The sun had softened into a warm amber, stretching shadows across the stone benches where Noel and Alex sat, their backpacks tossed carelessly at their feet.
The courtyard had thinned out—most students either tucked inside buildings or drifting home.
The breeze smelled faintly of pine and dust, the kind that signaled the end of a long day.
Alex leaned back, legs sprawled, one hand behind his head. "Campus feels like a ghost town this hour."
Noel tapped his fingers on his water bottle. "It's peaceful."
"You always say that when it's quiet," Alex said with a grin, side-eying him. "You're secretly an old man, aren't you?"
"Maybe," Noel replied without missing a beat. "Old souls get tired of noise."
Alex laughed. "That's why you like studying so much. It's just an excuse to avoid people."
"Can't argue with that," Noel said, smirking faintly. "But I'm not avoiding you, am I?"
"Touché." Alex sat up slightly, elbows on his knees. "You doing okay though? You've been a little... I don't know, distant lately."
Noel blinked at him, surprised. "Really?"
Alex nodded. "I mean, not in a bad way. Just—sometimes it feels like your head's somewhere else."
There was a pause. The wind picked up a leaf and spun it across the bench before them.
"I guess I've just been thinking a lot," Noel said finally.
Alex didn't push. He just gave a small nod and let the silence settle again.
"Thinking is healthy," he said eventually. "But don't overdo it. Let some of us in once in a while."
Noel glanced at him, eyes softening. "Thanks, Alex."
"Anytime."
They didn't say much after that—just sat there as the sky deepened into lavender, letting the world slow down around them.
Eventually, Noel rose from the bench, brushing off the back of his jeans as he picked up his bag.
The air had cooled, brushing against his skin like silk, the quiet of campus settling deeper into the bones of the evening.
"I should head back," he said, slinging the strap over his shoulder.
Alex stood too, stretching his arms above his head with a groan. "Yeah, I probably should too. Got stuff to revise—again."
Noel gave him a faint smirk. "You keep saying that, but somehow I always catch you napping instead."
Alex grinned. "Hey, resting is part of the study cycle."
They walked a few paces together before reaching the point where their paths split.
Alex didn't press. He offered a lazy two-fingered salute. "See you later, old soul."
Noel chuckled under his breath. Later. and watched Alex jog off.
Then he turned, making his way across the quiet campus lawn, the shadows longer now, the hum of cicadas starting to stir.
As he reached the main dorm building, a flicker of hesitation passed through him. He exhaled through his nose, steadying something unspoken in his chest, and pushed open the door.
Back to the room. Back to Luca.
The hallway was quiet, just the muffled hum of a distant TV behind someone's door and the faint echo of footsteps on tile.
Noel climbed the stairs slowly, not out of exhaustion but a strange weight he couldn't quite name.
He adjusted the strap of his bag, thumb brushing the edge of his phone in his pocket. He almost pulled it out—almost texted something he wasn't sure how to say out loud.
When he reached the door, he paused for a breath—then twisted the knob and stepped inside.
The room was dim, lit only by the golden spill of the setting sun through the window.
Luca was there, sprawled sideways on his bed, scrolling through his phone, one leg propped on the wall like he had nowhere else to be in the world.
He looked up when the door clicked shut.
"You're back," he said, tone casual, but his gaze lingered a second too long.
"Yeah," Noel replied, slipping his bag off his shoulder and setting it down by the desk. He wasn't sure what else to say. The air felt tight for a heartbeat.
"You eat?" Luca asked.
Noel nodded. "With Alex and Lina."
"Cool."
Silence stretched. The honk of a distant car broke it, then faded. A bird chirped like it hadn't realized the day was over—like something was still unfinished.
Luca sat up, dropping his phone beside him. "You wanna shower first?"
Noel shook his head. "Go ahead. I'll take mine later."
Luca paused. "Okay."
He stood, brushing past Noel to grab his towel. Their arms didn't touch—but the almost did, and the ghost of warmth lingered just long enough to notice.
And then the door to the bathroom shut with a soft thud.
Noel sat down on his bed, exhaling slowly, hands resting on his knees as the day finally caught up to him.
It wasn't a bad silence anymore. Just… one waiting to be filled.
The sound of running water behind the bathroom door filled the quiet, a soft, steady rhythm that seemed to calm Noel's frayed edges.
He leaned back on his hands, staring at the ceiling as the sunlight began to fade completely, replaced by the deep blue hues of early evening.
After a while, the door opened, steam curling out in gentle waves.
Luca stepped out, towel slung around his neck, hair damp and tousled, shirt clinging slightly to his skin from the humidity.
He didn't speak right away—just moved to his side of the room and rummaged through his drawer for a shirt.
Noel watched from the corner of his eye, something unreadable flickering across his face. Then he grabbed his own towel and stood.
"My turn," he said, voice low.
Luca gave a short nod. "Yeah."
When Noel came out, hair still damp, he found the room lit with the soft glow of a desk lamp.
Luca was lying on his bed again, earbuds in, tapping something on his phone.
The usual playful vibe was gone tonight—replaced by something quieter, more subdued.
Noel dried his hair slowly, then sat down on his bed, glancing over. "You working on the assignment?"
Luca pulled one earbud out. "I started it… sorta."
Noel gave a small, tired laugh. "Deadline's tomorrow evening."
"I know," Luca sighed. "I'm just—ugh. I hate outlines."
Noel leaned back against the wall. "Want help?"
Luca blinked at him, surprised. "You serious?"
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't."
A pause. Then Luca set his phone down. "Okay… sure."
Noel grabbed his laptop, flipping it open. "Let's at least figure out your structure. I'll help, but you're writing it."
Luca grinned faintly. 'Yes, sir.'
Noel tried not to smile—but the corner of his mouth betrayed him. Maybe silence wasn't so empty after all.