Chapter 2: Roommates, Rules, and Reluctant Beginnings
The office smelled like coffee and old carpet.
Luca leaned on the counter, drumming his fingers. "So... got anything with privacy? I snore. Loudly."
The dorm manager didn’t flinch. "Everything’s full."
Luca tilted his head. "Even the singles?"
"Especially the singles."
He exhaled slowly. "Okay. So, what? You want me to sleep in the hallway?"
"You’re lucky there’s a shared unit left," the man replied, tapping the screen in front of him. "Most students confirmed last week."
Luca straightened. "Shared?"
The manager slid a key across the desk. "Room 3B. Don’t be picky."
"You’ll be with another student," the man added, already turning to his files. "Or you can try the next semester. Maybe you’ll be early next time."
He stared at the key like it had betrayed him. "I thought dorm life meant, like, freedom. Not bunking with some math major who judges my playlists."