My Handsome Professor

"Good morning, Section A star class," a baritone voice woke their slumbering minds. They all stood up simultaneously and greeted in return, "Good morning, Sir."

He gestured for them to sit, "sit." Then he placed his belongings on a small table in front of him. "I know everyone doesn't know me here, so let me introduce myself. I am Pietro Salvacion, your new professor in the subject of Philosophy. I'll give you all one hour to interrogate me and introduce yourselves."

Trattacia raised her hand, "Sir, you look very handsome. Do you have a girlfriend already?" She asked, making others giggle.

The professor chuckled and scratched his chin with a half-smile, "Seriously? I'm married." He then showed them his ring, which looked like an infinity ring.

Most of them gasped and congratulated the professor.

"Sir, do you have any children?" Another student asked.

Professor Pietro sat at the desk before answering, "Yes, a 2-year-old."

"Maybe you can bring them here sometime, Sir?" suggested another student.

Jasmine raised her hand to ask, "Sir, may we know the name of your lucky wife?"

"Hmm, I can't, but I can tell you our callsign. Do you want to know what?" He teased.

His classmates quickly answered, "Yes, Sir!"

"We both call each other 'babe.'"

"Wow! Hope all, Sir!" exclaimed the students.

Robert raised his hand, "Can I ask something different, Sir? How many years have you been teaching?"

"I'm a licensed professor, but this is my first time teaching. But, I'll make sure all of you will learn."

"Are you guys going to introduce yourselves?" Jake suddenly asked.

They nodded and began introducing themselves until it was Bianca's turn.

She smiled sweetly and said, "I'm Bianca Martin, 18 years old," then took her seat.

The professor raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you going to tell us, or me, your hobby? Your favorite?"

She stood up again, "I love playing the guitar and singing." That's it, and she sat back down.

"Are you shy, Ms. Bianca?" He asked, gazing at her.

"Oh, Sir! No, she's not. That's just how Bianca is," a classmate interjected.

"Yes, Sir. She's not the type to break the ice."

"Her modesty matches her beauty."

Embarrassed, she hung her head and didn't speak further. There was even a question-and-answer portion, and she could say their new professor was kind. However, he occasionally seemed emotionless in his facial expressions and tone.

"MISS BIANCA, can you bring my things in my office?" He asked hesitantly. She nodded slightly and started to tidy up his belongings. They both left the room and headed to his office.

She didn't realize that the professor's office was quite far.

"Sir, are we still far?" Bianca asked the professor.

He looked at her with concern, "Why? Are you tired?" he asked, then muttered to himself, "I shouldn't have asked you to bring my things."

"N-no, I'm not tired. Your office is just a bit far," Bianca replied politely.

He suddenly turned to her and took her belongings.

"Wh-why are you taking them?" She asked, puzzled.

He arranged the items in his hands and said, "You can now go back to your classroom. Let me handle this. Thank you, Miss Bianca."

She was about to protest, but he started walking away.

She had no choice but to obey and return to her classroom.

"Oh, girl, did you bring Sir's things?" Jasmine asked when Bianca returned to the classroom.

Bianca slumped in her seat, "No."

Jasmine frowned, "Then why are you back?"

Bianca sighed and replied, "I didn't know that Professor Pietro's office was so far. He didn't let me bring his things and told me to go back."

After a full day of classes, Bianca quickly went home to prepare for her job at the bar. She cooked dinner, took a quick shower, and headed to the bar where she worked.

Bianca's job as a waitress at the bar was generally fine, except when customers became rude and disrespectful, which she couldn't avoid.

She sighed when she felt the bold hand of a customer touch her thigh. "How much for a one-night stand, miss?" the man asked.

She quickly moved his hand away and replied, "I'm a waitress here, not a prostitute. If you're looking for that, look elsewhere."

The man persisted, saying, "Don't be too prudish, miss."

Bianca politely tried to free herself, saying, "I'm sorry, please let me go."

"Did you already bring Sir's things?" Jasmine greeted her upon her return to the classroom.

Bianca looked tired as she made her way to her seat. "No," she answered simply, which puzzled Jasmine.

"Why are you back then?"

She sighed and replied, "I didn't know Professor Pietro's office was so far away. He didn't let me bring his things and just asked me to go back here."

After a full day of classes, Bianca immediately went home to prepare for her job at the bar. She cooked dinner, took a quick shower, and then headed to the bar to start her shift.

Bianca's job as a waitress at the bar was generally okay, but she often had to deal with disrespectful customers, which she couldn't avoid.

She let out a deep breath when she felt a customer's hand on her thigh. "How much for a one-night stand, miss?" the man asked.

