WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: Ryuu
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty
Chapter 11: We, No Longer a Child, But Not Yet an Adult at Sixteen (1)
Sehwa Middle School.
Class 3-2.
With exams just around the corner, the home economics teacher kindly allowed for self-study time in class.
While a few students diligently focused on their studies, they were in the minority.
Most students, it being the fifth period right after lunch, were fast asleep at their desks, and those not studying were whispering with friends nearby or staring blankly into space.
Among them, Lee So-yeon absentmindedly propped her chin, gazing at a boy seated diagonally in front of her.
Having turned sixteen, he already stood at an impressive height of 180cm, with naturally well-defined shoulder lines.
Unlike the other boys, who still seemed childish, he exuded a mature aura, the white school uniform shirt fitting him exceptionally well.
The side profile of his face, with his gentle eyes and a faint smile, was visible.
So-yeon nodded to herself as she looked at him.
'Lee Do-yoon really suits the buzz cut. So handsome. I did a great job convincing Elli for a whole week. Absolutely perfect. As expected of me.'
She was so pleased with the hairstyle, feeling it suited him perfectly.
And there he was, his handsome face wearing a soft smile, capturing the sneaky glances of other girls in the class, including herself, as he busily moved his mechanical pencil.
'He's drawing again, huh.'
It was common knowledge he wasn't studying but rather doodling in his notebook.
Likely drawing his favorite characters, just as he used to in elementary school.
His hobby might seem otaku-like, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were teased for it.
However, no one genuinely made fun of Do-yoon's hobby.
It was hard to mock him when he was decent at sports, sang well, was above average in studies, and above all, was incredibly handsome.
He was the epitome of a popular guy, admired for his looks and personality.
And despite his character drawings being an easy target, his improved artistic skills were now too admirable to mock.
For So-yeon and the other girls who weren't inclined to study or sleep, their time was spent admiring a handsome classmate, thankful for having someone who looked like he belonged on TV or NewTube in their class.
-Ddiriririrring, Ddiring!
"Good luck on your exams, everyone."
-Drdrdrdr
As the bell signifying the end of class rang and the teacher left the room, the boys who usually hung out with Do-yoon were all asleep, allowing a few girls to approach him.
"Ah, what's this? You're drawing again? Not studying, you otaku."
"I study during class."
"But you do draw well. I saw this one. My brother brought a comic book."
"Really?"
Despite having no real interest in his drawings or comics, their main goal was to engage in conversation with Lee Do-yoon.
How could he not understand their intentions?
So-yeon shook her head in disbelief. It was futile. They all knew it, but couldn't help themselves.
Falling for someone wasn't something you could control with willpower.
Especially when he approached so effortlessly.
"This is fun, isn't it?"
Engaging everyone warmly, sharing laughter and conversations without discrimination.
Who wouldn't be drawn to that?
But soon after, the reason for their futile affections became apparent.
-Drdrdrdr
As the classroom door opened again, a girl walked in, drawing the attention of everyone who was awake, including those who had been surrounding Do-yoon.
Despite being accustomed to her presence, the girl's entrance still managed to captivate all attention.
In her school uniform shirt and black hoodie, her skirt perfectly tailored to reveal her elegant legs.
Her beautiful platinum hair flowed, styled in a slightly waved perm, different from her elementary school days, framing her forehead.
Her eyes, as blue as a lake, scanned the classroom.
Sehwa Middle School's most famous student.
Alicia.
She entered the classroom, approached Lee Do-yoon, who was surrounded by girls, and spoke.
Although she disliked seeing him with other girls, she had grown used to it enough not to be too irritated, merely frowning slightly.
"Do-yoon, come with me."
"Where to?"
"The store."
"Okay. Ah, sorry, I'll be heading to the store for a bit."
Without a second thought for the others, she swiftly took him away.
The remaining girls lamented.
"She really lives in her own world."
"Hey, that tint looks amazing! Isn't that the one Joo-ah advertised? Wanna check it out later?"
"Are you crazy? Why would you use the same thing as her and get compared?"
"Honestly, her skin is just unbelievable."
So-yeon understood their feelings better than anyone. Alicia had been an impenetrable fortress, never allowing anyone near Do-yoon since elementary school.
