In the quiet solitude of his room, Alex lay peacefully asleep, the morning sunlight gently filtering through the curtains. However, his serene slumber was interrupted by the playful antics of Mittens, his feline companion. The mischievous cat, finding amusement in the stillness of the morning, decided to play on Alex's face, prompting him to wake up with a start, only to witness Mittens gracefully fall from the bed.
Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Alex checked the time on the clock and realized, to his dismay, that he had overslept. The realization hit him with a sense of urgency, knowing that he was already running late for work. With a swift motion, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up, determined to make up for lost time.
In a brisk manner, Alex hurriedly made his way to the living room, where the aroma of breakfast lingered in the air. Issable, his ever-concerned sister, greeted him with a playful complaint, "Where did you go last night? You smelled stink!"
Apologizing for his tardiness, Alex explained, "Sorry! I just had a drink with Sophie."
Acknowledging the importance of a hearty meal to kickstart the day, Issable insisted, "Okay! Eat this before it's too late!" She presented a plate filled with a breakfast, a gesture of care and concern for her brother's well-being.
After hastily finishing his breakfast, Alex grabbed his belongings and headed towards the door, determined to make it to work despite the time crunch. Issable, with a teasing smile, called out, "Don't forget your deodorant today!"
"I won't!" Alex replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. With a quick wave, he left the apartment, closing the door behind him. The hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor as he made his way to the elevator, mentally preparing for the day ahead.
Meanwhile, Mia, who had been engrossed in her morning routine, emerged from her room. Catching a glimpse of Alex rushing off, she called out, "Late for work again, I presume?"
Alex, turning back with a grin, admitted, "Guilty as charged!"
As the elevator doors closed behind him, Mia turned her attention to Issable. "Ready for another boring day of college?" she said.
"Yeah," Issable replied, her enthusiasm slightly muted by the prospect of routine lectures.
They both strolled through the bustling streets, navigated the busy metro, and finally reached the college. The familiar sight of the campus greeted them, and they joined the stream of students making their way to classrooms.
After enduring some monotonous classes, the duo found themselves seeking refuge in the lively atmosphere of the college cafeteria.
"So, how much progression happened?" Mia asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What progression?" Issable responded, a bit confused.
"Between you and Oliver?" Mia teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing much," Issable replied, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment.
"Even your Alex is faster than you," Mia teased further, a playful smirk on her face.
Issable rolled her eyes at Mia's teasing. "Well, we're taking it slow, you know. No need to rush things."
Mia leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. "Taking it slow? Issable, you're in college. This is the time for whirlwind romances and epic love stories. Don't let it pass you by!"
Issable chuckled, "Not everyone needs a whirlwind. We're comfortable with our own pace."
Just then, Oliver approached the table, a cheerful grin on his face. "Hey, ladies! Mind if I join you?"
Mia gestured for him to sit. "Not at all! We were just discussing the intricacies of love and romance."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Intricacies, huh? Sounds like a serious conversation."
Issable laughed, "Don't mind Mia; she's just being her dramatic self."
Mia, with a playful glint in her eyes, feigned offense at Oliver's comment. "Dramatic? Me? Never!"
Oliver, amused by her response, chuckled and remarked, "Seems you are both having fun!"
"Absolutely!" Mia affirmed, sharing a conspiratorial grin with Oliver.
Taking advantage of the light-hearted atmosphere, Oliver proposed an afternoon movie plan. "The thing is, planning for the movie this afternoon! Care to join?" he asked them both.
Curious about the potential attendees, Mia inquired, "Who's coming?"
Oliver, with a casual shrug, replied, "Only me!"
Considering her schedule, Mia suggested, "Well, I've got some classes now! Issable is free now, though!"
Turning to Issable, Oliver asked, "Really, issy?"
Issable, considering the proposition, replied, "Well, I've got free time this afternoon! I think I can join you."
"Perfect! It's settled then. Let's go!" Oliver exclaimed with excitement.
As they prepared to head out, Mia couldn't resist a teasing remark. "Enjoy the time, Issable!" she quipped, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, setting the tone for an afternoon filled with laughter and camaraderie.
As they reached the movie theatre, Issable couldn't resist and asked, "What genre are we going to watch?"
Oliver, with excitement in his voice, replied, "Horror!"
"Horror?" Issable reacted with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Amused by her response, Oliver teased, "Are you afraid of horror movies?"
Issable, quick on her feet, immediately changed her expression and nonchalantly said, "Not really."
"Okay, then I will grab the tickets!" Oliver declared, taking charge of their movie night plans. The duo headed towards the ticket counter.
As they settled into their seats, the dim lights of the movie theatre began to fade, signaling the start of the horror movie. Issable, while initially feigning composure, found herself on the edge of her seat as the suspenseful scenes unfolded on the screen. The chilling atmosphere and unexpected jump scares had her occasionally gripping Oliver's arm.
Amidst the eerie ambiance of the horror film, Oliver, sensing Issable's mild apprehension, offered a comforting smile and subtly intertwined his fingers with hers. The touch, a reassuring and affectionate gesture, provided a sense of solace amidst the frightful narrative. As the movie progressed, their connection deepened, the shared experience bringing them closer.
During a particularly intense scene, Oliver leaned in, whispering, "Don't worry, I'm right here with you." His words, laced with warmth, conveyed a sense of protection, and Issable couldn't help but appreciate the subtle romantic undertones in the midst of the horror movie thrills.
As they stepped out of the movie theatre into the evening air, Oliver called out to Issable, "Hey, Issy!"
Turning towards him, she responded, "Ya?"
"Sorry for dragging you to a horror movie," Oliver apologized, a genuine concern in his voice.
Issable smiled and reassured him, "No, it's not you. I actually enjoyed it."
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Oliver suggested, "How about coffee to cool you off?"
"Let's go!" Issable replied, excitement evident in her response.