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The weekend couldn’t come soon enough.

After our exchange of texts, I was excited but also a little nervous.

We had decided to meet for coffee, something simple, just to hang out and get to know each other better without the distractions of campus life.

But there was something different in the air now.

The unspoken connection between JM and me had deepened, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this coffee date would mark another significant step in whatever it was we were building.

Saturday morning arrived, and I spent the day cleaning my apartment, making sure everything was in order, and giving myself the pep talk I needed.

I couldn’t believe I was actually going to meet with JM outside of class—outside of the professor-student dynamic that had been the foundation of our relationship until now.

What would happen when we were just two people?

Would things feel different?

Around 4 p.m., I got a message from him.

JM: Hey, I’m at the café already. Where are you?

I quickly typed a reply.

Junno: I’m on my way. Be there in 10 minutes.

I checked my reflection in the mirror, made sure my outfit was casual but presentable—blue jeans, a simple black shirt, and my favorite sneakers. Nothing too fancy, but enough to feel like I’d put some thought into it.

When I arrived, I spotted JM right away.

He was sitting by the window, a cup of coffee in front of him, scrolling through his phone.

He looked relaxed, but there was an edge of nervousness in his posture, like he was just as unsure about this as I was.

I walked over to his table, trying to suppress the butterflies in my stomach.

"Hey," I said with a small smile, trying to keep it casual.

JM looked up, and his face lit up when he saw me. He immediately stood up, pushing his chair back, and gestured for me to sit.

"Hey, Junno," he said, his voice warmer than I’d ever heard it before. “Glad you could make it.”

I sat down, my heart still racing. “Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.” I smiled, feeling the tension between us shift just a little.

We ordered coffee—me, a cappuccino, and him, a simple black coffee.

The conversation started slowly at first.

We talked about the usual things: how our week had been, the classes we were taking, what we were working on.

But slowly, as we continued to talk, the conversation became more personal.

It was as if we were both testing the waters, finding the right balance between professor and student, and two people trying to navigate something new.

I found myself laughing more than I had in a while, enjoying JM’s sense of humor and how easy it was to talk to him. His smile was genuine, and I could feel the connection between us growing stronger with each passing minute.

“So, how’s everything going with your studies?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes studying me in a way that made me feel like he was paying attention to every word I said.

I shrugged, trying to keep it light. “It’s going alright. Some days are better than others. But I’m managing. And you? How’s being a professor treating you?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s... different. I’ve been teaching for a few years, but I still get nervous before every class. There’s a lot of responsibility. But it’s rewarding, in its own way.”

I smiled, appreciating his honesty. “I get that. It must be tough balancing everything. I mean, you’re a professor, but you’re also still human, you know?”

JM raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a teasing smile. “You think I’m human?”

I laughed, feeling a little more at ease. “You have to be. No one can be perfect all the time.”

We shared a moment of comfortable silence, sipping our drinks.

I found myself watching him more closely than I probably should have, noticing the way his eyes seemed to soften when he looked at me, the way he seemed completely in tune with our conversation.

There was something about him that was magnetic—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “I’m glad we’re doing this. It feels good to just... be ourselves, outside of school. No expectations, no pressure.” He paused, his voice softer now. “I’m really glad we decided to take that step.”

I nodded, feeling my chest tighten slightly. “Me too. It’s... it’s nice, actually, to not have to worry about anything else. Just us.”

His gaze softened even more, and he leaned in a little closer. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, Junno. About us. And I’m not going to lie—I’m excited. Nervous, but excited.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Same here. But... are we allowed to be excited? Is that okay?” I asked, half-joking, but there was an undertone of seriousness to my question.

JM’s eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. “Yeah, Junno. It’s okay. Whatever this is, it’s real. And I’m not afraid to see where it goes.”

The air between us shifted, and I felt a new layer of trust open up. We weren’t just playing it safe anymore. We were acknowledging what was happening, and for the first time, it felt like we were both on the same page.

After finishing our coffee, I hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Hey, I know this is kind of random, but would you want to grab some street food with me after this?

JM chuckled, his eyes sparkling. “I’m in. That sounds perfect.”

We left the café together, and as we walked to my apartment, our conversation continued to flow naturally.

There was a sense of ease now, no longer clouded by uncertainty.

By the time we reached the street food stall near my apartment, the night had fully settled in, and the world around us seemed to fade into the background.

As we ate, the street lights flickered above us, and I couldn’t help but smile. This moment, simple as it was, felt like the beginning of something new—something real.

---

Later that night, after JM had left and I was sitting alone in my apartment, I found myself thinking about everything that had happened. It was a new chapter, one that had started with a simple cup of coffee, and now felt like it was leading somewhere deeper.

I couldn’t predict the future, but for the first time, I was okay with that. Whatever came next, I knew that I was ready to face it with JM by my side.