Chapter 464: Striking First
Chapter 464: Striking First
On a bright and sunny weekend, the weather was a pleasant surprise, a rarity in recent times. Yet, here they were, cooped up in the library working on homework, a chore that Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were growing increasingly weary of.
As Easter holidays approached, the professors seemed intent on inundating students with mounds of homework, as if determined to ensure they had no time for fun and frolics during the break.
To avoid cramming all the assignments into the holidays, they had to start early, carving out some much-needed rest time for themselves during the break.
Every year, the Easter holidays paled in comparison to the excitement of Christmas, with most students resigned to spending their days in the library, stifling yawns and sighing over their onerous tasks.
In the library, Lee Jordan stifled a yawn and glanced at Albert, nudging him and whispering, "I heard you got yourself a Ravenclaw girl."
Lee's words immediately caught the attention of those around them, heads popping up with interest in the budding gossip.
"Why don't you say I got the most beautiful girl in Ravenclaw?" Albert was exasperated. There was something about the way Lee phrased it that didn't sit right with him.
"So, is it true?" Fred and George were equally curious, feeling that Albert should have had a girlfriend long ago.
Was the truth finally out? The girls sitting opposite them looked uncomfortable, feeling awkward listening to this conversation.
"Who's the lucky girl?"
Shan'na took a deep breath and asked stiffly.
"Who else but that Ravenclaw genius!" Lee Jordan exclaimed with feigned surprise. "Geniuses are always drawn to each other. Haven't you heard the rumors about them being a couple?"
"You don't mean that rumor is true?" Angelina raised an eyebrow.
"No, it's not," Albert said gently. "We were just friends back then. But recently, the rumor has been gaining traction, so I thought about asking Isabelle, and she agreed to be my girlfriend."
Albert shook his head as he finished, "I have to admit, that rumor really helped speed things along."
The group fell silent, unsure how to respond.
News of Albert and Isabelle's date spread quickly, with everyone talking about it. Many girls felt dejected upon learning the reason for their coupling.
However, the most disheartened were likely Isabelle's closest companions.
They had never imagined that Isabelle would quietly snag Albert like this.
"A trick?" Isabelle repeated, her expression odd.
"No trick. I was just discussing academic issues and casually mentioned the recent events, and he asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend. I thought about it and agreed."
That's it? Everyone stared at Isabelle, dumbfounded by her simplicity.
"That's how it is. What else did you expect, a grand confession?"
The girls felt a bit deflated, was this the difference between the two sides?
"Have you kissed?" They quickly cast aside their disappointment and delved into embarrassing questions. "Have you been on dates?"
"No," Isabelle replied. "With exams approaching, we're all busy. There's no time for dating."
Isabelle didn't want to dwell on these questions, so she brushed them off with an excuse. "I'm busy reviewing for exams myself. When would I have time to date? Maybe after the exams or next semester."
"Are you really a couple?"
The girls were incredulous, consoling themselves with the thought that perhaps this was how it was between geniuses.
Despite being considered a couple by others, Albert and Isabelle continued their separate routines.
Thus, Albert earned the label of the most boring boyfriend, whether due to sour grapes or other reasons.
Anyway, Albert was no longer the apple of most girls' eyes, although he still had his fair share of admirers.
...
Recently, Katrina had been irritable due to the persistent rumors.
She couldn't say much about Isabelle and Albert's relationship. Perhaps she should offer her sisterly blessings. But Katrina had a feeling that those two had been an item for a while.
When Katrina pushed open the door to the Room of Requirement, her eyes were immediately drawn to the couple embracing tightly on the sofa.
For some reason, her mood soured further, and she balled her fists, muttering a quick "sorry" before turning to leave.
After Katrina left, the couple on the sofa separated.
"Are you sure your sister likes me?" Albert looked at his girlfriend in bemusement. The two had "coincidentally" staged this scene right in front of Katrina, force-feeding her a mouthful of dog food.
"She should have a good impression of you. I think it's best to let her give up any notions," Isabelle said, fixing her eyes on Albert. "Are you interested in her?"
"I didn't think you'd get jealous," Albert teased.
"I just don't want to see her get hurt," Isabelle shook her head. "You should understand what I mean."
Albert did understand. If Nia liked someone who wanted to play the field, he might do something about it too.
"But Katrina and I are just ordinary friends," Albert said, wanting to clear any potential misunderstandings.
"Ordinary friends for now, but what about later?" Isabelle prodded, poking Albert's chest.
"I don't know, the possibility is probably low."
Albert thought carefully about the likelihood of it happening in the future.
It was possible! Although it sounded like bragging, Albert felt that if it weren't for Isabelle, he might have considered Katrina as a potential girlfriend.
As for sisters... Albert immediately squashed that thought, knowing that revealing it to Isabelle, the sister-control freak, could lead to who-knows-what.
"I already have you," Albert coughed lightly and said honestly. "If I hadn't found anyone, according to my plan, I would probably look for a girlfriend in my fifth or sixth year."
"Fifth or sixth year is too late. You should know that most girls start considering dating boys as early as their fourth year!" Isabelle reminded him with a laugh. "If you wait until the fifth or sixth year, all the good girls of the same age would have been snatched up by other boys."
So sometimes, striking first was important.
Albert listened to Isabelle's words, his eyes widening as a bizarre thought entered his mind. Was he the one who had been struck first?
No, that didn't sound right! It should have been his idea in the first place, right?
It seemed Isabelle had hinted at the same possibility.
(End of Chapter)
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