Luca shoved the door to the men's toilet open, his jaw tight and eyes narrowed with frustration.
The stench clung to him like shame. He yanked his shirt off, hissing under his breath as the cold sink water hit the stained fabric.
He scrubbed with trembling hands, trying to wash away the mess, the smell, the whole damn night.
"F***ing perfect," he muttered, splashing water onto his bare chest, but it didn't help. His reflection in the mirror looked just as bitter, just as tired.
The door creaked open behind him.
"Luca?" Ryan's voice cut through the echo of water and silence. He stepped in, brows raised, holding a sleek black jacket in one hand. "Heard what happened."
Luca didn't look at him right away. He ran a hand through his damp hair, then finally turned, shirt clutched in one hand, chest bare.
"Of course you did," he said dryly. "Word travels fast when someone gets puked on."
Ryan grinned, not unkindly. "It was either bring you a jacket or let you strut around shirtless like some tragic hero. Figured you'd prefer this."
He tossed the jacket at him.
Luca caught it, eyes softening for just a moment. "Thanks."
"No worries," Ryan shrugged. "You okay?"
Luca didn't answer right away. He just pulled the jacket on slowly, the lining warm against his skin. Then he looked at Ryan, half-smirking.
"Yeah. Just... think I've had enough of this scene for tonight."
Ryan nodded once, like he understood something unspoken. "Want a ride back?"
Luca hesitated. The thought of the dorm, the quiet, and maybe—just maybe—Noel still awake, made his chest tighten.
"Yeah," he finally said. "Let's go."
The ride back was mostly quiet, save for the faint hum of the engine and the bass of the club still echoing in Luca's ears.
He leaned against the window, eyes heavy, Ryan's jacket draped over him.
The events of the night felt like a blur he didn't want to replay.
By the time he reached the dorm, the hallway lights were dimmed and the air still. Luca pushed open the door to their room, trying not to make a sound.
But Noel was awake.
Sitting up in bed, a dim reading lamp casting a glow over his face, a book lay open on his lap, though it was obvious he hadn't turned a page in a while.
Luca paused mid-step, eyes meeting Noel's.
"You're back," Noel said quietly, voice unreadable.
"Yeah..." Luca rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't think you'd still be up."
Noel's eyes flicked to the black jacket Luca wore. His brows lifted slightly. "Change of clothes?"
Luca glanced down like he'd forgotten. "Ah. Yeah. Some drunk girl… threw up on me."
A beat.
Noel blinked. "Huh."
Luca started toward his side of the room, slipping off the jacket. "I didn't— I mean, nothing happened. Not that it matters. I'm just saying."
"I didn't ask," Noel said calmly, but something in his voice was too even.
You don't owe me explanations," he said, but his eyes lingered on Luca's face longer than necessary. "But..…but it's almost 2 a.m Luca."
Luca swallowed. "I know. I wasn't even going to stay that long."
Noel's lips parted, then closed again. He looked away, then back. "You're reckless you know.?"
"I know."
Luca stood there for a second, shirtless again, his stained shirt balled in his hand.
He looked over his shoulder. "You didn't sleep."
"Uhmm I didn't feel like."
Luca looked at him again—longer this time.
"…Why?" he asked.
Noel turned a page, finally. "I don't know."
Silence settled in the space between them.
Luca slowly set the dirty shirt aside, murmuring, "Next time I'll text… or maybe just not go."
Noel didn't answer, but when Luca finally climbed into bed, he noticed Noel's light stayed on just a little longer than usual.
A few minutes passed in silence, the air in the room heavy, still.
Luca suddenly shifted, sniffing his arm with a slight grimace. "Ugh… I still smell like alcohol… and… yeah, that." He didn't need to specify.
Noel didn't look up from his book, but the flick of his eyes said he heard.
Luca pushed off the bed, dragging himself toward the bathroom. "I'm taking a shower," he muttered, his voice rough and tired.
The door shut behind him with a soft thud, and soon the sound of running water filled the room.
Noel turned another page, though his eyes weren't really reading. His gaze drifted toward the closed bathroom door, then quickly back to the page.
He exhaled slowly.
Why do I care so much?
He didn't have the answer. Not yet.
Noel got up slowly, the room oddly warm. He grabbed the half-empty bottle of water by his desk and took a long sip, trying to distract himself.
The bathroom door clicked open.
Luca stepped out, a towel slung low around his waist, water still glistening on his chest, trailing down the lines of his abs.
He rubbed one hand through his damp silver-gray hair, pushing it back, droplets flicking to the floor.
