WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty

Chapter 12: We, No Longer a Child, But Not Yet an Adult at Sixteen (2)

Since the beginning of middle school two years ago, the days when I and Elli went about our separate ways gradually increased.

Even so, instead of hanging out together every day of the week, it just meant spending about two days a week apart.

Of course, I was still confident I could spend all 365 days of the year with Elli, but sometimes, having time apart wasn't so bad.

Today was no exception, upon hearing that my childhood friend was going shopping with Lee So-yeon and other friends, I too decided to spend time with my own friends.

"Siuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!"

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Ho-woo, have you lost your damn mind?! Why the hell did that go in!"

"My love, my light, my joy, my hope... King God Do."

"Shut up."

"Man, Lee Jin-woo's team is so trash, I really don't want to play. How do you even block when it's just a bunch of midgets?"

"Fuck it. It's the game's fault if it allows a header from outside the box."

We had come to the PC bang as usual.

Sometimes we'd play basketball or soccer if we had enough people, or occasionally head to the karaoke, but today was a PC bang day.

Given that exams were next week, many were at cram schools or studying, leaving us with just four members, including myself.

"Do-yoon, that cross was sick!"

"Honestly, I set that whole play up. You agree, right?"

"Totally agree~"

Like most kids our age, we were a bit rough around the edges, but good-hearted and, well, slightly neglectful of our studies.

I spent some time with these friends.

I had initially planned to head straight home to study, but couldn't resist their pitiful pleas to hang out for just a bit longer.

So, we ended up at the PC bang, and after about two hours of gaming, we got up from our seats.

As I was packing up to leave...

"Leaving already, Do-yoon?"

"Yeah. Take care."

"Safe travels~ Come back again!"

The noona at the counter bid me farewell. Even though I don't come here often, she remembers me and greets me every time. Sometimes, she even gives me a drink on the house as a service.

The reason for her kindness was clear.

"Hey, do you think that noona would give you her number if you asked?"

"What's the point of me asking?"

"Look at you, acting all high and mighty. Annoying as hell."

"Well, with a face like yours... But yeah, you've got Alicia, so why bother?"

"That noona is pretty too, but Alicia is just in a different league."

Even without my friends' flattery, I was well aware of my good looks.

During elementary school, girls approached me out of kindness, but entering middle school, the frequency of confessions made me even more aware of my attractiveness.

Not just my face, but thanks to my parents, I grew tall without much effort, and my physique, including my shoulders, developed well.

Plus, with the fashion guidance from my mom, Mrs. Blomvall, and Elli, my looks were further enhanced.

Being naturally appealing to others due to my looks was frankly quite nice.

Especially since Elli seemed to like it.

Anyway, after leaving the PC bang, we didn't head straight home, lingering instead. We grabbed some drinks from a convenience store and stood around chatting for a bit.

"What are you up to next week? With exam period, it's gonna be chill."

"Just gonna play games at home."

"Fuck Barca, I'm switching to Real Madrid..."

"What about you, Do-yoon?"

"I've got to study."

"Man, always studying by yourself. What'd you get on last year's finals? Weren't your scores pretty high?"

"Back then... around an average of 80?"

"Shit, that's really good. And you don't even go to cram school."

"Just pay attention in class. Plus, Min-jae snuck me some test prep materials, so that helped a lot."

"Seong Min-jae? That otaku from class 4? Right, you're an otaku too."

The conversation flowed naturally, without much meaning, but it was the kind of enjoyable banter you'd have with friends.

As usual, whenever the guys got together, the inevitable question came up.

"Hey, how far have you gone with Alicia?"

"Here he goes again, saying he's done nothing after doing everything."

"Typical Do."

Of course, they wouldn't believe the truth even if I told them, so I usually just laughed off such questions.

Not that I would detail any real encounters with Elli, even if they had happened.

"Lee Do-yoon, you're not just a pretty face, but Alicia is insane."

"It's kinda like that, right? She’s not like a foreign chick but more like our vibe, which makes her even prettier."

"Yeah, that's exactly it!"

"Isn't she mixed? That's why, right?"

"Yeah. Her mom's Korean."

"Damn, I'm so jealous. More than anything, I envy you for dating her."

"I'm more jealous of Do-yoon. Being with him must be suffocating."

Given our age and growing interest in the opposite sex, the conversation became more animated when we talked about Elli.

I was pleased when my friends complimented Elli and said we looked good together, so I stayed a bit longer.

Then, the topic shifted to other girls besides Elli.

"Joo Hye-ryeong likes Do-yoon, right?"

"She's famous for that. The atmosphere gets deadly when she and Alicia cross paths in the corridor."

"She's really forward about it."

"That's why Ji Dong-hyun looks at Do-yoon with such disdain. He likes Hye-ryeong."

"But he backs off when he sees Do-yoon's back, right?"

"Isn't it because of the face? Mess with Do-yoon and you make 90% of the school's girls your enemy."

Then, the names of some familiar, somewhat troublesome girls and boys came up.

"What about Lee So-yeon?"

