Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 66: Pinky Promises

Chapter 66: Pinky Promises

The morning light slid in through the half-open blinds, slanting across the dorm room in soft gold.

It touched everything — the corner of Luca’s desk, the scattered hoodie on the back of his chair, the curve of Noel’s shoulder as he moved quietly around the room.

Golden light slipped through the blinds, warming the cluttered dorm with a quiet promise of the day ahead—spilling over scattered hoodies, a cracked phone screen, and the rising steam of Noel’s untouched coffee.

Luca stirred under his blanket, eyes still heavy with sleep, hair a complete mess.

He squinted toward the shifting figure near the door.

Noel.

Fully dressed. Backpack slung over one shoulder. He stood by the door, head bowed slightly as he clipped on his watch—movements quiet, like he was trying not to wake a sleeping world.

"You didn’t wake me up," Luca mumbled, voice scratchy with sleep.

Noel turned, surprised. "You don’t have class till evening, remember?"

"I know." Luca yawned and sat up slowly, rubbing one eye. "But still. I wanted to go with you."

Noel blinked, pausing mid-step. "Why?"

Luca was already tossing off the blanket, bare feet hitting the floor. "Because I don’t want to just sit here while you’re out there... existing without me."

Noel rolled his eyes. "That’s dramatic."

"I’m sleep-deprived and in like," Luca replied, moving toward his closet. "I’m allowed a little drama."

Noel didn’t say anything at first. His fingers tightened slightly around the strap of his bag.

Then he asked, quieter, "You sure? It’s early."

"Positive," Luca said, already tugging on a clean shirt. "Besides... we have a lunch date. Remember?"

Noel hesitated.

Luca turned around, shirt half-on, catching the expression Noel was trying not to show — something caught between amused and soft.

"Wait for me," Luca said, voice dropping just slightly. "I’ll be ready in a minute."

Noel stood by the door, still as ever.

Then, finally, he nodded. "Okay. One minute."

Luca grinned. "You’ll barely have time to miss me."

Noel shook his head, but the corner of his mouth lifted — just enough to say I’m glad you’re coming without the words.

The walk to campus was quiet at first.

Students passed here and there, coffee in hand, bags swinging. The morning air was cool, crisp, the kind that hinted at a warmer noon.

Noel walked slightly ahead, his steps steady, purposeful. Luca trailed beside him, yawning into his sleeve.

Their shoulders brushed once. Then again.

And finally, Luca did it — casually, as if he wasn’t overthinking it at all.

He reached for Noel’s hand.

Not fully. Just... enough. His fingers grazed Noel’s knuckles, hesitated, then pulled back.

He tried again.

This time, he didn’t reach for the whole hand — just hooked his pinky with Noel’s.

A quiet, subtle link.

Noel glanced down immediately. "Luca."

Luca didn’t look at him. "Hmm?"

"Don’t."

"Why not?"

"People will see."

Luca turned, eyes soft but certain. "Let me hold you. Just for a bit."

The pinkies stayed locked. Just enough contact to feel everything.

Noel’s fingers didn’t move. He didn’t pull away—but there was a faint tremble there, barely a whisper, like part of him was still afraid to want this too much.

They walked like that the rest of the path — past the café window, down the steps by the student center, up toward the main hall. And just as they reached the edge of the campus courtyard, Noel stopped.

"Let it go now," he said, not quite looking at him.

"I don’t want to."Pinky held thumb brushed each other.

"Luca."

But they didn’t move.

Not right away.

Because it felt... warm. Safe. Like maybe this small rebellion mattered.

Then—

"Ohhh, I saw that."

They both turned.

Emily stood a few steps behind them, iced coffee in one hand, mouth wide open in a grin that spelled danger.

Luca blinked. "Saw what?"

Emily squinted, pointing between them. "Don’t play. The whole ’I just happened to touch his pinky for no reason’ thing? Cute. But I saw it. I saw it."

Noel’s ears turned red. "I’m going to class."

He turned so fast his bag nearly slipped off his shoulder.

"Bye, Noel!" Emily called with a singsong tone. "Take care of your boyfriend "

Noel didn’t answer. He didn’t even look back.

Luca tried to hold his laughter until Noel was out of earshot.

Emily rounded on him immediately. "Since when?! Since freaking when, Luca?"

He raised both hands in surrender. "Calm down."

"No," she said, walking in circles around him like a detective. "You? Mister emotionally unavailable? Mister ’I don’t do relationships’? Holding pinkies in broad daylight like it’s a wedding announcement?"

"It was a pinky."

"It was intimacy, you liar."

Luca sighed, giving up. "Look, it’s... new."

"New? Like today new? Week new? Month new?" She gasped. "Oh my God. You two were already acting weird at the library last week. I knew something was up."

Luca smirked. "You done?"

"Nope. This is just beginning. Spill everything."

"Can I at least get coffee first?"

"No. You’ll use that as an excuse to escape."

Luca laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But keep your voice down. He’s still figuring it out."

Emily blinked, and for a moment her teasing dropped. "And you?"

Luca didn’t smile this time.

"I already did."

Emily tossed her empty cup into the nearest bin as they crossed the wide pathway lined with jacaranda trees. Purple petals dusted the concrete.

The breeze tugged at her curls, but her eyes stayed locked on Luca like a hawk circling prey.

