Imperfectly Perfect 2

2 : Tittle - tattle

A loud final whistle was heard from the field denoting that the soccer team's practice was over.

Mina is still comfortably sitting on one of the benches lined along the university's jog path. She quickly closes the book she was partially focused on and averted her eyes to the open field. A gummy smile is automatically drawn onto her face after seeing a familiar figure jogging towards her direction.

"Minari, did you see how many goals I made?" Chaeyoung starts as soon as she reaches the council president's place, still panting a bit from the practice and her mini run. She asked like a kid in daycare, waiting to be given a star from good recitation. "I'm a really good soccer player, ain't I?"

"Hmm... I'm not sure." Mina answers in an obviously teasing tone. "I'm so focused on reading my book."

"I saw you looking in my direction from time to time!" The soccer ace whines. "It wouldn't hurt to admit you were watching me, you know?"

Mina simply shrugged while stifling a smile.

The soccer ace pouted and picked up her face towel on top of the bench, wiping her neck that was fully covered in sweat. "Minari, I was thinking—"

"Chaeyoung!" Two boys called in unison. They were giggling as they walked nearer to the bench where the soccer player and the council president are.

"Chae— Chaeyoung. Umm..." One of the boys starts while the other one is simply smiling and standing one step behind from the other, maybe for moral support. "He— Here! Please take this! We bought this for you." He holds out a bottle of what looks like an energy drink.

"Umm..." Chaeyoung glances at Mina who is silently sitting on the bench beside her, wearing an unreadable expression. Then, she turns back to the two students in front of her. She flashes a shy smile as she plays with the face towel in her hand. "Thank you for thinking of me and buying me a drink and... maybe finding the courage to try and offer it to me but... I can't accept it."

The two guys quickly looked disappointed and sad. "Why? Don't you like this brand? We could get you something else if you want!"

Mina faintly scoffs. She then picks up the book she was reading earlier and roughly turns some of its pages.

"I'm— I really am sorry." Chaeyoung continues in a sincere tone. "No matter what brand you try and get me, I simply can't accept it."

"Why, Chaeyoung?" One of the boys tried to pout.

"Umm... Because—" The soccer ace awkwardly laughs. "Umm— Do you know her?" She glances at Mina's direction to which the boys' eyes quickly follow sight.

"I think so. I mean— Of course, she is the student council president, right?"

"Yep!" Chaeyoung widely grins. "And... I like that girl. A lot. Romantically. If... you're getting what I mean."

Mina's mindless turning of pages in the book she is holding was abruptly halted momentarily.

The two guys, on the other hand, opened their mouths at the same time, then closed it again quickly like fishes in sync getting some oxygen.

"So..." The soccer ace spoke again to the students standing flatly in front of her. "Unless we want world war three to break out right here in our school grounds, I don't think I can accept any more gifts from anyone else except if it's from her."

"Such a shame. I thought we still had chances!" One of the guys almost yelled. "I never heard you already have a girlfriend."

Chaeyoung simply smiled in response as the two students started walking away in obviously low spirits. She quickly turned to face the council president, still sitting on the bench. "Minari."