"Lee So-yeon... Just best friends, right?"

"She's been friends with them since elementary."

A friend who, despite sometimes being a hassle, had been close with Elli and me since elementary school.

"I'm not sure about So-yeon, but Yang Ji-yoon is definitely into you."

"How do you know?"

"If you can't tell by the way she looks at Do-yoon, you're clueless."

I also heard the name of the girl who confessed to me yesterday, whom I regrettably had to reject.

"Hey hey, Do-yoon, you up for basketball tomorrow?"

"Lunchtime works, but not after."

"Then dash out right after lunch. I'll gather the crew."

"Got it. Take care."

After chatting with my friends for about an hour, we made plans for lunch the next day and parted ways.

On my way back, I texted Elli.

Even on days when we didn't hang out together, we frequently updated each other on our whereabouts and activities.

Elli seemed to have enjoyed shopping with So-yeon, and since she was going to have dinner out and come home late...

'She'll be late tonight.'

Anticipating a slightly delayed goodbye for the day, I headed home.

Despite it being a daily ritual for several years, exchanging kram and bisous with Elli always thrilled me and filled me with anticipation.

After enjoying the snacks mom prepared, I settled down at my desk and focused on studying for a while.

Having returned home a bit late myself, it was already late at night by the time I took a short break.

I organized the printouts of past exam questions I got in exchange for drawing for a friend, stretched, and headed to the bathroom.

I also took care of the skincare routine Elli insisted on before bed, brushed my teeth again, and then...

"Going to sleep?"

"No, Elli's coming over for a bit."

"Her again, at this hour... You know mom trusts you, right? Our son's not up to anything yet, are you?!"

"Of course, of course. Trust me, mom."

"I will! Mom's putting all her trust in you, Do-yoon!"

Listening to mom's lovingly exaggerated shouts mixed with teasing, I returned to my room.

I turned on the computer and placed my hand on the tablet to refine a drawing I had promised to complete before Elli's arrival.

This wasn't a request from a school friend but a commission I took on from a community where I'm active.

Last year, I used to draw for free as practice, but now I charge a modest commission fee and put more effort into my work.

As the requests piled up, I started charging to filter and select them based on advice I received.

'Thanks to that, my allowance has increased a bit.'

Even though the most I'd charge was a few thousand won, it didn't take me too long to complete a drawing.

My drawing style, primarily influenced by Japanese manga with a touch of dramatization, was quite in demand.

Having never formally studied art but consistently practiced whenever I had time since childhood, my skills were decent.

Most commissions were based on existing characters from various works, making the drawing process relatively easy with a clear model to follow.

Since these weren't high-value commissions requiring meticulous detail, I could enjoy the work without stressing over perfection.

It was the perfect hobby and a way to earn some extra cash.

-Swish, swish...

Although I had already finished coloring this particular drawing, I spent some extra time refining it to make it as polished as possible.

I wouldn't normally put in this much effort, but since it was a drawing of Elsa from Frozen, a character I've always liked, I couldn't help but devote more attention to it.

She was one of my favorite princess characters, and especially because this character reminded me of Elli.

I was busy touching up the drawing, planning to finish before Elli arrived, when...

-Click

The door opened, and someone walked past me toward the bed.

I didn't need to check; it was Elli. Unlike my parents, who would knock before entering, Elli would just come in.

"Are you here?"

"Yeah."

"Give me a sec. I'll be done soon."

"Hurry up."

Now that Elli had arrived, I hurried to finish up. After all, this hobby, even though it was also a source of income, wasn't as important as spending time with Elli.

-Thud

As I was about to send the drawing to the commissioner via email, something fell, making a noise.

Glancing to the side, I saw Elli sprawled out on my bed, buried in the comforter.

She lay on the neatly made bed, face buried in a pillow, her platinum blonde hair scattered messily.

Wearing a fluffy, pink fleece pajama set.

"......"

The moment I turned to look at her, I couldn't bring myself to look away.

Elli's pink fleece pajamas were thick enough for cooler weather, but the shorts were quite short.

Her white, beautiful legs were exposed from the thighs down to her toes, irresistibly drawing my gaze.

To be honest...

Now that I was sixteen, I was well aware that I was considered handsome and kind, but as a teenager going through puberty, seeing Elli in such an unguarded state often stirred strange emotions within me.

I had no intention of taking advantage of Elli's reluctance, but my body inevitably reacted in various ways at the sight of her.

It was impossible not to have any thoughts upon seeing that perfect silhouette extending from her hips.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe as I stared at her, then quickly wrapped up my work.

After all, I needed to finish if I was going to say goodbye to Elli for the night.

Turning my attention back to the computer, Elli's annoyed voice reached my ears.

"Did you wash the blankets?"

"Mom did it today. Smells nice, right?"

"…Tch."

Whatever Elli was seeking from my bed, her whiny complaint, almost palpable in her tone, brought an involuntary smile to my face.

Shortly after, I completed my tasks and turned off the computer.

Then, swiveling my chair around, I faced Elli.

"All done."

"......"