A girl who became even more beautiful with each passing day, still as unreachable as ever.
Lee Do-yoon was Alicia's man.
Even when she first arrived in middle school, causing a stir with her platinum hair, she remained beautiful and closely tied to Lee Do-yoon.
There was no room for anyone else between them.
Not even a little bit.
"...but I can't help but feel it's partly your fault that the kids can't give up."
"What are you talking about?"
After all classes had ended.
While waiting for a friend who had to stop by the staff room, So-yeon spoke to Alicia, who was sitting there with a sullen face, though she responded curtly.
In her view, Alicia had changed quite a bit for the better.
Unlike before, when she was always by Lee Do-yoon's side, they began spending more time apart since the end of last year.
Not that their relationship had cooled.
It was just that Do-yoon, with his male friends, and Alicia, who had started to take an interest in her appearance unlike her tomboyish elementary school days, occasionally spent time with So-yeon and other girls.
So-yeon spoke again to Alicia, who seemed to be texting Do-yoon.
"Why don't you just publicly announce you're dating? That's what keeps giving them hope. Like yesterday, Yang Ji-yoon confessed to him."
"We're not dating yet. And, what? Yang Ji-yoon? She confessed?"
"Ah, I was supposed to keep it a secret..."
"Do-yoon is dead."
"He didn't tell you either? Do-yoon is really kind..."
"Dead meat."
"I'm sorry, Do-yoon!"
Do-yoon received quite a few confessions. It was inevitable, given his looks, personality, kindness, and popularity... and his handsomeness.
But very few boys dared confess to Alicia.
Some playful boys might casually confess as if joking, but beyond that, 'daring' to approach Alicia was rare.
She mostly hung out with Do-yoon among the boys, and her strong personality made her hard to approach.
"Anyway! You keep saying 'we're just childhood friends...' so the kids can't let go."
"So what?"
"It might seem like you're playing with their feelings."
This was actually something the girls gossiped about. They said Alicia was pretending not to date Lee Do-yoon while playing with others' feelings.
But in reality, there were hardly any rumors about Lee Do-yoon... Women tend to be the biggest critics of other women.
Alicia scoffed at So-yeon's worried words.
"Hmph. It's not like we're managing a fish farm. Why should we care if they start liking us on their own and then give up? What, if we say we're dating, will their feelings disappear?"
"Um... maybe? That might be true."
So-yeon found herself agreeing.
Indeed, aside from saying they weren't dating, there wasn't much else that gave others any hope.
Do-yoon was kind to everyone but never showed any romantic interest.
"And when, where did Yang Ji-yoon confess?"
"Sorry, I promised not to tell. It was really a slip."
"Then I'll have to hear it from Do-yoon. I'll see him at home. He's dead."
"Do-yoon, I'm really, really sorry...!"
So-yeon wasn't actually sorry. She regretted not being able to see Lee Do-yoon being interrogated by Alicia in person.
It was a genuine mistake, but they wouldn't seriously fight over something like this.
She looked forward to seeing Lee Do-yoon sigh and say, "Ah... So-yeon..." in class tomorrow.
As their chat paused for a moment.
"......"
So-yeon watched Alicia fiddling with her phone, lips pouted.
She liked Lee Do-yoon, but realized her feelings for Alicia were still strong.
She understood why Lee Do-yoon always said Alicia was like a "princess."
Having seen the princess drawings Do-yoon made for years, she too had become a bit of an otaku.
Alicia was just that beautiful.
Even now, in her school shirt and hoodie, she looked like she could be in a fashion shoot.
Admiring her stunning beauty, So-yeon asked again.
"But why aren't you two dating?"
It was more than casual curiosity.
Until now, she hadn't wanted to pry too much into their private matters.
But given their conversation and So-yeon's thoughts, there didn't seem to be a serious reason, prompting her to finally ask.
"......"
Alicia looked up from her phone and met So-yeon's gaze. So-yeon's reflection appeared in her blue eyes.
Objectively, So-yeon was quite cute and pretty.
Her femininity enhanced by her now longer hair, compared to her elementary school days, and her playful nature made her popular among friends.
She was well-liked, but had never dated anyone.
