CHAPTER 155: THE TRIAL OF LUCA VS. LOVE

The room was too still, the hum of the ceiling fan doing nothing to quiet the weight pressing at his chest.

Luca sat at the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees.

His phone lay beside him, screen dark. He’d picked it up three times already, thumb hovering over Noel’s name, only to set it back down.

What if Noel was still talking with his mother? What if she was upset with him?

He dragged a hand through his hair, restless.

The thought of Noel sitting there, facing those questions alone, made his stomach twist.

He reached for the phone again, locking and unlocking it, the seconds stretching too long.

The urge to hear Noel’s voice fought against the fear of interrupting something he shouldn’t.

A faint exhale left him, shaky, betraying the nerves he tried to keep down.

Luca sat at the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees.

"Call him," he muttered, hand reaching—then froze halfway. "No. Don’t call him."

He groaned, dragging a pillow over his face. "Why is this so hard?"

A moment later he peeked out, eyes on the phone like it was mocking him.

He sat up, then slumped down again, repeating the cycle until even he was annoyed with himself.

"Ughhh..." Luca groaned, tossing the pillow aside with enough drama to echo off the walls.

His phone stayed silent.

And so did he—except for another long, theatrical groan.

Luca sat up again, ran both hands through his hair, then fell back with a thud that shook the bed frame.

"What if she hates me already?" he whispered to the ceiling. "What if she told him never to see me again?"

He buried his face in the pillow again, muffled words tumbling out, "I’m doomed... completely doomed..."

The phone buzzed. His heart jumped—only to see a random notification. Not Noel.

"Seriously?" He tossing the phone aside like it betrayed him.

Seconds later, he snatched it back, unlocking it just in case he’d missed something. Nothing.

He rolled over, dangling halfway off the bed, hair sticking up, staring at the phone in his hand. "Why am I like this?" he muttered, before letting out another long, pitiful groan that could’ve scared the neighbors if they heard.

Still no message.

"Great," he sighed, collapsing into a heap again. "I’ll just... die here."

Luca lay sprawled like a fallen soldier, staring at the ceiling as his mind went to work.

In his head, Noel’s mother stood with arms crossed, glaring.

"So... this is the Luca?" she said, her voice sharp as a blade.

"Yes, Mom," Noel answered, voice small.

"I forbid you from seeing him again!" she declared, lightning cracking dramatically in Luca’s imagination.

Luca pulled the blanket over his head. "Oh, I’m doomed."

But his brain wasn’t done.

Another scene played out—this time Noel’s mom leaning close, whispering with terrifying calm.

"You’re my son. You deserve better than that boy."

And Noel—poor, sweet Noel—just nodding because what else could he do?

Luca sat up, clutching his chest. "No, no, no, he wouldn’t nod! He’d fight for me... right?"

Silence. Just his phone screen glaring back at him with zero new messages.

"Maybe he’s still arguing," Luca muttered, pacing now. "What if she’s crying? What if she’s making him pick between me and her?"

He stopped dead in front of the mirror, hair wild, eyes wide. "And I’ll lose," he whispered dramatically to his reflection. "Because who chooses their disaster of a boyfriend over their own mother?"

He collapsed spread-eagle, like a soldier struck down mid-battle. "This is it. My tragic love story ends here."

Luca clasped his hands like a desperate attorney, whispering to the jury only he could see.

In his imagination, a grand courtroom appeared. Noel’s mom sat in the judge’s chair, gavel in hand.

"Case 142," she announced. "The People vs. Luca."

The crowd gasped. Luca—defendant, disaster, tragic hero—stood trembling.

"Objection!" he shouted, leaping in his imagination. "I love him, Your Honor!"

"Overruled," the judge (aka Noel’s mom) barked. "Bring out the evidence."

And there came Noel—sweet, innocent Noel—dragged in by invisible bailiffs.

He looked heartbroken, clutching photos of Luca in his messy pajamas.

"Do you still want this man as your partner?" the judge asked.

Luca’s heart raced. In his imagination, Noel looked torn.

"Say yes," Luca begged. "Say yes, Noel, please—"

And just when his inner trial reached peak melodrama...

Riiiiing.

Luca bolted upright. His phone lit up: Noel calling.

He snatched it up so fast he nearly dropped it. "Hello? Noel?"

On the other end, Noel’s voice was calm, casual—teasing.

"Wow. You picked up fast. Were you... waiting by the phone or something?"

Luca froze, throat dry. "I-uh-no, no, I was just-uh....meditating."

Noel chuckled softly. "Mmhm. Sure you were. Tell me, babe... were you meditating about my mom putting you on trial.?"

