Imperfectly Perfect 2

6 : Advancing

"Oh. Chaeng! Tzuyu!" Mina calls out from the top of the stairs connecting the second and first floor of the main building.

Tzuyu is leaning on the handle of the stairs of the first floor, the same spot where she waited for Sana last week when she gave her a bouquet of flowers. While Chaeyoung, who was previously seated on the first step of the stairs, is now up on her feet and widely smiling at the descending figure of Mina. The two of them went directly to the university after their early dinner with Jihyo.

The vice president perked up at what she heard. "Tzu?" She quickens her strides to follow the council president who jogged down the stairs.

It is already past eight in the evening. Except for Jeongyeon who was missing in action for the past few days, all the council girls were on their way out of the main building. They just finished their scheduled council duties for the day and were all about to go back to their respective dormitories.

"Tzuyu." Mina playfully nudges the younger girl. "I'm sure you weren't waiting for me or Dahyun. Perhaps... you're looking for my frisky best friend?"

"Tzu!" Sana yells and butts in while taking the few steps left for her to step onto the first floor.

Dahyun is slowly descending behind her, simply making eye contact with the younger cheer captain and smiling.

Sana quickly walked towards Tzuyu. "Hey, Tzu. Didn't you say on our chat earlier that you had to go somewhere? Why are you here now?"

"I— I actually—" Tzuyu pauses and looks around. All of the girls are now looking at her, waiting for her to continue. "Umm... Sana."

"Yes?"

"The— the date we agreed upon for Valentine's... can— can we move it?"

"Ahh. You could've just messaged me on the phone about that. Why? Did something come up?"

The three other girls are just silently listening to the two cheer captains' conversation. All the other students who were loitering in the building's lobby earlier are now gone. It is just the five of them standing on the first floor.

"Umm..." Tzuyu continues to speak to Sana, "Are you busy right now?"

"We were actually going back to the dorms. So... not really. Why? Do you need anything?"

"I— Sana... I—" Tzuyu lets out a huge sigh. She then abruptly turns to the council president. "Mina."

"Yes, Tzuyu?"

"Can— can I borrow Sana tonight?"

Sana blinks multiple times, obviously looking unsure of what she just heard. Chaeyoung miserably fails to stifle her laughs. Dahyun playfully covers her ears.

And Mina is now wearing a knowing smile. "Tzuyu... first of all, I'm not sure what you mean by that. And second... Why are you asking me?"

"I— Mina." Tzuyu heaves in a deep breath. "I want to take Sana out tonight. Last week, I asked her out for a date on Valentine's day but— but I can't take her out on that day anymore. So... I want to have some time with her right now."

Sana's face is now red as a tomato. Chaeyoung is no longer bothering to hold her chuckles in. Dahyun is now also shaking her head while still covering her ears.

"Tzuyu..." Mina is trying her best to stifle her smile. "I— I'm still confused why..."

"I— I promise to not stay out too late. We'll be back before curfew."

Mina glances at Sana who is now facepalming herself. Then, she looks back at the seriously looking young girl in front of her. She lets out a small sigh and sincerely smiles at her. "Tzuyu."

"Please tell me you're not against it."

"Tzuyu... I appreciate the thought that you're asking me this maybe because... I'm Sana's best friend. But, I think Sana is big enough to decide whether she'll go with you or not."

"But— But Nayeon Unnie told me that you're protective of her!"

Chaeyoung butts in while laughing. "You're acting like a fourteen year old who's asking her date's daddy to let them go to prom."

"Don't mind that tiger cub." Mina flashes her gummy smile. "Tzuyu, you just don't know how you're absolutely adorable right now."

Sana quickly yells. "MINA!"

"What?" Mina rolls her eyes. "I just stated the obvious. You're too possessive, Minatozaki."

Chaeyoung's laughter just got louder. "I'm telling Nayeon about this. She'll definitely love hearing this. Her sister is a baby."

Tzuyu tilts her head in confusion, looking innocent of all the comments she is hearing.

Mina continues to ask Tzuyu. "I'm guessing... you never dated anyone before, haven't you?"

Tzuyu slowly shakes her head. "I never dated anyone before. I always thought that Sana would get angry at me if she finds out since when we were kids she always tells me that she wants to marry me. Even when I was in Taiwan, I never tried dating anybody. I only looked forward to meeting her again one day and—"

"TZUYU!" Sana yells again and cuts in. This time, she hastily walks towards the younger cheer captain while mumbling, "How could you say those statements unbelievably eloquent like it's nothing when you stutter everything when you're with me."

"Wait— Sana—" Tzuyu tries to protest as the vice president softly drags her towards the lobby's exit.

"Mina!" Sana yells to her best friend while walking. "Be sure to properly lock the room's door tonight! I will be back by Wednesday."

Tzuyu's eyes widened. "What— Wed— Wednesday? Why— today is just Tuesday. What do you mean—"

Mina yells back while smiling widely. "Got it. Enjoy!"

Sana flails her free arm to make one final wave at all the three other girls before finally exiting the building. She didn't let go of Tzuyu's arm until they were at the university's parking lot. "Where's your car?"

"O— over here." Tzuyu walks shortly towards the direction of her car. She first opens the door to the shotgun seat.

"Thanks." Sana smiles as she enters the vehicle.

The younger girl jogs towards the other side of the car after closing the door to the shotgun seat. She swiftly gets in the driver's seat and starts the engine. "Sana, umm... I kind of just stormed in here without a plan so... where do you want to go?"

"Your family owns a condominium unit in the nearby mall, right?"

"Yeah, we do. But... Why are you asking that right now?" Tzuyu shifts on her seat to face Sana.

"It's late already. Let's just order some takeout food and watch movies there."

"But— Tha— Sana, that's—"

Sana rolls her eyes. "Back to your stuttering self, huh?"

Tzuyu looks down, "Sorry."

The vice president softly smiles. "Tzu."

"Hmm?"

"Don't you like the idea of watching movies on a couch with me until midnight?"

"I— it's not that! It— It's just... It's so simple." The younger girl lets out a sigh. "I was thinking of taking you somewhere special."

Sana sweetly smiles. She reaches to softly squeeze Tzuyu's hand. "Tzu. For me... anywhere with you is special."

The younger girl remained silent, visibly trying her best to hide her smile.

"Chou Tzuyu."

"Hmm?"

"Shouldn't we start to get going?"

"Ah. That's right! I have to drive." Tzuyu quickly starts to navigate the car with Sana simply chuckling at her in teasing.