"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

Jin woke up to the sound of his phone vibrating against the wooden desk. He had stayed up late after the Acquaintance Party, still processing the energy of the night. The applause, the whispers, the attention—he'd never been at the center of it all before.

His phone buzzed again. He groggily reached for it, squinting at the screen.

[Yssa – 7:45 AM]

> "You're getting a lot of attention, huh? That performance was the talk of the night!"

[Mika – 7:46 AM]

> "I'm pretty sure you just became the most talked-about freshman."

[Calix – 7:47 AM]

> "Dude, you've got the spotlight now. Don't mess it up."

Jin chuckled, his fingers tapping across the screen as he typed a quick response.

> "Let's hope I don't get a big head."

He tossed the phone back on the desk and sighed, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. The same face, the same guy—but something had shifted. The performance had cracked the shell he'd been hiding behind, and it was too late to ignore the ripple effect it was starting to cause.

---

The day was like any other at Westford Institute, but there was a different kind of buzz in the air. The whispers about Jin's performance lingered, even among people he didn't know. It felt like eyes were on him every time he passed someone in the hallways.

As Jin entered the campus courtyard, he saw a few students walking toward him. They smiled and nodded, one of them even stopped to say, "Hey, good job last night. You were awesome up there."

Jin returned the smile, giving a simple, "Thanks." It wasn't much, but it was enough to confirm that something had changed. People were starting to notice him, for better or for worse.

Yssa, Mika, and Calix were waiting for him near the entrance to their first class of the day.

"You know, you've officially crossed the threshold of 'college-famous,'" Yssa teased, nudging him.

Jin rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't say that…"

"Please, you're going to get mobbed next time you walk into the cafeteria," Mika added, grinning.

Jin smiled but shrugged. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. One good performance doesn't make me a star."

They entered the classroom, but Jin couldn't shake the feeling that things were beginning to shift. The attention, though mostly harmless, felt like a growing pressure. He wasn't used to being under the spotlight.

---

As the day wore on, Jin found himself more distracted than usual. His thoughts kept drifting back to his performance. The fact that people noticed him now wasn't what bothered him—it was the realization that things were moving faster than he expected. The attention wasn't just about his talent; it was about expectations. And Jin wasn't sure he was ready to meet them.

After class, he decided to stop by the campus café for a bit of alone time. He ordered a coffee and found a quiet corner by the window, pulling out his guitar. His fingers absentmindedly strummed as he let his mind wander.

The door chimed as it opened, and a familiar face walked in.

It was one of the seniors from the Acquaintance Party, the one who had complimented him on his performance.

"Hey, Jin, right?" the senior said, taking a seat across from him.

Jin looked up, surprised. "Yeah, that's me."

"I'm Erica. You were great last night. I'm part of the student council, and we've been talking about getting you involved in a few upcoming events."

Jin blinked, his heart skipping a beat. "Uh… I didn't know you guys were looking for performers."

Erica grinned. "Oh, we've been keeping an eye on you. You've got talent. We'd love to have you perform at the student showcase next month. If you're interested, we can set something up."

Jin swallowed. The idea of performing again, on a bigger stage, was both exciting and terrifying. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it, but the thought of passing up an opportunity like this seemed impossible.

He cleared his throat. "I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer."

Erica smiled and stood up. "We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with."

Jin watched her leave, feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. His phone buzzed again, snapping him out of his thoughts.

[Mika – 2:05 PM]

> "So, what's the deal with you and Erica? You guys making plans to take over the campus or what?"

Jin chuckled, typing back quickly.

> "Just had a chat. They want me to perform at the student showcase next month."

[Yssa – 2:06 PM]

> "Nice. I told you, you're going places."

Jin read their messages, but his thoughts remained with the invitation. The pressure was mounting, and he wasn't sure if he was prepared to handle it. But one thing was certain—he couldn't back out now. The path he was on was only getting more complicated.

---

The next few days passed in a blur. With every new interaction, Jin felt the weight of expectation growing. People were talking about him, complimenting him, and even suggesting he take his music more seriously. But with that came more internal conflict.

Was he really ready to take on a bigger role in this world? Was he ready to balance his studies, his music, and his social life?

One thing was for sure: his journey was just beginning. And he was going to have to find a way to navigate it all.

End of Chapter 44