Chapter 21: Dumpling buddies
Luca had just slung his bag over one shoulder when a familiar voice cut through the shuffle of the crowd.
"Hey, you hungry?"
He turned to see Kian slipping through a pair of exiting students, relaxed as ever, a lazy smile on his face.
Luca tilted his head. "When am I not?"
Kian chuckled. "Come on. Let’s grab something before your brain short-circuits over that assignment."
"Please. My brain short-circuited two slides ago," Luca said, falling into step beside him as they made their way toward the exit. "What are you craving?"
"Anything that doesn’t smell like campus food," Kian replied. "There’s a cart near the main gate. Sells those fried dumplings you like."
Luca’s eyes lit up. "Now you’re speaking my language."
The hallway buzzed with students, but the two weaved through easily, Kian occasionally bumping shoulders with Luca in a silent rhythm only good friends had.
As they pushed open the glass doors and stepped into the afternoon sun, the campus noise faded just enough for a moment of quiet between them.
"You think the assignment’s gonna kill us?" Luca asked, more playful than serious.