As Alex entered his workplace, he couldn't escape the watchful eye of Sophie, his vigilant colleague. Her gaze immediately fell upon the bandage wrapped around his arm, prompting her to voice her concerns.
"Alex, what happened to your arm?" Sophie inquired with a mix of curiosity and worry, her expression reflecting genuine care for her coworker.
With a nonchalant demeanor, Alex tried to downplay the situation. "Oh, it's nothing, just a small fight," he replied, as if it were a trivial occurrence.
Sophie's concern deepened, and she couldn't help but probe further. "What kind of fight are you in?" she asked, seeking more details about the incident.
With a casual smile, Alex elaborated, "Just a kid trying to attack my friend." Despite the potentially alarming nature of the situation, Alex's relaxed tone suggested that it was a minor scuffle.
"You are always as careless as ever," Sophie remarked, her worry evident in her tone. Concerned for his well-being, she suggested, "Why don't you take a rest today?"
Alex, however, brushed off the idea of taking a break, confident that the injury was inconsequential. "It's nothing, just a scratch," he assured her, dismissing the need for rest with a self-assured demeanor.
Sophie, unconvinced by Alex's reassurances, persisted with her concern. "Even a scratch needs proper care, Alex. You should at least consider taking it easy today," she suggested, her caring nature evident in her words.
Despite her advice, Alex remained adamant. "I appreciate your concern, Sophie, but I've got things to take care of. It's really not that big of a deal," he replied, downplaying the significance of the injury once again.
Sophie, realizing that Alex was not easily swayed, sighed and said, "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? We can't have our star employee get into too many fights."
Throughout the workday, Sophie couldn't shake off the worry about Alex. She observed him closely, offering assistance wherever she could and making sure he wasn't overexerting himself.
As they wrapped up their work, Alex expressed his gratitude to Sophie, "Thanks for your help today, Sophie."
She playfully responded, "Only thanks?"
Alex, catching her playful tone, asked, "What do you want then?"
"How about that coffee you promised one day?" she suggested, a twinkle in her eye.
Alex remembered their conversation about grabbing coffee sometime and smiled, "Alright, you got it. Let's go."
As Alex and Sophie settled into their usual seats at the nearby cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. They placed their orders, and as they waited for their drinks, Sophie's curiosity got the better of her.
"So, who's that woman you visited the shop with? The one you went to get coffee for," she asked, her eyes revealing genuine curiosity.
Alex, momentarily puzzled, tried to recall the incident. "Oh, you mean Emma. We're just neighbors," he clarified.
"Your neighbor?" Sophie echoed, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yeah, we live in the same building," Alex explained.
A brief silence hung in the air as they sipped their coffee. Sophie, unable to resist her curiosity, broke the quiet moment. "Are you and Emma... you know, dating or something?" she asked, her question catching Alex off guard.
The unexpected inquiry caused Alex to choke on his coffee. After recovering, he chuckled nervously. "No, no, nothing like that. We're just friends," he clarified, attempting to dispel any romantic speculations.
Sophie, satisfied with the clarification, grinned.
"Oh, really? Then I still have a chance," she said, teasingly.
Alex, while cleaning the spilled coffee, asked, "Did you say something?"
"No," she replied with a mischievous smile, leaving a hint of playful curiosity lingering in the air.
After dropping his sister Sophie off at her home, Alex strolled back to his apartment. Approaching the entrance, he couldn't help but notice a mysterious truck parked outside. Intrigued, he briefly pondered its presence but decided to dismiss it, prioritizing the familiarity of his own space.
Upon entering, Alex enthusiastically announced his arrival, expecting the usual routine with his sister Issy. Her immediate question about his tardiness betrayed her inherent curiosity.
Nonchalantly, Alex explained, "I went for coffee with a coworker."
Issy, seizing the opportunity for playful banter, inquired with a mischievous grin, "A coworker, you say? Is this coworker a girl?"
Unsuspectingly, Alex confirmed, "Yes."
Issy's eyes sparkled with mischief as she probed further, "And what's her name?"
Alex, still oblivious to the playful trap, responded, "Sophie."
Isabelle's grin widened as she delved into the banter, "Sophie, huh? Seems like there's more to this coffee outing than you're letting on."
Chuckling, Alex, now catching on, insisted, "It's really nothing, Issy. Just two friends enjoying a cup of coffee."
Isabelle, reveling in the playful interrogation, decided to give her brother a momentary reprieve, teasingly stating, "Alright, alright, I'll stop prying. But you know you can share these things with your dear sister, right?"
Amidst the sibling banter, Alex, appreciating the lighthearted exchange, replied with a smile, "Yeah, yeah," recognizing the warmth of sibling banter with Issy.
"Seems like someone is joining the flat beside us," Alex observed.
"Yeah! I noticed that truck. Hope we get a good neighbor," Isabelle replied, sharing her brother's curiosity about the new arrival.
The next morning, a lazy weekend day, Alex sleeping in his room until late morning. Unbeknownst to him, Lily, with her typical exuberance, entered his home and decided to wake him up in the most energetic way possible – by jumping on him.
"Wake up, Alex!" Lily shouted with glee.
Startled by the sudden wake-up call, Alex jolted awake. "Okay! Okay! I'm waking up," he reassured, chuckling at Lily's boundless energy.
"Wake up, brother! I made breakfast for you," Isabelle called from the kitchen.
"On my way!" Alex replied, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Let's have breakfast and play some video games, Lily," he added.
"Yay!" Lily exclaimed with excitement.
As Lily and Alex enjoyed their breakfast, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Isabelle offered while they were still at the table.
Opening the door, Isabelle was surprised to find a handsome guy standing there, holding a gift. Oliver, the new neighbor, exuded a friendly aura that caught her off guard. She felt an unknown sensation.