Noel slung his bag over one shoulder, halfway through the door when a voice cut through the scrape of chairs.
"Noel!"
He paused mid-step, turning his head. Emily stood a few paces away with George beside her, both looking curious. Emily took a step closer.
"Hey—sorry, just quick—do you know if Luca's coming to class today?" she asked, casually adjusting her strap.
Noel blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… I'm not sure. He didn't say anything."
George leaned in slightly, smirking. "Saw him hanging around Kian yesterday. Figured maybe he got… distracted."
Emily shot George a look. "Don't be annoying."
Noel gave a small, polite shrug, eyes calm but unreadable. "He has his own pace," he said. "If he shows up, he shows up."
Emily laughed softly. "True. Just asking because he didn't show up today. We haven't heard a thing."
"I'll let him know you're looking for him," Noel replied simply, already turning.
Emily nodded. "Thanks. Sorry to bother—see you around."
He offered a brief nod and walked off, jaw just slightly tight.
As Noel disappeared into the hallway, Emily exhaled lightly, shifting her weight.
George nudged her with his elbow. "Did you see that? He definitely tensed up."
Emily gave him a sideways glance. "You think so?"
"I know so." George crossed his arms, grinning. "I've seen that look before. That's a 'don't ask me about him again' kind of look."
Emily rolled her eyes but smiled. "Maybe he's just tired. Or annoyed we brought up Luca."
"Or maybe…" George leaned in with a dramatic whisper, "he's got a thing for the guy."
Emily snorted, slapping his arm. "You've got a thing for drama."
"And you're welcome," George said proudly.
They both started walking toward the other wing of the building.
"Still, something's definitely going on with those two," Emily said, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
George nodded. "Mm-hmm. I give it a week before something blows up."
Emily laughed. "Or sparks fly."
They disappeared down the hallway, chatter fading behind them.
Noel spotted Lina leaning against the wall near the courtyard steps, flipping lazily through a book.
Her hair caught the afternoon light, and her brows were slightly furrowed in concentration.
He slowed as he approached. "Hey."
Lina looked up, smile tugging at her lips. "Hey. You're done with class?"
"Just now," he nodded. Then, before he could stop himself, he asked, "Where's Alex?"
Lina closed the book softly. "Library duty. Got roped into helping the new students navigate the system."
Noel chuckled. "Of course he did."
"What were you about to ask me?" she tilted her head, curious.
He blinked. "What?"
"You were about to ask something before I spoke."
Noel hesitated, then scratched the back of his neck. "It's nothing. I just thought you two always stuck together."
Lina gave him a knowing look. "We do. Most days. Today's just... quieter."
He nodded slowly. "Right. Quieter's not bad."
She smiled, eyes briefly studying him. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Too quick. He cleared his throat, tried again. "Just… a lot on my mind."
"Want to talk about it?"
He offered a small smile. "Maybe later."
She didn't press. Just nodded and reopened her book, standing beside him in companionable silence.
Lina glanced around and pointed toward a low stone bench under a tree nearby.
"Let's sit there," she said, already walking ahead with her book tucked against her chest.
Noel followed without protest, sliding into the spot beside her.
The shade was cool, the soft rustle of leaves above them filling the quiet between their steps and breaths.
Lina didn't say anything right away—she just sat, legs crossed, flipping the page with a gentle swipe of her thumb.
"So," she finally said, her tone light but curious, "what's really got your brain all scrambled today?"
Noel leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring ahead. "Nothing major. Just… people asking me things I don't know how to answer."
Lina quirked a brow. "Cryptic."
"I know," he muttered.
She nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "Still sounds like something you'll eventually need to untangle."
He gave a faint chuckle. "Probably."
They sat in silence again for a moment, the weight of unsaid thoughts lingering between them. Then Noel looked over, voice softer. "Thanks for not pushing."
Lina smiled without looking up from her book. "You'll talk when you're ready."
They stayed there a moment longer, the quiet around them broken only by the flutter of pages and distant footsteps across the campus path.
Lina turned slightly, eyes on Noel now. "Do you think Alex likes someone?"
Noel blinked, caught off guard. "I'm… not sure," he said slowly. "Why do you ask?"
She hesitated, lowering her gaze. "I still didn't get chance to tell him"
Noel tilted his head. "Tell him what?"
Lina drew in a breath, her voice quieter. "I never told him," she said, almost to herself. "But I like him. I have… for a while."
Noel blinked, then sat up straighter. "Oh yeah, but why.?"
"I'm afraid," she added, forcing a chuckle that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Afraid?" Noel repeated, brows furrowed.
Lina nodded, fingers gripping the edge of her book. "What if he doesn't feel the same? What if it ruins everything?"
Noel was quiet for a beat, then said gently, "And what if he does feel the same? You'll never know if you don't say anything."
She sighed, half smiling. "Easy for you to say."
He shrugged. "Not really. Feelings are terrifying."
She laughed at that—soft, genuine. "Yeah… yeah, they really are."
Lina leaned back on the bench, her eyes scanning the trees in front of them. "You ever liked someone and didn't know what to do about it?"
Noel hesitated, lips parting before he answered. "Yeah… maybe once."
"Just once?" she asked, glancing sideways at him.
He smiled faintly. "Hmm once was enough to mess me up for months."
She laughed again, bumping her shoulder against his. "And did you tell them?"
"Nope," he replied, popping the P. "I just sat on it, let it eat me alive like a rational human being."
Lina snorted. "Sounds about right."
A breeze passed between them, and for a moment neither said anything.
"Maybe you should tell Alex," Noel said finally. "He's not the kind to make you feel weird about it, even if he doesn't feel the same."
She looked thoughtful. "You think so?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I mean… you know him better than most. You've been by his side since day one."
She toyed with the corner of her book, then glanced up. "Thanks, Noel."
He gave her a small smile. "Anytime."
Lina exhaled, letting some of the tension in her shoulders fall. "Alright. I'll think about it. Maybe."
He nudged her with his knee. "That's a start."
Their laughter faded into quiet. Not silence, exactly—but something softer. Trust, maybe.