Your Hoodie still smells like me - Don't Look at Me Like That

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Episode 4 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“Don’t Look at Me Like That”

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Eli didn’t sleep again.

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This time it was Kai’s fault directly.

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Because it still smells like you.

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Who says that to their ex?

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Who says that and then walks away like they didn’t just destroy someone emotionally in a dorm hallway?

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Eli groaned into his blanket while staring at the ceiling.

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Across the room, Min Jun lowered his game console slowly.

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“…You look like you got hit by a truck.”

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“I’m going through something.”

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“Kai?”

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Eli pointed at him weakly. “You’re starting to irritate me.”

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“Correct.”

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—

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By Monday afternoon, the weather around Westbridge University had turned colder.

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Students crowded the pathways wearing oversized hoodies and layered jackets while dry autumn leaves skidded across the pavement.

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Eli exited the film building with his camera bag hanging off one shoulder, already exhausted from editing projects all morning.

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Then he spotted Kai sitting alone outside the architecture hall.

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Big mistake.

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Kai was sketching in a notebook with headphones on, sleeves pulled over his hands slightly.

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Focused.

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Quiet.

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Pretty enough to be genuinely annoying.

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Eli should’ve kept walking.

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Instead, his feet betrayed him completely.

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He stopped in front of the bench.

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Kai looked up immediately.

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Like he always noticed Eli first.

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“What?” Kai asked.

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Eli crossed his arms. “You can’t just say insane things and disappear afterward.”

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Kai blinked once. “That narrows nothing down.”

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“The hoodie thing.”

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Realization flickered across Kai’s face.

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“Oh.”

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“Oh?” Eli repeated. “That’s your reaction?”

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Kai shut his notebook calmly. “You asked.”

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“You answered honestly.”

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“You wanted me to lie?”

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Eli opened his mouth.

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Closed it again.

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Because no. That was the problem.

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Kai almost never lied to him about important things.

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Not before. Not now.

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Kai studied him quietly for a second before speaking again.

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“You’ve been avoiding me since Friday.”

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“I have classes.”

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“You walked into a vending machine yesterday because you saw me in the hallway.”

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Eli looked offended. “You saw that?”

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“Kinda hard to miss.”

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“…I hate this university.”

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Kai laughed softly.

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Actually laughed.

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The sound hit Eli straight in the chest.

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God.

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He forgot how dangerous Kai’s real laugh was.

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Not cold. Not distant.

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Warm.

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Rare enough to feel unfair.

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Eli looked away first.

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“Stop doing that.”

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Kai tilted his head slightly. “Doing what?”

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“Acting normal.”

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The words slipped out before Eli could stop them.

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Kai’s expression changed instantly.

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The softness disappeared.

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“You want me to act like I hate you instead?”

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“That’s not what I meant.”

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“Then what did you mean, Eli?”

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The tension between them tightened sharply.

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Students passed nearby without noticing the war happening quietly on that bench.

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Eli swallowed hard.

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“You can’t suddenly say you still kept my hoodie because it smells like me and then smile at me like nothing happened.”

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Kai stared at him for a long moment.

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Then asked quietly,

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“Would it be easier if I stopped caring?”

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That hurt more than anger ever could.

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Eli looked down at the concrete.

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“No,” he admitted.

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Kai’s shoulders loosened slightly.

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Silence settled between them again, but this time it felt different.

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Less sharp.

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Still dangerous though.

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A voice suddenly interrupted them.

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“Well. This is emotionally devastating.”

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Rowan appeared out of nowhere carrying iced coffee.

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Of course he did.

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Eli sighed immediately. “Do you teleport?”

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“Yes.”

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“No, he stalks people,” Kai answered.

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Rowan handed Eli a drink casually. “Peace offering.”

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Eli frowned. “Why?”

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“Because your face looks like you just got divorced for the second time.”

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Kai looked away to hide a smile.

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Eli noticed.

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Unfortunately.

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Rowan sat beside Kai dramatically. “Anyway, Noah’s forcing everyone to attend the campus fall festival tonight.”

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“No,” Kai said instantly.

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“Yes,” Rowan replied instantly.

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Eli blinked. “There’s a festival?”

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“You really don’t pay attention to emails,” Rowan said.

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“I ignore responsibilities professionally.”

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“Hot.”

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Kai looked irritated again.

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Interesting.

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Rowan grinned slightly after noticing it too.

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“Oh, this is fun.”

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Kai stood up immediately. “I’m leaving.”

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Before he could walk away, Rowan grabbed the sleeve of Kai’s hoodie.

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The sleeve slid up slightly.

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Eli’s breath caught.

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Around Kai’s wrist—

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the black braided bracelet Eli gave him during senior year.

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Kai pulled his arm back too late.

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The silence afterward was brutal.

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Rowan looked confused. “Uh…”

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Eli stared at the bracelet.

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“You still wear that too?”

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Kai looked cornered for the first time in years.

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And somehow that hurt Eli more than if Kai had thrown it away.

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Kai answered quietly,

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“I forgot to take it off.”

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A lie again.

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A terrible one.

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Because the bracelet looked worn from being touched too often.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36wGaF9JKZ

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