Your Hoodie still smells like me - Stay Away From Him

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Episode 12 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“Stay Away From Him”

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After the almost-exposure disaster in the courtyard, Eli decided two things:

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1. Rowan Pierce was a threat to society.

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2. He and Kai seriously needed to stop looking at each other like they shared criminal history.

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Unfortunately, neither of those things happened.

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By Friday, the tension between them somehow got worse.

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Not bad worse.

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Dangerous worse.

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Every glance lasted too long. Every accidental touch felt intentional. And now both of them were painfully aware of the kiss they still hadn’t properly talked about.

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Which made existing exhausting.

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“You look like you’re in a secret relationship,” Min Jun commented while walking beside Eli across campus.

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Eli almost tripped over nothing.

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“I’m not in any relationship.”

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“Mhm.”

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Before Eli could defend himself, someone suddenly called his name.

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“Eli!”

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A familiar figure jogged toward them near the media building.

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Tall. Black curls. Sharp jawline. Bright smile.

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Asher Bennett.

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Eli froze.

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“No way.”

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Asher grinned before pulling Eli into a quick hug. “You disappeared after graduation, jerk.”

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Min Jun blinked slowly. “Another one?”

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Eli ignored him completely. “What are you doing here?”

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“Graduate assistant for the music department.” Asher shrugged casually. “Just transferred this semester.”

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The universe clearly enjoyed ruining Eli’s peace.

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Because Asher Bennett was dangerous in a completely different way than Damien.

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Damien flirted for entertainment.

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Asher flirted because he genuinely meant it.

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Back in high school, Asher had openly liked Eli for months.

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Unfortunately for him, Eli had already been hopelessly in love with Kai.

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Asher smiled warmly. “You still look cute when you panic.”

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Min Jun whispered beside Eli, “Oh, this one’s confident.”

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“Please stop observing my suffering.”

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Too late.

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Because someone else had already noticed them.

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Kai.

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Of course.

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Kai stood near the architecture stairs talking to Rowan and Noah before his attention shifted toward Eli automatically.

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Then toward Asher.

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Then toward the way Asher’s hand still rested casually against Eli’s shoulder.

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Kai’s expression darkened immediately.

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Rowan followed his line of sight.

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“Oh no,” Rowan whispered excitedly. “Another rival.”

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“I don’t care,” Kai answered too quickly.

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Noah stared at him. “That sounded deeply false.”

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Meanwhile, Eli still looked overwhelmed.

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“Asher, seriously, how did you even find me?”

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“You posted campus photos online,” Asher answered easily. “Also, your account still uses the same terrible username.”

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Eli looked offended. “VintageGhostBoy is artistic.”

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“It’s embarrassing.”

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Min Jun nodded. “Agreed.”

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Before Eli could argue, Asher suddenly noticed Kai approaching from across the courtyard.

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The shift in Kai’s body language was immediate.

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Controlled. Cold. Jealous.

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Asher noticed instantly.

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Interesting.

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Kai stopped beside them calmly.

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Too calmly.

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“Asher,” Eli started awkwardly, “this is Kai.”

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The silence afterward felt illegal.

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Because Asher’s expression changed immediately.

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Recognition.

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“Oh,” Asher said softly. “The ex.”

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Kai’s jaw tightened slightly.

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Eli wanted to throw himself off the nearest building.

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Asher smiled politely toward Kai and offered his hand.

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“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

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Kai shook it once.

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“Hopefully nothing good.”

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“Oh, mostly emotional devastation.”

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Eli covered his face instantly. “Can everyone stop exposing my business?”

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Min Jun looked thoughtful. “No, this is entertaining.”

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Asher glanced back toward Eli warmly. “You still write when you’re upset?”

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Kai looked at Eli instantly.

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Eli froze.

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Because Kai was the only person who used to know about that habit.

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Late-night poems. Unsent notes. Entire pages written after arguments.

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Kai’s expression shifted subtly.

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Hurt again.

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Like another reminder that time passed without him.

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Eli swallowed hard. “Sometimes.”

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Asher smiled softly. “You used to write about people you loved.”

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Okay. Now Eli actually wanted death.

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Rowan made a choking noise in the background.

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Kai looked away immediately.

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That hurt more than anger somehow.

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Asher, completely unaware he was escalating emotional warfare, continued naturally:

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“You still have that notebook I gave you?”

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Kai’s eyes snapped back toward Eli instantly.

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Dangerous question.

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Because yes.

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Eli still had it.

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And half the notebook contained poems about Kai.

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Eli laughed nervously. “Anyway! Crazy weather lately!”

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Nobody followed the topic change.

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Silence.

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Then Kai finally spoke.

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Quiet. Sharp.

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“You seem close.”

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Asher looked amused immediately. “We are.”

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Eli noticed the change in Kai’s posture again.

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Rigid shoulders. Tight jaw. Hands shoved into hoodie pockets to avoid showing emotion.

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Jealous.

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Bad jealous.

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Asher tilted his head slightly toward Kai.

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“And you seem possessive for an ex.”

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The courtyard suddenly felt too quiet.

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Noah whispered dramatically behind them, “Oh my God, he’s fearless.”

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Kai stepped closer slightly before answering.

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“Maybe because some people don’t know boundaries.”

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Eli’s heartbeat jumped instantly.

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Asher raised an eyebrow. “And maybe some people wait too long to say what they want.”

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Direct hit.

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Kai went silent.

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Because the worst part?

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Asher was right.

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The tension between them crackled heavily while Eli stood trapped in the middle of two disasters.

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Then Asher looked back at Eli casually.

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“I’m stealing you for lunch, by the way.”

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Kai’s expression hardened instantly.

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Eli noticed.

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So did Asher.

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Asher smiled faintly.

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Very intentional now.

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As he started walking away, he lightly caught Eli’s wrist and pulled him along.

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And behind them—

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Kai finally snapped.

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“Eli.”

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The tone alone stopped him immediately.

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Eli turned back.

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Kai looked furious for the first time in weeks.

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Not loud furious.

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Worse.

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Quiet furious.

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His eyes locked onto Asher’s hand around Eli’s wrist before lifting slowly back to Eli.

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Then Kai said the most possessive thing possible for someone who technically wasn’t dating him anymore.

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“Stay away from him.”98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6P4dFZKKF

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