Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 238: What We Haven’t Said Yet

Still in Max’s Office

Max checked the time on his watch, brows drawing together. "We should wrap up quickly," he said, already shifting into efficient manager mode. "You need to go home early today."

Noel blinked. "Early?"

"Yes," Max replied, firm but not unkind. "You’ll need time to pack, and I don’t want you scrambling at midnight. Trust me—international trips are smoother when you’re not half-asleep at the airport."

A faint, reluctant nod from Noel. "Right."

Max softened his tone. "Process the documents I forwarded to you, then call it a day. No overtime."

That almost coaxed a smile from Noel. "You sure?" He gestured lightly toward the mountain of tasks that usually came his way.

Max’s lips lifted faintly—that dry, knowing smile he only used with people he expected more from. "You’re flying out tomorrow, Noel. I’m not letting you burn out before we even step on the plane."

Noel exhaled a quiet laugh, a small puff of warmth in the heavy afternoon air. "Alright. I’ll finish those files."

"Good." Max straightened. "I’ll check on Sarah in logistics, then update Director Tan. After that, we finalize the travel documents. You focus on your part only."

Noel nodded again, steadier this time. "Understood."

Max moved toward the door but paused, turning back just as Noel was about to leave. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"And Noel?"

He stopped. "Yes, sir?"

"You’re doing well," Max said—not loud, not exaggerated, just clean and honest. "Don’t let anything convince you otherwise today."

Noel’s grip tightened slightly on the folder he was holding. Just one heartbeat. Then he bowed his head. "Thank you."

Max gave a short, approving nod. "Let’s get to work."

The office felt different now, like a current running beneath the calm.

Noel returned to his workstation, settling in with a deep breath as he opened the export files.

His fingers moved with precision, but his eyes betrayed the storm under the surface—going to Japan tomorrow, leaving without clearing the tension with Luca, carrying questions he didn’t know how to answer.

Max passed behind him once, giving a brief nod of acknowledgment, then disappeared into another meeting.

Sarah called from logistics. Phones buzzed. Papers moved.

But Noel worked in that quiet, focused rhythm he always had.

Every now and then, he’d pause—just for a second—like a shadow of thought crossed his mind.

Then he’d continue. Polished. Professional. Efficient.

The sun dipped lower, painting the fourth floor windows in gold, turning their reflections into faint silhouettes against the glass.

At exactly 5:20 PM, Max reappeared from his meeting, sleeves rolled up, tie slightly loosened—proof he’d been running around the entire division.

He approached Noel’s desk with quiet finality. "Wrap up."

Noel typed the last note, saved the file, and leaned back. "All done."

Max nodded. "Good. Go home. Don’t stay another minute."

Noel hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Max said, voice steady and decisive. "You’ll thank me tomorrow when you’re not packing at two in the morning."

A faint smile tugged at Noel’s lips—reluctant but grateful. "Alright. I’ll head out."

Max stepped aside to give him space, watching just long enough to ensure he actually shut down his system.

"Travel light," Max said as Noel gathered his things. "We’ll handle the logistics. You only bring what matters."

Noel slung his bag over his shoulder. "Yes, sir."

As he walked past Max toward the exit, the man spoke once more, lower and gentler than before: "And Noel... whatever’s on your mind?" A pause—meaningful, deliberate. "Don’t carry it alone."

Noel stopped, breath catching—but he didn’t turn around.

"I’ll try," he murmured.

Then he walked away, the office lights reflecting off the glass as the door slid shut behind him.

The Lobby

Noel stood in the lobby, the faint hum of the air conditioning brushing against the quiet clatter of shoes on polished tiles.

He reached into his pocket, fingers curling around his phone, and dialed Luca’s number.

The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

"Hey," Luca said, a note of surprise in his tone.

"I’m off," Noel said, keeping his voice calm, even as his chest fluttered with nervous energy.

There was a pause. "Already? Why so early?" Luca asked, concern threading through the question.

"Something came up," Noel replied, tilting his head slightly as he scanned the lobby. "I need to go home early."

"Alright," Luca said quickly. "I’ll finish up."

Noel exhaled softly, a fraction of relief passing through him. "I’ll wait for you in the lobby. I... I have something I need to say."

