The Other Campus - Part One

Seola

"So... I think we have a little problem with your Ari friend," Dowoon murmurs. I met up with him in my town--he'd been itching to leave his and go somewhere girls wouldn't follow him. We were in the nearest convenience store--I needed something to drink, and he was looking for a snack.

"Problem?" I laugh. "I thought Jana was the problematic one." I'm scoping each of the drink fridges until I find something I like.

"Oh, no, she still is," he laughs back, "but I think we really have a problem with Ari."

I stop looking at the fridges and bring my eyes to my boyfriend. "How bad?"

"Let's get your drink first."

Once we're out of the convenience store, we walk along the sidewalk past various stores and shops.

"Okay," I say after taking a sip. "Spill everything you know on me."

"I'm surprised Jana hasn't said something yet," he sighs. "She's the closest to Ari."

"Wait, why would Jana know but not us?"

Dowoon clears his throat. "Well, Jae couldn't shut up today... I guess he was just that upset at Ari that he'd went somewhere else to vent, and it just so happened to be me."

"Why is Jae upset with Ari?"

My boyfriend rubs the back of his neck. "You can't tell Mari."

Mari? I think.

Taking a sharp breath, Dowoon quickly says, "Ari is crushing on Young K again, and we don't know how to get her to stop."

My jaw hits the concrete. "Again?!"

He nods. "Again. Jana and Jae have already talked to her about it, but it's really hard for her to call it quits."

"She knows Young K and Mari are dating!" I exclaim.

Dowoon holds me at my shoulders. "Babe, calm down... Jae said to leave it to him and Jana... let's not get involved more than we should be."

"Why wouldn't Jana tell me?"

"Like I said, they don't want anyone else to get involved..."

"So if shit hits the fan, we just have to deal with it?"

"Unfortunately..." he trails. "I wasn't supposed to tell you any of this, so don't go running back to Jana, okay?"

I groan and he quickly grabs my hand.

"Let's go play some Pump It Up," he suggests. "I'll pay."

Pouting, I follow him into the arcade.

Jana better know how to fix this.