Love in the time of grades Second Semester

Chapter 9: The Unexpected Invite

The week passed uneventfully, and by Friday, I felt like I could finally relax. The whispers had almost completely died down, and Carla and Mark had taken it upon themselves to ensure I stayed out of trouble.

“We should do something fun this weekend,” Carla announced as we walked to the cafeteria after our last class. “Something to celebrate surviving this whole ordeal.”

“Like what?” I asked, opening the door for her and Mark.

“Movie night? Karaoke?” Carla suggested.

Mark shook his head. “How about something chill? A hike, maybe? Baguio’s got great spots.”

I was about to agree when my phone buzzed. It was a text from JM.

JM: Any plans this weekend?
Me: Not yet. Why?
JM: I was thinking… Would you like to have dinner at my place?

My heart skipped a beat. JM had never invited me to his place before.

“What’s with the look?” Carla asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Uh…” I hesitated, showing them the text.

Carla gasped dramatically. “Oh my gosh, Professor JM is inviting you over? That’s huge!”

Mark whistled. “Big moves, man. Are you going?”

“I don’t know,” I said, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

“You have to go,” Carla said firmly. “This is a milestone!”

“Just don’t forget to tell us every juicy detail after,” Mark added with a grin.

Later that evening, I found myself standing in front of JM’s apartment door, feeling both excited and nervous. I knocked, and he opened the door almost immediately, his warm smile putting me at ease.

“Junno,” he said, stepping aside to let me in. “I’m glad you could make it.”

His apartment was cozy and tastefully decorated, with bookshelves lining one wall and a small dining table set for two. The smell of something delicious wafted from the kitchen.

“You cook?” I asked, surprised.

JM chuckled. “I try. I hope you like pasta.”

“Who doesn’t?” I said, smiling.

Dinner was amazing. JM’s pasta was restaurant-quality, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. We talked about everything—our favorite childhood memories, future aspirations, and even silly things like our favorite snacks.

As we finished our meal, JM leaned back in his chair, looking at me thoughtfully.

“You know,” he said softly, “spending time with you like this… It feels right.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I feel the same way.”

JM reached across the table, his hand brushing mine. “No matter what challenges we face, I’m glad we’re doing this together.”

After dinner, JM insisted on walking me home. The night was cool and quiet, the streets lit by soft streetlights.

As we reached my apartment, JM paused. “Thanks for coming tonight, Junno. It meant a lot to me.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” I said, smiling.

Before I could say anything else, JM leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a tender kiss. My heart raced as I kissed him back, feeling a sense of belonging I’d never experienced before.

When we pulled away, JM smiled. “Goodnight, Junno.”

“Goodnight,” I whispered, watching him walk away.

Back in my apartment, I collapsed onto the couch, a goofy grin plastered on my face. This wasn’t just a milestone—it felt like the beginning of something truly special.