There was silence on the line for a heartbeat.

Then Luca’s voice came, steady but low, carrying the same weight. "Me too. I have something I need to say."

The words hung between them, soft but electric, as Noel tucked his phone away.

He shifted his weight, the polished tiles reflecting his quiet anticipation.

Outside, the sun had begun its slow descent, casting long shadows across the lobby—a subtle reminder that whatever they were about to say would change the evening, and maybe more.

Noel’s hands curled into his pockets. He waited.

And Luca was coming.

Third Floor

Luca sat at his desk on the third floor, the soft hum of computers and quiet tapping of keyboards filling the space around him.

He kept his eyes on the screen, fingers moving over the keys, but his mind wasn’t on the work.

He stole a glance at the clock.

Each passing minute felt heavier than the last.

I can’t wait to finish... I need to talk to him, he thought, jaw tightening.

Noel didn’t deserve that. He should’ve asked, should’ve listened, should’ve been honest.

I need to hear it from him. How he feels about Max... how he really feels. Not hiding, not avoiding.

Beside him, Bella was typing rapidly, eyes focused on her screen, occasionally glancing over at Luca with a knowing look.

She didn’t comment, letting him wrestle with his thoughts silently.

On the other side of the room, Liam, Wei Chen, and Camila were working together, low voices blending into the office rhythm.

Their quiet chatter and occasional laughter punctuated the otherwise focused atmosphere.

Luca exhaled, leaning back slightly in his chair.

The clock ticked on, the seconds stretching longer than they should.

Each tap of the keyboard, each shuffle of papers around him, only reminded him that Noel was waiting downstairs—and he had something important to say.

He rubbed his hands over his face and straightened up, forcing himself to focus on finishing the work. Just finish this... then go to him. Don’t mess it up again.

Even as he typed, his mind wandered back to Noel, imagining him standing in the lobby, phone tucked in his hand, waiting.

The thought made Luca’s chest tighten and a quiet urgency settle over him—he had to reach him. Soon.

Luca saved the file, hit submit, and watched the loading bar crawl across the screen.

The moment it cleared, he pushed back his chair.

"Bella, I’m heading home," he said, grabbing his bag.

Bella looked up, brows lifting. "Already? You’re not waiting for me today?"

"I’ve got something important."

A slow grin spread across her face. "Or someone important."

Luca didn’t bother denying it this time. He exhaled, half-smiling. "Yeah... someone important. Anyway, tell Georgia I’m done. See you tomorrow, guys."

A chorus of casual waves and goodnights followed him out, but Luca barely heard any of it—his pulse buzzed too loud in his ears.

He moved quickly down the hallway, into the elevator, watching the doors close with a tight breath.

The descent felt both too fast and agonizingly slow.

By the time he stepped into the lobby, his heart thudded once, hard—because Noel was there.

Standing by the glass doors. Hands in his pockets. Waiting.

It threw Luca off for a second.

Normally, he’d be the one hovering around, checking his phone, wondering when Noel would finish.

Or going home alone, the space between them widening with each silent evening.

But Noel—even after all the tension, the silence, the mess from yesterday—Noel was the one waiting today.

Something warm flickered beneath Luca’s ribs.

Noel lifted his eyes.

They paused, neither speaking, just taking the other in—a quiet moment stretched thin with everything unsaid.

Finally, Noel broke it. "Let’s go home."

Luca nodded once. "Okay."

No words as they stepped out into the cooling air.

Just the soft rhythm of their footsteps falling into sync, walking side by side down the familiar road.

The sky was painted in shades of orange and pink, the city settling into its evening routine around them.

The silence wasn’t painful anymore—but it wasn’t settled either.

Yesterday still hung between them like a shadow, unresolved and heavy.

But Luca had already decided: tonight, he would talk.

He would ask the questions that had been eating at him.

He would listen to whatever Noel needed to say.

Just... when they got home.

For now, he matched Noel’s pace, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed with each step, holding himself steady as the evening wrapped them both in its quiet promise of resolution.

The walk home felt different tonight—charged with anticipation, weighted with things that needed to be said.

And for the first time in days, Luca felt ready to face whatever came next.

Together.