Your Hoodie still smells like me - Pretending Feels Worse

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Episode 2 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“Pretending Feels Worse”

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Eli barely slept.

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Not because of the rain.

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Not because Min Jun snored like a dying engine.

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But because Kai Arden was suddenly real again.

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Not a memory. Not an old chat archive. Not a voice stuck in the back of his mind at 2 a.m.

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Real.

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Living in the same dorm building.

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Wearing that hoodie.

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Eli groaned into his pillow.

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“Why are you suffering dramatically at seven in the morning?” Min Jun mumbled from the other bed.

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“Because life hates me.”

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“Understandable.”

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Eli threw a pillow at him.

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—

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The campus café near Westbridge University was crowded with students escaping the cold weather.

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Coffee machines hissed. Music played softly overhead. Someone dropped a spoon loud enough to start a war.

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Eli stood in line scrolling through his phone, trying very hard not to think about last night.

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It failed immediately.

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“Medium vanilla cold brew, extra caramel.”

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Eli blinked.

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That used to be his order.

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Slowly, he looked toward the counter.

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Kai stood a few feet ahead, one hand in his pocket while ordering without even checking the menu.

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The barista smiled. “Anything else?”

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Kai paused.

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“…And an iced americano.”

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Eli’s stomach twisted.

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Kai hated americanos.

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Eli was the one who drank them.

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Kai turned slightly after paying and noticed him instantly.

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Of course he did.

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Their eyes locked.

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Again.

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Kai looked annoyingly calm for someone ruining Eli’s emotional stability before 9 a.m.

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“You’re staring,” Kai said.

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“You ordered my drink.”

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Kai leaned against the counter. “It’s coffee, Eli. You didn’t invent it.”

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“You hate americanos.”

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“I changed.”

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That answer came too quickly.

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Eli crossed his arms. “Right.”

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The barista suddenly placed both drinks on the counter.

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Kai picked up the americano first.

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Then handed it directly to Eli.

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“…What are you doing?”

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“You’re already thinking too much. Just take it.”

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Eli stared at the cup.

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“You remembered.”

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Kai looked away almost immediately. “You’re easy to remember.”

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Dangerous sentence.

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Very dangerous sentence.

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Before Eli could respond, another voice interrupted them.

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“Well, this atmosphere is horrifying.”

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A tall blond guy dropped into the empty seat beside Kai with zero hesitation.

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Rowan Pierce.

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Journalism senior. Campus menace. Professional flirt.

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He glanced between them once and smirked immediately.

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“Oh. So this is the ex.”

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Eli nearly choked on air.

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Kai looked irritated already. “Rowan.”

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“What? You described him dramatically.”

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“I did not.”

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“You literally said and I quote—”

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“Finish that sentence and die.”

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Rowan grinned wider.

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Eli rubbed his forehead. “Why does he talk like that?”

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“He enjoys being annoying,” Kai answered flatly.

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“Correct,” Rowan said proudly.

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Then Rowan turned toward Eli with sudden interest.

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“Hm. You’re prettier than I expected.”

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Kai’s expression changed instantly.

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Subtle. Sharp.

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But Eli noticed.

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Rowan noticed too.

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And judging by his smile, he enjoyed it way too much.

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Eli sighed. “You flirt with everyone?”

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“Only people who look emotionally unavailable.”

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Kai stood up immediately.

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“I’m leaving.”

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Rowan blinked. “Oh, he’s jealous jealous.”

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“I’m not jealous.”

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Eli raised an eyebrow. “You left your coffee.”

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Kai froze for half a second.

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Because the iced americano — Eli’s drink — was still sitting untouched beside him.

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Kai clicked his tongue softly, grabbed it, and walked away without another word.

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Rowan watched him disappear through the café doors before turning back to Eli slowly.

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“…Okay,” Rowan said. “So you two are absolutely still in love. That’s insane.”

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Eli looked down at his coffee.

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The warmth pressed against his fingertips.

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Kai remembered his exact order after two years.

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And somehow that hurt more than forgetting ever could.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcM3sVuI5N

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