Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 208: Goodnight, My Peace

The apartment felt softer at night, wrapped in the warm glow of lamplight and the distant, muffled hum of the city.

Luca tossed his blazer over the back of a chair and loosened his tie with a sigh, as if the day had physically drained him.

He changed into a faded T-shirt—one he’d long ago claimed from Noel’s side of the closet—and sank into the chair at his desk.

The soft sound of running water echoed from down the hall—Noel in the shower.

A steady, familiar rhythm.

Luca opened his laptop, the bright slides of the presentation glaring back at him.

Georgia’s voice echoed in his mind: No fluff.

He could still picture her sharp gaze, her heels clicking like a metronome counting down to judgment.

He leaned forward, jaw set, his usual playful demeanor replaced by uncharacteristic focus.

He adjusted colors, tweaked fonts, and rephrased taglines until the design finally felt like it breathed.

The bathroom door creaked open.

Noel stepped out, a towel slung around his neck, his hair dark and damp.

The clean scent of soap and cedar drifted into the room.

He paused, halfway through drying his hair, when he saw Luca—hunched and serious in the dim light.

For a long moment, Noel simply watched him.

Luca muttered under his breath, adjusting a slide again. "Too corporate," he whispered to himself, then switched the font. "No, too playful—dammit."

A soft laugh escaped Noel. "Arguing with PowerPoint again?"

Luca glanced up, startled, then offered a faint smile. "You caught me."

Noel leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You’ve been at this since we got back?"

"Yeah." Luca rubbed his temple. "Georgia said no fluff. I’m trying to figure out what that means when I am the fluff."

That drew a small, genuine smile from Noel. "You’re actually taking this seriously."

"Don’t sound so shocked," Luca said, though his tone was light. He turned back to the screen, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "I just... want her to see I can do more than talk my way through things."

Noel pushed off the doorframe and stepped closer, the floorboards creaking softly under his bare feet. "You don’t have to prove anything, Luca."

Luca shook his head, his fingers still clicking across the keyboard. "Yeah, I do. I’m always the loud one, the joke guy. But this—" He gestured at the glowing slides. "This I want to get right."

Noel was quiet for a moment.

Then he moved behind Luca’s chair, placing a warm, steadying hand on his shoulder. "Then get it right. But don’t forget to breathe."

Luca exhaled, some of the tension seeping from his shoulders.

"Here," Noel murmured, leaning over to study the screen. "Your tagline is strong. But this part—" he pointed to a cluttered bullet point "—say less. Let the design speak for itself."

Luca looked up at him, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Look at you, a marketing whisperer."

"Just helping," Noel said, a faint smile playing on his own lips.

"Helping and looking criminally good while doing it," Luca teased, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Noel rolled his eyes but didn’t remove his hand. "Focus, genius."

"Can’t when you’re this close."

But he did focus.

For another hour, maybe two, he refined the presentation, with Noel offering quiet, perceptive notes—nothing overwhelming, just steadfast support.

When Luca finally closed the laptop, his eyes were tired, but his signature grin had returned. "There. Draft ready for tomorrow."

Noel’s smile was soft. "Told you you’d get it done."

Luca tilted his head back, exhaustion melting into something tender. "Only because you were here."

Noel brushed a hand gently through Luca’s hair, the touch full of unspoken affection. "Go to bed, legend. You’ve earned it."

Luca leaned back in the chair, catching Noel’s wrist. "Stay with me for a minute?"

Noel’s expression softened. He nodded.

The night settled around them, deep and full—the city a distant murmur below, the lamplight a warm pool above, two people finding a shared stillness after the day’s noise.

Luca finally shut the laptop with a soft, definitive click.

He leaned back, stretching until his spine gave a satisfying pop, then pushed himself up from the chair.

The room was bathed in the low glow of the bedside lamp, casting Noel in a soft, golden light as he sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through his phone, his hair still slightly damp.

Luca stood for a moment, just watching him—the small, focused frown, the slow, thoughtful movement of his thumb.

"You’re staring," Noel said, without looking up.

"I’m admiring," Luca corrected, stepping closer. "It’s a different category."

Noel hummed. "You’re supposed to be sleeping."

"Supposed to," Luca agreed, climbing onto the bed and stretching out beside him. "But then you’re here."

Noel turned his head, their eyes meeting. "You’re impossible."

Luca murmured, propping himself on an elbow, "make impossible feel worth it."

Noel shook his head, though a faint smile betrayed him. "Flattery won’t get you out of the morning alarm."

