Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 186: Sun And Moon

Luca didn’t give Noel a chance to retreat.

He caught his wrist and tugged him toward a smudged mirror leaning against the stall post.

Without hesitation, Luca stripped off his white shirt.

"Here?" Noel hissed, shooting a look at the passing tourists.

"What, suddenly shy?" Luca teased, already dragging the bright sun shirt over his head.

The fabric settled, cheerful and brazen against his skin.

He turned to the mirror, grinning. "See? Glorious. This was made for me."

Noel muttered a curse but peeled off his own shirt, tugging the softer moon-print over his shoulders.

The pale fabric settled, the dark circle resting on his chest as if it belonged there.

Luca’s grin softened. He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "Ridiculous has never looked so good."

"Stop," Noel said flatly, though his ears flushed pink.

The vendor chuckled, handing them a paper bag for their old clothes.

Luca paid with a flourish, as if purchasing treasure. "Worth every coin."

He smoothed his shirt and struck a mock model’s pose. "Admit it. Phenomenal."

Noel tugged his moon shirt into place with clipped movements. "You look like a walking cartoon."

"Ah, but a very handsome cartoon," Luca countered.

Then his grin faltered as his eyes lingered.

The moon print suited Noel—broody, understated, beautiful. "...Damn," he said softly. "It actually looks unfairly good on you."

Noel’s hands stilled. His gaze flicked up, caught off guard by the rawness in Luca’s tone. "You’re impossible."

"Maybe," Luca replied, stepping close enough that their shoulders brushed. He tipped his head toward the mirror. "But look. We’re impossible together."

In the glass, sun and moon lined up side by side. Bright and shadow. Wild and steady.

Noel held his gaze in the reflection, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. "Ridiculous," he muttered again, but the word was warmer now.

The vendor clapped her hands. "Perfect match."

As they walked away, Luca caught their reflection in a shop window. He elbowed Noel lightly, eyes shining. "Balanced. Iconic."

Noel didn’t look, but his lips twitched as if a smile fought to break free.

The market thinned as they reached the trailhead.

The path stretched upward, stones crunching underfoot.

Luca swung his water bottle lazily. "Adventure mode."

Noel adjusted his pack with quiet precision. "Pace yourself. No sprinting ahead."

"Bossy," Luca sang. "But fine. I’ll slow down for you."

"You mean you’ll keep up with me," Noel corrected smoothly.

Luca laughed, the sound bright against the mountain air.

He skipped forward, letting his shoulder brush Noel’s as the trail began to climb.

The path wound higher, opening onto a ledge where the trees thinned.

Morning light spilled across the valley below—patchwork rooftops and glimmering streams rolling into a blue haze.

Luca stopped dead. "Oh—look."

Noel gave the view a measured glance. "Nice."

"Nice?" Luca spun on him, scandalized. "This is art. Postcard material." He fumbled for his phone. "Smile."

"No," Noel said. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Yes," Luca insisted, tugging his sleeve until Noel reluctantly leaned closer.

He held the phone high, grinning.

Noel didn’t quite smile, but his face softened in the frame.

Click.

Luca studied the screen, his grin widening. "Perfect. Sun and moon, on top of the world."

Noel glanced once, expression unreadable, then turned back to the view. "Your metaphors are terrible."

"And yet accurate." Luca leaned his shoulder against Noel’s. "Admit it. This is going on your phone background later."

Noel’s look said he would never admit such a thing, but his ears turned pink.

Luca’s laugh spilled out, carried by the wind. "Fine. Don’t say it. I’ll know anyway."

He snapped another shot—just of Noel, standing tall against the valley, the moon shirt catching the light.

When Noel turned at the shutter sound, Luca only grinned. "Memories. You’ll thank me later."

Noel called him insufferable, but he didn’t move away when Luca slid in close, their heads nearly touching as the lens caught them against the sky.

The ridge waited above, but Luca wasn’t ready to rush.

He wanted to hold onto this—each step, each glance, each photo that made the climb theirs.

He tugged Noel’s arm, steering him toward another angle. "Stand here. Closer to the edge—it’ll frame you perfectly."

Noel shot him a look. "You just want me to fall so you can keep the photo as a shrine."

"Drama," Luca said, rolling his eyes. "One step. Brood into the horizon for me."

Noel sighed but moved.

Luca crouched, holding the phone low, the valley stretching behind Noel like a painting.

He snapped one, then another. "Yes. Mysterious hiker model."

Noel muttered, "You’re ridiculous," but the corners of his mouth threatened a smile.

"Wait—hold still." Luca darted forward, straightening Noel’s hem before stepping back. "Perfect. You’re photogenic without even trying. It’s offensive."

Something in Noel’s face softened, irritation giving way to shy amusement.

Luca bounced over, thrusting the screen toward him. "See?"

Noel’s gaze lingered. "...It’s not terrible," he admitted.