Alicia knew it wasn't because So-yeon lacked interest in boys.
She knew why So-yeon had started growing her hair out since last year.
But because she knew So-yeon would never show it, Alicia shared a truth she hadn't told anyone else, except maybe her mother.
"We still need to be childhood friends for now."
Alicia had always been somewhat aloof, but she appreciated how So-yeon always made an effort to be friendly.
So, she answered seriously, and So-yeon pressed further.
"Still? Why? Is there a reason you can't be together?"
"...Because I think we might end up doing it."
"Do what?"
As So-yeon persisted, a blush crept onto Alicia's pale face.
But without hiding anything, realizing she wanted to share these girlish talks with a friend, Alicia opened up.
"If we date... I don't think I can hold back. I might end up doing everything with him. Every day... doing nothing but being with Lee Do-yoon..."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......Is that weird?"
"No... It's just that I completely agree, so I was speechless."
So-yeon fully understood Alicia's 18+ implications.
Though she wouldn't admit it, she might have considered confessing to Lee Do-yoon herself if Alicia had given a nonsensical answer.
She was utterly convinced.
She felt she knew what Alicia meant.
It wasn't just Lee Do-yoon's good looks, but also his subtle cuteness.
If they were to date.
If they became more than childhood friends, who knew what might happen once their inner restraints were gone.
"I get it. Yeah, totally. It can't be helped."
So-yeon understood.
As the friend So-yeon was waiting for had to go home due to an unexpected call, she and Alicia ended up leaving the school together.
"Where should we go? Want to grab something to eat and browse Naeblee on the tablet? They have a lot of new summer stuff."
"No, let's go lingerie shopping. I need something tighter."
"...Did they grow again? Seriously, how can they keep growing without any conscience? Won't you share some with me?"
"I'm not sharing."
Chatting like this, as they headed to the lingerie store Alicia had in mind, they encountered a girl along the way.
"......"
"......"
"Ah, Joo Hye-ryeong..."
With a glare that seemed to express displeasure towards Alicia, the class 1 delinquent... though she had good grades and wasn't really problematic.
Joo Hye-ryeong, with her black, straight hair styled to reveal her forehead on one side, was a different type of beauty compared to Alicia.
Joo Hye-ryeong.
Her dark hair contrasted with Alicia's radiant platinum, creating a beautiful yet tense atmosphere.
After a moment of glaring at Alicia, Hye-ryeong turned away without a word and continued on her way.
As the tense moment passed, So-yeon breathed a sigh of relief.
"She smiles sweetly in front of Lee Do-yoon, but she's so fierce otherwise..."
"Hmph. What can she do about it?"
"Exactly. Lee Do-yoon is yours anyway."
"That's what I'm saying."
Hye-ryeong had been openly infatuated with Lee Do-yoon since first grade and hadn't given up, subtly making moves on him.
But it was clear to everyone that Lee Do-yoon was interested in Alicia, making Hye-ryeong harbor intense hostility towards her since first grade.
Of course, there was no chance Lee Do-yoon would fall for Hye-ryeong, so it wasn't a big concern.
Still, Alicia couldn't help but be annoyed by Hye-ryeong's continued advances and her inherent beauty. After all, she openly disliked Alicia.
'If it weren't for Lee Do-yoon, she could easily have her pick of guys... Why does she have to go after him... Ugh.'
But dwelling on it would only sour her mood, so So-yeon focused on heading to the lingerie store with Alicia.
"Are you really not going to NeNeNe? Can you afford it?"
"I have my mom's card."
"Good... But if you're buying that style, you're not planning to show him, are you?"
"......"
"Wait. What's with that reaction? Don't tell me you're actually planning to..."
"...Maybe I'll end up showing him."
"I thought you said you weren't dating because you couldn't control yourself! But now you're talking about showing him stuff!"
"What does it matter to you if I show Do-yoon my bra or panties? And who said I'd show him? Maybe it'll just happen..."
"Just go out already! Childhood friends, my foot!"
She was teasing her friend with a mischievous thought.
But secretly, she was hoping to hear all the juicy details if "that" ever happened.
So-yeon cherished the time spent with her most beautiful, close, and beloved friend.
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