m here for an interview. Alessia Guerrero.” The receptionist smiled politely, and scanning her tablet. Then her expression changed, like surprise flickering in her eyes. “Oh, Hi.” she said. “You’re being interviewed directly.” I blinked. “Directly?” “Yes, ma’am. By the owner.” My breath hitched. The owner? Seryoso? Before I could ask anything else, she stood up. “Please follow me.” We walked toward the elevators at the far end of the lobby. They weren’t ordinary elevators. glass-walled, sleek, and guarded by discreet security personnel. She pressed a button that wasn’t even labeled. “The top floor,” she explained. “Actually.. the entire floor.” I swallowed. The entire floor? Talagang buong floor is office ng owner? Wow naman, mapapa sana all ka nalang talaga. The elevator doors closed softly, and we ascended in silence. As we went higher, the city slowly revealed itself beneath us. buildings shrinking, cars becoming tiny dots, the sky opening wider with every second. I felt small. By the time the doors opened, I was convinced I had entered another world. The floor was quiet. Too quiet. Yung tipong ikaw nalang mahihiya gumawa ng tunog. Plush carpets muted every step. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. Sunlight flooded the space, illuminating modern furniture, abstract paintings, and shelves filled with law books, medical journals, and awards. Awards, so many awards. This wasn’t just an office. This was a throne. “Please wait here,” the receptionist said gently, and gesturing toward a sitting area. “She’ll see you shortly.” She. My heart skipped. So the owner was a woman. Before I could process that thought, a door at the end of the hallway opened, and everything else faded. She walked out like she owned not just the building, but the air itself. Tall and poised. Impossibly elegant. She wore a fitted black suit, sharp and flawless, like it was custom-made just for her. Her long hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, dark and glossy. While her heels echoed against the floor with authority, and every step deliberate. But it was her face that stole the breath from my lungs. She was so beautiful. Not the soft, sweet kind. She was devastating. Sharp eyes, framed by long lashes, carried a cold intelligence that could cut through steel. Her lips were perfectly shaped, painted in a muted red that spoke of control, not seduction. Her skin glowed under the sunlight, almost unreal. For a split second, my mind betrayed me. Parang diwata na naligaw sa mundo ng mga tao. No, more than that. She looked like the kind of woman people wrote laws for. The kind who could ruin you or save you with a single decision, and the kind you fall for without permission. And God help me.. I did. Right there, Instantly. Love at first sight was supposed to be stupid, and unrealistic. But as she walked closer, while her eyes locking onto mine, I felt something shift inside my chest. Something dangerous and something permanent. Ito na ba ‘yung babaeng pakakasalan ko balang araw? The thought terrified me. She stopped in front of me, her gaze sharp and unreadable. “You’re Alessia Guerrero.” she said. It wasn’t a question. Her voice was calm, low, and commanding. Parang sanay na sanay siyang masunod at parang sanay siya na walang kumokontra sa kanya. “Yes.” I replied, and standing up quickly. “Good morning, ma’am.” She raised an eyebrow slightly. “Follow me.” No smile and no greeting back, just an order. I followed her into her office and the room was massive. Glass walls, a long mahogany desk, a private lounge area, and behind her chair, a wall of windows showing the city from above, clouds almost at eye level. She took her seat, while crossing her legs gracefully. I remained standing. “Sit.” she said curtly. I did. She opened my folder, scanning my credentials with unsettling speed. “Public university.” she remarked flatly. “Yes, ma’am.” “Scholarship-based education.” “Yes.” “Working student.” I stiffened. “Yes.” She looked up then, her eyes narrowing. “You do realize Resian University does not hire out of sympathy,” she said coldly. “We hire excellence.” The words stung. Parang Indirect na minaliit ako girl. “I’m not asking for sympathy,” I replied, my voice steady despite the tremor in my chest. “I’m offering competence.” Something flickered in her eyes, like surprise, maybe or irritation. “Bold.” she said. “For someone who needs this job.” I clenched my