Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 300: Saturday, Unrushed

The balcony door was open, letting in cool morning air.

Luca stood at the railing in sweatpants and an old t-shirt, watching the city wake up below.

Saturday meant fewer cars, quieter streets, people moving slower without weekday urgency.

Finals were over. The reality of it hadn’t quite landed yet.

Footsteps behind him. Then warmth—a mug pressed into his hands, steam rising.

"Thanks," Luca said, wrapping his fingers around it.

Noel settled beside him with his own cup, shoulder brushing Luca’s.

They stood in comfortable silence, sipping coffee, watching a dog walker navigate three leashes below.

"Sleep well?" Noel asked eventually.

"Better than I have all week." Luca took another sip. "No stress dreams about missing exams."

"Those are the worst."

"Had one Tuesday night. Showed up to the wrong building, couldn’t find the exam room, woke up in a panic."

"I dreamed I forgot how to read." Noel’s mouth curved slightly. "Just stared at the exam questions and none of the words made sense."

"Terrifying."

"Very."

A breeze picked up, rustling through the potted plant Noel had optimistically tried to keep alive. It was mostly succeeding, surprisingly.

Noel shifted closer, his arm coming around Luca’s waist from behind. His chin hooked over Luca’s shoulder, breath warm against his neck.

"How are you feeling about it?" Noel asked quietly.

"Strange. Like something huge is ending but I can’t quite grasp it yet." Luca leaned back into him. "Excited. Terrified. Relieved. Everything at once."

"That’s fair."

"What about you?"

"Similar. Mostly just glad we made it." Noel’s hand spread flat against Luca’s stomach, holding him close. "Four years. Somehow we survived."

"Somehow."

They stood like that, Noel’s warmth solid against Luca’s back, coffee cooling in their hands. A bird landed on the railing, assessed them briefly, flew off.

"I love this," Luca said softly.

"The balcony?"

"This. Us. These quiet moments where nothing’s happening but everything feels right."

Noel’s arms tightened slightly. "Yeah, Me too."

Luca set his mug down on the small table, turned in Noel’s embrace to face him properly.

Morning light caught in Noel’s hair, made his eyes lighter, softened his features. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Hi," Luca said.

"Hi yourself."

Luca kissed him, slow and unhurried.

Noel tasted like coffee familiar and perfect.

His hands settled on Luca’s hips, thumbs brushing the strip of skin where his shirt had ridden up.

When they broke apart, Noel’s expression was soft, open in the way it only was in private.

"Come inside," Noel murmured.

"Cold?"

"No. Just want you closer."

They left their mugs on the balcony, moved inside.

The apartment was quiet—cat still asleep in his window perch, morning light streaming through half-open blinds.

Noel backed Luca toward the bedroom, hands never leaving him, kisses trailing along his jaw.

Luca’s fingers found the hem of Noel’s shirt, slipped underneath, mapping familiar skin.

They reached the bed. Luca pulled Noel’s shirt off properly, dropped it somewhere on the floor.

Noel did the same with his, then pressed him down onto the mattress.

"Hi," Noel said again, hovering above him.

"You already said that."

"Saying it again."

Luca pulled him down, kissing him deeper this time.

Noel’s weight settled over him, solid and grounding.

His hands traced up Luca’s sides, slow and deliberate, relearning geography he’d mapped a hundred times before.

Luca arched into the touch, his own hands exploring—shoulder blades, spine, the curve of Noel’s lower back.

Every point of contact felt electric, important, like something worth paying attention to.

Noel’s mouth left his, traveled along his jaw, down his neck.

Luca’s breath caught when teeth grazed his collarbone, gentle but present.

"You’re being distracting," Luca managed.

"That’s the idea."

"Effective strategy."

Noel smiled against his skin, continued his path downward.

Luca’s hands tangled in his hair, not directing, just holding, feeling.

