Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]
Chapter 118: Rest Mode

Chapter 118: Rest Mode

The door clicked open.

Emily stepped inside, backpack slung over one shoulder. "Smells like pencils in here," she said, grinning as she kicked the door closed behind her.

Lina looked up, already smiling. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

Emily dropped her bag beside the bed and walked over. "It’s not. It’s very you." She leaned down and wrapped her arms around Lina’s shoulders in a hug from behind. "I missed you."

Lina let her head rest against Emily’s arm. "You saw me yesterday."

Emily shrugged. "Still missed you."

Lina chuckled softly and patted the arm around her. "You sound like a clingy ex."

"Well," Emily said, walking over to the bed and flopping down, "You’re the one who keeps sneaking me into your art."

"That’s not—" Lina started, frowning.

"The girl with the jacket and the death-glare? Yeah. Dead ringer."

"Coincidence," Lina muttered.

Emily tossed a grin her way. "Sure. Keep lying to yourself, Picasso."

Lina rolled her eyes but smiled. "That’s just your imagination."

Emily reached over and grabbed a pillow. "Mhm. Delusional and in denial. Classic artist."

Lina turned back to her tablet. "Hungry?"

Emily stretched out. "Starving. But I brought chips. Also, I might’ve flunked that logic quiz."

"You always say that."

"And I’m usually right."

Lina laughed under her breath. "You’re dramatic."

"I’m passionate," Emily corrected, reaching for the bag of chips she’d dropped with her bag. "So—did you draw all afternoon?"

"Mostly," Lina said, turning her screen so Emily could peek. "Didn’t finish yet."

Emily leaned in to look, her tone softening. "It’s really good."

Lina didn’t say anything at first, but her lips twitched in a quiet, grateful smile. "Thanks."

Emily popped a chip into her mouth, chewing slowly while her eyes stayed on Lina’s screen. "You always get the hands right. I don’t know how."

Lina tapped her stylus against her chin. "I hate drawing hands."

"Liar," Emily said, reaching for another chip. "That looks like love."

"It’s pain disguised as technique."

Emily snorted. "Deep."

Lina smiled softly, setting her stylus down. "I think I’ve stared at it too long. My brain’s turning to dust."

"Then stop," Emily said, sitting up a little straighter. "It’s Sunday. Let your brain rest."

"I wanted to finish at least the background before evening."

Emily made a face. "Even the trees?"

Lina shrugged. "They look dead without it."

Emily gave her a look. "You need real air, not just digital clouds."

Lina leaned back, stretching her arms overhead. "Maybe in a bit."

Emily nodded slowly, her eyes still on Lina. "You’ve been quieter lately. Everything okay?"

There was a pause—just a breath—but Lina nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking about... stuff."

Emily didn’t push. "The usual kind of stuff?"

Lina glanced down at her fingers. "Yeah. Life stuff."

Emily shifted closer and bumped her shoulder lightly. "You’re allowed to be quiet, you know. I just don’t want you to be stuck in your head alone."

Lina looked at her, a little surprised, a little soft. "Thanks."

Emily smiled. "Now... want to lie down a bit? Or still married to that tablet?"

Lina considered, then closed her app and set it aside. "You’re right. I need a break."

Emily opened her arms dramatically. "Come. Rest your weary artist soul."

Lina laughed and tossed a cushion at her before joining her on the bed, side by side. The room settled into a quiet, easy silence.

Only the soft rustle of chips and a playlist humming faintly from someone else’s room in the hall.

Elsewhere on campus, the light had taken on a quieter glow—filtering through the blinds where Luca slept, the silence wrapping around him like a blanket.

Luca stirred, eyes fluttering open slowly. His brows pinched as he adjusted to the stillness.

He looked over.

Noel wasn’t beside him anymore.

Luca blinked, then pushed himself up on his elbow.

Noel sat at the desk again, laptop closed now, his eyes somewhere out the window, lost in thought.

Luca rubbed his face and sat up fully. "How long was I out?"

Noel turned, a faint smile lifting his lips. "About an hour, maybe a little more."

"You finished?"

"Mm-hm," Noel nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Wrapped it up not too long ago."

Luca stretched with a small groan and ran a hand through his hair. "I was supposed to keep you company, not fall asleep on you."

"You did both," Noel said, a soft laugh escaping. "Which I guess counts for something."

Luca stood, walking over to the desk. He looked down at Noel’s screen, then at him. "So... what now? Food? Walk? Existential crisis?"

Noel smirked. "You pick."

Luca thought for a second. "Food. Let’s start with that. I’ve recovered from breakfast duty."

"You napped like you ran a marathon," Noel teased.

"I dreamt I was being chased by flying calculators," Luca deadpanned. "It was intense."

Noel chuckled, shaking his head. "Right. Let’s eat before the calculators come back."

Luca grinned. "That’s the spirit."

They stepped out into the soft breeze of early evening, the sky streaked with faded gold and blue.

Campus was quieter than usual—Sunday had that effect. Just a few students passed by, most with coffee cups in hand or earbuds in.