"Maybe not," Luca said, his voice softening, "but it gets me closer to you."

He reached up, brushing his thumb along Noel’s jaw—a touch so light it seemed to slow time itself.

Noel’s breath hitched, his phone forgotten on the nightstand.

For a heartbeat, neither moved.

The air was still, charged with a quiet understanding.

Then Noel leaned in first.

Their lips met, unhurried and deep, as if they had all the time in the world.

Luca smiled into the kiss, one hand sliding to the back of Noel’s neck, drawing him closer.

The city hummed a distant lullaby beneath their window, a faint backdrop to the intimate sounds of their closeness—shared breath, synced heartbeats, the rustle of sheets.

When they finally parted, Luca stayed close, his forehead resting against Noel’s. "You’re gonna make me soft," he whispered, his voice rough with exhaustion and affection.

"You already are," Noel murmured back, his eyes heavy-lidded.

Luca laughed quietly, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "Guess I stopped fighting it."

Noel reached over and switched off the lamp, plunging the room into shadow, save for the faint blue glow of the skyline painting the walls.

They settled down together, Luca curling into Noel’s side, fitting against him like a missing piece.

"Goodnight, Luca," Noel said softly.

Luca’s voice was already thick with sleep. "Goodnight, my peace."

And for once, neither dreamed of work, or meetings, or secrets.

Just stillness—and the quiet, certain promise of another morning together.

Morning sunlight poured through the apartment windows like liquid gold, spilling across the breakfast table.

The air smelled of toasted bread and faint, clean cologne—the scent of a calm morning after a week running on caffeine and adrenaline.

Luca stood by the counter, hair still damp from his shower, flipping through the printed slides of their campaign.

His foot tapped a restless rhythm against the floor—a telltale sign he was thinking too hard and pretending he wasn’t nervous.

Noel leaned against the doorframe, coffee mug in hand, watching him. "You’ve read those pages five times," he observed. "Planning to memorize them or hypnotize the client?"

Luca looked up, a grin tugging at his mouth. "Maybe both. You think Georgia would be impressed if I stare at the slides until she approves them?"

"She’d probably send you to HR," Noel deadpanned, taking a sip of his coffee.

That earned a real, soft laugh from Luca before he gathered the sheets into a neat pile and slipped them into his folder. "You know," he said, his voice turning lighter, more reflective, "I’ve never taken anything this seriously before."

"I noticed," Noel said quietly.

Luca glanced over, his grin softening into something more vulnerable. "I guess I want to prove I can do something right. Even if my dad owns the building, I want Georgia to see me. Not the last name."

Noel’s expression gentled. "She already does. You’re loud enough to be unforgettable."

Luca laughed, shaking his head. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

"It’s not," Noel said, stepping closer and deftly straightening Luca’s slightly crooked collar. His fingers lingered for a heartbeat too long. "It’s very... you."

Luca caught his wrist before he could pull away, his eyes searching Noel’s. "You always calm me down before I even realize I’m nervous."

"That’s teamwork," Noel murmured.

"Yeah," Luca said softly, releasing his wrist. "Best team there is."

The elevator ride to the company was quiet—the calm before the day’s storm.

Luca and Noel stood side by side, close enough for their sleeves to brush, yet careful not to let their eyes linger too long.

When the elevator chimed for the third floor, Luca stepped out first.

He turned just as the doors began to close. "Good luck up there, boss."

Noel offered a faint smirk. "You too, future legend."

The doors slid shut, sealing them in their separate worlds.

Luca’s floor was already buzzing with energy when he walked in. Bella waved a half-eaten croissant in greeting. "Morning, legend. Ready to charm Georgia?"

"Always," Luca said, dropping his bag beside his desk with practiced ease. "She loves me. She just doesn’t know it yet."

Liam looked up from his laptop, his expression dry. "She barely tolerates you."

"That’s stage one of love," Luca replied smoothly.

Wei Chen chuckled, his arm draped over Camille’s chair. "Stage two is paperwork."

Before anyone could reply, Georgia’s sharp voice cut through the room. "Alright, everyone. Time’s up for polishing. Presentations start in twenty."

Luca straightened up, exchanging a swift, charged glance with Bella.

Her eyes sparkled with a familiar, electric mix of excitement and nerves.

"You ready?" she whispered.

He nodded once, his grin slow and steady. "Let’s make it unforgettable," Luca said, his grin hiding the quiet fire Noel had lit in him the night before.