Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 188: The Way Home

The nap was brief but enough to smooth the edges of exhaustion from the climb.

When Noel’s quiet voice roused him-"Time"-Luca blinked awake to find the light in the room already shifting toward late afternoon.

He groaned, rolling onto his side. "That was not thirty minutes."

"It was thirty-five," Noel corrected, already tugging his clean shirt into place. "Get up."

Luca dragged himself upright, ruffling his hair into some semblance of order. "Slave driver," he muttered, though the corners of his mouth gave him away.

By the time they were changed, the room looked bare again, their things tucked back into bags.

Luca lingered by the door, fingers brushing the frame as if reluctant to leave, before finally following Noel into the hall.

Downstairs, the guesthouse owner greeted them with the same easy warmth as that morning.

Noel slid the key across the counter with his usual composure. "Thank you."

"Heading out already?" she asked, her smile soft.

"Yeah," Luca answered, leaning casually against the counter. "Back to the real world before we turn into full-time hikers."

The woman laughed, handing him a wrapped piece of Snacks for the road. "Safe travels, then. Come back when the flowers are in bloom-you’ll see the ridge completely different."

Luca’s eyes lit up, but Noel’s steady hand at his back nudged him gently toward the door. "We’ll keep it in mind," Noel said, with a nod that was almost polite enough to hide the fondness in it.

Outside, the street was quieter, afternoon shadows stretching long across the stones.

Luca adjusted his bag and glanced at Noel, lips curving. "Guess it’s home, then."

"Home," Noel repeated, the word weighted but steady.

Together, they stepped forward, the little guesthouse falling behind them as the road carried them on.

The station wasn’t far-a ten-minute walk at most-but Luca dragged it out, pointing at stray cats lounging in doorways and pausing to peek at trinkets in shop windows.

Noel let him, his stride unhurried, though every so often he tugged Luca gently forward by the wrist when he lingered too long.

By the time they reached the small train platform, the sky had dipped lower, streaked with late-day gold.

The crowd was sparse—families corralling children, a few backpackers slumped against their packs.

Luca dropped onto a bench with exaggerated drama.

"Tragic," he declared. "Two days in paradise and it’s already over."

Noel set their bags down neatly beside him. "You’d get bored if we stayed longer."

"Excuse you, I’m extremely good at vacationing," Luca said, tipping his head back against the bench, eyes half-closed. "I could waste time professionally."

Noel’s mouth tugged at the corner, just briefly. "You already do."

Luca cracked an eye open, grinning. "That was almost a joke. Careful—you might get addicted."

Before Noel could answer, the train pulled in with a low hum, doors sliding open.

Passengers shuffled forward.

Noel picked up both bags before Luca could protest, nodding toward the steps. "Come on."

They found seats by the window, the kind that faced each other with a narrow table between.

Luca pressed close to the glass, watching the town slip away as the train shuddered into motion.

"You ever notice," he said quietly, "leaving always feels faster than arriving?"

Noel leaned back against his seat, eyes steady on him instead of the view. "Maybe because you don’t want to."

Luca blinked, caught off guard, then smiled slowly. "Look at you, the philosopher."

Noel didn’t rise to it this time.

He just rested his elbow on the table, chin balanced on his hand, gaze softening in the late light that slanted through the window.

Luca fidgeted under the attention, finally nudging the edge of Noel’s boot with his own. "Stop staring or I’ll think you’re in love with me."

"I told you to stop making me," Noel murmured, but his foot didn’t move.

Luca smirked, leaning back comfortably, the rhythm of the tracks steady beneath them. "Guess we’ll see who survives this internship first. Spoiler-it’s me."

The train carried them onward, the mountains shrinking into memory, the promise of home waiting ahead.

The sway of the train worked its magic quickly.

Luca’s chatter slowed, words trailing into half-thoughts before tapering off altogether.

His head tipped sideways, cheek brushing Noel’s shoulder, and within minutes his breathing had gone steady and warm against the fabric of Noel’s shirt.

Noel stayed still, careful not to jostle him.

Outside, the world blurred past in long strokes of green and gold, the glass humming with speed.

He let his gaze rest there for a while, but inevitably it returned to the weight pressed against him—the loose curve of Luca’s mouth, the way his lashes trembled faintly with each dream.

Noel shifted just enough to angle his arm along the back of the seat, steadying Luca more comfortably against him.

By the time the train slowed into the city station, the sun had melted into evening. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The overhead lights flickered on, too bright after the dim hush of the ride.

Luca stirred, nose wrinkling as he blinked awake.

"We there?" His voice was scratchy with sleep, words slurred.