hands on my lap. “I need it,” I admitted. “But I don’t beg for things I don’t deserve.” Madali lang naman akong kausap eh, if hindi ako qualified sa Univeristy niya, then, hindi. Ganon naman kadali yon. Silence filled the room. She leaned back slightly, and studying me like a case she was deciding whether to win or destroy. “Atty. Resia Therese Hernandez,” she introduced herself coolly. “Owner of Resian University.” As if I didn’t already know. Kilalang kilala siya sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo dahil sa angking galing niya sa pag a-abogasya at sa medisina. Yes, tama kayo. Si Atty. Resia ay isa ding doctor. But still, hearing her name felt.. intimate and dangerous. “I’m also a lawyer.” she continued. “And a doctor.” Of course she was. Kaka sabi ko pa nga lang kanina eh. Overachiever and Goddess. Ano pa kaya ang hindi niya kayang gawin? like nasa kanya na ang lahat bruh. Ako nalang ata ang kulang. “And I don’t tolerate mediocrity,” she added. “So convince me, Ms. Guerrero.” My heart raced. I met her gaze, and refusing to look away. “Then give me a chance,” I said. “And if I fail, then fire me.” Her lips curved, not into a smile, but something sharper. “Interesting,” she murmured. “Very interesting.” She closed the folder. “Welcome to Resian University, Professor Guerrero.” My breath caught. But before relief could settle in, she added. “Don’t disappoint me.” And just like that, I knew. This wasn’t just the start of my career. This was the beginning, and somehow? A love I never asked for. Paglabas ko ng opisina ni Atty. Resia, ay parang naiwan pa rin ang kalahati ng kaluluwa ko sa loob. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa kaba, o sa relief na natanggap ako ka agad, or sadyang dahil sa mismong presensya niya pero hanggang ngayon, ay ramdam ko pa rin ang titig niya. Mabigat na parang may iniwang marka sa dibdib ko. “Ma’am?” Napalingon ako. Nakatayo sa may hallway ang receptionist na sumama sa’kin kanina. Ngumiti siya this time. “Oh, hello.” sagot ko na medyo nahihiya. “Yes?” “I’m Grace,” she said, extending her hand. “By the way, congratulations.” I shook her hand, and still processing everything. “Thank you, Grace.” “Sinabihan po ako ni Atty. Hernandez,” dagdag niya. “na ilibot kayo sa buong campus. Orientation tour, kumbaga.” My eyes widened slightly. “Really?” hindi ko napigilang itanong. She nodded. “She was very specific about it.” Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero may kakaibang kiliti sa tiyan ko sa sinabi niya. Specific. That didn’t sound like Resia Hernandez at all. A cold and intimidating, busy owner of an empire. Pero hindi ko na inusisa. A-arte pa ba ako? may libreng pa tour na sila, ayos na din para hindi ako maligaw sa mala kahariaan na Unibersidad na ito. I nodded, a small smile forming on my lips. “Sure. I’d love that.” And I meant it. We rode the elevator down together, this time hindi na ako kinakabahan tulad kanina. Parang may bagong layer ng excitement na nakapatong sa dibdib ko. Pagbukas ng elevator doors sa ground level, ay bumungad ulit ang lawak ng Resian University. pero this time, hindi na ako outsider. I was part of it now. “Let’s start with the main campus.” sabi ni Grace habang naglalakad kami palabas ng building. The moment we stepped outside, I felt it. Space, fresh air and freedom. The campus stretched endlessly before me. Wide open courtyards connected by stone pathways, shaded by tall trees that looked decades old. Students sat on benches, some studying, and some laughing softly, others typing away on sleek laptops. Everywhere I looked, may harmony. The buildings were spaced generously, each with its own personality, some modern glass structures, and others stone-clad, almost classical in design. There were fountains at every major intersection, water flowing gently, catching the sunlight. “Grabe, sobrang ganda.” I whispered without meaning to. Grace chuckled. “That’s the usual reaction.” We passed by the College of Law. a grand building with towering columns and wide steps. Students in formal attire walked in and out, their posture serious, and focused. “This is one of Atty. Hernandez’s favorite departments.” Grace mentioned casually. Of course it was. Then came the Medical Sciences Wing. a massive structure connected to a private university hospital. Ambulances parked neatly at the side, glass doors sliding open and shut with quiet efficiency. “She’s very hands-on