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The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed.
It was only my second day at the university, but I already felt like I belonged here.
The cool breeze of La Trinidad added to the excitement of starting another chapter in my life.
I quickly went through my morning routine, eager to get to my first class of the day.
The schedule said "Introduction to Behavioral Sciences," located in Room 4B of the Social Sciences building. I double-checked my map before heading out-getting lost on campus was not on my agenda.
The Social Sciences building was buzzing with energy as students rushed to their classes. When I entered Room 4B, I picked a seat in the middle row, close enough to engage but not so close as to stand out.
As the clock struck 8:00 a.m., the door swung open, and in walked the man from yesterday-the one who bumped into me on the sidewalk.
My jaw dropped.
He strode into the room confidently, carrying a stack of papers and a leather-bound folder. His semi-formal outfit now made sense. He wasn't an older student or someone pursuing his master's degree-he was the professor.
The room fell silent as he placed his things on the desk and surveyed the class. His piercing gaze seemed to linger on me for a split second before he addressed the room.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor JM, and I'll be your instructor for this course. Let's start by discussing the syllabus."
His voice was calm yet commanding, and it was clear he had everyone's full attention. I, on the other hand, was struggling to process the fact that the person I had mentally chastised yesterday was now standing in front of me as my professor.
He distributed copies of the syllabus and began explaining the course objectives. As he spoke, I couldn't help but notice how passionate he seemed about the subject. He had this magnetic presence that made it impossible to look away.
About halfway through the lecture, Professor JM glanced in my direction.
"You," he said, pointing at me.
My heart skipped a beat. Was he about to call me out for something?
"What's your name?"
"Junno Kinley, sir," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Well, Junno, can you tell me why you think studying human behavior is important?"
I hesitated for a moment, but then I remembered something I had read online about the significance of behavioral sciences.
"It's important because understanding human behavior helps us navigate relationships, solve conflicts, and build a better society," I said.
Professor JM nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "A good answer. Behavioral science is indeed the key to understanding what makes people tick. Let's explore that further as we dive deeper into this course."
Relieved, I sank back into my seat, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was observing me more closely than the other students.
When class ended, I packed my things quickly, eager to leave before I could embarrass myself further. As I reached the door, I heard his voice behind me.
"Junno, a word?"
I froze. Turning around, I saw him standing by the desk, motioning for me to come over.
"Yes, sir?" I said, approaching cautiously.
"You seem familiar," he said, narrowing his eyes as if trying to place me.
"Well, uh, we sort of... bumped into each other yesterday," I admitted, scratching the back of my head.
His eyes widened briefly before he chuckled. "Ah, yes. I remember now. My apologies for that-I was distracted."
"No worries, sir. It wasn't entirely your fault," I replied, feeling a mix of relief and awkwardness.
"Good. Well, I look forward to seeing what you bring to this class," he said, his tone friendly but enigmatic.
"Thank you, sir," I said, before quickly exiting the room.
As I walked across campus, I couldn't help but replay the conversation in my head. Was it just me, or did Professor JM seem more intriguing up close?
Little did I know, this was only the beginning of a connection that would reshape my entire university experience.