She quickly pushed his hand away and spoke firmly, "I'm a waitress here, not a prostitute. If you're looking for that, you're in the wrong place."

The man continued to harass her, saying, "Don't be too uptight, miss."

Bianca politely tried to free herself, saying, "I'm sorry, please let me go."

On the second day of school, Bianca woke up early. She wore simple blue denim jeans paired with a blue denim jacket, and underneath, a black fitted tank top. She put on her shoes, a hairband, picked up her bag, and headed to school.

While in the corridor, she noticed a lot of noise around her. She didn't want to be nosy, but something caught her attention.

"I heard the Head of Administrators got fired," a girl said to her friend.

Immediately, her friend asked, "For what reason, Santhia?"

"About the 50 thousand money that should be given to the Scholars of this school. They allegedly embezzled it, and the school owner only found out recently."

Bianca quickly walked away when she realized that two girls were eavesdropping on their conversation. Did that mean there was allocated money for them, just as the professor mentioned last night?

She only snapped back to reality when someone flicked something near her face. She realized it was Jake.

She stood up straight and said, "President."

"You're out in peace. What's happening, Bianca?" he asked. While others might have interpreted it differently, in their section, it was normal for Jake to do that. That's why he was chosen as the section's president.

Bianca shook her head at him and gave a polite answer, "Nothing."

She knew he didn't believe her, judging by the raised eyebrow. But when she nodded, he didn't press further and just walked alongside her to their classroom.

As they entered the classroom, they were met with teasing from their classmates.

"Look at that!"

"Ahem, ahem, President is getting close!"

"Don't tell me you're courting Bianca, Mr. President?"

"You look good together!"

Jake immediately spoke up, "Don't think like that, guys. I just walked with Miss Bianca."

The classmates didn't stop teasing, even though he spoke up. "What's with the noise, Section A star class?" their professor asked loudly. They all stood up and greeted him.

"Good morning, Sir!"

"Sit down. Care to tell me what you guys were talking about?" he asked after placing his things on the desk.

Jasmine, who was always outspoken, spoke up, "Sir, Jake and Bianca came to school together. We thought they might be in a relationship." Their professor didn't react at first, but then his raised eyebrow was replaced by a puzzled frown. "You're still too young for that," he said with a sigh.

As the teacher started his class, they knew he wasn't in the mood, so they remained quiet to avoid being the target of his irritation.

"Oh my, our professor seemed to have had a worse morning than someone with PMS. I wonder what happened?" Jasmine said while they were having lunch in the cafeteria. They had just finished their class with Sir Pietro, and they felt completely drained.

Someone placed their food on the table. "You're right, girl. I think our handsome professor had a problem," Charlie said, taking a bite of his burger.

Bianca shook her head and took a sip of water. "Let's just leave Sir alone. Maybe he's just dealing with something."

Eating her lunch, Bianca suddenly felt Jasmine pinch her waist, causing her to yelp in pain.

"What was that, huh? Miss Bianca Martin," Jasmine teased with an annoying tone.

Bianca tried to act innocent. "What are you talking about?"

Jasmine grinned and gestured towards Bianca's back. She turned around and saw the President of the Supreme Student Government Council behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers and chocolates.

The cafeteria erupted in whispers and giggles. Some were giddy, some had disapproving looks, others were recording, and still, others were saying various things and gossiping.

She stood up and faced him, asking, "President, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I was at the mall this morning and suddenly remembered my girl," he said with a smile. Bianca felt her cheeks flush because of what he said.

"You didn't have to bother." She said shyly and accepted the flowers and chocolates he offered.

He laughed lightly and squeezed her cheeks from both sides after giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Nah, it's okay. Anyway, I have to go. We have a tournament practice. Wish me luck, baby."

She smiled at him, "Good luck."

Only he was allowed to court her out of the many who wanted to, and she knew he was different from the rest.

After he left, Jasmine pinched her waist again, causing her to wince in pain.

"What was that, huh? Miss Bianca Martin," Jasmine teased with a mocking tone.

Bianca tried to act innocent. "What are you talking about?"

Jasmine grinned and gestured towards Bianca's back. She turned around and saw the President of the Supreme Student Government Council behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers and chocolates.

The cafeteria erupted in whispers and giggles. Some were giddy, some had disapproving looks, others were recording, and still, others were saying various things and gossiping.

She stood up and faced him, asking, "President, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I was at the mall this morning and suddenly remembered my girl," he said with a smile. Bianca felt her cheeks flush because of what he said.

"You didn't have to bother." She said shyly and accepted the flowers and chocolates he offered.

