Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 103: The Shape of Peace

Chapter 103: The Shape of Peace

The warm sun filtered through tall campus trees arched over the trail like a canopy.

The path curved gently along the edge of the small lake, where the water shimmered and ducks floated lazily.

Luca and Noel walked side by side, not in any hurry, their steps syncing up without even trying.

Luca had his hands in his pockets, eyes flicking now and then to the sky above. "Feels like the kind of day you’d see in a brochure," he muttered.

Noel glanced sideways. "You thinking of becoming a travel agent now?"

"I mean, if business crashes, maybe," Luca replied with a grin. "Or I’ll sell motivational mugs."

Noel snorted. "Please don’t."

They passed a bench under an overgrown tree, its branches dipping so low the leaves brushed Luca’s hair.

He ducked slightly, shaking them off, then nudged Noel with his elbow.

"You’re quiet."

Noel shrugged. "Just... thinking."

"About?"

A pause.

Then Noel said, "The future, I guess."

Luca tilted his head, watching him. "Scared?"

"Not really." Noel looked up, sunlight catching the gold in his lashes. "Just... it’s coming fast. The internship. Final year. Decisions."

They kept walking.

Luca kicked at a small stone on the path. "We’ll figure it out. You’ll get into the internship you want."

Noel chuckled softly. "You say that like it’s easy."

"It’s not," Luca said. "But you’re the kind of guy who makes things happen."

Noel stopped walking, just for a moment.

He turned to Luca, studying him — the relaxed posture, the calm voice, the quiet confidence in him.

And for a second, he let himself feel how rare that was... to be believed in so completely.

"You make it sound like I’ve already made it."

Luca met his eyes. "You have. Maybe not on paper yet, but I see it."

Noel blinked. Once. Twice. Something unspooled in his chest — quiet, surprised, a little afraid to believe it.

Then he looked away, the corners of his lips softening around a smile he couldn’t quite hide. "You’re getting good at this boyfriend thing."

Luca smirked as he nudged Noel’s elbow again. "That’s because I take my job seriously."

Noel gave him a look — amused, mildly exasperated. "Your job?"

Luca nodded solemnly. "Boyfriend duties. Includes making you laugh at least twice a day. Feeding you snacks. Walking beside you like this."

"Wow," Noel muttered. "You should get a raise."

Luca leaned close, whispering, "Kisses count as bonuses."

Noel flushed, laughing softly despite himself. "You’re impossible."

They rounded the bend in the campus trail, and the faint sound of music drifted toward them — distant at first, then slowly sharpening. Voices, cheers, the faint strum of a guitar.

Up ahead, near the open green in front of the music faculty, a small crowd had gathered.

A girl was on the makeshift stage under the pergola, microphone in hand, her voice clear and strong as she sang.

The kind of raw, unpolished talent that made people stop and listen.

A few students sat scattered across the long benches set up nearby. Some clapped along. Others filmed on their phones.

Luca tugged gently at Noel’s wrist. "Let’s sit."

Noel shook his head. "It’s gonna be loud, and—"

"Exactly," Luca cut in. "You think too much. Come on. Just five minutes."

Noel hesitated, but Luca’s hand stayed wrapped loosely around his. The warmth of it. The way he didn’t pull or push — just held on and waited.

"Fine," Noel sighed, letting himself be led toward the benches. "But if this turns into a full-on concert, I’m blaming you."

"Deal." Luca grinned, settling onto a spot near the back. He patted the seat beside him like he’d just claimed it.

Noel sat, arms crossed at first, but his shoulders gradually relaxed as the girl on stage launched into a softer melody — something slow and aching.

Luca leaned closer, murmuring, "You know, if you sang, I’d totally cheer."

Noel side-eyed him. "I do not sing."

"You hummed in the shower last every day."

"That’s different."

"Mmm." Luca smirked. "Sounded like Adele."

Noel groaned under his breath, but a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "You’re never letting that go, are you?"

"Not a chance."

They both quieted as the girl hit a particularly emotional note, her voice echoing across the lawn.

Noel glanced sideways. Luca’s face was calm, lit faintly by the setting sun. He looked... happy. Like he could stay there for hours just listening.

And somehow, that made Noel feel calm too.

He didn’t say it, but he thought it:

Maybe this is what peace feels like.

The applause rose as the girl on stage finished her set — modest, bashful, yet beaming as she gave a shy wave and stepped down.

