Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 97: A Study in Love

The dorm room was unusually quiet, save for the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the faint rustle of pages turning.

Noel sat cross-legged on his bed, a textbook open in front of him and a highlighter in hand. His glasses—used only when he was truly locked in—balanced low on his nose. His focus was sharp, scanning through lines of international trade policies with the seriousness of someone preparing for war.

Across from him, Luca was slumped at his desk, chin resting on his arm, half-reading, half-daydreaming. His own business studies textbook lay open—untouched for the last fifteen minutes.

"You haven’t turned a single page," Noel said without looking up.

"That’s because I’m respecting the page," Luca mumbled. "Giving it time to speak to me."

Noel finally glanced at him. "You’re stalling."

Luca sighed dramatically. "I don’t know how you do this. I read two lines and start thinking about croissants."

"You’d better hope croissants are on the exam, then."

Noel slid off the bed, walked over, and gently turned Luca’s book right side up. "You don’t even have it facing the right way."

Luca blinked at it. "Oh."

Noel returned to his bed, shaking his head. "Let’s just do it together. You go through your Chapter, I’ll go through mine. We can quiz each other after."

Luca leaned back in his chair, groaning. "We’re not even in the same course."

"Yeah, but we share half our classes. And you suck at studying alone."

Luca gave a small smirk. "Admit it—you just like bossing me around."

Noel raised a brow. "Would you rather fail?"

"Fine," Luca said, cracking his neck and flipping to the right Chapter. "Let’s suffer together, then."

"Now you’re getting it."

Pens scratched paper. Books flipped. For a while, the only sounds were their steady breathing and the shared silence of two people who had quietly, completely found rhythm in each other—even in moments as dull as exam prep.

Then, without looking up, Luca said, "Hey."

Noel hummed.

"I still think you’re hot when you’re being all smart."

Noel didn’t look up. "Read, Luca."

A beat.

Luca smirked."Yes, professor."

The room had settled into that rare, peaceful stillness—no music, no teasing, no distractions. Just two open books, a pair of pens, and determination... or at least, Noel’s determination.

Luca was hunched over his desk, highlighter in one hand, fidgeting with a paperclip in the other. His brows were furrowed, lips pursed, muttering quietly as he tried to grasp the concept of "corporate structure diversification."

Noel watched from the bed, flipping a page in his own textbook. He didn’t say anything for a while—until Luca sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No chaos today, remember?" Noel said calmly.

"I’m not causing chaos," Luca replied, staring blankly at the graph in his textbook. "I’m suffering quietly. That’s different."

Noel set his highlighter down. "Then suffer productively."

Luca turned his head toward him. "You’re enjoying this."

"A little," Noel admitted, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I’ve never seen you this serious."

"I’m being serious because someone"—he gestured vaguely at Noel—"scared me into a study pact."

"You’ll thank me when you don’t have to repeat this course next semester."

"I’ll thank you when this Chapter stops using the word ’synergy.’"

Noel chuckled and motioned to the pages in front of him. "Okay, let’s test you. Give me three key benefits of diversification strategy."

Luca groaned but sat up straighter. "Fine. One—risk reduction... I think. Two—market expansion. Three... uh... more money?"

Noel blinked. "Profitability. I’ll let you have that one."

Luca beamed like he’d just passed the bar exam. "Told you I was smart."

"You’re lucky you’re cute," Noel murmured, not quite looking at him.

Luca leaned on the back of his chair, smirking. "So you admit it."

"I admit nothing. Read."

Luca saluted with his pen and turned back to the book. For once, he actually focused.

Minutes passed, pages turned, and Noel watched him—quietly proud. Maybe it wasn’t the most exciting weekend, but seeing Luca really try? That was more than enough.

No chaos. No drama. Just calm, warm, academic love.

Luca was still at it—surprisingly.

He scribbled something into his notebook with a deep crease between his brows, muttering the words under his breath. "Strategic alliance, equity partnership, blah blah synergy..."

Noel had stopped reading a while ago. He just sat there watching him—chin resting on his palm, a lazy smile tugging at his lips. Not mocking. Just... fond.

Finally, Luca dropped his pen and slumped back in his chair like he’d just climbed Everest.

"I think I lost brain cells," he said dramatically. "All for this dumb exam."

Noel set his own book down. "You actually studied for two straight hours."

"Yeah. Alert the media."

"I’m impressed."

Luca tilted his head toward him. "That mean I get a prize?"

Noel raised a brow. "What kind of prize were you thinking?"

Luca grinned. "I’ll leave that to your interpretation."

