Chapter 79: Coffee, Notes, and You
The door clicked softly behind them as they stepped inside the dorm, the faint hum of the building settling around them like a quiet welcome.
Noel yawned, rubbing the corner of his eye. "I’m so tired... I might fall asleep standing." His voice was low, heavy with the kind of exhaustion that only comes after a long, slow walk filled with unspoken things.
Luca smiled, watching him carefully. "Do you want to take a shower first? Wash off the day?"
Noel hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. You go after me, okay?"
Luca shrugged but nodded, his smile lingering. "Alright, you go first."
Noel shuffled toward the bathroom, the soft padding of his footsteps fading behind the closing door.
Left alone, Luca leaned against the doorframe, a quiet smile spreading as he thought back on their walk—the way Noel’s hand had found his, the gentle brush of fingers, the shy but steady moments that made everything feel new and right.
He glanced down at his own hands, folding and unfolding fingers, as if testing the memory of their touch.
Minutes passed.
The bathroom door creaked open.
Noel appeared, hair damp and skin still flushed from the warm water. His eyes were softer now, calmer, but still carrying that tired edge.