Luca left the office with a casual goodbye tossed over his shoulder, hands stuffed into his pockets as he made his way out of the building.
The warmth of the late afternoon sun stretched across the pavement, but his mind was elsewhere — still circling Jeff's words.
When the small things start to matter...
He shook the thought off with a quiet scoff, heading down the familiar street that led back to campus.
By the time he reached the dorm, his strides had slowed, like part of him wasn't in a hurry to be alone again.
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
The usual hum of Noel tapping at his keyboard, the soft clatter of cups or the distant sound of him talking to someone on a call — all of it missing. Luca glanced around. One bed untouched, sheets still neat. Noel's side.
He dropped his keys on the table, his bag landing with a thud beside it. Then he hovered, eyes moving toward the bathroom door — dark. No light under it.
Luca walked over and opened it.