"Yeah." Noel gave him a small nudge, though gentler than his tone suggested. "Up."

Luca groaned dramatically, stretching like a cat before finally pushing himself upright. "I was dreaming," he mumbled.

"Good dream?"

"Mm." A slow grin spread across his face as he rubbed his eyes. "You were in it, so... yeah."

Noel stood, grabbing their bags before Luca could fumble for them.

He didn’t answer, but his ears gave him away, tinged faintly pink under the station’s lights.

They stepped onto the platform, the cool rush of city air wrapping around them.

People scattered in every direction, but for that moment it felt like just the two of them, side by side, heading home.

The streets pulsed with evening life-shopfronts glowing amber, the air carrying faint threads of roasted chestnuts and frying oil.

Their footsteps echoed in easy rhythm, bags slung over shoulders, the train station already a block behind them.

Luca slowed, then stopped outright under a streetlamp. "Noel."

Noel turned, brows lifting. "What now?"

Luca shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels like a guilty child. "I’m hungry."

For a moment, Noel just looked at him, the corner of his mouth twitching despite himself. "You’re always hungry."

"Yeah, but this time it’s serious." Luca’s grin was shameless, his stomach punctuating the point with a faint growl.

Noel sighed, shifting the strap of his bag higher on his shoulder. "We just got off a train."

"Exactly," Luca countered, stepping closer with a tilt of his head. "Trains burn calories. Science."

Noel’s patience thinned on the surface, but his hand found Luca’s wrist anyway, tugging him back into stride. "Come on. There’s a place two blocks over—good, hot food, no fuss."

Luca lit up, slipping easily beside him, shoulder brushing his. "You always know the good spots."

"I know the ones that won’t poison us," Noel corrected.

"That’s care," Luca sing-songed, bumping him lightly. "You’re spoiling me, you know."

Noel didn’t answer, but when the glow of a late-night diner spilled across the pavement, he pushed the door open first, holding it wide with a look that was all quiet concession.

Inside, warmth and the smell of grilled meat wrapped around them.

Luca slipped past with a grin, murmuring, "See? Perfect date night."

Noel just shook his head, following him in—though the faintest smile ghosted his lips, betraying how little he minded.

The diner was half-empty, the kind of place where time seemed to move slower.

Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and a jukebox in the corner hummed out an old tune no one was really listening to.

Noel steered them toward a booth by the window.

Luca slid in first, stretching out like he owned the place, his grin already lazy with comfort.

"You know," Luca said, drumming his fingers against the table, "I think I like this place better than fancy restaurants."

"You like anything with food," Noel replied, settling across from him.

He set their bags neatly at his side, already scanning the menu on the wall.

Luca leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands, watching him. "Correction—I like anything with food and....you."

Noel didn’t look up, though his ears betrayed him with the faintest pink. "You’re ridiculous."

"And you love it when I said that," Luca shot back, smug.

A waitress approached, pad in hand.

Noel ordered quickly, practical as always-two bowls of steaming noodles, a plate of dumplings, and tea.

Luca added an extra dessert at the last second, earning himself a pointed look.

"What?" Luca said, wide-eyed innocence. "Sugar’s fuel. We did a whole hike today."

"You ate half the snacks on the trail."

"And you carried the bag," Luca teased. "Perfect teamwork."

When the food arrived, steam curled between them, carrying the warm scent of broth and garlic.

Luca dug in immediately, chopsticks clumsy but enthusiastic, while Noel methodically broke apart his dumplings.

Halfway through, Luca leaned across the table, stealing one straight from Noel’s plate.

Noel’s eyes flicked up, slow and sharp. "Really?"

"Sharing is caring," Luca mumbled around the bite, grinning.

Noel set his chopsticks down with exaggerated patience. "You’re lucky I let you live."

"Lucky and loved," Luca said, swallowing triumphantly.

They fell into a quieter rhythm after that—the scrape of chopsticks, the clink of tea cups.

Outside, the street buzzed faintly with traffic, but in the booth it felt insulated, softened.

Luca leaned back with a satisfied sigh, stretching his arms along the backrest. "Okay. Official verdict? Best idea ever."

Noel sipped his tea, meeting his gaze steadily. "It wasn’t your idea."

"Details." Luca’s grin softened into something smaller, gentler. "Still... thanks. For this."

Noel didn’t answer right away.

He only watched him across the table, expression unreadable but warm at the edges, before murmuring, "Eat your dessert before I change my mind."

Luca’s laugh broke the quiet, bright and easy, and for a moment it felt like the whole evening bent around them—just two boys in a booth, full and content, not needing anything more than this.