"Campus Hearts: The Beginning"

Chapter 8: Jealousy and Misunderstandings

The campus was buzzing with activity as the end of the semester approached. Daou and Offroad had been unusually distant lately, their once easy camaraderie now fraught with tension. It all started a week ago, when Daou had witnessed Offroad being unusually close with one of the freshies on his football team, a charming but somewhat overconfident young man named Leo.

Daou had seen Offroad laughing and chatting with Leo in the campus café, their conversation animated and their proximity too intimate for his liking. Though he tried to shake off the feeling of jealousy that gnawed at him, it became harder to ignore as the days went by.

"Did you see how close Offroad was with that Leo guy?" Daou asked Joong and Est, his tone betraying his frustration. They were sitting in their usual spot in the university cafeteria, but Daou's mood was decidedly off.

Joong looked up, surprised. "What's got you all worked up? Offroad's just being friendly."

"It's not just friendly," Daou snapped. "It's way too close. And I don't like it."

Est exchanged a worried glance with Joong. "Have you talked to Offroad about it?"

Daou shook his head, his jaw set. "No. But I'm not sure what I'd say. It's like he's been avoiding me."

As the week progressed, the tension between Daou and Offroad escalated. They exchanged clipped words whenever they crossed paths, their once-pleasant interactions now tinged with irritation. The argument that had started with jealousy seemed to have spiraled into something more complex.

At one point, Daou caught Offroad and Leo sitting together in the library, their heads close as they studied. Daou's anger flared, and he couldn't help but confront Offroad when they were alone.

"Offroad, we need to talk," Daou said, his voice tight with emotion.

Offroad looked up, clearly frustrated. "What is it, Daou?"

"Why are you spending so much time with Leo?" Daou demanded. "Is there something going on between you two?"

Offroad's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious? We're just studying together. I didn't realize I needed to report every interaction to you."

"It's not about reporting," Daou shot back. "It's about you being so close to someone else when we've been... you know, trying to figure things out."

Offroad sighed, shaking his head. "I didn't realize I was doing something wrong. Maybe if you didn't avoid me all the time, we could actually talk about it."

Their argument was heated, filled with misunderstandings and unspoken emotions. Daou stormed off, leaving Offroad feeling both hurt and frustrated.

Their friends, caught in the middle, tried their best to mediate but struggled to get through to either of them. Joong and Est attempted to talk to Daou, while Pentor, Diamond, and Poon tried to reason with Offroad.

"Look, you've got to clear the air," Joong advised Daou one evening. "You're letting jealousy get the best of you, and it's pushing Offroad away."

"I know," Daou admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I just... I was planning to confess my feelings to him at my birthday party. But now, I'm not even sure where we stand."

Meanwhile, Offroad was also struggling with his own emotions. He felt torn between his frustration with Daou and his own feelings of hurt. His friends tried to reassure him, but the rift seemed to be growing wider.

"It's like he's pushing me away," Offroad confided to Pentor. "And now I don't even know if he really cares or if I'm just imagining things."

The tension reached a breaking point when Daou and Offroad had another heated argument in the university's parking lot, just a few days before Daou's birthday party.