Time dissolved. There was no urgency, no rush toward any particular destination. Just skin against skin, breath mingling, the quiet sounds of pleasure and presence.

Noel’s fingers traced patterns across Luca’s ribs, his stomach, following the path his mouth had taken.

Luca shivered despite the warmth, pulled Noel back up to kiss him properly.

"Missed this," Luca whispered against his mouth.

"It’s been two days."

"Still missed it."

"Sap."

"Your sap."

Noel kissed him again, deeper, all consuming. His hand slid lower, and Luca’s hips lifted involuntarily, seeking more contact.

They moved together with practiced ease, years of learning each other evident in every touch.

No awkwardness, no hesitation. Just familiarity and heat and the particular intimacy of knowing exactly what the other person needed.

Luca’s hands mapped the planes of Noel’s back, feeling muscles shift under skin.

Noel’s breath was hot against his neck, fingers pressing into his hip hard enough to leave marks.

"Noel—"

"I know."

Everything narrowed down to sensation—touch, heat, the rhythm they’d found together.

Luca’s head tipped back, eyes closing, overwhelmed in the best way.

Noel’s forehead pressed against his, their breathing synchronized, bodies moving in perfect harmony.

The world outside disappeared completely.

No graduation, no future uncertainty, no stress about what came next.

Just this moment, this person, this connection that felt like home.

When they finally stilled, breathless and tangled together, Luca felt completely, utterly content.

Noel shifted enough to look at him, one hand coming up to cup his face. His thumb brushed across Luca’s cheekbone, tender.

"Love you," Noel said quietly.

"Love you too."

They stayed like that, foreheads touching, catching their breath.

Eventually Noel rolled to the side, pulling Luca with him so they were facing each other.

Luca traced idle patterns on Noel’s shoulder, following the line of muscle, the constellation of freckles only visible up close.

"That was nice," he said.

"Just nice?"

"Phenomenal. Earth-shattering. Life-altering."

"Better."

Luca smiled, leaning in to kiss him again.

Softer now, gentler. The urgency had passed, leaving only warmth and affection.

"Stay here with me," Noel murmured.

"Where else would I go?"

"Just making sure."

They settled into the blankets properly, Luca’s back against Noel’s chest, Noel’s arm secure around his waist.

The morning sun painted patterns across the sheets, warm and golden.

Cat appeared in the doorway, assessed the situation, made a disgusted sound, and left.

Luca laughed quietly. "The cat judges us."

"The cat’s always judging us."

"Fair point."

They lay in comfortable silence, breathing in sync, the world feeling distant and unimportant.

"No plans today," Noel said eventually.

"None."

And for once, that felt like exactly enough.

Just Saturday morning, tangled together, nowhere to be.

Outside, the city hummed its usual song. Inside, everything was perfect and still.

Luca’s eyes drifted closed, Noel’s heartbeat steady against his back.

One week until everything changed.

But right now, nothing needed to change at all.

This was perfect exactly as it was.

They stayed in bed until almost eleven, which felt decadent and necessary in equal measure.

Eventually, bodily needs won out.

Luca extracted himself reluctantly, heading for the bathroom while Noel stretched like a cat across the entire mattress.

The shower ran hot.

Luca stepped under the spray, letting it work through the pleasant ache in his muscles.

The bathroom door opened.

"Room for two?" Noel asked.

"Always."

They showered together, which took longer than necessary.

Luca kept finding excuses to touch—washing Noel’s back, running fingers through his wet hair, pressing kisses to his shoulder.

Noel indulged him, amused and patient.

"You’re being clingy," Noel observed, not complaining.

"Problem?"

"Not at all."

They finally emerged, skin pink from heat, and dressed in comfortable clothes.

Luca immediately attached himself to Noel’s side while he made fresh coffee, arms around his waist, chin on his shoulder.

"I can’t pour like this," Noel said.

"You’re managing."

"Barely."

