Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 107: Forms and Futures

Chapter 107: Forms and Futures

The windows let in a spill of soft sunlight. Outside, someone was strumming a guitar near the fountain.

Luca returned with a tray balanced in one hand, a bottle of water tucked under his arm.

"Survival rations," he said, setting down the iced coffee in front of Noel. "Extra shot. You looked like you needed it."

Noel gave a faint smile. "You weren’t wrong."

Luca slid into the seat across from him, ruffling his own hair. "I deserve an award for sitting through that lecture awake."

"You yawned through half of it."

"Still counts as staying conscious."

Emily snorted. "You two were tense the whole time. I thought Luca was going to fake a nosebleed just to leave."

"I considered it," Luca said, picking at a croissant. "But I think she would’ve made me clean it up."

Their laughter came easy now—lighter, the weight of Kessler’s voice finally settled behind them.

The café hummed with background chatter, clinking spoons, and the occasional hiss of espresso machines.

Noel took a slow sip of his drink. Then, without looking up, he said quietly, "Thanks. For getting this."

Luca glanced at him. His voice softened too. "Of course."

Their eyes met for a moment—brief, but still.

George was already halfway through his sandwich, oblivious, while Emily scrolled lazily through her phone.

Noel looked away first, focusing on the condensation dripping down his cup.

Luca smiled faintly to himself, then reached across the table and plucked a crumb off Noel’s sleeve.

"You really need to stop fighting pastries," he said.

"I’m not the one with half a croissant in my lap," Noel muttered.

They both grinned.

"So," George said, licking mayo off his thumb, "we’re still heading to the bursary after this, right?"

Luca leaned back in his chair with a soft groan. "Ugh. Right. Internship forms."

"Don’t sound so thrilled," Noel said, smirking into his cup.

Emily raised an eyebrow. "You know this is important, yeah? These placements could affect your career."

"Which is exactly why I’m not thrilled," Luca replied. "Pressure turns me into mashed potatoes."

"You are soft in the middle," Noel muttered.

Luca blinked. "Was that... an insult or flirting?"

Noel shrugged. "Whichever makes you blush."

Emily nearly choked on her drink. "God, you two."

Luca covered his face with both hands, mumbling something into his palms. George simply laughed and reached for his second sandwich like none of this surprised him.

Noel sat back, his smile lingering behind the rim of his cup.

Luca tapped his fingers gently on the table. "So... if you could pick anywhere for placement—no rules, no filters—where would it be?"

George answered first. "Radio station. Somewhere I can talk all day and still call it work."

Emily smirked. "You already do that."

He shrugged. "Exactly. Why fight destiny?"

Emily tilted her head, considering. "I’d go for a production house. Something real. Not just school projects."

Luca turned to Noel, waiting. "You?"

Noel looked down at his drink, then out the window. "Somewhere... quiet. But real. Where things move slowly, but mean something."

Luca’s eyes stayed on him a second longer.

Emily, regaining her composure, brushed crumbs off the table. "Okay, focus. We collect the forms now. Tomorrow’s submission. Then back to prepping for exams."

George whined softly. "Don’t ruin the coffee with responsibility."

"You’ll survive," she said, tossing a napkin at him.

Luca pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked it. "I saved the bursary office hours. We’ve got time if we leave in the next—" He paused. "Seven minutes."

George sighed dramatically. "Guess this is the part where we pretend to be responsible adults."

Emily stood and stretched. "At least for the next hour."

Luca grabbed the last bite of his croissant, stuffed it into his mouth, and gave Noel a lazy wink. "Come on, mashed potato—let’s move."

Noel rolled his eyes, but he stood too—drinks half-finished, laughter still warm in the air, sunlight catching in their eyes as they headed for the doors together.

The four of them stepped out into the late morning sun, the path to the bursary winding between faculty buildings and shade-drenched courtyards.

George stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Feels like summer already."

Emily pushed her sunglasses up. "It is summer, genius."

"Yeah, but like... officially. Emotionally. You know?"

Luca snorted. "You’re emotionally sweaty, George."

George grinned. "You’re emotionally dramatic, Luca."

Noel walked beside them quietly, eyes trailing the path ahead.

The campus buzzed—students lounging on benches, some sprawled out on lawns with open books and earbuds.

Laughter echoed from somewhere near the art block. A volleyball thudded against the ground.

"I can’t believe the semester’s already ending," Emily said, a little softer now.

Luca nodded. "Feels fast. But also like it’s been five years."

"I’m just ready for something new," Noel said, not loudly.

Emily turned to him. "Like the internship?"

He hesitated. "Yeah. That... and just getting out of the usual routine, I guess."

Luca glanced sideways at him, studying his expression. "You ever feel like you’re running to catch up with your own life?"

"All the time," Noel said, his voice lighter than before.

