WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty

Chapter 13: We, No Longer a Child, But Not Yet an Adult at Sixteen (3)

Elli, aware that Lee Do-yoon planned to play basketball with his friends during lunchtime, had her own reasons for barging into the classroom, rooted in a conversation she overheard during the break after the third period.

"Sigh... I don't want to go home..."

"Why not?"

"Yesterday, I caught my brother watching porn. It was disgusting."

"Seriously? Was he doing 'that' too?"

"No, but... Ugh, I don't even want to think about it. It's so annoying. He was watching that stuff but then went ballistic at me, telling me not to tell our parents."

"You have to tell them, no question about it."

This conversation, initiated by a friend venting in frustration near Elli's desk, was the catalyst.

Elli, who had been half-listening while browsing summer clothes on her phone, couldn't help but join in when the topic turned to porn.

"Porn?"

"Huh?"

Seemingly not expecting Elli to join the conversation, the girls were taken aback.

Feeling pressured by Elli's piercing blue gaze, one girl hesitantly responded.

"Uh, yeah... You know, all guys watch it, right? But I never thought I'd catch my brother doing so... It was my first time seeing him watch something like that."

"All guys watch it?"

"Well... I guess? That's what they say online, that it's a given."

"...I've never seen Lee Do-yoon watch that stuff."

"Oh."

That remark made the girl who initiated the conversation ponder seriously.

Even she felt that while it might be normal for other guys, Lee Do-yoon seemed different.

Unlike other boys, Lee Do-yoon was always neat, his smile was refreshing, and he was so handsome that every glance was a treat.

Though his good looks didn't necessarily mean he didn't watch porn, thinking about Lee Do-yoon's handsome face made her believe he just wasn't the type.

"Maybe Do-yoon doesn't watch it? It doesn't seem like him."

That hopeful statement was met with incredulity from another friend.

"Wouldn't Do-yoon watch it too? He's a guy after all."

"No, but Do-yoon is..."

"Oh, come on, you delusional girl. Whether Lee Do-yoon is handsome or not, he's still a guy..."

The conversation was abruptly silenced by a startling sound.

Elli, who had been silently listening to their talk, snapped the pencil she was holding against the desk.

The sheer force used to break the pencil stunned the girls into silence.

They immediately agreed, hoping to avoid confrontation.

"...Do-yoon probably doesn't watch it~"

"Yeah, right. Oh, class is about to start. I need to get my textbook out..."

They scattered back to their seats, fleeing the scene.

Left alone, Elli stared down at the remains of the shattered pencil, contemplating the possibility that Lee Do-yoon might secretly be indulging in such activities.

With an icy gaze, she waited for the fourth period to end, then swiftly made her way to the next classroom, followed by a few girls driven by curiosity.

And thus, in front of everyone, Elli initiated what seemed like a public execution.

"Do you watch porn too?"

Without hesitation, I firmly denied it.

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

My denial was met with disbelief and mockery from my friends.

"Look at this guy, claiming he's never watched porn! He's either a saint or a liar!"

"I can't believe you'd lie so blatantly, Lee Do-yoon. It's creepy."

"Come on, Lee Do-yoon! Admit it, you watch it like the rest of us!"

Despite their accusations, I stood by my statement.

The truth was, like most guys, I had seen porn before. It's almost a rite of passage. But in that moment, facing Elli's intense scrutiny, I couldn't afford to slip up. My response was a survival tactic, driven by the desperate need to deflect her suspicions.

Elli's persistent questioning made it clear she wouldn't let the issue go easily.

"Seriously, you've never watched it?"

"How could I have the time? Between hanging out with friends and spending most of my time with you, there's no room for that."

This somewhat reasonable explanation seemed to ease Elli's aggressive stance, but the underlying truth remained—given the chance, guys will find the time.

The girls in the class rallied to my defense, challenging the boys' assertions with indignation.

"Shut up, you creeps! Not everyone is like you!"

"Yeah! Always assuming everyone's as dirty-minded as you!"

I silently thanked them for their support, all the while harboring a guilty secret.

'Sorry, guys. I actually watched some just yesterday.'

Not only did I watch, but I had even drawn explicit content before, driven by my own desires. I never used Elli as a model for such work, reserving my deepest fantasies for a more intimate connection with her.

The class was divided, with boys and girls heatedly debating the issue. In the midst of this chaos, Elli and I locked eyes, each wrestling with our own thoughts.

Then, So-yeon chimed in, tipping the scales with her logic.

"Don't you remember what we learned in sex education? It's natural for guys to have those urges."

"That's right."

Silently, I pleaded for the conversation to end, but to no avail.

"So, Lee Do-yoon, how do you deal with it if you don't watch porn?"

So-yeon's question dominated the room, leaving everyone hanging on my response.

Surrounded by expectant faces, with Elli's gaze piercing through me, I knew I had to act.

Rising from my seat, I leaned in close to Elli, my whisper meant for her ears only.

'With you in my life, why would I need to watch anything else? You're all I think about.'

Her reaction was immediate and explosive. Elli's face flushed a deep red, a testament to the impact of my words.

Despite the embarrassment, it was the best I could come up with under the circumstances.

As I straightened up, the class erupted with questions and speculation about our whispered exchange.

"What did he say?"

"He must have confessed his love, right? No way!"

"How did he manage to turn the tables like that?"

Ignoring their curiosity, I focused on Elli, her face still radiant with blush.

"So, I'll go play basketball with the guys. Enjoy your lunch."

"Today, you're coming with me."

"Okay, I'll wait for you out front after class."

With that, I headed out with my friends, eager to escape any further drama.

"Hey, what did you say to her?"

"Keep it down."

"Lee Do-yoon, you legend. How did you pull that off?"

"Don't ask, you traitors."

Though I tried to act nonchalant, my shirt was drenched with sweat. This had been one of the most intense moments of my life.

Walking home with Elli, our conversation turned to future plans—where to go this summer, what to do in the fall, and choosing a different ski resort for the winter.

As we talked, our hands found each other's, fingers intertwined in a comfortable silence.

Then, recalling a conversation from years past, I brought up Elli's wish to be 17.

"Remember you said that it would be great?"

"......"

"What do you think? We'll be 17 next year."

"Yeah, we will."

I still vividly remembered Elli saying she wished she was 17, right before we entered middle school.

At the time, I didn't fully grasp the significance, but now I understood the implications, especially regarding our daily bisous and the anticipation of something more.

Elli seemed to recall that day too. She gazed silently at the setting sun as we walked, then suddenly spoke up.

"We're still sixteen."

"Yeah, feels like we said that ages ago..."

"We're already seventeen."

"......?"

Confused by her seemingly contradictory statement, I gave her a puzzled look.

"......"

Elli, with her eyes and lips forming beautiful curves, gently smiled at me.

Then, her blue eyes locked onto mine.

"Lee Do-yoon."

"Yeah?"

"We're going to take a picture. Come with me."

"Ah, to the photo booth?"

"We couldn't take it last time. Let's make up for it now."

"We go there almost every two weeks... But okay, let's go."

Holding my hand, Elli led the way with energetic steps.

And so, we made another memory, captured in a photo.

That night, Elli sent me a picture through a chat.

"......"

It was a provocative shot: she wore shorts to reveal her pretty thighs and a long-sleeved pajama top, unbuttoned just enough to hint at her cleavage.

I didn't ask why she sent such a photo; I just gratefully saved it.

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