WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend Is Too Pretty ◈

Chapter 110: 41. My Platinum-Blonde Girlfriend Who Wants a Baby -3

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Elli's reaction, like she'd actually been considering it herself, caught me off guard. But even without saying anything, she really wouldn't have gone through with it.

There were so many tents pitched close by. There was no way she'd try something in a place with zero soundproofing.

She'd said so herself last night.

Since we wouldn't be able to have sex until after camping was over and we got home, she'd said she wanted to do more right then. That was why I hadn't been able to sleep until well past midnight.

So she'd probably hold out until we got back.

"...I wasn't thinking that."

Elli muttered it like an excuse, avoiding my eyes and Bini-noona's, but.

Probably.

* * *

"So you're really quitting the band?"

"Have to. Everyone else got jobs, and I need to find one too."

"I figured you'd at least make it to an actual debut, hyung."

"What debut. I put out one album for the collection, and that's enough for me."

"Aww, that's a shame~ Jeong-woo singing is so cool."

"Exactly. The reason I learned guitar in the first place was because watching hyung play and sing was so cool."

"Heh, I suppose I am a bit... what's that look for, Alisha?"

"Hmph. Well... I'll give you full marks for teaching Lee Do-yoon guitar. Thank you."

"Of course you should be grateful. You're the one getting the most use out of it. You've got him sitting next to you like a jukebox every day singing for you. God... I'm so jealous."

"Do-yoon's voice really is that good though~"

"He's mine. You can't have him."

"Sorry, hyung. I'm Elli's, so..."

"What is this. Why does it feel like I just got rejected?"

The four of us sat in camping chairs set out in front of our tents side by side, chatting away together.

A can of beer in each hand.

Camping is basically an exercise in having nothing to do, so the real challenge is figuring out how to fill all that sprawling idle time. But we'd been close for so long that just talking was more than enough to pass the hours happily.

There was plenty of shade and the sun wasn't beating down too hard, so a gentle breeze drifted through and put everyone in a good mood.

"This is what healing feels like..."

Bini-noona, more than any of us, was soaking it in with pure contentment. The word "healing" fit the moment perfectly.

It was a busy campground, but the tents weren't crammed right up against each other.

So we could take in the scenery without feeling suffocated, and the distant sound of kids bursting into laughter drifted over and settled something in the chest.

Enough that the heavy dark circles under Bini-noona's eyes had faded just a little.

"I'm getting the urge to break out an acoustic and play some folk songs. Should've brought one."

"I'd love to hear it too, but come on~ You can't do that here, it'd bother people."

"Sigh... Do-yoon. Clear some time soon. Let's get together and sing."

"Sure. Where?"

"We could rent the practice studio we always used... actually, forget it. Want to just try a two-man band? Like a bedroom project."

"Oh, that sounds fun, actually..."

"No. Oppa. You can't have Do-yoon, so give it up."

"Sorry. She says no."

"Are you serious, you're just folding the second your girlfriend says one word... hey, I said we'd do it at home. If you practice with me and get even better, isn't that good for you too, Alisha?"

"Hmph. He's good enough now. He doesn't need to get any better."

"Damn."

Jeong-woo hyung loved music so much, and having to give up the band for the very real problem of finding a job clearly stung. His voice was full of lingering regret.

I'd be happy to join him if he really wanted, but doing it often would be tough. There was university, and drawing to keep up with, and above all, I couldn't cut into my time with Elli.

"Alright, forget it. Let's start getting the meat going."

"Hmm? Already? Are you hungry, Jeong-woo?"

"We have to prep and get it on the grill now if we want to eat at a decent time."

We hung around chatting and soaking up the peace for a while, then started getting dinner ready around four.

That might sound early, but even though it was summer, the area was surrounded by mountains and got dark earlier than you'd expect.

Plus, from nine or ten onward it was quiet hours, so loud noise was out, which meant it was better to eat early, have fun early, and get to sleep so we could be up in the morning.

We moved fast and in sync.

Setting up the big table, getting the grill and tools ready, laying out the rice and side dishes and drinks we'd packed.

Everything was set up in no time and the meat went on.

-sizzle, crackle...

"That sound is insane."

"Looks so good... Should we throw the sausages on now too?"

"No room, put them on later. Do-yoon, that side's yours, flip when you need to."

"Got it~"

"Lee Do-yoon. Come out of the way, I'll grill for you."

"I've got it today, so just rest. The oil's going to splatter a lot."

"I said I'll do it. Do you not listen?"

"I want to do it for you. You know how I feel, right? I want to grill it nicely and feed it to you."

"...Hmph."

"Look at those two being disgustingly cute~ Jeong-woo. I think I'm going to burn mine so you're handling mine."

"Wasn't expecting anything else."

Even now, the two of us impossibly sweet together, I sat Elli beside me like a princess, her slender arms and legs on display in her short sleeves and shorts, and got to work on the grill.

Whenever something finished cooking first, before anyone else, I gave Elli a bite.

"Elli, say ahh~"

"Ahh..."

-chew, chew

"Good?"

"Good. Hold on. I'll give you one too."

She picked one up and fed it to me.

Grilling outside already made everything taste incredible, and feeding each other like this on top of it made it better than anything.

"Jeong-woo too, ahh~"

"None of that. I'm not doing it, you eat yours. The kimchi is amazing though."

"Mean~"

Bini-noona, who'd been watching us with envy, tried the same thing with Jeong-woo hyung and got shot down, but well.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers~"

Aside from Bini-noona, the rest of us kept it to a light drink, nothing too heavy, and the buzz lifted the mood even higher than before and we started talking over each other again.

