Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 46: Cafeteria Wars

Chapter 46: Cafeteria Wars

As soon as the professor unplugged the projector and walked out of the hall, the room erupted with movement—zippers, chatter, scraping chairs.

Noel closed his notebook neatly, slid it into his bag, and stood, adjusting the strap over his shoulder.

Just as he was turning to leave, Luca caught up beside him, still clutching his phone.

"Hey," Luca said, gently brushing his arm to stop him. "Wanna grab breakfast?"

Noel blinked. "Ah—I already have plans. Lina and Alex are waiting for me at the cafeteria."

Luca’s expression faltered for half a second. "Oh."

"I thought you don’t even like the cafeteria food," Noel added, his tone trying to stay light, casual.

Before Luca could say anything else, Emily spun around in her seat like she’d been listening the entire time—which she absolutely had.

"Lina?" she asked, eyes gleaming. "As in, tall, design girl, intimidating hot aura—that Lina?"

Noel raised a brow cautiously. ...Yes?

Emily stood, slinging her tote bag over her shoulder with a dramatic flair. Perfect. I’m joining you.

Noel stared. Wait, what?

I’ve decided, Emily said with absolute confidence. This is fate. I met her once last week and I’ve been down bad ever since.

It’s only fair I get a second chance to impress her. Maybe casually flirt over burnt toast and watery juice."

Luca coughed. You’re shameless.

Emily winked at him. It’s part of the charm.

Noel was already shaking his head, flustered. Lina is not—she’s not really into that kind of—

Too bad, Emily said, grinning. Let me crash this breakfast date. I promise to behave. Okay—mildly behave.

Luca sighed, but a small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. If you scare them off, I’m not saving you.

Noel gave up with a resigned exhale. Fine. But if Lina kills me later, I’m telling her it was all your idea.

Emily saluted. I accept full responsibility. And possibly her number.

As they began walking out of the hall together, Noel glanced subtly to the side.

Luca was walking quietly, not saying much—but he noticed the way Luca’s eyes lingered ahead... not on Emily, not on the crowd.

Just ahead.

Where Noel led.

And even if he wasn’t going with him this time...

He was still watching.

Still there.

Noel looked away quickly, pretending to check his phone. But the warmth in his chest betrayed him — light, flickering, inconvenient. A feeling he didn’t want to name.

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual clatter—trays sliding, chairs scraping, distant chatter folding over itself like white noise.

Lina and Alex were already seated near the windows, sharing a tray of croissants and coffee.

Lina was mid-laugh at something Alex said when her gaze shifted—and paused.

Her expression twitched into surprise as she saw Noel walking toward them.

Not alone. Emily strode beside him confidently, her short curls bouncing lightly with each step, one side tucked behind her ear — a mix of effortlessness and energy.

And just a few steps behind, Luca, with both hands in his hoodie pockets, walked in calm and unreadable as ever, taking in the group silently.

Alex leaned forward slightly. "Is that...?"

Noel cleared his throat as they arrived. "Hope you don’t mind—we brought reinforcements."

Emily didn’t wait for introductions. She lit up as her eyes met Lina’s.

"Hi, design girl," she said with a knowing grin. "Hope you didn’t forget about me."

Lina tilted her head, puzzled for a second, then realized. "It’s Lina."

"Oh, I know," Emily said, sliding into the seat next to her without permission. "I just thought ’design girl’ had a nice ring to it."

Alex stared at Emily, his brows slightly raised. The first time they met, he had brushed off her flirtation as a joke—a bit of chaotic banter.

But now? She wasn’t just passing through. She was seated, comfortably, confidently, and very much interested.

Lina blinked, trying to compose herself. "You’re... Emily, right?"

"Right and dangerous," Emily winked. "Don’t worry, I’m not always this intense. Only when I’m sitting next to someone I find intimidatingly attractive."

Lina looked like she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or panic. "That’s... bold."

"You should see me on a real date."

Alex let out a quiet breath, leaned back, crossing his arms. "Didn’t know this was turning into a group brunch."

"Neither did I," Luca mumbled under his breath, settling into the seat beside Noel.

Noel didn’t say anything, but he caught the flicker in Alex’s eyes—a glance toward Lina, then to Emily, then back to Lina. He was clearly thrown off, his usual cool demeanor just slightly cracked.

Emily, of course, noticed everything. "Relax, Alex. You’re still the most mysterious one at the table."

"Wasn’t trying to be," Alex muttered.

"But it’s working," Emily teased, then turned back to Lina with a smile so warm it made Noel look down at his tray. "Anyway, I was hoping you’d remember me. I didn’t forget about you."

Lina smiled, almost shy for the first time. "I... remember."

Across the table, Noel nudged his coffee cup closer, letting the steam rise between him and Luca.

Luca glanced sideways. "What’s that look for?"

Noel shrugged, fighting a smile. "Just... watching the show."

Luca smirked. "Feels more like a war."

"Of charm," Noel replied, voice low. "One-sided maybe."

