Your Hoodie still smells like me - Who's He?

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Episode 7 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“Who’s He?”

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Monday morning felt personal.

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That was the only explanation Eli had for why the universe decided to torture him immediately after the balcony incident.

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Because now he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

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The almost-confession. The almost-kiss. The way Kai looked at him like he wanted something he wasn’t allowed to have anymore.

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Eli hated it.

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Mostly because he wanted the same thing.

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“You’re staring into space again,” Min Jun said while eating cereal in complete silence.

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“I’m thinking.”

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“You’re suffering.”

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“Same thing.”

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Before Eli could continue spiraling emotionally, his phone buzzed.

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Unknown Number.

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> Heard you transferred into Westbridge.

Missed me?

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Eli blinked.

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Then nearly dropped his phone.

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“No way.”

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Min Jun looked up slowly. “What?”

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Eli stared at the text in horror.

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“An old problem just entered my life again.”

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—

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The film department building at Westbridge University was unusually crowded that afternoon.

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Students moved around carrying equipment while professors yelled about deadlines no one planned to respect.

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Eli pushed open the editing room door—

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—and froze instantly.

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A tall guy sat casually on the desk near the windows, scrolling through his phone like he owned the building.

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Dark brown hair. Silver earrings. Sharp smile.

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Damien Cole.

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Eli’s ex-fling.

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Or more accurately: the guy Eli briefly tried dating after Kai.

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Damien looked up and grinned immediately.

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“There he is.”

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Eli groaned. “Why are you here?”

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“Wow. No hug? I’m wounded.”

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“You live in California.”

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“Exchange photography program,” Damien answered proudly. “One semester.”

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The universe truly hated Eli.

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Damien hopped off the desk and walked closer easily.

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Still confident. Still attractive. Still incredibly annoying.

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“You look good,” Damien said casually.

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Eli narrowed his eyes. “You sound dangerous already.”

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“I usually am.”

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Unfortunately, someone else walked into the room right then.

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Kai.

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Of course.

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Kai stopped immediately after seeing them standing close together.

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The atmosphere changed so fast it almost felt physical.

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Damien noticed first.

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Interesting.

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His gaze moved between them slowly before a knowing smile appeared.

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“Oh,” Damien said softly. “This must be him.”

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Eli wanted to evaporate instantly.

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Kai’s expression turned unreadable again. “Who’s that?”

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Damien offered his hand first. “Damien Cole.”

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Kai looked at the hand for a second before shaking it once.

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“Kai Arden.”

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The tension between them was immediate.

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Sharp. Polite. Terrible.

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Damien looked amused already.

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“You’re prettier than Eli described,” Damien told Kai casually.

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Eli choked. “WHEN did I describe him?!”

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“Drunk texting counts.”

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Kai looked at Eli slowly.

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Very slowly.

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Eli covered his face with one hand. “I’m going to die.”

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Damien laughed. “Relax. Most of your messages were just emotional suffering.”

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Kai crossed his arms. “Most?”

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“Some were aggressive too.”

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Eli pointed at Damien. “You are not helping.”

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Unfortunately, Damien enjoyed chaos.

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A lot.

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He stepped closer beside Eli naturally. “Anyway, Eli promised to show me around campus later.”

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“I did not.”

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“You’re doing it now.”

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Kai’s jaw tightened slightly.

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Tiny movement.

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But Eli saw it instantly.

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Jealousy.

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Real jealousy.

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And somehow that made Eli’s heartbeat speed up.

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Which was probably unhealthy.

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Damien noticed too.

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Oh no.

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His smile widened immediately.

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“So,” Damien continued casually, “you and Eli dated for how long?”

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Kai answered before Eli could stop him.

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“Almost two years.”

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Too fast.

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Too precise.

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Damien raised an eyebrow slightly. “Damn. Serious ex.”

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Silence.

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Kai looked directly at Eli.

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“We were.”

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The room suddenly felt too warm.

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Eli looked away first.

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Again.

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Later that evening, Noah forced everyone to meet at a diner near campus.

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Unfortunately Damien came too.

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Unfortunately Rowan loved him instantly.

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“You flirt like a divorced actor,” Rowan told Damien admiringly.

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“Thank you.”

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Kai looked exhausted already.

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Eli sat across from Kai in the booth while Damien sat beside him intentionally too close.

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Very intentional.

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Damien leaned against Eli slightly while looking at the menu.

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“You still hate pickles?”

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“Yes.”

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“You used to steal mine.”

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Kai looked up immediately.

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Eli noticed.

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So did Damien.

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Dangerous.

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Damien smirked faintly before casually fixing the sleeve of Eli’s jacket.

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Small gesture.

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Too familiar.

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Kai set his drink down harder than necessary.

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The sound echoed slightly across the table.

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Everyone looked at him.

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Kai stayed expressionless. “Sorry.”

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Liar.

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Eli stared at him carefully.

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Kai avoided eye contact completely now, attention fixed on the window beside their booth.

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Cold again.

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Distant again.

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And weirdly—

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that bothered Eli more than the jealousy itself.

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As the group continued talking, Damien leaned closer to Eli and whispered quietly,

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“So your ex is definitely still in love with you.”

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Eli’s pulse jumped.

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“Shut up.”

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“I’m serious.” Damien glanced toward Kai. “Look at the way he watches anyone who touches you.”

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Eli swallowed hard.

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Before he could answer, Kai suddenly stood up from the booth.

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“I’m heading back.”

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Noah frowned. “Already?”

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“Early class.”

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Kai grabbed his jacket without looking at anyone directly.

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But just before leaving—

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his eyes met Eli’s for one brief second.

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And the expression there hurt unexpectedly.

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Not anger.

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Not hatred.

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Something worse.

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Like watching someone slowly lose something they never stopped wanting back.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvAEt8jD8K

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