Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 45: Closer Than Before

Chapter 45: Closer Than Before

Monday Morning.

The first alarm buzzed at 6:45 AM. Noel silenced it without a sound.

He was already half-awake anyway.

By 7:10, the water was running. Steam curled around the edges of the bathroom door while Noel stood beneath the shower, trying to chase the weekend warmth out of his chest.

He didn’t want to admit it, but he was still thinking about that last message. "Yeah, I did."

He stepped out, towel around his waist, running another through his damp hair.

The mirror blurred back at him, a hazy reflection that felt too close to how he felt inside.

Just as he opened the door—

Thud.

"Ah—shit," Luca muttered groggily, rubbing his temple where his forehead had collided softly into Noel’s shoulder.

Noel instinctively reached out, catching him by the arms to steady him.

Luca blinked up at him, his hair a tousled mess, eyes half-lidded and sleepy.

He looked like he hadn’t even fully opened them before stumbling toward the bathroom.

"Damn, sorry," Luca murmured. "Didn’t see you there."

Noel froze, hands still lightly on Luca’s arms. He should’ve let go already, but something about the way Luca looked right now—

Messy. Barely awake.

Completely unguarded.

It did something strange to Noel’s heartbeat.

"You’re warm," Luca said, eyes squinting. "Like—steam-warm. Just stepped out?"

Noel quickly let go, stepping back as casually as he could manage. "Obviously," he muttered, trying to sound bored but his voice cracked slightly.

Luca didn’t notice. He was already pushing past him, yawning as he reached for the toothbrush.

"God, mornings should be illegal," he grumbled, voice raspy in a way that really didn’t help Noel’s current condition.

Noel turned away, running a hand through his damp hair. "You’re dramatic," he said quietly.

Luca smirked through the mirror, foaming up his toothbrush. "Says the guy who hoards my blankets and calls it ’accidental sleep movement.’"

Noel didn’t reply. He just tossed the towel over his shoulder, heading toward the closet to change—but not before sneaking one more glance toward the mirror.

Luca was brushing his teeth, eyes still heavy, shirt hanging loosely on one shoulder.

Noel swallowed and turned away.

Get a grip.

Luca was still brushing his hair into something vaguely acceptable when he heard it:

"No rush," Noel said from the other side of the room. "I’ll wait."

Luca paused mid-stroke, blinking at the mirror like he’d misheard.

"You’ll what?"

"I’ll wait," Noel repeated, quieter this time, as he adjusted his collar. He wasn’t looking at Luca, instead fiddling with the buttons on his sleeve a little too carefully. "We can go together."

Luca turned around, toothbrush now forgotten in the cup.

"You’re joking."

Noel rolled his eyes, but his ears were red. "Don’t make it weird."

"I’m not making it weird," Luca said, amused. "I’m just... shocked. You never wait. Like, you once left me behind for being three minutes late."

Five, Noel corrected, his lips twitching. And I know you. You’d go back to sleep the second I shut the door.

Luca narrowed his eyes playfully. "So this is pity waiting."

Noel shrugged, but his voice was softer than usual. "Just get ready. I’m not saying it again."

Luca grinned and threw his hoodie on. "Yes, sir."

Noel shook his head, grabbing both their bags and tossing Luca’s onto the bed. "You’re unbelievable."

And still, Luca said, stepping into his shoes with a lazy grin, you waited.

Noel didn’t respond.

But he smiled to himself when Luca wasn’t looking.

The morning air still carried a hint of the weekend’s quiet, campus not yet fully alive.

A few birds called from high branches, and somewhere in the distance, a bike bell rang — faint, echoing.

Their footsteps fell into rhythm as they left the dorm, side by side.

Luca slung his bag over one shoulder, casting a glance at Noel, who seemed unusually focused on the path ahead. "So... waiting for me now? That’s a pretty domestic move."

Noel didn’t flinch. "Don’t flatter yourself."

"Too late," Luca said with a grin. "I already told Jordan about it. He said we’re basically married now."

Noel stopped walking. Turned. "You didn’t."

Luca just kept walking, hands in his pockets, grinning wider now. "Relax. I didn’t say your name. Just said I was taken care of this morning."

Noel caught up with a scoff. "You’re so dramatic."