But even as he said it, he caught the way Alex looked at Lina—eyes softer than he let on. There was no move, no word. Just tension. Stillness. Watching.

Emily was bold.

But maybe she wasn’t the only one feeling something.

Lina reached for her coffee, hands slightly trembling. Maybe it was the caffeine. Maybe it wasn’t.

Emily leaned forward with her chin resting on her palm, eyes not leaving Lina’s face for even a breath. "So," she said smoothly, "is it always this bright around you, or is it just me?"

Lina nearly choked on her sip. "What?"

Emily grinned. "Your smile. It’s aggressive. Like, I wasn’t even ready."

Lina stared at her, stunned for a beat. "You’re... very confident."

"Only when it counts." Emily’s voice dipped just enough. "And I have good taste."

Across the table, Alex stirred his spoon in his untouched coffee, his jaw tight.

Noel noticed. And so did Luca.

Luca leaned toward Noel slightly. "Ten bucks says Alex says something in the next thirty seconds."

Noel gave a half-smile. "He won’t. He’s too proud."

Just then, Alex looked up. "So, Lina," he cut in, voice sharp in contrast to the easy tone before, "you finish that poster design you were telling me about?"

Lina blinked, grateful for the distraction. "Oh, yeah! It’s almost done. I stayed up most of Saturday night fixing the contrast—"

"She’s got an eye for balance," Emily interrupted, reaching for a croissant. "In art and apparently in conversation."

Lina flushed. Alex’s fingers tensed around his spoon.

"Right," he muttered. "Guess I’ll see it when you present."

Emily arched a brow. "You’ll see a lot if you just pay attention."

Luca covered his mouth with the back of his hand, hiding a smirk. Noel nudged his knee under the table.

"Don’t laugh," Noel whispered. "You started this."

"I didn’t invite her," Luca murmured back. "She just... manifests."

Emily tossed her hair, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Anyway, Lina, if you ever want someone to critique your work, I’m not too bad with pens either. Might draw you sometime."

Lina opened her mouth, then closed it, unsure what to say.

Alex scoffed quietly. "Didn’t know we were turning this into a casting call."

Emily didn’t even look at him. "Don’t worry, Alex. You’ll get your turn."

Luca finally looked over at Noel, eyes narrowed with quiet amusement. "Still think he won’t say anything?"

Noel let out a breath. "Okay, fine. You win."

"I always do."

"Except mornings," Noel replied instantly.

Luca laughed softly, the kind that caught Noel off guard — that sleepy, honey-warm kind. For a moment, everything else at the table blurred.

Emily, still mid-monologue. Alex, still brooding.

But between them, just one lingering look.

Emily tore a piece of her croissant and popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly as she looked Lina up and down. "You know," she said casually, "I wasn’t even going to come to class today. But I guess fate likes me."

Lina blinked. "Or your attendance was on the line."

Emily chuckled. "Touché. But I don’t think I was wrong to listen to fate either."

Noel took a sip of his drink, glancing at Luca. "You really did bring a storm."

Luca shrugged with a half-smile. "At least she’s entertaining."

Across from them, Alex shifted again. His jaw had been set for the last five minutes, and he was now busy pretending his spoon was the most interesting object in the world.

"Hey," Lina said suddenly, her voice just a bit louder, "Alex, how’s your project going? You were working on that architecture layout, right?"

"Yeah," he replied, eyes flicking to her gratefully. "It’s alright. Not as fun without you sketching next to me."

Emily raised a brow. "Are you two always this cute, or am I interrupting something?"

Lina opened her mouth to protest, but Alex beat her to it. "We’re just classmates," he said quickly, though something about his tone landed a little too flat. "She’s got a talent. That’s all."

Emily leaned forward. "Talents deserve to be appreciated."

Alex laughed once, dry. "You’re doing a great job of that."

"Thanks, I pride myself on it."

Luca, amused, whispered, "Okay, this is war."

Noel didn’t answer. His eyes were still on Alex and Lina — especially on how Lina now seemed a bit too still. As if caught in the middle of something she wasn’t prepared to answer.

"Anyway," Emily said, brushing a crumb from her shirt, "I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other more often, right?"

Lina smiled politely. "Maybe."

"No maybe." Emily pulled her phone out and unlocked it. "Here. Type your number. I might need a model, and I’d rather not sketch from memory. You’re distracting enough in real life."

Lina stared at the phone. For a second, she didn’t move. Then — slowly — she reached out, typing something in. "Just for critiques," she said softly.

Emily’s smirk held, but her thumb tapped twice against the table. Almost nervously. "Sure."

Alex stood up abruptly. I should go.

Already? Lina asked.

"Yeah. Got a lot to do." He grabbed his tray with a bit too much force. "See you in class."

As he walked off, Lina stared at his back a second too long.

Emily didn’t miss it. "He’s sweet," she said casually. "But I like a little fire."

Luca nudged Noel. "I think we just witnessed a declaration of war."

Noel didn’t reply. Instead, he stared at the number still open on Emily’s phone screen, then glanced at Lina.

Something about her eyes didn’t look victorious.

Just... confused.