Mina stayed silent for so long that I began to feel uneasy. Bringing up a date while Mina had just gone through a heartbreak might not have been the best decision. What should I do now? Mina could withdraw from our agreement at any moment.
"You're going on a date with the girl you like?" Mina asked.
I nodded slowly, gauging her reaction. "Hm—yes, something like that. Honestly, I hesitated to tell you."
"Why? Isn't that good news?" Her voice sounded light, contrary to the worries I had imagined.
"You… aren't mad at me?"
"Mad? Why should I be mad? You didn't do anything wrong." Mina furrowed her brow for a moment before continuing, "Oh, you mean because you called me the Ugly Ghost? I was offended, sure, but I understand. Yesterday was a rough day for me, and I didn't care about my appearance. Anyone would have reacted the same way you did."
Relief washed over me. Mina had clearly moved past her heartbreak, and she didn't seem bothered when I mentioned the date with Jia. With that, I felt more confident to bring up other matters.
"To be honest, it's not exactly a date yet. I just can't contain my excitement because we're going out together this weekend."
"Good, that's progress in your relationship."
Mina's words made me smile shyly. "Relationship? There's nothing between us yet."
"Stop making that sly face." Mina raised an eyebrow. "Who asked first? You?"
"Jia did."
Mina exhaled heavily. "How disappointing."
"Why? Does it matter who asked first?"
"Of course it does. You know, men are supposed to take initiative. Women prefer men who act, not just sit there and wait for the opportunity."
I chuckled softly. "I honestly had no idea."
Mina looked at me seriously. "If you want your relationship to grow, you have to start acting. Treat her not just as a friend, but as someone you truly care about."
"Treat her as someone I truly care about?"
Mina nodded. "Come with something special. Like a single flower, for example."
***
Mina's advice lingered in my mind. When the day I had been waiting for finally arrived, I followed her suggestion. I bought a single rose, wrapped it neatly. Though hesitant, I carried it with me.
At the agreed-upon meeting spot, I waited anxiously. Jia sent a message saying she'd arrive soon, yet my nerves didn't subside. I was incredibly tense about seeing her.
"Ian!"
I turned quickly and saw Jia smiling brightly. She looked stunning in an elegant knee-length dress, and for the first time, I noticed her makeup accentuating her features. I froze for a moment.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Her attention immediately went to the flower in my hand. She looked at me curiously, then smiled. "The flower… is this for me?"
I swallowed hard. "Y-yes, it's for you."
Jia took it from me. I wasn't sure if she was pleased or found the gesture odd. I was truly awkward at these things.
"Thank you, Ian," she said with a charming smile, her eyes sparkling. "But I didn't bring anything for you."
I quickly shook my head. "Don't worry about that, I just wanted to give you the flower."
Jia smiled again and rummaged through her bag. She pulled out a small white phone charm and handed it to me. "I have this. It may not be as special as the flower, but I want you to have it too."
I looked at the charm—a small, oddly shaped doll, unlike any keychain I had seen before. "What is this?"
"It's a teru teru bōzu, a traditional Japanese charm used to ward off rain," she explained with a smile.
I frowned. "Ward off rain?"
Jia chuckled softly, leaning closer so I could see the charm. "Yes, teru teru bōzu is a symbol of hope for clear skies. In the past, Japanese emperors asked monks to pray for no rain before festivals. If successful, the monks were rewarded."
I tried to focus on her explanation, but my attention was fixed on our closeness. I could smell the hint of vanilla from her, and my heart raced. I was completely captivated by her.
"Now, people in Japan usually hang these dolls by their windows to keep the skies clear," Jia continued enthusiastically. "I really like them, so I wanted you to have one too."
I couldn't help but laugh softly, increasingly impressed by her quirky character. "I didn't expect you'd like something like this, but thank you. I'll take good care of it."
We smiled at each other, and my heart warmed at Jia's presence. I thought that the teru teru bōzu didn't just bring hope for sunny weather, but also hope for my heart.