Chapter 33: Quiet Games
The soft hum of Noel’s laptop was the only sound filling the dorm room.
His fingers paused above the keyboard as he finally hit save—assignment complete. A breath escaped his lips, half relief, half exhaustion.
He leaned back in his chair and reached for his phone. 4:30 PM.
Just a short scroll, he told himself.
His thumb idly flicked through random posts and school updates, eyes glazing over—until the screen lit up with a call.
Alex.
Noel blinked, then answered.
"Hey."
"You free?" Alex’s voice buzzed with casual energy. "I’m heading to the library.
Thought maybe we could work on the last part of that project together. I’ll wait for you at the campus gate?"
Noel glanced at the window, dusky light settling in, casting soft amber across the floor.