Your Hoodie still smells like me - You Never Gave It Back

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Episode 3 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me

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“You Never Gave It Back”

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Friday nights at Westbridge University were loud for no reason.

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Music echoed through the dorm halls. Someone was yelling about pizza in the parking lot. A group downstairs was definitely breaking at least three housing rules.

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Eli sat cross-legged on Min Jun’s bed editing photos on his laptop while trying to ignore the chaos outside.

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Trying.

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Not succeeding.

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Min Jun looked up from his game console. “You’ve sighed twelve times in six minutes.”

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“I’m thinking.”

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“You’re thinking about Kai.”

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Eli threw a sock at him.

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Min Jun dodged it easily. “Pathetic.”

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A sudden knock interrupted them.

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Before Eli could move, Min Jun opened the door.

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Rowan Pierce walked in carrying a plastic bag of snacks like he owned the room.

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Behind him—

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Kai.

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Eli’s brain immediately stopped functioning.

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Kai wore loose black sweatpants and that stupid hoodie again.

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“How did you get in here?” Eli asked.

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Rowan pointed at Min Jun proudly. “Your roommate likes me.”

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Min Jun blinked. “I literally met you yesterday.”

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“Connections happen fast.”

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Kai looked exhausted already. “Rowan invited himself.”

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“Correct again.”

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Rowan dropped onto Eli’s desk chair dramatically. “Movie night in Noah’s room. We’re collecting people.”

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“I’m busy,” Eli answered instantly.

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“No, you’re emotionally avoiding,” Rowan corrected.

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Kai stayed near the doorway, hands shoved into his hoodie pocket like he didn’t want to be there either.

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That somehow annoyed Eli more.

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“You could’ve texted instead of appearing like sleep paralysis demons,” Eli muttered.

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Kai’s mouth twitched slightly.

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Tiny. Quick.

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Still unfairly attractive.

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Rowan suddenly leaned forward.

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“Oh my God.”

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“What now?” Kai asked.

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“You two still flirt exactly like a divorced couple.”

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“We are not flirting,” both of them said immediately.

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Min Jun looked between them. “That was terrifyingly synchronized.”

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Silence.

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Then Rowan started laughing so hard he nearly fell off the chair.

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—

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Noah’s dorm room was overcrowded and painfully warm.

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At least ten people sat scattered around the floor with snacks and drinks while an action movie played on the TV mostly ignored by everyone.

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Noah spotted them immediately.

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“There they are!” he yelled. “The toxic exes!”

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Eli covered his face with one hand.

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Kai looked ready to leave again.

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“Can everyone stop introducing us like we survived a war?” Eli complained.

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“No,” Noah answered.

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Unfortunately, seating became a problem.

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Unfortunately, the only empty space left was the spot beside Kai.

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Eli stared at it like it personally offended him.

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Rowan whispered beside him, “If you run away right now, I’ll tell everyone you still cry over him.”

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“I hate you.”

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“I know. Sit down.”

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Eli dropped beside Kai carefully, shoulders barely touching.

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Still too close.

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The movie continued in the background while conversations slowly overlapped around them.

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For a while, things almost felt normal.

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Dangerously normal.

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Then Noah grinned suddenly from across the room.

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“Let’s play a game.”

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Everyone groaned instantly.

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“No games,” Kai said immediately.

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“Too late,” Noah replied. “Question game.”

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“That sounds illegal,” Min Jun muttered.

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Noah ignored him completely. “You answer honestly or take a shot.”

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Rowan sat up excitedly. “Oh, this gets messy fast.”

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Questions started harmless.

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Favorite classes. Worst hookups. Most embarrassing drunk moments.

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Then Noah looked directly at Kai.

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“When was your last relationship?”

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The room went quieter.

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Eli stared at the TV screen a little too hard.

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Kai answered calmly. “Two years ago.”

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Noah blinked. “Seriously?”

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“Mhm.”

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Rowan looked interested immediately. “Damn. You never dated after your breakup?”

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Kai shrugged once.

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“No one felt right.”

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Eli’s chest tightened painfully.

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Before he could stop himself, he glanced sideways.

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Kai was already looking at him.

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Not cold this time.

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Not angry either.

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Just… tired.

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Like the answer meant more than he wanted it to.

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Then Noah turned toward Eli.

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“And you?”

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Eli forced a laugh. “Uh. A few months ago.”

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Kai looked away instantly.

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The shift in his expression was small.

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But Eli saw it.

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Jealousy.

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Hurt.

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Something sharp hidden behind that unreadable face.

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And somehow, seeing it made Eli’s heart ache instead of feel satisfied.

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A little later, people started arguing over movie choices while Noah searched for another film.

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Eli stood up quietly to escape the noise for a minute.

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The hallway outside was colder and silent.

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He leaned against the wall, breathing slowly.

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A door opened behind him.

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Kai stepped out.

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Of course.

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For a few seconds neither spoke.

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Then Kai said quietly,

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“You lied.”

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Eli frowned. “About what?”

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“You didn’t date anyone a few months ago.”

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Eli froze.

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Kai crossed his arms. “Noah told me last year you stopped talking to that guy after two dates.”

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“How do you even know that?”

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“Noah talks too much.”

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Eli looked down briefly. “Why do you care?”

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Kai didn’t answer immediately.

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That scared Eli more than if he had.

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Finally Kai spoke, voice lower now.

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“Because hearing you moved on that easily bothered me.”

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The hallway suddenly felt too small.

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Too warm.

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Eli swallowed hard. “You don’t get to say things like that anymore.”

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Kai laughed once under his breath.

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Not amused.

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“I know.”

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Another silence.

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Heavy this time.

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Then Eli’s eyes drifted again to the oversized dark hoodie Kai wore.

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The same hoodie he used to steal constantly.

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The same hoodie Kai never returned.

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Before he could think better of it, Eli asked softly,

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“Why do you still wear it?”

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Kai looked down at the sleeve for a moment.

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Then back at Eli.

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And for the first time since seeing each other again, Kai answered honestly.

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“…Because it still smells like you.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAceo2s3UV

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