"So... you like him," she said, her voice too casual to be innocent.

Luca stuffed his hands into his pockets. "You say that like it’s a revelation."

"It is," she said dramatically. "You? Actually crushing on someone who doesn’t have a VIP lounge pass or a modeling contract?"

Luca shot her a flat look. "He has a modeling contract. His face just hasn’t signed the papers yet."

Emily snorted. "Wow. You’re so far gone."

They turned toward the smaller side road that led to the fine arts building. Fewer people walked here. It was quiet, scattered with benches and open lawns.

"So tell me," she said, nudging his side, "what changed?"

Luca’s steps slowed. His gaze drifted toward a patch of sunlight on the pavement. "Nothing. Everything."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Cryptic much?"

He ran a hand through his hair, unsure if it was the truth or just what it felt like.

"I don’t know, Em. I think it started small. Just him being around. The way he talks. How he listens. How he gets under my skin without even trying."

Emily smiled softly now, the edge of her teasing dulling just a little.

"I mean, I’ve had flings before," Luca continued. "Plenty of them. But Noel... I wake up and want to tell him things. Stupid things. Like how my socks never match or that the vending machine ate my card again. And it’s not even about impressing him."

Emily raised a brow. "So what is it?"

Luca looked up at the sky for a second, then down at his own hands.

"I just want to be near him. That’s all. Even if he’s not saying anything. It’s like... existing next to him feels better than being seen by anyone else."

Emily’s steps slowed, and she blinked once.

Hard.

"...Okay, damn."

Luca gave her a look. "What?"

"That was... surprisingly poetic for someone who once broke up with a guy by texting ’good luck with life.’"

"I’ve evolved."

"No sh*t."

They reached a bench tucked under a flowering tree. Emily tugged him down to sit beside her.

"So," she said, resting her elbows on her knees, "does he know how deep this goes?"

Luca shrugged. "Not yet."

"You gonna tell him?"

Luca glanced off down the path. A few students strolled by. The breeze picked up again, blowing petals across the grass.

"I think I will," he said finally. "But not with a speech. He’d hate that. I just... I want to show him. In a way he feels safe with."

Emily looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

"You’re serious about this."

Luca nodded once. "Yeah. I am."

Emily let out a slow breath, then leaned over and smacked his arm.

"Ow—what?"

"That’s for not telling me sooner."

He laughed, rubbing his arm. "I deserved that."

She softened again. "You really do like him, huh?"

Luca smiled, a small, crooked thing he didn’t even try to hide.

"Yeah. I really do."

Emily leaned back on the bench, hands folded behind her head, her curls spilling against the top slat of the wood. Her voice was gentler now.

"You know," she said, "I always thought you’d end up with someone loud. Like, super chaotic energy. Someone who’d scream Taylor Swift lyrics at you while roller-skating."

Luca smirked. "Noel does hum Taylor Swift when he’s cleaning."

Emily blinked. "...Are you serious?"

"I caught him doing it once. He threatened me with a spoon if I ever brought it up."

Emily threw her head back and laughed. "God, I love that man."

Luca just smiled — eyes down, softer than before.

Then Emily pulled her phone out of her hoodie pocket. "Speaking of love, let’s see if anyone posted something worth gossiping over."

Luca groaned. "This is where your power gets dangerous."

"Shhh." Her thumb scrolled. "If I see a soft launch photo of Noel’s hand on your shoulder, I’m printing it."

She stopped mid-scroll.

"Ah—look."

Luca leaned over, mildly curious.

Emily angled the screen toward him. "Lina just posted."

It was a sketch — delicate, flowing lines. A soft pencil drawing of a girl standing beneath an umbrella, face tilted to the rain, but smiling. The caption read:

Even storms can feel like comfort when you’re with the right person.

Luca raised a brow. "Is that her?"

"Probably," Emily said, already typing a reply.

Emily: Okay, romantic poet — this better be fictional or I want names.

She added a heart emoji and hit send.

Luca watched the screen for a second. "She’s posting a lot lately."

Emily nodded, still staring at the sketch. "Yeah... She’s been drawing nonstop. I think it’s how she’s coping. Ever since Alex—"

She stopped herself.

Luca didn’t press. He just let the silence breathe between them.

Emily looked at him again. "You’re lucky, you know?"

"Why?"

"You’re doing something about it. Whatever this is with Noel... at least you’re not pretending anymore."

Luca smiled faintly. "Yeah. I’m done pretending."

Emily gave a small smirk. "I’ll believe it when you soft launch him on your story."

"Please. I don’t post anyone unless it’s a dog or pizza."

"Or that shirtless mirror selfie from last week?"

"That was for science."

Emily rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She just tucked her phone back into her pocket and stood.

"I’m heading to class," she said, slinging her bag on. "Good luck with your new boyfriend. Try not to screw it up."

Luca stood too, stretching. "I’ll keep the public pinky holding to a minimum."

Emily turned halfway, walking backward now. "Don’t you dare. It was adorable."

Luca chuckled, watching her disappear into the crowd.

Then he stood there alone for a second, face tilted toward the morning sky.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Noel’s hand. That tiny pinky link. The warmth of it. The way Noel didn’t let go right away.

Lunch can’t come fast enough.

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