Mariely sat impatiently, waiting for her mother. They were supposed to head to the PRC so she could register for her licensure exam review.

“Mom is taking forever,” she complained, glancing at her brother.

He merely ruffled her hair. “Let it go.”

Instead of arguing, she sighed and continued waiting.

As agreed, Mariely would begin reviewing for the board exam while teaching at a private school. She had already applied to five schools and completed demo lessons at three. Another demo was scheduled for Monday, and her nerves were slowly creeping in.

I hope at least one school accepts me, she thought, silently praying.

Finally, her mother appeared.

“Let’s go,” she said. “The PRC might be crowded by now.”

Their destination was a nearby town, and thankfully, it wasn’t too packed when they arrived. They managed to finish everything in one go. It was exhausting—so much effort just to qualify for the exam—but it was worth it.

By the time they returned home, night had fallen, and Mariely was completely drained.

I just want to sleep, she grumbled as she headed straight to her room and collapsed onto the bed. She didn’t even bother eating dinner. Sleep claimed her almost instantly.

A loud knock jolted her awake.

Groggy, she got up and opened the door, only to see her mother standing there.

“Why, Mom?” she asked, yawning.

“Answer the phone,” her mother said, her tone serious.

“Huh? Why?” Mariely asked, confused.

“No more questions. Just go.”

Her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. In the living area, Mariely saw her older brother, Gill, still on the phone. He glanced at her and motioned for her to come closer.

Frowning, she obeyed.

“Here she is,” he said into the phone before handing it to her.

Mariely swallowed and took it.

“Hello, this is Faith Mariely Abad-Celestial,” she said politely.

“Good evening, Miss Faith Mariely Celestial. Congratulations!” a woman’s voice said on the other end. “You may start teaching at St. Joseph Academy this coming Monday.”

Mariely’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t speak.

“Please arrive early so we can discuss school policies. Once again, congratulations.”

“T-Thank you so much, Ma’am,” she finally managed.

“Good day.”

The call ended.

Mariely slowly lowered the phone, still frozen in place.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her.

“Let’s celebrate this good news,” her brother said, grinning widely.

“Brother…” she murmured, hugging him tightly.

Her heart felt like it might burst. Her dream of becoming a teacher was finally beginning. Love might still be absent from her life—but this dream mattered just as much.

That evening, the family held a simple celebration.

“There you go,” Nadia said cheerfully. “You’ve been hired! Now all that’s left is passing the board exam.”

“Yes,” Mariely replied, smiling brightly. “I’ll work hard. I’ll balance teaching and reviewing.”

“I know you can do it, El,” her brother said proudly.

Their faith in her touched her deeply. She lowered her head, smiling softly, determined not to disappoint them.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily.

I hope I can teach them well, she thought. Not just Filipino—but life, too.

A small smile curved her lips.

Alright. Time to sleep, Mariely.

Monday arrived faster than she expected.

She woke up early and headed straight to St. Joseph Academy. Upon arrival, she made her way to the principal’s office.

A woman sat behind the desk, typing on a laptop. Mariely instantly assumed she was the principal.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” she greeted respectfully.

The woman looked up and smiled warmly. “Good morning. Are you Miss Faith Mariely Celestial?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Mariely smiled back, remaining standing.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

“I’m Mrs. Becca Jordan-Montero, the school principal,” she said, offering her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Ma’am,” Mariely replied, shaking it politely.

They discussed her job details—salary, school policies, and the class she would handle.

“It’s great to have you on board,” Mrs. Montero said. “You’ll be assigned to the last section. I hope you have plenty of patience—those students can be quite a handful.”

The last section…
A flicker of doubt crept in.

Can I really do this?

Yes. I can. I have to.

Just then, the door opened.

A man stepped inside.

Tall. Handsome. And looking straight at her.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Caught off guard, Mariely quickly looked away.

She stood and bowed slightly. “I’ll head to my classroom now, Ma’am. Thank you very much.”

Mrs. Montero smiled. “Congratulations, Miss Celestial. Teach them with your heart.”

Mariely returned a quiet smile and glanced once more at the man. He was still looking at her—not rudely, but with curiosity.

She didn’t linger.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the office and headed toward the faculty room to drop off her things.

After that, she would face her first class.

Her real dream had finally begun.