70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEH7BQhcZqEpisode 5 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me
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“You Used to Hold My Hand Here”
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The fall festival at Westbridge University looked like a movie Eli would normally make fun of.
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Warm string lights hung between campus trees. Music drifted through the cool evening air. Students crowded food stalls wearing oversized sweaters and scarves while couples walked around holding hands like they were in a romance commercial.
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Eli already wanted to go home.
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“This place is disgustingly happy,” he muttered.
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Beside him, Min Jun was busy eating powdered donuts without emotion.
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“You say that every five minutes.”
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“Because every five minutes I see another couple.”
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“That sounds like a you problem.”
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Unfortunately, Noah had forced nearly everyone from the dorm to come.
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Unfortunately, Kai was also there.
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Eli spotted him near the basketball game stall talking to Rowan, black hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands again.
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And unfortunately—
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Kai looked good tonight.
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Like, offensively good.
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The cold weather made his cheeks slightly flushed, dark hair messy from the wind. He looked relaxed in a way Eli hadn’t seen in years.
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Which honestly felt rude.
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“No staring,” Min Jun warned beside him.
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“I’m not staring.”
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“You literally stopped walking.”
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Before Eli could deny it again, Rowan noticed them and waved dramatically.
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“Kai!” Rowan shouted loudly. “Your ex is here!”
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Half the nearby students turned to look.
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Eli covered his face instantly.
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“I’m going to kill him.”
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Kai looked embarrassed for once.
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Interesting.
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Rowan grinned shamelessly as they walked over. “You’re welcome.”
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“No one thanked you,” Kai said flatly.
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Noah suddenly appeared holding festival tickets. “Perfect timing. We’re splitting into pairs for the haunted maze.”
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Eli blinked. “Absolutely not.”
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“You’re going,” Noah replied.
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“I hate horror.”
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“You cried during a zombie trailer once,” Min Jun added.
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“That was one time.”
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“Liar,” Kai said quietly.
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Eli looked at him immediately.
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Kai avoided eye contact after speaking, like he regretted sounding familiar.
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Too late.
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That small comment already pulled Eli backward into old memories: movie nights, Kai laughing quietly while Eli hid behind him during horror scenes, warm hands covering Eli’s eyes before scary moments.
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Dangerous memories.
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Noah clapped loudly. “Okay! Pairs!”
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Before Eli could escape, Rowan spoke immediately.
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“I’m taking Min Jun.”
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Min Jun frowned. “You don’t even like horror.”
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“No, but I enjoy causing problems.”
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Kai narrowed his eyes slightly. “Rowan.”
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“Relax,” Rowan said innocently.
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Then Noah grinned in the most evil way possible.
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“That leaves Kai and Eli together.”
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Eli stared at the sky like he was asking the universe for strength.
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—
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The haunted maze was darker than expected.
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Fake fog curled around the pathways while actors dressed as monsters jumped from corners every few minutes.
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Eli hated every second already.
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A loud scream echoed somewhere ahead.
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“Nope,” Eli said immediately. “I’m leaving.”
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Kai walked beside him calmly. “It’s fake.”
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“I know that logically.”
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Another actor suddenly appeared from the side with a chainsaw prop.
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Eli grabbed Kai’s arm instantly.
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The actor moved on.
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Silence.
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Eli slowly realized what he was doing.
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His hand still wrapped around Kai’s sleeve.
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Kai looked down at it quietly.
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Neither moved.
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Then Kai spoke softly.
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“You still do that.”
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Eli let go immediately. “Reflex.”
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“Mhm.”
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They continued walking through the maze, but the tension between them felt warmer now.
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Closer.
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At one point, Eli nearly slipped on wet leaves hidden beneath the fog.
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Kai caught his wrist before he fell.
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Again.
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Always catching him.
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Kai’s grip tightened slightly for balance.
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And suddenly Eli remembered another night years ago— crossing snowy streets together, Kai holding his hand inside his hoodie pocket because Eli’s fingers were cold.
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The memory hit too fast.
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“You used to hold my hand here,” Eli said before thinking.
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Kai froze.
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The dim festival lights flickered through the fog around them.
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Eli looked down, embarrassed instantly. “Sorry. Forget I said that.”
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But Kai didn’t let go of his wrist.
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Instead, his thumb brushed lightly against Eli’s skin once.
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Careful. Automatic.
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Like muscle memory.
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Kai’s voice came quieter now.
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“I remember.”
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Eli’s chest tightened painfully.
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Then voices echoed nearby as other students entered the maze section.
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Reality returned too quickly.
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Kai released his wrist immediately and stepped back slightly.
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The warmth disappeared with him.
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By the time they exited the maze, Eli’s heartbeat felt impossible to control.
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Noah ran toward them immediately. “Did you scream?”
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Eli answered instantly. “No.”
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Kai answered at the same time.
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“Yes.”
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Eli turned toward him in disbelief.
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Kai looked calmer than he had all night.
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Almost smug.
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“You grabbed my arm four times.”
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“You counted?”
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“You were squeezing circulation out of my body.”
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Rowan gasped dramatically beside them. “Oh my God, flirting.”
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“We are not flirting,” Eli snapped.
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Kai looked away to hide another smile.
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And somehow—
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that hurt even worse now.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dJeSJ312F
and then Add to home screen.