Luca clutched the phone like it was holy scripture. His heart was still pounding from the trial in his head.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW?!" Luca yelped, his voice cracking like a teenager’s.

On the other end, Noel laughed—a low, knowing laugh that made Luca’s ears burn.

"Because I know you, Luca. You always spiral when you’re nervous. I bet you were pacing holes in the floor or... staging a whole drama in your head."

Luca swallowed hard, silent. The silence said it all.

"Oh my God," Noel gasped, laughing louder, "you actually did, didn’t you?"

"No!" Luca snapped, his voice cracking. "I was just-uh-busy, okay?"

"Mmhm," Noel hummed, savoring it. Then he added, "You know what? I don’t trust that voice of yours."

Before Luca could ask what he meant, the screen flickered. Incoming Video Call.

Luca froze.

"Oh no-Noel, don’t-"

Too late. Noel’s face filled the screen, warm and smug. "Hi," he said, waving casually. "Now let me see yours."

Luca hesitated, staring at his reflection on the black screen. His hair stuck up in ten directions, his T-shirt had a suspicious stain, and his pillow still had the imprint of his cheek.

"Turn it on," Noel sang. "Unless you’re hiding... guilty evidence."

Grinding his teeth, Luca jabbed the button. His messy face popped up—sleep-tousled, wide-eyed, caught red-handed.

Noel’s smirk widened. "Oh wow... you look exactly like someone who’s just been sentenced to life in drama prison."

"Shut up," Luca groaned, hiding his face in his hand. "I hate you."

"No, you don’t," Noel murmured, grin softening into something gentler. "You love me—that’s the only reason you’re spiraling."

And Luca’s heart just about gave out.

Noel leaned back against his chair, his camera steady now. His lips tugged into a mischievous grin.

"Well, I talked to her," he said casually, as though it were nothing.

Luca’s face froze. "She... is she okay with it?" The words stumbled out, half-choked, like he was bracing for a blow.

Noel raised a brow, tilting his head. "Wait—were you just sitting there this whole time... panicking about me breaking up with you?" His tone dipped into playful accusation.

The way Luca’s eyes widened and darted off-screen gave him away instantly. "I—no! I mean, maybe. Shut up."

Noel laughed, the sound rich and full, shaking his shoulders. "Unbelievable. You drive yourself insane in silence instead of just trusting me."

"Because you never know!" Luca argued weakly, running a hand through his hair, cheeks burning. "Mothers can be terrifying, okay?"

Noel softened then, his grin slipping into something more steady. His gaze didn’t waver.

"We talked it out, Luca. Properly this time. No shouting, no doors slamming. Just... understanding. She listened."

Luca shifted on the bed, his phone balanced in his palm, and he couldn’t stop grinning at the little box on his screen where Noel’s smile lived.

Noel leaned back against the headboard, his voice softer now. "She doesn’t want me to be alone. She’s happy... as long as I’m happy."

Luca’s chest eased at those words, but before he could say anything, Noel added, "I told her I’m not staying in the dorm anymore."

Luca’s eyes lit up immediately. "You did?" His grin was so wide it almost reached his ears. "Noel, you know I’m always counting down. Next week can’t come fast enough—I need to see your face, not just pixels on a screen."

Noel tilted his head, that mischievous smirk pulling at his lips. "You’re saying you’re tired of my pixelated charm?"

"I’m saying," Luca huffed, cheeks warming, "I want you right here. Real. Not this tiny rectangle."

Noel’s smile softened.

"So," Luca leaned closer to the camera, mischief sparking in his eyes, "how about I start looking for the apartment before you come back?"

Noel smirk but held back, tilting his head. "Already? You want to move that fast?"Wait for me. Let’s do it together."

"Yes!" Luca blurted, leaning closer to the camera like it would convince him. "I want everything ready. When you step off that train, I want us to walk into our place—not just an idea of it."

Noel shook his head with a little chuckle. "Always rushing. Can’t you wait for me? We’ll do it together."

"Nope," Luca shot back without missing a beat. "I’m starting. You can’t stop me."

They went back and forth, Noel’s laughter filling the line every time Luca stubbornly insisted. Finally, Noel threw up his hands with a playful groan. "Fine! But you’re sending me photos of every single place. I’m not letting you choose on your own."

Luca grinned, satisfied. "Deal. But just so you know, I already have folders ready for you."

Noel’s smile steadied, the playfulness slipping into sincerity. "It’s never just about the apartment. It’s about us—building it the right way."

Luca felt the words settle in his chest, heavier than all his spirals, but warm. His fingers tightened around the phone. "Yeah. Us."

And for a long moment, they didn’t need to say anything else. The weight of it—promise, hope, love—sat quietly between them.