Imperfectly Perfect 2

45 : Spontaneous (1)

"And why are you here?" Mina asks in an already annoyed tone.

"What do you mean why?" Chaeyoung answers in a cheerful tone. "I'm going to the bookstore with you."

"I'm pretty sure that Yoo Jeongyeon is the one I agreed to meet with today."

Chaeyoung widely grins. "And I am sure that I agreed to be Yoo Jeongyeon's proxy today."

It is an early Wednesday morning of the last week of February. Mina and the council treasurer agreed to meet today to pick up one of their office's archives. They sent it for book binding in a shop outside, not too far from the university. However, it looks like Jeongyeon made other plans and did not inform her president beforehand.

Mina dramatically rolls her eyes, shakes her head, then rummages her sling bag for her phone. She let out a huge sigh and was about to dial the council treasurer's number when the soccer player quickly blocked the screen with her hands.

"Wait, wait, wait. Minari!"

The council president looks at her unamused. "What?"

"I know more than anyone that for you... your council work goes on priority." Chaeyoung tries to display a sweet smile, making her dimple visible. "I promise I'll behave and let you do your task for the day peacefully so..." She gently pushes the other girl's phone down. "Let's just go?"

They both stared at each other for a couple of seconds before Mina let out a defeated sigh. She promptly started to walk lazily towards the university gates with Chaeyoung perfectly pacing beside her.

"So, which bookstore are we going to? What are we going to do there?" The soccer ace starts.

They just exited the gates and are now walking on the sidewalk of the bustling streets.

"Seriously, Son Chaeyoung? You don't even know what you proxy with?"

Chaeyoung awkwardly chuckles. "Jeongyeon tried to explain to me but when I heard your name and— and that I just have to go somewhere with you... I didn't care much about the other details. I just said yes right then and there."

Mina scoffs while stifling a small smile. She shook her a bit and did not answer the smaller girl. She simply continued walking on the pavement. The two of them stayed silent for about fifteen minutes, until the council president halted her legs.

Chaeyoung promptly stopped by her side. "Is this the place?"

The council president nodded and then proceeded to enter a medium sized two story bookstore.

Upon entering the shop, a smell that could be a combination of freshly printed ink on paper, old wood, and faint freshly made coffee is evident in the air.

Mina slowly walked inside while the soccer ace silently followed her. She stopped at a large stand that says 'Fiction - Mystery' and started scanning at the displayed books. She softly taps some of the books' spines like she is playing some kind of game and faintly smiles to herself.

"Still a fan of murder mysteries?" Chaeyoung comments in a smirk.

"Well..." The council president glances at her. "They're still way better than my voluminous law books."

The soccer ace chuckles. "Yeah. I bet they are."

"Anyway, let's now go and get what we—" Mina stirred her footing and was about to head back to the shop's counter when Chaeyoung gently held her arm.

"I saw that they have a small cafe upstairs where you can read some short novels." Chaeyoung smiles widely. "Do you want to go and see?"

"I— Don't you have anything better to do?" The council president raises an eyebrow at her. "Today's a weekday, you know?"

"I have time. All my exams for all my subjects were finished yesterday. So... If you'd like, we can go upstairs and kill some time there."

"And...?"

"We can get some drinks, then you can read some of those mystery books."

"And... what are you going to do while I read?"

"Just watch you." Chaeyoung continues to answer innocently. "That's definitely better than spacing out in my Physics 101."

"So you have classes! Hey, Son Chae—"

"Ugh." The soccer ace gets behind Mina's back and holds her on the shoulders. She carefully pushes the other girl upstairs. "Come on now, Myoi Mina. With all the work you've been putting in your academics and extra curricular, I know you're dying to have some break time right now."

The council president tries to protest, although they are now halfway the connecting stairs to the shop's second floor. "No, Chaeng. I'm not—"

"I'm not sure why you discontinued that hobby of yours." Chaeyoung sincerely smiles. "I still remember those times when you were so engrossed in those books and you act like I don't even exist when I'm actually just right beside you."

"Those are all in the past—"

"I love those moments." The soccer ace moves in front of Mina. They are now in front of the cafe's counter. She flashes a wide grin and looks directly into her eyes. "I love it when I see you doing the things you enjoy, Minari."

"Hello ma'am." The barista calls out to them. "What's your order?"

The council president was caught off guard by what Chaeyoung said and is just standing flatly. The soccer ace playfully winks at her before facing the shop's staff.

"One americano, iced. Then..." The soccer player scans the menu. "A serving of pesto pasta. And...?" She then looks to the girl beside her.

"Umm—" Mina clears her throat and smiles at the person on the counter. "I'll have one cafe latte, hot. And... a ham sandwich, please." She rummages to her bag and takes out her wallet.

"Here." Chaeyoung gives the cashier a card.

"Wait, Chaeng." The council president quickly comments. "I should pay. I still owe you that meal from when we talked at the coffee shop last—"

"Then, now... You owe me two."

"Huh?" Mina looks at her in confusion.

Chaeyoung flashes a playful smirk. "You now owe me two dates if you want to pay me back."

The council president chuckles. "What kind of scheme are you playing, huh?"

"A scheme where you'll never get out of debt from me, Myoi Mina." The soccer ace confidently states. "You'll just owe me and owe and owe me until everyday... until every meal of every single day... you have to go out with me because you have no choice but to pay me."

"Hey, Son Chaeyoung." Mina smiles widely in amusement. "You know you don't have to do—"

"Son Chaeyoung?" A guy who just walked into the second floor cafe calls out to the smaller girl. "You're Son Chaeyoung, right?"

Chaeyoung slowly widens her eyes. "R— RM!"