“Different Teams”

After the conversation behind the architecture building, things should have become easier.

They didn't.

If anything, things became worse.

Because now both Eli and Kai knew the truth.

Neither of them had moved on.

Neither of them had stopped caring.

And somehow...

they still weren't together.

Which made every interaction feel dangerous.

Every glance. Every smile. Every accidental touch.

Too much.

Way too much.

—

Two weeks later, excitement spread across Westbridge University.

Semester break was approaching.

And with it came the university's biggest annual event:

The Winter Creative Challenge.

A campus-wide competition where students from different departments formed teams to create projects over break.

Film students. Architecture students. Music students. Journalism students.

Everyone participated.

Winning teams received scholarships, internships, and campus recognition.

Naturally, Noah became unbearable.

"We're going to win."

"No we're not," Min Jun answered immediately.

"We are."

"We absolutely are not."

—

The auditorium buzzed with hundreds of students as team assignments appeared on the giant screen.

Eli sat beside Min Jun while waiting.

Across the room, Kai sat with Rowan.

Both pretending not to look at each other.

Terrible actors.

The projector flickered.

Names began appearing.

Students cheered.

Teams formed.

Then Eli found his name.

TEAM 8

Eli Navarro

Asher Bennett

Lily Brooks

Ethan Walker

Eli blinked.

"...Okay."

Not terrible.

Then his eyes moved lower.

Searching automatically.

Looking for one specific name.

Finally—

TEAM 14

Kai Arden

Damien Cole

Rowan Pierce

Maya Collins

Silence.

Eli stared.

Then stared harder.

No.

Absolutely not.

Across the auditorium, Kai had the exact same reaction.

Their eyes met instantly.

Disbelief.

Pure disbelief.

Of all people—

Damien.

The universe was genuinely evil.

Rowan stood up dramatically.

"THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE."

Kai looked ready to resign from university.

—

After the meeting ended, students crowded the lobby discussing ideas.

Eli was still processing the disaster.

Until someone appeared beside him.

Kai.

Neither spoke immediately.

Then:

"You got Asher."

"You got Damien."

Silence.

Both sounded equally unhappy.

Kai crossed his arms.

"Eli."

"What?"

"Don't let Asher distract you."

Eli narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, we're doing this again?"

Kai looked annoyed.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Eli stepped closer.

"Then don't let Damien flirt with you."

Kai nearly choked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

For the first time all day, Kai looked completely caught off guard.

Good.

Because Eli wasn't the only jealous person here.

Unfortunately—

a familiar voice interrupted.

"Miss me?"

Damien appeared from nowhere carrying coffee.

Of course.

Always.

Kai looked exhausted instantly.

Damien smiled at Eli.

Then looked between them.

"Oh wow."

"What?" Kai asked.

Damien pointed.

"You two are basically dating without dating."

Both answered immediately.

"We're not dating."

Damien laughed so hard he almost dropped his coffee.

—

Over the next few days, preparation meetings began.

And things became difficult.

Because Eli and Kai suddenly spent less time together.

Much less.

Different teams.

Different schedules.

Different buildings.

Sometimes entire days passed without seeing each other.

And Eli hated how much he noticed.

One afternoon, while editing footage with Team 8, Asher nudged him.

"You're staring out the window again."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Eli sighed.

Outside, architecture students were presenting early design concepts.

Including Kai.

Unfortunately.

Kai stood in the courtyard discussing blueprints with Maya.

Eli looked away immediately.

Too late.

Asher had already noticed.

"Still him, huh?"

Eli didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

—

Meanwhile, across campus—

Kai wasn't doing much better.

"You've checked your phone twelve times."

Rowan sounded delighted.

Kai ignored him.

"Thirteen."

Still ignored.

Damien looked over from his laptop.

"You know Eli's not going to disappear, right?"

Kai froze slightly.

Then looked away.

Damien noticed immediately.

"Oh."

"What?"

"You're scared."

Kai laughed once.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Damien leaned back.

"Dude, you finally got him back emotionally and you're acting like he'll vanish tomorrow."

The problem?

Kai wasn't sure Damien was wrong.

—

That evening, after a long day of meetings, Eli finally left the media building.

The campus was nearly empty.

Cold.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Until he spotted someone sitting alone on the library steps.

Kai.

Headphones on.

Sketchbook open.

Same hoodie.

Same bracelet.

Same person Eli couldn't stop thinking about.

As if sensing him, Kai looked up.

Their eyes met immediately.

Neither smiled.

Neither waved.

But neither looked away either.

Just standing there across the empty campus.

Missing each other.

And hating how obvious it had become.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JPEt5airK

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