The light caught the sheen of his skin, and for a moment, it felt like time paused.
Noel's breath stalled.
Luca moved to his drawer casually, flipping it open and pulling out clothes, completely unbothered.
Noel, on the other hand, stood frozen mid-sip, the bottle still raised to his lips, eyes tracking every move.
Then Luca turned around and caught him.
Smirk.
"Careful," Luca said, voice low and teasing, grabbing a shirt from the drawer. "Don't choke yourself again."
Noel blinked, suddenly remembering how to swallow. He cleared his throat, eyes snapping away.
"I wasn't— I was just… hydrating."
His cheeks burning. "Put on your clothes first before throwing lines like that noel added."
Luca laughed, pulling the shirt down over his damp skin. "You're the one staring."
"I wasn't."
Luca chuckled, "Sure. You looked very... focused."
Noel turned quickly, facing his desk as if the textbooks there suddenly needed urgent attention. "You're full of yourself," he muttered, his ears turning red.
Luca laughed softly behind him. "You make it too easy, Noel."
He walked over to his bed, towel now hanging over his shoulder, dressed in a simple shirt and joggers—but still somehow managing to look like a model off-duty.
He flopped onto the bed with a satisfied sigh, ruffling his hair with the towel.
Noel tried not to glance. Failed.
"You didn't sleep at all?" Luca asked, breaking the silence, his tone lighter now.
Noel hesitated. "Couldn't."
"Insomnia?"
Noel shook his head. "Just… couldn't."
Luca glanced over at him, something unreadable in his expression teasing. "Because I wasn't here?"
Noel's throat went dry. "Don't flatter yourself."
Luca chuckled again, leaning back against the headboard. "It's okay if you missed me, you know."
Noel tossed the water bottle at him. "Shut up."
Luca caught it mid-air, grinning. "Not denying it, huh?"
Noel turned his face to the side, focusing on a crack on the wall. "You still reeked of alcohol."
"Really," Luca sighed, toweling his hair again. "That girl was way drunker than I thought. She—" He paused, remembering the vomit incident and grimaced. "Let's just say it got messy."
Noel didn't answer. The silence returned, but now there was something warmer—unspoken—hanging in the air.
Luca studied him for a second longer. Then, quietly, "I didn't think you'd care."
Noel hesitated, voice low. 'Get some rest… You smell better now.'
Luca smiled faintly. "So you were close enough to notice, huh?"
Noel threw a pillow at him. "Sleep, idiot."
Luca caught it, laid back with a low laugh, and said, "Goodnight, Noel."
Noel turned off the bedside lamp, slipping under his blanket. "Yeah… goodnight."
But sleep didn't come easily. For either of them.
Morning light spilled through the curtain crack, soft and warm.
Luca blinked his eyes open, the light slipping through the curtains made him squint. His head was heavy, but not as bad as it could've been. The scent of cleaning solution lingered faintly in the air.
He lifted himself slightly and saw Noel already dressed, halfway done mopping the room floor.
"You didn't leave yet?" Luca's voice was low, still rough with sleep as he rubbed his face.
"Yeah, I'm about to," Noel replied without looking up. "Just wanted to finish this first."
Luca stretched, his bare arm flopping over the edge of the bed. "Just leave it. I'll finish it."
Noel glanced at him. "You sure? Thought you don't do mornings."
"I don't," Luca yawned, slouching back into his pillow, "but I also don't have class until noon. So I've got time."
Noel's mop paused for a beat. "Fine. Then make sure you actually do it."
Luca smirked, eyes half closed again. "Yeah, yeah. Now go before you're late."
Noel stepped aside, grabbing his bag. "Try not to sleep through the whole morning."
"No promises."
Luca hummed, eyes already drifting halfway closed again. "Go. I'll see you at noon, then."
"Only if you wake up before that," Noel muttered.
Luca smirked without opening his eyes. "Set the alarm for me."
Noel rolled his eyes as he headed to grab his bag.
Luca didn't move right away.
He lay there for a while, arm over his forehead, then lazily reached for his phone on the nightstand.
The screen lit up—notifications, group chats, someone's party recap already posted.
He scrolled through a few photos, paused at a blurry one of himself dancing with a bottle in hand, then sighed.
Noel's words echoed faintly.
With a small grunt, Luca finally pushed the covers off and stood, still shirtless, his hair a mess. He glanced at the mop leaning against the wall.
Guess I said I'd finish it…
He picked it up, shaking his head as he started where Noel left off.
This better earn me good karma or something.
He mopped slowly, Noel's voice still echoing in his head. 'Reckless, huh?' Maybe. But not always."