here,” Grace added. “Sometimes she still does rounds.” I swallowed. Lawyer, doctor and owner. May kulang pa ba? We walked further, past the Faculty Research Center, where floor-to-ceiling windows revealed professors deep in discussion, whiteboards filled with equations and theories. Then the International Studies Building, flags from different countries lining the entrance. It felt like I wasn’t just walking inside a school. It felt like I was walking through a small city but one built on ambition and privilege. “And this,” Grace said, while pointing ahead. “is the central garden.” I stopped walking. The garden was massive, almost park-like. A wide green lawn spread out, dotted with trees and flower beds arranged with almost artistic precision. At the center stood a circular fountain, larger than the others, water dancing upward like it was choreographed. Students lay on the grass, some reading, some sleeping, and some just staring up at the sky. I felt my chest tighten. “This place..” I murmured. “Parang ibang mundo.” Grace looked at me, softer this time. “It kind of is.” As we walked, I suddenly felt it. That strange sensation. Parang may nakatingin sa’kin. Hindi ‘yung ordinaryong feeling na may nakatingin dahil bago ka lang sa lugar. It was heavier than that, like intentional. Yung tipong bawat galaw mo ay parang may nag mamasid. I slowed my steps slightly, while my eyes scanning the surroundings. Students everywhere, professors and staff. But no one was looking directly at me. “Grace,” I said quietly. “Do you ever feel like you’re being watched here?” She glanced at me, and puzzled. “Watched?” I nodded, trying to laugh it off. “Wala, baka imagination ko lang.” She smiled, but there was something unreadable in her expression. “Resian University has a way of making people feel.. seen.” That didn’t comfort me. I looked around again, toward the upper floors of the buildings, the balconies, the glass windows reflecting the sky. For a split second, I thought.. No. I shook my head. Imagination mo lang ‘yan, Alessia. Still, the feeling lingered. We continued walking until we reached a quieter part of the campus. “This is the faculty wing,” Grace explained. “Each department has its own cluster of offices.” She led me to a building slightly set apart from the rest. It wasn’t as massive as the others, but it was elegant. three floors, stone exterior, and wide windows. We entered. The hallway smelled faintly of coffee and books. Soft lighting, wooden floors, framed photographs of past faculty members lining the walls. Grace stopped in front of a door. “This is yours.” she said, handing me a key card. I stared at the door. “My.. office?” She nodded. “Yes, Professor Guerrero. Welcome.” I pushed the door open. And froze. The office was huge, bigger than my apartment. No, much bigger. A large window dominated one side of the room, letting sunlight flood in. A wide wooden desk sat near the center, with a comfortable-looking leather chair behind it and two smaller chairs in front. There was a bookshelf already stocked. textbooks, references, and journals. A small sitting area near the window with a couch and a coffee table. Even a private restroom tucked neatly in one corner. I slowly walked inside, while my fingers brushing against the desk, the couch, and the smooth walls. “This is..” My voice trailed off. Grace smiled. “Standard faculty office.” I laughed softly, disbelief creeping in. “This is bigger than the place I live in.” Totoo nga, mas malaki pa siya sa apartment na tinutuluyan ko. Para siyang tatlong apartment ang katumbas, sobrang lawak. She tilted her head slightly. “You’ll get used to it.” I wasn’t sure I ever would. I walked toward the window, looking out at the campus below. Students walking, trees swaying. Life moving. And somewhere high above, behind glass walls and closed doors. A woman who had already changed the course of my life. As if on cue, that strange feeling returned. That sense of being watched. “Your schedule will be sent to you by email,” Grace said from the doorway. “If you need anything, my desk is on the ground floor.” “Thank you.” I said sincerely. She paused before leaving. “Oh, and Professor?” “Yes?” She smiled knowingly. “Resian University doesn’t let go easily.” After she left, I sat down on my chair, while ny heart pounding. I didn’t know why, but I had a feeling na this place would test me. Break me, and maybe.. change me forever.