Luca didn’t let go. Noel worked around him, measuring coffee grounds, filling the machine, somehow accomplishing everything despite the added difficulty.

Cat appeared, weaving between their legs and meowing loudly.

"He’s been fed," Noel said.

The cat meowed louder, more insistent.

"He’s lying," Luca added.

The cat jumped onto the counter, knocked his paw against the treat jar.

"Manipulative," Noel muttered, but he gave the cat two treats anyway.

Cat crunched them smugly, then jumped down and disappeared.

"Spoiled," Luca said.

"Wonder who’s fault that is."

"Definitely yours."

Coffee ready, they migrated to the couch. Luca immediately curled into Noel’s side, head on his chest, one leg thrown over his.

"Clingy," Noel repeated, fingers carding through Luca’s hair.

"You’re warm."

"That’s my only appeal?"

"And you make good coffee."

"So I’m a heat source and a barista."

"The best heat source and barista."

Noel huffed quietly, but his arm tightened around Luca’s shoulders.

They sat in easy silence, drinking coffee, the apartment peaceful.

"We should do something today," Noel said eventually.

"This is something."

"Something that involves leaving the apartment."

"Why?"

"Because we’ve been inside for three days straight."

"That’s an exaggeration."

"You went to the grocery store. That’s it."

"And campus for exams."

"Which doesn’t count as recreational." Noel’s hand moved from Luca’s hair to his back, tracing lazy patterns. "Come on. Fresh air. Sunlight. Novel concept."

"Where would we even go?"

"I don’t know. Somewhere."

Luca tilted his head back to look at him. "Very specific plan."

"I’m workshopping it."

"Workshop faster."

They finished their coffee. Luca remained firmly attached to Noel’s side, even when Noel stood to rinse their mugs.

"You’re like a barnacle," Noel said.

"Barnacles are aquatic."

"The metaphor stands."

Luca followed him to the bedroom, watched him dig through their closet for actual outdoor clothes.

When Noel pulled on jeans, Luca immediately pressed against his back, arms around his waist.

"Luca."

"Mm?"

"I need to put a shirt on."

"Go ahead."

"You’re in the way."

"Am I?"

Noel turned in his arms, kissed his forehead. "Yes. Intentionally."

"Maybe."

"Definitely." But Noel wasn’t moving away either, just holding him, swaying slightly. "What’s this about?"

Luca shrugged against his bare chest. "Just want to be close."

"We were close all morning."

"Want to stay close."

Something softened in Noel’s expression. He pulled Luca tighter, one hand cupping the back of his head. "Okay."

They stood like that for a long moment. Then Noel gently extracted himself, pulled on a shirt, and laced their fingers together.

"Come on, barnacle. Let’s go."

They left the apartment hand in hand, no real destination in mind. Just walking, letting their feet decide.

The day was beautiful—clear sky, mild temperature, the kind of weather that made staying inside feel like a crime.

They wandered through their neighborhood, past familiar shops and cafes, no urgency in their steps.

"Left or right?" Noel asked at an intersection.

"Right."

They turned right, kept walking. Passed the park where they’d studied on warm afternoons, the convenience store that knew their usual orders, the restaurant where they’d had their first official date.

"Remember that?" Luca nodded toward it.

"You spilled wine on yourself."

"The waiter bumped me."

"You still turned bright red."

"Because everyone stared."

Noel smiled, squeezed his hand. "You were adorable."

"I was mortified."

"Both things were true."

They kept walking, the streets gradually changing from residential to commercial, then to something more open.

Buildings gave way to wider sidewalks, then a boardwalk.

The ocean appeared, vast and blue, waves rolling in steady rhythm.

"Huh," Luca said. "Didn’t realize we’d walked this far."

"Me neither."

They’d ended up at the beach—not the touristy part with vendors and crowds, but the quieter stretch where locals came.

A few joggers, someone walking a dog, couple of people sitting on blankets reading.

"Want to walk?" Noel asked.