He laughed lightly and squeezed her cheeks from both sides after giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Nah, it's okay. Anyway, I have to go. We have a tournament practice. Wish me luck, baby."

She smiled at him, "Good luck."

Only he was allowed to court her out of the many who wanted to, and she knew he was different from the rest.

After he left, Jasmine pinched her waist again, causing her to wince in pain.

"What was that, huh? Miss Bianca Martin," Jasmine teased with a mocking tone.

Bianca tried to act innocent. "What are you talking about?"

Jasmine grinned and gestured towards Bianca's back. She turned around and saw the President of the Supreme Student Government Council behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers and chocolates.

The cafeteria erupted in whispers and giggles. Some were giddy, some had disapproving looks, others were recording, and still, others were saying various things and gossiping.

She stood up and faced him, asking, "President, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I was at the mall this morning and suddenly remembered my girl," he said with a smile. Bianca felt her cheeks flush because of what he said.

"You didn't have to bother." She said shyly and accepted the flowers and chocolates he offered.

He laughed lightly and squeezed her cheeks from both sides after giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Nah, it's okay. Anyway, I have to go. We have a tournament practice. Wish me luck, baby."

She smiled at him, "Good luck."

Only he was allowed to court her out of the many who wanted to, and she knew he was different from the rest.

"Pietro was walking inside his house when he heard a loud voice coming his way.

"Dada! Dada!" It was his son, Piero, calling him as he ran towards him. His son's nanny followed behind in case he stumbled while running.

With a smile on his face, he welcomed his son. "Gotcha, baby!" Pietro exclaimed when he caught Piero. "How was my baby's day?" His son said various things he couldn't understand.

Pietro laughed heartily when Piero blew a bubble with his mouth. "You are very cute. You take after Momma."

"Momma?" Piero looked puzzled.

He nodded at his son, "Yes, Momma, your mother."

"Momma! Momma! Momma!" His son happily repeated.

Pietro suddenly felt empathy for his son. He never had the chance to feel his mother's warmth. He could sense that Piero longed for his mother, but all he could do was wait for the right time."

He turned to Tebby, his son's babysitter. "How is Piero doing?"

The young woman smiled at him. "Oh, sir, Piero is very lively, especially now that he's learned to walk. But despite that, the child had a good day and ate three times today." Tebby warmly informed Pietro.

"Well, thank you for that, Teddy. You can rest now; I'll take care of my son." Teddy nodded and kissed Piero's forehead before going upstairs.

Pietro went to his room on the second floor with Piero in his arms. He placed Piero on the soft mattress, changed his clothes into pajamas, and turned on the TV. They watched cartoons until Piero fell asleep. He sighed and carried Piero to the nursery room, placed him in his crib, kissed his forehead and both cheeks, and covered him with a soft sheet.

Pietro went downstairs, had dinner, and then returned to his room to work.

Pietro massaged his forehead as he looked up at the nearest wall clock. It was already three in the morning, and his class was scheduled to start at 8:30 am. He got up from his chair, tidied the messy table, and headed to bed.

He sat on the mattress and picked up their wedding photo. He caressed his wife's picture, feeling the longing in his heart. "Wife, I miss you," Pietro said, and his eyes filled with tears.

For a husband who loved his wife deeply, it was painful that she wasn't with them. The pain and regret weighed heavily on his heart, making him feel almost too much to bear. As night fell, he always felt alone without his wife's embrace.

Tears began to flow freely. He placed the picture frame back on the bedside table and forced himself to get some sleep. It was still early tomorrow.

Despite feeling drowsy, he forced himself to get up for his class. He had arrived home late, thanks to the heavy workload last night. He had refused the professor's job offer last week because he didn't want to work here; it would have been embarrassing.

Because of the lack of sleep, he unintentionally dozed off in class.

"Miss Bianca Martin!" She jolted awake at the sound of the teacher's stern voice. She sat up straight, adjusting her appearance. "How dare you sleep in my class?" Madam Victoria asked, and Bianca bit her lip in embarrassment. She apologized.

The teacher nodded and gave her a warning look. "You'll leave the classroom if you sleep in my class again. Detention room, Miss Martin."

Bianca nodded in acknowledgment.

After their class, Bianca's friends asked about their upcoming PE class with a new trainer. They wondered what had happened to the previous trainers.

Back in her room, Bianca received a call from her sister, who asked for money. She had lost her job and her family was struggling. Bianca felt her financial situation was tight and vowed to save to send some money to her family.

Bianca's stomach growled, but her fridge was empty. She had no choice but to suppress her hunger and save money.