บท 12: Mischievous Albie
Xavier squinted his eyes, realizing what Albie was insinuating. "I know what you're trying to do here, Albie. But you won't find anything interesting. Having nothing to do here left me with the option of attending classes."
"But Albie is right. It's very rare for you to attend classes, let alone regularly, especially in our last year of college," Mason added, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Finally, my friend is talking," Albie smirked, giving Mason a playful nudge.
Xavier, of course, knew the answer to their questions. He knew he wasn't acting normal. Whenever he thought about Emma, something unusual always came out in his behavior. He had tried numerous times to stop it, but it was no use.
It's been more than a week since he started attending college, and not once had he missed a class with Emma. It was hard for him to focus on the subject when his whole attention was on her. Today, he was glad that his friends were back; he hoped it would help him feel normal again, as he returned to his usual life. But even now, in front of them, he could see himself still not acting straight.
"There's nothing to it, really," Xavier insisted, trying to dismiss the topic. "College just gives me something to do. It's a break from all the responsibilities here."
"But there's more to it, isn't there?" Albie's tone was knowing, his eyes searching Xavier's face for any telltale signs. "You don't just suddenly become the model student without a reason."
Xavier sighed, realising he couldn't hide his feelings from his friends. They knew him too well. "Fine. Maybe there is something. But it's nothing serious," he admitted reluctantly, his mind involuntarily drifting to Emma.
"Something or someone?" Albie nudged.
Mason's eyes widened in surprise. "Someone? Now this is getting interesting."
"Interesting seems to be the word of the day," Albie remarked with a grin.
“You always have to be a busybody, don’t you?” Xavier asked, his tone tinged with exasperation as he glanced at Albie, who was grinning mischievously.
“My life runs only on such fun,” Albie answered with a playful shrug, his eyes twinkling with a mix of defiance and amusement. He leaned back in his chair, clearly unbothered by Xavier's irritation.
Xavier sighed, shaking his head slightly. “Then I would like to ask for some mercy here because I don't have any answers for you,” he replied, his voice softening a bit. There was a note of resignation in his words, as if he knew Albie wouldn't change but hoped for a momentary reprieve.
Albie pouted, his playful demeanour slipping for just a moment. He crossed his arms and looked away, his silence speaking volumes.
Albie and Mason exchanged glances, recognizing the genuine difference in Xavier's voice. It had been a long time since they saw such difference in Xavier.
When Xavier didn't answered Albie didn't probe either. "It's okay. Tomorrow we anyway would go to university and find it."
The atmosphere lightened with Albie's remark, but the curiosity lingered. They all knew that their world was one of responsibilities and expectations, where emotions often took a backseat. Yet, there was something different in Xavier's eyes, a hint of genuine interest and perhaps something more.
As they continued to talk about mundane things, their banter filled the room with a sense of normalcy, a brief respite from the heavy burdens they carried. But for Xavier, the thought of Emma stayed with him, a bright spot in his otherwise controlled and calculated world.
Albie couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Xavier's change in demeanor. He decided he would find out more about this "interesting" college life. For now, though, he let it be, content to have his brothers by his side, sharing a drink and a moment of peace amidst the chaos of their lives.
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