WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: Ryuu
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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty
Chapter 10: We, Who are Fourteen Years Old, Like Each Other but are Not Dating (3)
Every day, the platinum waves of hair gave off a different aura. The attire did too.
Though similar to what she wore yesterday, today's outfit featured light blue jeans, a black long-sleeve t-shirt tucked in at the front, and a light beige long cardigan draped over it.
Despite always being one of the tallest in class, Elli's tall stature and slender limbs made the somewhat adult attire look exceptionally fitting on her, without any sense of discord.
Having often accompanied moms and Elli on shopping trips, I had become quite savvy in this area.
Thus, I couldn't help but marvel at Elli's beautiful attire and sneak glances at her as she walked confidently beside me.
"Wow, she's incredibly beautiful."
"She's stunning…"
The casual remarks from passersby, which I inadvertently agreed with, underscored Elli's beauty.
She could easily be mistaken for a model or an actress, such was her allure.
Elli's usual radiant skin, blue eyes, and cherry-red lips seemed to glow even more, perhaps due to a subtle touch of makeup.
Amidst my incessant staring, Elli finally turned her face away with a frown.
"Why are you staring like that? You see me every day."
Her response was sharp, yet the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.
To her question, I replied with one of my greatest strengths, as Elli's mom once told me.
"You look exceptionally beautiful today."
Of course, such a comment couldn't hold a candle to Elli's charm... or so I thought.
"...Ha, when have I not? Stop being ridiculous..."
Turning away with a huff, Elli's cheeks were a telltale sign of her bashfulness as she took hold of my hand... no, my wrist.
Leading the way with an awkward stride, Elli pulled me along, and I followed without protest.
"Where are we going?"
"To the photo booth."
"Ah, a must-visit spot."
"Absolutely."
Our options for outings were limited due to our young age, and the photo booth was an essential destination for us. We had visited it several times before, capturing countless memories.
However, today, I felt an even stronger desire to go there.
I wanted to capture the image of Elli as she was today, just the two of us.
Upon reaching the photo booth, we were met with the usual stares that followed us wherever we went, whether outdoors or indoors. This attention was something we had grown accustomed to.
However, Elli quickly lost interest due to the crowd.
"It's Valentine's Day, so it's packed. Should we wait?"
"No, let's just go."
"Alright."
Elli decided against waiting, and I followed her lead without hesitation. Waiting would likely take hours, which Elli wouldn't have tolerated.
We stepped back outside, pondering our next move. I didn't have to think much; it was all up to Elli.
"This is annoying."
She pouted, perhaps realizing too late that anywhere we went would likely be crowded.
"Vad vill du göra? (What do you want to do?)" I teased in my somewhat clumsy Swedish.
Elli, now fully acclimated to Korean culture, continued her Swedish studies diligently, and I naturally joined in, improving my language skills alongside her.
Elli couldn't help but chuckle at my attempt.
"Låt oss gå till lekplatsen (Let's go to the playground)," she suggested fluently.
"Sounds good."
Her pronunciation was impeccable, unlike mine. Elli always had a way with languages.
The playground, a familiar spot for us, was surprisingly quiet compared to the bustling streets and shops of Hongdae.
Aside from a few kids and their guardians, it was a peaceful retreat.
Sitting on a bench, we couldn't help but overhear a couple of teenagers.
"Damn, she's gorgeous."
"Seriously, wow…"
Their admiration was evident, and we shared a moment of silent agreement before moving on.
"Annoying."
"Why are you annoyed now?"
"I hate being 14."
"What age would you prefer?"
"Maybe 17."
"17? Like a high schooler? What would you do then?"
Elli gazed at me with a longing in her eyes, a silent plea for something more.
"…Everything."
"Everything?"
"There are things. You just follow me."
"Like now?"
"Just like now."
Elli began texting, her focus solely on her phone. I patiently waited for her to finish, curious about her plans.
"Done. Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Home."
"Already?"
"There's nowhere else to go. It looks like everywhere will be crowded."
"I guess so. Still a bit disappointing…"
"And we didn't even bring the chocolates."
"Ah, the ones you made yourself? I can't wait to try them!"
"…It's just melted and reshaped, but…"
"Still, it's made by you."
"Well, that's true. Let's go. There's something else we need to do at home."
"Okay!"
Our outdoor adventure was brief, but the anticipation of trying Elli's homemade Valentine's chocolates filled me with excitement.
Upon returning to the apartment complex, we headed straight to Elli's place without stopping by mine.
Elli's mom wasn't home, possibly visiting my place or out shopping.
After washing my hands and taking off my coat, I waited in the living room for Elli's signal.
Last year, the rule was established that I couldn't enter her room without her permission, though she freely entered mine whenever she pleased.
"Come in."
Elli's voice beckoned me into her familiar room, adorned with pastel green walls and scattered with plush toys we had won together.
The desk was covered with sticker photos from our previous visits to the photo booth, and a few of my comics were also present.
Most of the space, however, was taken up by Elli's growing collection of fashionable clothing, a recent interest of hers.
"Wait here."
Elli left the room briefly, only to return with a small, neatly wrapped box.
"Thank you. I'm really happy."
As I opened the box, I was greeted by an assortment of charmingly shaped chocolates, each one a testament to Elli's effort and affection.
Despite wanting to try them immediately, I sensed Elli had more to say, so I gently closed the box and looked up at her.
"…Do-yoon."
Elli's voice, soft and tentative, broke the silence.
"Yes?"
In response to my attentive gaze, Elli, with a hesitant gesture, continued.
"You know what a kram is, right? A hug."
"Of course, it's a Swedish greeting. A hug."
"Well, there's another kind of greeting we do... Do you know about it?"
"No, what is it?"
As I expressed genuine curiosity, Elli, mustering her courage, gestured for me to stand.
"Alright."
Upon standing, Elli opened her arms.
"…Kram."
Instinctively, I embraced Elli, feeling her delicate frame fit perfectly in my arms. Her slender waist was encircled by my hands, while her arms wrapped around my back.
"Kram is one thing, but there's also bisou... It's a bit different."
"Bisou?"
The unfamiliar term piqued my interest. Elli, with a shy yet determined look, explained further.
"It's done like this... a greeting we share. I'll go first... Just follow my lead, okay?"
"Okay."
Curious about what bisou entailed, I waited as Elli gently pressed her lips against my cheek for a fleeting moment.
"…That's a bisou. From now on, we'll greet each other like this."
Stunned by the brief yet profound contact, I could only nod in agreement, overwhelmed by the new intimacy of our friendship.
From that day on, bisou became our standard greeting, a daily affirmation of our bond, until we discovered even more ways to express our growing affection.
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