They reached a row of trees arching gently over the sidewalk, dapples of light flickering on their shirts. The bursary building was a short walk ahead, its beige walls catching the sun.

George groaned at the sight. "Here we go. Bureaucracy, my old enemy."

Emily elbowed him. "Just grab the form. It’s not that deep."

"Yeah, yeah. But what if they ask me to spell my full name again? I panic under pressure."

Luca laughed. "You? You once gave a full speech during Cultural Week without blinking."

"That was different. There was a mic. And vibes."

They slowed near the steps of the building, the door propped open with a rubber wedge.

"Alright," Emily said, straightening her shirt. "In and out."

Luca muttered, "Like a mission."

Noel grinned. "Let’s just hope the AC is working."

And with that, they headed up the steps—sunlight behind them, heat on their backs, and the hum of responsibility waiting inside.

The bursary office smelled like old paper and something faintly lemony. Ceiling fans turned lazily, doing their best against the creeping heat. A few students were already lined up, murmuring to staff or scribbling on clipboards.

"Over there," Emily pointed, guiding them toward the far counter where a woman in a green headscarf sorted stacks of forms.

George whispered, "Okay, stay calm. Don’t panic. This is just paper."

Luca chuckled under his breath. "You’re gearing up like it’s battle, not paperwork."

Emily strode forward first, calm and efficient. "Good morning. We’re here for the internship placement forms."

The woman gave a small nod, eyes scanning them briefly before she reached beneath the counter and pulled out a neat stack. "Sign here," she said, pushing a clipboard forward.

One by one, they signed. Noel’s pen paused slightly over the date, then continued smoothly. Luca, behind him, leaned slightly to read the tiny instructions printed at the bottom.

"Where do we submit after filling?" Luca asked, polite but casual.

"Bring it back here by Friday, stamped by your department," the woman replied without looking up.

They each took a form. It was just a few pages, nothing overwhelming—but it felt heavier somehow. A little more real.

As they stepped back into the sunlight, papers in hand, George lifted his like it was a certificate. "Look at us. Future interns."

Emily gave him a mock salute. "Proud of you, soldier."

Luca tucked his into his folder. "We should grab stamps early. The office lines are murder when everyone waits till deadline."

Noel nodded. "We can check during the break tomorrow."

Their pace slowed without anyone saying so, like they all felt the edge of something new approaching. Not heavy—just... present.

As they walked down the shaded path back toward the dorm blocks, gravel crunching beneath their shoes, Emily suddenly stopped and turned to face them.

"All right, team," she announced, slipping into her mock-official tone, "we’ve got a few hours to breathe and figure out where to apply. Go home, think it through, fill the form tonight. Tomorrow morning, bright and early—we meet, get the department stamps, and boom. Sorted."

George blinked. "You sound like you’re leading a boot camp."

Emily grinned. "Maybe I was a sergeant in a past life."

He nudged her with his elbow. "So? Where’s Commander Emily applying?"

"Probably one of the top three the prof mentioned yesterday," she said, brushing dust off her skirt. "They’ve got real exposure—labs, clients, the works. Not just filing cabinets and lonely water coolers."

"Ambitious," George whistled, clearly impressed. "Respect."

Emily’s gaze slid to Luca and Noel. "You two?"

Luca gave a half-shrug, his eyes skimming the row of trees lining the walkway. "Still weighing options."

Noel quietly folded his form in half and slid it into his folder. "Same here."

Emily gave them a look—half suspicious, half fond. "You guys always have this mysterious vibe."

Luca gave a faint smile. "We’re just slow processors."

George looped an arm over Luca’s shoulders, dramatically sighing. "Well, processor or not, we better all land something real or it’s game over next semester."

They kept walking, their steps syncing without effort. A breeze rustled the trees above, sending tiny flecks of light dancing across the ground.

Around them, students passed in pairs and trios—some waving, some lost in their own conversations, their laughter trailing behind.

As they reached the dorm gates, Emily raised a hand. "Okay. Decision time starts now. I’m heading in. I’ll see you all at 8 a.m., sharp."

"Eight?" George groaned dramatically.

"Sharp," she repeated, already turning toward her building.

Just then, Lina emerged from around the corner, her tote bag slung over one shoulder. Emily’s face lit up. "You waiting long?"

"Just got here," Lina said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Noel caught the quick glance they exchanged—small, but full of quiet warmth.

George, already a few steps ahead, waved lazily over his shoulder. "Later, lovers."

Emily rolled her eyes but didn’t respond. She and Lina walked off side by side, their shoulders nearly brushing.

Luca and Noel paused at the base of the stairwell to their dorm.

"We should work on the form now," Luca said, stretching both arms above his head until his shirt lifted just slightly at the waist.

Noel looked up at the fading sky—blue melting into hints of amber, a bird wheeling high overhead. "Yeah. Before it slips our minds."

They stepped inside together, the building door closing softly behind them.