CHAPTER 9

Chapter 9: A Change in the Air

The buzz from the roleplay incident lingered for days. Everywhere I went, people either gave me knowing smirks or burst into laughter the moment they saw me. Even students I didn’t know would whisper, “That’s the guy who breastfed the baby in class.”

Carla, of course, wouldn’t let me forget it. “You’re basically a campus celebrity now,” she teased as we walked to the cafeteria. “Honestly, you should start charging for autographs.”

“I’m going to ignore that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But seriously, do you think Professor JM thinks I’m a total weirdo?”

Carla grinned. “Weirdo? Nah. Memorable? Definitely.”

I sighed, unsure whether to feel relieved or mortified.

---

Later that afternoon, I had another class with Professor JM. I walked in, determined to keep a low profile. To my surprise, he greeted me with a nod and a faint smile.

“Junno,” he said as I passed his desk, “you seem to have a knack for making class… lively.”

“Uh, I hope that’s a good thing, sir,” I said, scratching the back of my neck.

“It is,” he replied, his tone sincere. “Just make sure you balance it with focus. Humor has its place, but so does discipline.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, feeling oddly encouraged by his words.

---

The lecture that day was about interpersonal communication, and as always, Professor JM’s delivery was captivating. He had a way of making even the most mundane topics feel engaging.

At one point, he posed a question about resolving conflicts within relationships. Several students raised their hands, but I hesitated. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to draw attention to myself after the roleplay fiasco.

“Junno,” he said, catching me off guard. “What’s your take?”

I blinked, my mind racing to form an answer. “Uh, I think… communication is key, but it’s also important to understand the other person’s perspective. Like, sometimes it’s not about being right—it’s about finding common ground.”

Professor JM nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “That’s a mature perspective. Well said.”

The class murmured in agreement, and for the first time that week, I felt like I was being recognized for something other than my antics.

---

After class, Carla nudged me as we walked out. “Look at you, impressing the professor. You might actually survive this semester.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said dryly, though I couldn’t help but smile.

As we headed to our next class, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Maybe it was the way Professor JM had looked at me—not with amusement, but with genuine respect.

Or maybe it was the realization that I wanted to be more than just the class clown.

Whatever it was, I decided it was time to step up my game.

---

That evening, as I sat at my desk reviewing notes, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Professor JM.

“Good insight today, Junno. Keep contributing like that, and you’ll do well in this course.”

I stared at the message, a mix of surprise and pride bubbling inside me.

“Thank you, sir,” I replied. “I’ll do my best.”

As I set my phone down, I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time since arriving at university, I felt like I was finally finding my place.