Another performer was already setting up behind her, tuning a guitar with calm fingers.

Noel leaned back slightly, letting the soundscape of clapping and shuffling fade around him.

Luca glanced over. "Wanna go?"

Noel looked ahead for a moment, then shook his head. "Let’s stay... one more."

Luca smiled, surprised and soft. "Really?"

"Don’t act so shocked."

"I’m just proud of you," Luca whispered teasingly, nudging Noel’s shoulder. "Voluntarily relaxing? Growth."

Noel rolled his eyes, but there was a quiet laugh in it. "You’re annoying."

Luca grinned and leaned in a little closer, voice low. "But lovable."

Before Noel could answer, the next performer started.

A guy with messy curls and a quiet confidence began to strum — the kind of easy, finger-picked rhythm that immediately changed the atmosphere.

Softer. More intimate. The kind of melody that wrapped around the crowd like a thread.

The conversation quieted. Even the nearby birds seemed to hush.

Luca exhaled, one arm stretching along the backrest behind Noel. Not touching, not pressing — just there. Present.

Noel let himself lean slightly to the side.

The song was slow, wistful — a tune about missing someone but learning how to breathe again.

There were no flashy runs or dramatic notes. Just honesty. Just a quiet kind of beauty.

Halfway through, Luca glanced sideways and caught Noel watching the stage, lost in thought.

"Hey," Luca said quietly, "thank you."

Noel blinked, turning to him. "For what?"

"For staying. For coming with me. For trying."

Noel’s gaze lingered on him. The late sun brushed soft gold across Luca’s cheekbones. His lashes cast delicate shadows.

He looked honest. Steady. So far from the boy who once flinched when someone got too close.

And Noel felt it again — that warmth in his chest. That realization.

He nodded once, voice quiet. "You’re easy to try for."

Luca blinked, lips parting slightly — then smiled, just a little, like the words had settled somewhere deep.

They didn’t speak again after that — just sat through the rest of the song, letting the moment fold around them, quiet and warm and real.

When it ended, and the crowd applauded once more, Luca tapped Noel’s knee lightly. "Okay. Now we can go."

Noel stood, stretching with a sigh. "My legs fell asleep."

"Mine too," Luca said with a grin. "I blame love."

Noel laughed, shoving him lightly as they walked off toward the golden-washed path.

Shadows stretched long across the pavement as the sun dipped lower.

And somewhere around the campus the sky above was brushed with streaks of lavender and fading blue, the kind of sky that made everything feel slower... softer. .com

Emily walked beside Lina, their shoulders brushing every so often, but neither pulled away.

The campus path was quieter than usual — most students either tucked away in dorms or still lingering around the music lawn behind them.

The two girls walked with no rush, letting their steps match without effort.

"You know," Emily said, glancing over with a small smile, "this might’ve been my favorite weekend in a while."

Lina tilted her head toward her, amused. "Just ’in a while’?" freeNovelFire

Emily raised a brow. "You want me to say ever?"

Lina smirked. "I’m just saying, scale matters."

Emily gave her a playful nudge with her elbow. "Fine. Best weekend ever. Happy now?"

"Very," Lina said, her grin softening. "I had fun too."

They fell into silence for a few beats, the kind that didn’t press or feel awkward — the kind that let them both feel the evening in their chests.

They’d spent most of the weekend sketching in the garden, sharing playlists and secrets over iced coffee.

Emily looked ahead for a second, then asked, "So... was it what you expected?"

Lina slowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

"This—" Emily gestured loosely between them. "Us. Hanging out. Being more than just girls in the same garden with sketchbooks and too much caffeine."

Lina was quiet for a second longer, then said softly, "It’s more than I expected."

Emily’s lips parted, but she didn’t say anything right away. Just looked at her, like she was trying to memorize that exact tone.

Then, softly, "Good."

A breeze swept past them — cool and gentle, rustling leaves and tugging at the hem of Emily’s denim jacket.

Lina reached for her hand without warning. Not nervous. Not tentative.

Emily smiled instantly, fingers tightening around hers.

As they neared the dorm entrance, Lina slowed her steps again. "You wanna come up for a bit?"

Emily hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Just for a little while."

"Just for a little while," Lina echoed with a small smile — but there was warmth in her eyes that said she wouldn’t mind if that "little while" lasted a long, long time.

The door to the dorm opened with a quiet click, and the girls disappeared inside, fingers still laced.