"I’ve been called worse," Luca said, then bumped his shoulder gently into Noel’s. "But hey... I liked it. You waiting, I mean. Felt kinda—" he paused, searching. "—nice."

Noel looked at him briefly, eyes unreadable, then away again. "It wasn’t a big deal."

"No," Luca said, voice lighter now, "but it was new."

They walked in silence for a while after that, the space between them not quite touching, but closer than it used to be.

As they approached the gates of campus, Luca’s hand brushed against Noel’s — accidental, probably — but he didn’t move it away.

Just a brush—maybe accidental. But he didn’t move. Neither did Noel. The space between them hummed with something unnamed.

The lecture hall buzzed with soft chatter and the scrape of chairs as students slowly filled in.

Early light spilled through the tall windows, casting stripes across the rows of seats.

Emily was already there — second row, centered, her fingers idly drumming against the edge of her desk.

Her brows lifted when she saw someone walking in just behind Noel.

Look who’s early, she said, the corner of her mouth lifting. And not in bed with a hangover, she added.

Luca slipped into the seat beside her, dropping his bag with a faint thud.

So we’re you.

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Touché. But seriously... You, early? Did the sky crack open?"

He glanced ahead at Noel, who had taken his usual first-row spot, already unpacking his notebook like a machine. "He waited for me," Luca said simply.

Emily blinked. "Noel did?"

Luca nodded, adjusting in his seat. "Said he didn’t want me to fall back asleep."

"That’s..." Her smirk deepened. "Oddly sweet of him."

Luca didn’t answer — just leaned back in his chair, trying not to think too hard about the quiet pride that bloomed in his chest.

Emily leaned in a bit, voice lower. "So. Anything going on between you two?"

He gave her a sidelong glance. "Why does everyone keep asking that?"

"Because you’re acting like someone who’s either in denial or already gone."

Luca rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed him.

From the front, Noel’s pen paused. He didn’t turn. But the mention of Luca’s name from someone else left an odd weight in his chest.

Then he turned slightly to glance behind him — just briefly. Their eyes met. A flash. Then he turned back, his ears tinged pink.

Emily caught it. Her eyes glinted. "Right," she whispered. "Totally nothing going on."

The professor entered then, tapping a stack of papers against the desk. The hum of the room quieted instantly.

Luca exhaled slowly, pulling out his pen, trying to focus on the lecture — but for some reason, all he could hear was the echo of Noel’s footsteps from earlier. The quiet wait by the door. That half-smile.

Something had shifted. He could feel it.

The lecture was already halfway through when the door creaked open again.

Heads turned.

George slipped in, hair slightly damp and hoodie half-zipped like he’d barely had time to grab it. He scanned the hall quickly—and froze when his eyes landed on Luca.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.

He shuffled into the second row, plopping into the seat just one chair down from Emily, leaning across her with a whispered grin. "Tell me I’m not hallucinating. Is that Luca Smith in class before me?"

Emily smirked without looking his way. "I’ve checked twice. He’s not a hologram."

George turned to Luca, eyes narrowed in mock suspicion. "Alright, who bribed you?"

"Noel," Emily answered for him, too pleased with herself. "Apparently, Luca didn’t want to be left behind."

Luca rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it.

From the front, Noel’s pen paused. His shoulders stiffened slightly—but he didn’t turn. The corner of his mouth twitched, though. Just a little.

"Wait..." George leaned forward, peering toward the front row. "He waited for you?"

Luca clicked his pen with unnecessary focus. "Why is everyone making a thing out of this?"

"Because it is a thing," Emily and George said in unison, then broke into a quiet chuckle.

Luca kept his eyes on the professor, but a faint color crept up his neck.

Down front, Noel shifted in his seat. His fingers drummed once against the side of his notebook, before quickly returning to scribble something—though the words on the page had started to blur slightly.

When the professor called out a question, Luca raised his hand, surprising even himself.

George leaned closer to Emily. "Okay, who is this imposter, and where’s the Luca I know?"

Emily whispered, "Maybe he’s turning over a new leaf."

George’s eyes lingered briefly on the back of Noel’s head. "Or maybe he’s just following someone’s footsteps."

Emily arched a brow, amused.

In that moment, the lecture continued—slides flipping, formulas appearing—but for the four of them, it was something else entirely.

A shift.

Small.

Quiet.

But undeniable.

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