The Other Campus - Part One

Seola

I consider myself as someone who is pretty level-headed. I don't get angry often. I rarely let insignificant things bother me, and most importantly, I never get jealous.

Lately, however, it has been another story, and it's been making me upset. I can't even remember when Dowoon's club started.

They're there, every morning, waiting to follow him to school. They obviously see how annoyed he is, but they don't leave him alone, and it bothers me. He sounds so burdened just to go to school... I hate hearing him with a tone of dread when he calls me every morning.

I just want him to start one day of school without feeling like he's suffering.

When I'm finally home from dance practice that night, I give Dowoon a call. He's busy doing his homework, but he doesn't mind spending time to talk with me.

"Young K tried to help me today. It was nice," Dowoon says calmly. "Tell Mari at school tomorrow that I appreciate it."

"I'll make sure to, hun," I say happily. "He's finally warmed up to people?"

"Oh," Dowoon scoffs with a laugh, "definitely not. He skipped class... well... all the classes, actually. We got to talk a bit before and after the game. He's really cool once you get past his angsty exterior."

I smile, lying on my bed as I listen to him go on about his day. He always has so much to say, despite having to carry around an extra 500 pounds throughout the day.

"How about you? How was your day?" he laughs. I hear him put down his pencil to show me he's listening.

"Oh... it was okay. Jana and I ate the rest of our lunches together after we hung up... She's doing great. Um... I helped Mari in calc..."

Dowoon is silent, and I curl up into a ball, already knowing what he was going to say next.

"What's bothering you?" he says softly. He exhales, and I know he's worried.

"Your fanclub."

He gasps sarcastically. "Is my girlfriend jealous?"

I roll my eyes. "Bye, I'm hanging up now."

"Seola!" he laughs. "Get back here. I'm only kidding."

"I don't get jealous," I grumble, groaning the last word.

"I know you don't, and if you are this time, I completely understand," responds Dowoon. "Not every girlfriend has a boyfriend that has a bunch of girls following him around."

"It's like I'm dating an idol."

"Don't say it like that."

"They know about me, right?"

"Of course they do..."

"Do they not think about how it makes me feel? One of them might whisk you away some day--"

"Hold up, I need you to retract that statement as quickly as you laid that out," he scoffs. "Seola, you really think one of them can take me away from you?"

"I don't know..."

"Did you not hear what I said after they tried to make me take one of their gifts?" I hear him shift around. "Seola, I love you. Nothing is going to change that... ever."

"Ever?"

He chuckles lowly. "Ever. You're my angel. I'm not going anywhere."

I sigh. "I'm really sorry I got insecure..."

"Don't apologize. If you feel like that, just tell me... I'll always reassure you."