The breeze had cooled.
The shadows on the deck stretched longer now, shifting as the sun began its slow descent.
Luca glanced at the time on his phone and sighed. "Damn. I've got class in twenty."
Noel tilted his head. "Evening Econ?"
"Yeah. The one that feels like getting emotionally drained by PowerPoint."
"You chose that elective," Noel reminded him, standing up.
"I was tricked by the course title," Luca grumbled as he followed. "I thought it said 'Economics and Desire,' but it was *'Economics and Design.' Very different vibes."
Noel snorted. "You're unbelievable."
Luca smiled"And yet, here we are. Dating."
"Tentatively dating," Noel said with a smirk. "Remember, this is still week one."
Luca held a hand to his chest dramatically. "You wound me."
Noel just rolled his eyes and held the café door open.
They stepped back onto the sunlit path, walking in step, slower than usual — as if dragging their feet could stretch the afternoon longer.
Neither of them said much.
