71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRNfou5LzoEpisode 5 — Your Hoodie Still Smells Like Me
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7PMsDksxj
“You Used to Hold My Hand Here”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJBGJPwyre
The fall festival at Westbridge University looked like a movie Eli would normally make fun of.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSatewVAlx
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.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEpgIUZdeg
Eli already wanted to go home.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCVInjGck8
“This place is disgustingly happy,” he muttered.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QVjO0Ak22
Beside him, Min Jun was busy eating powdered donuts without emotion.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfDkzW5k7r
“You say that every five minutes.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchOMttQVOA
“Because every five minutes I see another couple.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ePHq6sodY
“That sounds like a you problem.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIRSyvqRtV
Unfortunately, Noah had forced nearly everyone from the dorm to come.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdxJa5Epu0
Unfortunately, Kai was also there.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1txijkFH1f
Eli spotted him near the basketball game stall talking to Rowan, black hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands again.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77szCJcLMP
And unfortunately—
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrHdDuQ2RG
Kai looked good tonight.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwk2f198hp
Like, offensively good.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ60kI1VKS
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.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt5OHLLZ80
Which honestly felt rude.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8xaSXKLzF
“No staring,” Min Jun warned beside him.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwhUDRFyAn
“I’m not staring.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDszbvETa1
“You literally stopped walking.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SrAoOtl6T
Before Eli could deny it again, Rowan noticed them and waved dramatically.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBSQ0E34tZ
“Kai!” Rowan shouted loudly. “Your ex is here!”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrArC3HJCvE
Half the nearby students turned to look.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJBiZhIXAT
Eli covered his face instantly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTChxO8Z5pD
“I’m going to kill him.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRZ2QXjvnf
Kai looked embarrassed for once.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmHKIDvY30
Interesting.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6YMhRo4s2
Rowan grinned shamelessly as they walked over. “You’re welcome.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DeRsY1PSw
“No one thanked you,” Kai said flatly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVE9ddXNT0
Noah suddenly appeared holding festival tickets. “Perfect timing. We’re splitting into pairs for the haunted maze.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I1qyZ3CSL
Eli blinked. “Absolutely not.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvQNeu7ULL
“You’re going,” Noah replied.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiXnwfj0NN
“I hate horror.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz9aUi1PuU
“You cried during a zombie trailer once,” Min Jun added.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9vmwxZCAp
“That was one time.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0dt6kScSd
“Liar,” Kai said quietly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSibaB4sev
Eli looked at him immediately.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWVZi2lUxY
Kai avoided eye contact after speaking, like he regretted sounding familiar.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRiYQG9PwU
Too late.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FfsAQb6YT
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.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw8Z6l9fAe
Dangerous memories.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQQP2QRtHl
Noah clapped loudly. “Okay! Pairs!”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gz7VMqgiY
Before Eli could escape, Rowan spoke immediately.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7czkwoYvB
“I’m taking Min Jun.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC7CxIH6g5
Min Jun frowned. “You don’t even like horror.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6ys7uNLu5
“No, but I enjoy causing problems.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5Ca8F9sh3
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly. “Rowan.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gsiHiEHku
“Relax,” Rowan said innocently.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNeSO5xhaB
Then Noah grinned in the most evil way possible.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BwbrZxCKl
“That leaves Kai and Eli together.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zc1h3X4gl
Eli stared at the sky like he was asking the universe for strength.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYihn0ZRDlI
—
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcNzcxNsC6
The haunted maze was darker than expected.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2GIHA4zob
Fake fog curled around the pathways while actors dressed as monsters jumped from corners every few minutes.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBMwAVSzpM
Eli hated every second already.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokpXFR6bt4
A loud scream echoed somewhere ahead.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrTrURzVMA
“Nope,” Eli said immediately. “I’m leaving.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQU8XtmsvO
Kai walked beside him calmly. “It’s fake.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45EO3kRdXp
“I know that logically.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjuHRoJm6P
Another actor suddenly appeared from the side with a chainsaw prop.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkOLH8dZYd
Eli grabbed Kai’s arm instantly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBKMDYOH5C
The actor moved on.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqzqFX9D5j
Silence.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCoszk1QyH
Eli slowly realized what he was doing.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07S1CfWIXl
His hand still wrapped around Kai’s sleeve.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZyxWRRf4c
Kai looked down at it quietly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnplqP7HYat
Neither moved.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd5ZffPliy
Then Kai spoke softly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2vgG0Uua8
“You still do that.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7N422cGBj
Eli let go immediately. “Reflex.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CD3GsOFGy
“Mhm.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF70pmDHmdH
They continued walking through the maze, but the tension between them felt warmer now.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDTH3QQvXl
Closer.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIoDVbgDkx
At one point, Eli nearly slipped on wet leaves hidden beneath the fog.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrfwYwNolI
Kai caught his wrist before he fell.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod4u5JD6Oy
Again.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIlnFLfwhV
Always catching him.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl2D6jB3Y2
Kai’s grip tightened slightly for balance.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8R2r6GoDy
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.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhdU08HPS1
The memory hit too fast.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9GEriSN0K
“You used to hold my hand here,” Eli said before thinking.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NbWlWBRTZ
Kai froze.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqjUIBmc7i
The dim festival lights flickered through the fog around them.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcjj7o5KJP
Eli looked down, embarrassed instantly. “Sorry. Forget I said that.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiqP5iVjxz
But Kai didn’t let go of his wrist.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgLtTZYqu6
Instead, his thumb brushed lightly against Eli’s skin once.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWUxbQUXS9
Careful. Automatic.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VgZKvUpIH
Like muscle memory.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHf5DzeNyY
Kai’s voice came quieter now.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqjoprT9jZ
“I remember.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw35vj93aE
Eli’s chest tightened painfully.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhSC4I3zxM
Then voices echoed nearby as other students entered the maze section.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Acx87YnE
Reality returned too quickly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18RJfh7Qei
Kai released his wrist immediately and stepped back slightly.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAARiNLLU0
The warmth disappeared with him.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrQQ8k92IG
By the time they exited the maze, Eli’s heartbeat felt impossible to control.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AJDnnne2y
Noah ran toward them immediately. “Did you scream?”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZmAbyCgqu
Eli answered instantly. “No.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9IJJXAJA3
Kai answered at the same time.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVZ1oACgZU
“Yes.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0SyVkfw6E
Eli turned toward him in disbelief.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwEcE1FQ5q
Kai looked calmer than he had all night.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3FqFfr4U5
Almost smug.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLYmoFqnyS
“You grabbed my arm four times.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq5jwQpIsO
“You counted?”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMvkx2nIP2
“You were squeezing circulation out of my body.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DSj6UCqhr
Rowan gasped dramatically beside them. “Oh my God, flirting.”
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrgPuBaZeI
“We are not flirting,” Eli snapped.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEghhrgwqkX
Kai looked away to hide another smile.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj4LGxyikY
And somehow—
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw9OuRhUnc
that hurt even worse now.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHHsFUZVjj
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.