The cafeteria buzzed with noise—shoes on tile, trays clattering, laughter echoing in waves.
Luca walked behind George and Emily, but he didn't need an introduction. Heads turned without warning. Girls elbowed each other, whispered, giggled.
One leaned forward from a table, handing him a can. "Hey, you look like you could use something cold."
He took it with a nod, barely stopping. "Thanks."
Another girl offered him a wrapped snack. "It's sweet. Like you."
George laughed behind his cup. "You're a menace, man."
But Luca wasn't smiling. His eyes kept straying.
Back to the far corner.
Where Noel sat, eyes on the book, pen in hand, as if nothing outside the text mattered.
Alex was saying something beside him, laughing too loud, nudging his arm. Noel didn't even glance up.
Luca cracked the can open, the hiss louder in his ear than anything else.
Emily followed his gaze. "You sure he's not mad at you?"
"Why would he be?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, sipping from her drink. "He didn't even say hi."
"Maybe he's just busy."
George gave him a look. "You keep saying that."
Luca took a sip. Too sweet. Like a joke he didn't get. He set it aside, throat tight.
He looked down at the can, then set it aside. His foot tapped under the table. "It's just… not like him."
"You sound like you care," Emily said, not joking.
"I don't."
They both looked at him.
He added, softer this time, "I just noticed, that's all."
Emily leaned her chin on her hand. "He's probably just focused. He doesn't seem like the small talk type anyway."
Luca's jaw shifted slightly, unreadable. "Yeah. Maybe."
But his eyes were still on him. Still waiting.
Still wondering why Noel didn't even bother to look his way.
Luca let out a short breath, pulled his phone from his pocket, then stood. "Let's go. This place's boring."
Emily raised a brow. "Already?"
"Yeah. Too loud."
George grabbed his drink. "Where to?"
"Anywhere that's not here."
George wiped his mouth. "Didn't even finish your drink."
Luca stood. "Didn't like the taste."
Emily laughed, gathering her things. "Or maybe someone's ignoring you and it's killing your appetite."
Luca didn't respond. He just turned toward the exit, shoulders loose but pace steady.
The drink sat untouched beside him. Sweating. Forgotten. Like something left too long in the sun.
As they passed the row of tables, Noel finally looked up.
Just for a second.
Eyes followed Luca's back—then blinked away.
Noel went back to his book.
Alex noticed. "You good?"
"Yeah." Noel flipped a page. "Let's just finish this part."
Alex stretched his arms with a groan. "Man, you study too much. You're gonna turn into a textbook."
"I'll survive."
Alex pointed at the can next to him. "You want the last sip?"
Noel shook his head. "You take it."
He underlined a line in his notebook. Tried to keep reading. But his pen paused for half a beat too long.
Alex noticed, but didn't ask. Just leaned back with a smirk. "You sure you're not distracted?"
"I'm not."
But his eyes didn't lift again. Not yet.
Noel's pen hovered over the page, motionless.
Alex sipped from the can noisily. "So, who was that guy earlier?"
Noel didn't look up. "Who?"
"The one who waved. Tall. Cocky. Smiles like he owns the place."
Noel's jaw tightened. "My roommate."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "That Luca guy?"
"Yeah."
"Didn't peg you two sharing a room."
"We didn't get to pick." Noel closed his notebook with a soft thud. "It's just temporary."
Alex smirked. "He seems... fun."
Noel leaned back, arms folded. "If your definition of fun is loud music, zero responsibility, and a trail of junk food, sure."
Alex chuckled. "Sounds like college."
Noel didn't laugh. He glanced at the door again, even though Luca was long gone.
Alex leaned on one elbow, sipping his drink. "You mad at him or what?"
Noel didn't look up. "No. Why would I be?"
Alex tilted his head, curious. "Just looked like you ignored him on purpose."
"I was reading."
"He waved."
Noel didn't look up. "Didn't feel like it." His pen pressed too hard against the page.
Alex smirked. "Right. Just coincidence."
Noel shut his book, calm but firm. "Look, Luca does his thing. I do mine. That's how it works."
Alex held up a hand. "Fair enough. Just surprised. Figured he'd be the type to read with us maybe."
Noel gave a sideways glance, unimpressed. "You figured wrong."
Alex chuckled to himself and changed the subject.
"Alright, man. Your roommate's cooler than I thought, though."
Noel didn't answer that either.
Just underlined a sentence he wasn't really reading.
"Dude, you good?"
His pen tapped twice."Fine," Noel said. "Let's finish this chapter."
Outside, someone laughed—Luca's voice maybe.
Noel's jaw clenched. He flipped back a page and started reading again. But the words didn't settle.