Luca walked a step ahead, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket. "Craving anything specific?"

Noel shook his head lightly. "Something warm. Simple. You?"

"Just food," Luca said with a slight grin. "I think my body’s still half asleep."

They turned the corner toward the row of food stalls just outside the west gate.

The air was thick with steam and scent—grilled meat, cracked pepper, something sweet charring over an open flame. It made Luca’s stomach growl before they even reached the stall.

Noel scanned the options as they slowed their pace. "That noodle place’s still open."

Luca glanced at the line—short. "Perfect."

They ordered quickly. Two bowls of spicy beef noodles and iced tea. Then found a small table near the edge, under the shade of a tree.

Luca sat first, stretching his legs out lazily. "Feels weird we’re not buried in revision books right now."

Noel set down his drink. "We earned the pause. You especially—you haven’t been sleeping well."

"I sleep better around you."

Noel blinked, lips twitching into something unreadable—caught between surprise and softness.

Luca didn’t meet his gaze. Just stirred his tea slowly, as if the words hadn’t meant anything at all.

But they hung there anyway. Unanswered, unhidden.

The food arrived, steam curling up from the bowls. They ate quietly for a few minutes, the sounds of passing footsteps and soft laughter drifting by from other tables.

Noel finally glanced across. "Thanks for today."

Luca looked up mid-bite. "For what?"

"For making it feel easy. Even when it’s not."

Luca blinked, then smiled gently. "You don’t have to thank me for that."

"I know," Noel said, voice low. "But still."

Their eyes held for a moment longer.

Then Luca broke it with a soft laugh. "Alright, now you’re being sentimental and we both know I can’t handle that on an empty stomach."

Noel chuckled, picking up his chopsticks again. "Then eat. Before I say something worse—like how grateful I am for you."

Luca groaned. "You’re cruel."

They sat a little longer after finishing their noodles, the bowls pushed aside, drinks half-sipped.

Around them, the evening settled deeper—streetlights flickering on, casting a golden haze across the pavement.

Luca leaned back in his chair, head tilted slightly up, watching the quiet rustle of tree branches above. "I could fall asleep right here."

Noel smiled faintly, chin resting on his hand. "You just did earlier."

"Yeah," Luca muttered. "Still doesn’t feel like enough."

"Maybe your body’s catching up to all the stress."

Luca turned his head, giving Noel a small look. "You always sound like you’re quoting someone’s mom."

"Maybe I’m just wise," Noel said, tone teasing.

They sat in that easy quiet for a few more seconds, no pressure to fill the silence.

A couple of students passed by, laughing as they nudged each other, the sound distant but familiar.

Luca sat up finally and stretched, letting out a low groan. "Okay. Before I turn into a permanent statue—ready to head back?"

Noel stood as well, smoothing down his shirt. "Yeah. Let’s go."

They walked side by side down the narrow path toward their dorm, the sky now dimming into deep blue.

Their steps were unhurried, the soft sound of gravel crunching beneath their shoes.

At one point, Luca’s shoulder brushed Noel’s, just barely.

Neither pulled away

They walked slowly under the faint glow of the streetlights, the air cooler now, brushing lightly against their skin.

Noel had his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the quiet campus road ahead, while Luca kicked a stray pebble along the edge of the curb.

As they turned a corner near the parking lot, someone called out casually from a few steps away.

"Hey, Luca?"

Luca paused mid-step. A tall guy in a faded hoodie approached, holding an energy drink in one hand and his phone in the other.

"Niko?" Luca blinked, mildly surprised.

"Didn’t expect to see you here this late," Niko said, giving a nod toward Noel, then back at Luca. "Thought you’d be out somewhere more exciting than this sidewalk."

Luca chuckled lightly. "Nah, just finished eating. Low-key night."

Niko tilted his head slightly. "Yeah? Haven’t seen you in a while, man. You’re not ghosting the Friday things, are you?"

Luca shrugged with a casual half-smile. "Just been busy."

"Right. Exams and all." Niko took a sip, then looked between them again. "Anyway, I’ll hit you up. We’re doing something next week, if you’re around."

Luca nodded politely. "Sure. Take care."

With a short wave, Niko walked off, already back on his phone.

Noel didn’t say much, just glanced sideways at Luca once they were walking again.

Luca gave a small shrug, his voice even. "Just a guy I used to hang out with. Parties mostly."

Noel hummed softly. "He seems... lively."

Luca laughed under his breath. "That’s one way to put it."

Their pace slowed a little, feet brushing through fallen leaves along the sidewalk.

Noel asked quietly, "You miss that kind of scene?"

Luca thought for a second. "Sometimes, yeah. The energy, the noise—it distracts you. But I think I’ve outgrown a good chunk of it."

He looked over at Noel. "This feels better."

Noel didn’t reply immediately, but there was a softness in his eyes that didn’t need words.

They didn’t rush the walk back. The path was quiet now, just the faint hum of crickets and the distant echo of a closing gate.