Noel sighed like he was being forced—but the corners of his mouth betrayed him. He stood up, crossed the space between them, and leaned down slowly.

Just a kiss.

Short. Gentle. Just enough to brush their mouths and leave Luca blinking up at him, a little stunned and a lot pleased.

"That’s for trying," Noel whispered. "And not giving up—even when you wanted to."

Luca blinked. "Guess I should study more often."

Noel shook his head, already moving back toward his side of the room. "Don’t push it."

Luca watched him, smile still lingering, and muttered under his breath, "Totally worth it."

The books stayed open a little longer—but neither of them minded. It wasn’t about the exam anymore.

It was about showing up.

Trying.

And learning how to love each other even in the quietest, simplest hours.

The air was quieter now, the hum of campus life outside just a distant murmur.

Noel looked up from his laptop, eyes slightly strained.

"Go and shower," he said, his voice calm but nudging.

Luca was draped over the bed like sunlight itself—warm, unbothered, and far too pleased with himself. "Bossy..."

"You promised," Noel reminded him without looking, fingers still tapping keys.

With a dramatic sigh, Luca peeled himself off the bed. "Fine. If I drown, it’s on you."

Noel didn’t even glance up. "Try not to."

A few minutes later, the sound of running water filled the room. Noel kept typing, mind half in his notes and half on the boy singing faintly behind the bathroom door. He allowed himself a small smile.

When the door clicked open again, steam trailing behind, Luca stepped out—hair damp and towel slung low around his neck. He rubbed at it lazily while padding barefoot across the floor.

Noel was still at his desk, back turned to him.

"I’m done," Luca announced quietly, voice a little softer now.

Before Noel could respond, he felt arms circle him from behind—damp skin pressing against his hoodie, Luca’s chin resting lightly on his shoulder.

"Time to sleep now," Luca murmured.

"Mhh..." Noel answered, not resisting but still clicking save on the draft. "Almost..."

Luca hugged tighter. "Nope. No ’almost. "I studied. I showered. Now it’s your turn."

Noel let out a soft, reluctant laugh. "You’re unbearable."

"But charming," Luca whispered, brushing his nose against Noel’s temple.

Noel reached up, resting one hand over Luca’s arm.

"Five seconds," he bargained. "Let me just close this."

"You have three."

The sound of the laptop closing echoed gently, and the room dimmed further—like even the lights agreed the night was ready to end.

They moved toward the bed together, already drifting into that familiar rhythm where no words were really needed.

Just warmth. Just breath.

Just them.

The room was dim now, only the desk lamp casting a soft halo over the quiet dorm.

Luca let out another yawn—long, lazy, unbothered. He rubbed at his eyes like a sleepy cat and mumbled, "I’m so sleepy..." His voice was thick with drowsiness, almost slurring.

His hair was still damp, curling slightly at the ends, clinging to his forehead.

"You didn’t dry your hair again," Noel said from beside him, eyeing the mess.

"M’too tired..." Luca murmured, eyes half-closed, body sinking further into the mattress.

Noel rolled his eyes with fond exasperation and reached for a clean towel. "You’ll catch a cold, dummy. Sit up."

Luca groaned in protest, but tilted his head obediently.

Noel kneeled on the bed behind him, towel in hand, gently rubbing the moisture from his hair. His movements were slow, rhythmic. Soothing. Every so often, he’d press the towel over Luca’s neck or behind his ears, pausing only to push a damp lock out of the way.

"You’re like a giant wet cat," Noel said.

Luca chuckled beneath the towel. "I’m a lion. Show some respect."

Noel smirked. "A very sleepy lion."

He finished with a light ruffle, then tossed the towel to the side.

"There," Noel said softly once he was done. "You’re human again."

Luca hummed in response, already flopping back onto the bed like gravity had tripled just for him.

They lay side by side now, the weight of the week easing off their shoulders.

Noel turned toward him, head propped on one hand, clearly not done talking. "Hey, do you remember that weird guy in class who—"

But halfway through the sentence, he stopped.

Luca’s breathing had already shifted. Slower. Deeper.

His lashes fluttered faintly, lips slightly parted, and his hair—still damp in places—was a soft halo on the pillow. He had dozed off right in the middle of Noel’s ramble.

Noel blinked.

"...Seriously?" he whispered with a faint smile.

He reached out and brushed a stray strand from Luca’s forehead.

"Guess that story can wait."

"Night, lion."

Then he pulled the blanket over both of them and let the quiet take over.

And then he settled down too, turning off the light with a soft click—the room dissolving into quiet, steady breathing and the kind of peace that doesn’t need words.

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