10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqEVPharJlEpisode 5 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZFkS1W92n
“You Used to Hold My Hand Here”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm6orkqMc6
The fall festival at Westbridge University looked like a movie Eli would normally make fun of.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgySLhZKBp6
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5cAOuTyjQ
Eli already wanted to go home.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkLrW5MLVo
“This place is disgustingly happy,” he muttered.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgJ106QkhJ
Beside him, Min Jun was busy eating powdered donuts without emotion.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbk9Sbqr8O
“You say that every five minutes.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2gK0WHsDO
“Because every five minutes I see another couple.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D4SAmeF9G
“That sounds like a you problem.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydRH5BlezO
Unfortunately, Noah had forced nearly everyone from the dorm to come.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NU2rbv0Wz
Unfortunately, Kai was also there.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DvcRttyCl
Eli spotted him near the basketball game stall talking to Rowan, black hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbvYJyXevj
And unfortunately—
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN9imyzScn
Kai looked good tonight.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vPQoAaV7J
Like, offensively good.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqnhMtmTmh
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6ASIw9lnm
Which honestly felt rude.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D7SDShvVR
“No staring,” Min Jun warned beside him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kzjjJJGiM
“I’m not staring.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq83bFzDUB
“You literally stopped walking.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92GrW1IpwW
Before Eli could deny it again, Rowan noticed them and waved dramatically.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswd4xlwK6Z
“Kai!” Rowan shouted loudly. “Your ex is here!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcHWLEpd0g
Half the nearby students turned to look.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8lkbq7WiU
Eli covered his face instantly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c5B8vaH2d
“I’m going to kill him.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYGZoWfn9B
Kai looked embarrassed for once.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NzjsRKdmb
Interesting.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBkcZPqOQA
Rowan grinned shamelessly as they walked over. “You’re welcome.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVUm7RPPIt
“No one thanked you,” Kai said flatly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DMQUi079E
Noah suddenly appeared holding festival tickets. “Perfect timing. We’re splitting into pairs for the haunted maze.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYdjDNJbvA
Eli blinked. “Absolutely not.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5NA4Bif3z
“You’re going,” Noah replied.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEiBLFBUpP
“I hate horror.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTUU8YTpti
“You cried during a zombie trailer once,” Min Jun added.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr82TNhLeh
“That was one time.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot52yCIHd2
“Liar,” Kai said quietly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT1Jp3q3uX
Eli looked at him immediately.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrb4YQwG8F
Kai avoided eye contact after speaking, like he regretted sounding familiar.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgBMxvXs3R
Too late.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt3IuvCAiq
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2FQdVTqYD
Dangerous memories.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqZggIlo2Y
Noah clapped loudly. “Okay! Pairs!”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC5eiNjwk3
Before Eli could escape, Rowan spoke immediately.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycSo0XHSMK
“I’m taking Min Jun.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU96C3SABY
Min Jun frowned. “You don’t even like horror.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyADqaZ1Gjh
“No, but I enjoy causing problems.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcPne22qL0
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly. “Rowan.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs39wcypway
“Relax,” Rowan said innocently.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfwhpCRyD6
Then Noah grinned in the most evil way possible.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgduFQuv9Aa
“That leaves Kai and Eli together.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS5mZEdVwv
Eli stared at the sky like he was asking the universe for strength.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDLmjhAKg1
—
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtVbNbq47C
The haunted maze was darker than expected.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4acehBIIh
Fake fog curled around the pathways while actors dressed as monsters jumped from corners every few minutes.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u04pyt3V1
Eli hated every second already.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52oUUIwIFH
A loud scream echoed somewhere ahead.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdnRIi0jso
“Nope,” Eli said immediately. “I’m leaving.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAPquvDOZQ
Kai walked beside him calmly. “It’s fake.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzquVhK2bF5
“I know that logically.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxqZLl4kJX
Another actor suddenly appeared from the side with a chainsaw prop.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5Cz0U8Vf0
Eli grabbed Kai’s arm instantly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsullcxkLJ
The actor moved on.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAe7FyCgoW
Silence.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJSKDLteTN
Eli slowly realized what he was doing.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhP7m0wdx4
His hand still wrapped around Kai’s sleeve.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67ALc8pXRe
Kai looked down at it quietly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZJBQcTRTC
Neither moved.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPKPR9Nh1Q
Then Kai spoke softly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2obt8qnbQw
“You still do that.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1nQutbXlo
Eli let go immediately. “Reflex.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjbwq1hcQD
“Mhm.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIY32f9kUm
They continued walking through the maze, but the tension between them felt warmer now.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtKvIYic9Y
Closer.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z63bMKART
At one point, Eli nearly slipped on wet leaves hidden beneath the fog.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiusQCkvU6
Kai caught his wrist before he fell.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdSYrOiwUe
Again.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxsMZh9I44
Always catching him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HPxzAVeo9
Kai’s grip tightened slightly for balance.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3gvWygsuV
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza78YzyfC2
The memory hit too fast.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERv4SjTMF9
“You used to hold my hand here,” Eli said before thinking.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt800vXx0GD
Kai froze.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrInOcJ3aT
The dim festival lights flickered through the fog around them.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSRfAexqTU
Eli looked down, embarrassed instantly. “Sorry. Forget I said that.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yUSB9XDUt
But Kai didn’t let go of his wrist.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcPPaqrL3j
Instead, his thumb brushed lightly against Eli’s skin once.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu4tggu5Qg
Careful. Automatic.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRPXrGfipI
Like muscle memory.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2xVNdyL8R
Kai’s voice came quieter now.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjIll7YtYm
“I remember.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6M7PDLQ3r
Eli’s chest tightened painfully.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNmj6tlI1E
Then voices echoed nearby as other students entered the maze section.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv28HAeyrC5
Reality returned too quickly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNDqsnuYa6
Kai released his wrist immediately and stepped back slightly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TOtFbzsnR
The warmth disappeared with him.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraOakyOWNY
By the time they exited the maze, Eli’s heartbeat felt impossible to control.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVgqrC8pMc
Noah ran toward them immediately. “Did you scream?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q81cRTmfH
Eli answered instantly. “No.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GkDfHpHpt
Kai answered at the same time.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K0bbEZMOA
“Yes.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVJB1zJZ3n
Eli turned toward him in disbelief.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC6wGOwar8
Kai looked calmer than he had all night.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG3BbtKjXW
Almost smug.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVicPi1zb1Y
“You grabbed my arm four times.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4Tue7KBSi
“You counted?”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdKNoEx9ni
“You were squeezing circulation out of my body.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Gd5h9KaM
Rowan gasped dramatically beside them. “Oh my God, flirting.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnvAdeJEBg
“We are not flirting,” Eli snapped.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgXvtQROQf
Kai looked away to hide another smile.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZugRL0Bht
And somehow—
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWtxT3g7hj
that hurt even worse now.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEfDgGA2F3
and then Add to home screen.