"Not terrible? This is cover-photo material," Luca declared.

He slipped beside Noel before he could retreat, holding the phone out. "Our turn."

Noel didn’t ready himself, but when Luca leaned cheek-to-cheek against him, he didn’t pull away.

Click.

The photo showed Luca’s sunshine grin beside Noel’s quiet steadiness, both haloed by sky.

Luca let out a soft laugh. "Okay... that one’s special."

He glanced up, eyes bright. "One more? Where you actually look happy."

Noel huffed, but the pink at his ears deepened.

He didn’t resist when Luca nudged him closer, snapping two, three more—Luca’s laugh spilling between them as Noel’s lips finally tugged into something small, reluctant... real.

Click.

"There," Luca whispered, lowering the phone. He looked at the screen, then at Noel. "That’s the one. I’m keeping it forever."

Noel didn’t answer, his gaze drifting to the valley as if to hide the truth in his silence.

But when Luca slipped the phone away and bumped their shoulders together, Noel leaned just slightly closer.

The path waited above, but neither of them rushed.

For now, the ridge could wait.

Luca was now scrolling through the selfies, grinning, when Noel plucked the phone from his hands.

"Hey!" Luca reached for it.

Noel held it just out of reach. "Your turn."

"My turn for what?"

"Stand there," Noel said, tilting his chin toward where the trail curved against the drop.

Luca’s grin broke slow and bright. "You’re taking my picture?"

"Apparently."

Luca bounded to the spot, striking an exaggerated pose, hands on hips, chin lifted. "Like this? Hero of the mountain?"

Noel didn’t raise the camera. "No."

"Wow. Rude." Luca tried again, crossing his arms and smirking. "Broody, like you?"

Still nothing. Noel arched a brow. "Be normal."

Luca sighed, then softened into something genuine—hands at his sides, eyes catching the light as he turned toward the valley.

No performance. Just Luca.

Click.

Noel studied the photo, his mouth twitching. "Better."

Luca padded back, eyes alight. "Let me see."

Noel angled the screen away. "Later."

"Tease." Luca leaned into him, breath warm against his ear. "Bet I look hot."

Noel’s ears flushed, but he ignored him, lifting the phone again. "One more."

This time he tugged Luca’s wrist, shifting him so the sun hung just above his shoulder, haloing him in gold.

He snapped the picture just as a genuine, unguarded smile broke across Luca’s face-not a performance, but a reaction to being seen so carefully by Noel.

Luca turned, catching the trick. "Sun boy framed by actual sun? You’re getting artsy on me."

"Don’t push it," Noel said, but the command lacked its usual bite.

He was still looking at the photo on the screen, at the way the light seemed to love Luca as much as he did.

But Luca only laughed, a sound that echoed lightly off the surrounding rocks.

Before Noel could hand him the phone and retreat behind his usual walls, Luca looped an arm around his waist, anchoring him in place. "My turn. Sun and moon, side by side. For real this time."

Noel resisted with a half-hearted grumble, muttering about becoming the very ridiculous tourists they’d scoffed at minutes ago.

But Luca had already lifted the phone, his free arm a warm, firm band around Noel’s back.

He pressed close, his chest solid against Noel’s shoulder, his cheek nearly touching Noel’s temple. "Okay, on three. And try to look like you enjoy my company, just once."

Noel’s protest died in his throat.

He could feel the steady beat of Luca’s heart against his side, a rhythm more calming than he would ever admit.

Click.

The photo flashed back at them-Luca glowing bright with unrestrained joy, Noel’s expression softened into something approaching contentment, their ridiculous shirts mirroring the real-life contrast between them.

In the background, the vast valley stretched out, a witness to the moment.

Luca’s voice dropped, losing its teasing edge and becoming soft, almost reverent. "That’s us. Really us."

Noel didn’t argue. His gaze lingered on the screen, on the two of them captured together in a single, perfect frame.

Then his eyes flicked to Luca beside him, and a faint, undeniable smile tugged at his lips, unbidden and entirely genuine.

Luca caught it, his own expression shifting to something smug yet incredibly tender. "Knew you’d cave eventually. You can’t resist this." He gestured vaguely between them.

Noel exhaled slowly, a long, surrendering breath that seemed to release the last of his tension.

He finally pocketed the phone, the weight of it feeling significant in his pocket. "Let’s keep walking," he said, his voice low. "Before you get any more ideas and demand a full-blown photoshoot with costume changes."

"Too late," Luca said, laughing as he fell into step beside him.

He deliberately let his shoulder brush against Noel’s with each step, a constant, comforting point of contact. "The ideas are already flowing. Just wait until we reach the summit."

The trail curved upward again, steeper now, but their pace stayed easy, synchronized.

The mountain air was clean and sharp in their lungs, and the images of sun and moon, forever paired, felt safe and close in Noel’s pocket, a secret treasure from a morning that felt stolen from time itself.