Bini-noona lamenting her eternal desire to quit her job. My fresh university life. Elli's modeling work.

One topic led to another, and of course Jeong-woo hyung's army stories weren't going to be left out.

"People keep saying the military's gotten better, gotten better, but it's still garbage. What's the point of higher pay. Even if they give you a hundred thousand won as a sergeant, you'd make twice that working at a convenience store outside. And every season there's a march, survival training..."

Hyung had only been discharged recently, and I was someone who'd have to go before long, so once he got started on military stories there was no stopping him.

Bini-noona played along with a fond "sounds rough~" like she was watching a younger brother, and I listened with a mix of dread and curiosity since this was something I'd be going through myself someday.

And Elli.

"......"

Her expression grew darker and she went quieter and quieter. I noticed and quietly pulled her into my arms.

When I went to the military, we'd be forced apart whether we liked it or not, and even knowing there was still time before that, her heart naturally sinking was something that couldn't be helped.

But there was no avoiding it either.

"When are you thinking of going? Right after your first year?"

"Nothing's set in stone yet, but that's roughly what I'm thinking."

"Then you'd better start applying soon. If you wait too late you'll get pushed back."

"My classmates actually bring it up in the group chat pretty often. I'm planning to look into it soon."

"So the day Do-yoon goes to the military is finally coming... but what about our Elli when Do-yoon's gone? She'll be missing him so much."

"No kidding. When I borrowed him for just one day she was a complete mess. What's she going to do."

"......"

There wasn't a trace of teasing in Bini-noona and Jeong-woo hyung's voices. If anything, as they finally noticed how Elli had drooped, there was genuine worry in them.

Both of them were usually so playful, but they knew this was something that actually weighed on us.

And that only made Elli sink further.

If they'd teased her, she'd have fired up in an instant. But being genuinely worried about her seemed to pull her mood down even more.

Her eyes drooped at the corners like an abandoned puppy, and none of us could find the right words.

Then a small voice slipped out from Elli.

"...I'm not letting you go... never..."

Her voice, small and full of longing, and utterly heartbreaking.

* * *

The mood dipped for a moment, but Elli bounced back quickly, saying "hmph, I'm just going to drink!" and dragged the energy back up.

It was obvious she was forcing it, but everyone rode along with her and changed the subject and laughed and talked.

After that, no more military talk, just lightweight chatter to pass the time.

And when night came.

It was only around eleven, but the campground had gone quiet, with nothing but the occasional faint whining of a small child drifting over.

Elli and I climbed inside the thin sleeping bag together and held each other close.

"......"

"......"

Neither of us was asleep yet, and neither of us had closed our eyes, but we didn't say a single word.

Even a small whisper would have been clearly audible to Jeong-woo hyung and Bini-noona in the next tent, if not to the others.

So we just quietly pressed our lips together and stayed like that.

"Mm..."

Moonlight filtered through the tent walls, and even in the dark, Elli's platinum hair shone bright.

Soft as silk, those strands falling loose and scattered around her.

"......"

Her delicate gaze, her trembling eyes, were turned toward me.

It was probably still about the military talk from earlier. The unease it had stirred showed in her eyes and in the way her body felt just a little more fragile than usual.

I wanted to comfort her somehow, but honestly there was nothing I could do about it. It wasn't something that could be fixed.

So the only thing I could do right now was this.

-tight...

I just held her hard. We were both a little sweaty but neither of us minded.

Her soft body, her warmth pressing fully into me.

Like that, lips still together.

"...mmph..."

Not the usual loud, eager kisses, but something quieter, exchanging small breaths, touching tongues gently.

Like letting her know I was right here beside her. Like a soft pat on the back. I traced her tongue slowly, softly, trying to soothe her.

Holding her like that until she felt a little calmer.

We'd had a drink and a pleasant tiredness was settling in, so I figured we'd drift off gradually just like this, trading these quiet kisses.

But when we broke apart a moment later.

"Haa..."

Elli breathed out a hot exhale.

"......"

"......"

At the same time her eyes told me something. That she wanted something.

I couldn't ignore that. I thought about how low she'd been earlier. To settle her heart down, it felt like I had to do something, anything.

So quietly, I took Elli's hand and slipped out of the tent with her, heading toward the car.

We sat together in the back seat without even starting the engine. It was a little warm, but there was no turning the AC on. Too conspicuous.

I asked her gently, her body already a little damp with sweat.

"Elli, you can't hold out?"

"...Yeah."

"Elli."

"......"

"You can keep quiet, right?"

"I'll keep quiet... just please..."

"Take your bottoms off. I'll set up the privacy screen."

The privacy screen was really a great purchase. I had no idea it'd come in this handy.

Anyway.

Actually being together in the full sense was out of the question, there was absolutely no way she could stay quiet through that, so I took care of her with just my mouth.

For my girlfriend, who had felt that loneliness imagining a future without me there, who had spent almost her entire life at my side as my childhood friend and so felt it that much more acutely.

"Hh..."

I made sure she knew that right now, I was here.

* * *

After camping ended and we got home, Elli was still a little subdued.

We had sex the moment we walked through the door, and she threw herself into that too, but... something about the atmosphere, I suppose.

For a while after that, Elli spent her time searching for something intently on her phone.

Then a few days later.

She sat me down on the sofa, stood in front of me, and said with a firm expression.

"Lee Do-yoon."

"Yeah."

"I'm going to get pregnant. Starting today, absolutely no condoms."

"...What?"

"I won't hear any objections. This is final."

It wasn't the half-joking, half-affectionate no-condom attempts she'd made before. She was declaring it to me in dead earnest.

At twenty years old. That she was going to have a baby.

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