"Yeah."

They kicked off their shoes, left them by a bench, and stepped onto the sand. It was cool beneath their feet, packed firm near the water.

The ocean smell hit immediately—salt and seaweed and something indefinably vast.

Waves crashed rhythmically, white foam spreading across dark sand before retreating.

They walked along the waterline, letting the waves occasionally catch their feet. Cold water, gasping cold, but refreshing.

"I like this," Luca said.

"The beach?"

"Yeah. We never come here."

"We’re always too busy."

"Stupid."

"Agreed."

They walked in comfortable silence, hands still linked, the ocean stretching endless beside them.

After a while, Noel slowed, stopped. His expression had shifted, something uncertain crossing his features.

"What?" Luca asked.

"I just realized." Noel turned to face him properly. "We missed our anniversary."

Luca blinked. "What?"

"Our anniversary. One year since—" Noel gestured between them. "Since we made this official. It was two weeks ago, during finals prep. I completely forgot."

"Oh." Luca thought back. Two weeks ago. He’d been drowning in capstone revisions, Noel had been preparing for his defense. "I forgot too."

"I’m sorry." Noel’s voice went quiet. "I should’ve remembered. Should’ve made time, done something—"

"Hey." Luca stepped closer, both hands coming up to frame Noel’s face. "Don’t do that."

"But—"

"We were busy. We had finals, defenses, everything happening at once. It’s not your fault."

"I still should’ve—"

"Noel." Luca waited until he met his eyes. "I didn’t remember either. We were both focused on surviving the semester. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just reality."

"I wanted to do something special."

"You want to do something special now?"

Noel paused. "What?"

"Right now. Here. Let’s make this our anniversary celebration." Luca gestured to the beach around them. "Unplanned, spontaneous, just us and the ocean. Seems pretty perfect to me."

Something eased in Noel’s expression. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Luca kissed him, brief and warm. "One year. We made it."

"We made it," Noel echoed, and now he was smiling. "Through roommate awkwardness, figuring out what we were doing, internships, finals, all of it."

"All of it," Luca agreed. "And we’re still here."

"Still here."

They stood close, foreheads touching, the ocean wind whipping around them. A wave crashed particularly large, soaking their feet and ankles. They jumped back, laughing.

"Come on," Noel said, tugging him forward. "Let’s actually walk."

They continued along the beach, talking about nothing important.

Remembered their first date disaster, the first time Luca had stayed over in Noel’s dorm room, the awkward conversation where they’d defined what they were to each other.

"You were so nervous," Noel said.

"So were you."

"I was terrified you’d say you just wanted to be roommates."

"I was terrified you’d think I was moving too fast."

"We were both idiots."

"Complete idiots," Luca agreed. "But we figured it out."

"Eventually."

They found a relatively dry spot higher on the beach, sat in the sand.

Noel’s arm came around Luca’s shoulders, pulling him close.

Luca leaned into him, head on his shoulder, watching the waves.

"Happy anniversary," Noel said quietly.

"Happy anniversary."

They sat there for a long time, just existing together.

The sun moved across the sky, warming their faces.

The ocean kept its steady rhythm, eternal and unchanging.

"This is better than anything I would’ve planned anyway," Noel admitted.

"Really?"

"Yeah. No pressure, no expectations. Just us."

"Just us," Luca repeated, and it felt right. Perfect, even.

Eventually they stood, brushed sand off their clothes, walked back toward their shoes.

The sun was starting its descent, painting everything in gold.

"Want to grab food on the way home?" Noel asked.

"That place with the good tacos?"

"Perfect."

They retrieved their shoes, started the walk back.

The city welcomed them with familiar sounds and smells, the beach fading behind them but not forgotten.

One year together. One week until graduation.

Everything changing and staying the same simultaneously.

Luca reached for Noel’s hand, laced their fingers together.

Whatever came next, they’d face it like this.

Together.