In response to my words, Elli, still lying down, merely turned her head slightly to the side.

Her slightly furrowed brows, her pouting lips, and yet still beautiful face were the epitome of a self-centered princess.

It was our routine for the princess to get up, exchange farewells, and head home.

But while lying there, Elli threw an unexpected question my way.

"Hey. You got a confession from Yang Ji-yoon yesterday, right?"

...How did she know? Only she and I knew about that... Ah.

"Did So-yeon tell you?"

"She did."

"Yeah, she did."

"Why didn't you tell me? Want to die?"

"She asked me to keep it a secret. She knew I would reject her but wanted to say it before graduation."

"Want to die?"

"Even then, when she put it like that..."

"Want to die?"

"Sorry."

"Don't hide such things from me. Especially that kind of stuff."

"Um..."

Elli's bright eyes, even as she lay there, were a bit intimidating, but I would probably keep such things secret again if a similar situation arose.

Of course, it would depend on the circumstances.

In this case, the girl apologized while confessing, knowing that I had Elli. She even cried a little, so how could I not keep it secret?

Elli, perhaps thinking I would do the same, didn't insist on a response.

Suddenly, she started rolling around on the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Bored? Want to hang out a bit before sleeping?"

"No. Hey, Do-yoon."

After rolling from side to side about four or five times, Elli stopped her movement and lay flat, looking up at the ceiling.

Then, calling my name, she stretched her arms above her head.

"I can't be bothered to move. Let's just do it this way today."

"...Like this?"

"Hurry up."

"Okay..."

I approached Elli, trying to maintain composure.

Elli's beautiful hair and face, which I had grown accustomed to, and the curves that had become more pronounced since last year were evident even as she lay there.

Climbing onto the bed, this was a new position for us. I positioned my limbs around Elli and lay on top of her, avoiding direct contact.

Then, reaching behind her, which was difficult in this position, I slipped my arm behind her neck and embraced her, while she wrapped her arms around my back.

We exchanged kisses on the cheeks... no, bisous.

And then, I found myself thinking thoughts that were a bit more daring than usual.

The embrace was awkward compared to standing, but the sensation was strangely stirring...

"Do-yoon."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Do you know what I bought today?"

"Clothes, right? I thought you'd start buying summer clothes around now."

Our greeting was over, and I moved my arm because I thought Elli might feel weighed down, but her arms remained locked around my neck.

Thus, face to face, Elli continued to speak, making things even harder for me.

"I bought underwear."

"......"

"Black underwear. Both bra and panties."

"...Oh, that... Yeah. Must be pretty."

What else could I say?

The room was already warm, Elli's body heat was comforting, and the contact points between us were burning.

Sweating profusely from the heat, Elli asked me a provocative question.

"Do you want to see?"

Elli, despite blushing as she spoke, looked at me with a challenging gaze.

I didn't hesitate in my response.

"Yeah. I want to see."

It was a statement filled with 100% sincerity from both human and male Do-yoon.

At the same time, my gaze naturally drifted from Elli's neck to the slightly visible collarbone beneath her pajamas, and even lower.

Imagining Elli in black underwear...

"Hmph."

Pleased with my response and where my gaze lingered, Elli snorted with apparent satisfaction.

"Maybe later."

"......"

"Now get up. You're heavy."

"...Okay."

Filled with a sense of betrayal and significant disappointment, I nonetheless gently lifted myself off Elli.

As Elli also got up from the bed, her face was flushed.

"Godnatt (Good night)."

"Yeah. You too, sleep well."

With a brief farewell, she left.

And there I was, in my room after Elli had left, turning off the light and lying in bed.

Pulling up the blanket, I was immediately hit by the sweet scent of Elli, probably because she had been rolling around in it earlier.

Thanks to that...

Elli, who had been lying beneath me.

Elli, who had embraced me around the neck.

Elli, who had given me bisous on the cheek.

Elli, who had subtly enticed me.

All of them filled my mind again...

"......"

I sat up abruptly and turned on the computer.

The next day.

After the fourth period ended, and I had promised to play basketball with my friends, I got ready to head out.

It's a rule to hit the cafeteria after the game to devour whatever's left.

"Lee Do-yoon! Let's go!"

"Are we six? Playing three on three?"

"The second-year kids will join us for basketball, so we'll just team up."

"Right, that works."

Just as I was about to leave at my friends' call...

"Eli? Why? I was going to eat later..."

"Sit down."

"Uh... okay."

Elli had come to the classroom, bringing a few girls with her.

She had a kind of intimidating look on her face, demanding I sit, and I couldn't help but comply.

Then, pulling up a chair to sit in front of me, Elli asked an amazing question.

"Do you watch porn?"

In a classroom still filled with most of our classmates, boldly...

Elli always managed to capture everyone's attention the moment she entered, and her voice was so lovely that even if you tried not to listen, you couldn't help but hear her every word.

So, with the eyes of my basketball buddies and everyone else in the class on us, I, who had always been praised for my honesty, answered without a moment's hesitation.

"No? I don't watch that stuff."

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