WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty

Chapter 16: The Last of the Prologue. The Seventeen Before the Story Begins. (3)

Every time I saw her, the beauty of her platinum hair, accentuated by the Florapum waves and bangs, struck me anew.

Her blue eyes pierced the darkness, fixing directly on me with an intensity I had never seen before, filled with a fierce anger.

-Gulp

I swallowed hard, unsure exactly what had upset her, making it difficult to hastily offer an apology.

I suspected it wasn't the act of giving a bisou itself that was the issue, but beyond that, I was at a loss.

-Swish

During our standoff, Elli's other hand, the one she wasn't holding mine with, moved to her mouth.

She gently touched the corner of her lips where mine had been, pondering something, or perhaps trying to quell her anger, without uttering a word.

Her eyes slowly rolled, not out of curiosity about the structure we were in, but in thought, perhaps tempering her anger.

Her lips parted as if to lash out, but then she took a deep breath and closed them again, not showing any signs of dissatisfaction like squeezing the hand she held, which was terrifying in its own right.

My heart, for a different reason than before, was pounding, the silence making the looming wave of anger all the more palpable.

-Gulp

I kept swallowing dryly, waiting for her judgment, powerless to do anything else until I understood what had angered her.

About five minutes passed before Elli finally spoke.

"...Hey."

Her voice, filled with restrained anger, made it abundantly clear.

"...Yes."

I found myself responding in formal language, instinctively kneeling down.

Elli, paying no heed to my actions, continued.

"Why."

"...?"

"Explain why you did it here."

Her anger seemed to have cooled into a calm inquiry, a stark contrast to her usual fiery self, asking for a reason.

I quickly made my case.

"Listen. The reason I chose that spot for the bisou... I never intended to do it on the cheek. It's always been the same until now. You understand that, right?"

"...Go on."

Her gaze, unblinking and fixed on me, seemed somewhat appeased by my initial explanation.

"So, I pondered where else to do it... Doing it on the lips seemed inappropriate. But other than that, there was no better place than the cheek... So, sort of as a compromise, somewhere between the cheek and the lips..."

"Why not there."

"Huh?"

"Why, were the lips, not an option?"

"...Ah."

Her questions, punctuated with rising anger, made me realize why she was upset.

What I thought was considerate turned out to be an unnecessary concern in her eyes.

Realizing this, I felt calmer.

It was just a minor misunderstanding between us.

So, instead of frantically explaining, I spoke calmly, sharing my true feelings.

"Because it's our first kiss."

"...?"

"On the lips... I didn't want to use bisou as an excuse. I wanted it to be more romantic when the time comes."

"...?"

"I had that in mind, but I'm sorry. I didn't consider your feelings."

While it might have looked comical, me kneeling there, I took her other hand and spoke earnestly, with the gentle smile I always showed her.

As we faced each other, time seemed to stand still for a moment.

"...Hmph."

A snort escaped from Elli, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief, sensing her anger had somewhat subsided.

Then, her gaze, which had been fixed on my face, shifted downwards slightly.

After a moment, she closed her eyes, then lifted her head and opened them again, looking at me as usual.

Her eyebrows slightly furrowed in a mix of dissatisfaction and blush on her cheeks, her pout apparent, the face of a whimsical princess.

"Lee Do-yoon."

"Yes."

She called my name with her usual sweet voice.

"Are you an idiot?"

Then she ridiculed me, but with much softer language than before, I responded with a smile.

"Sorry. Seems I am an idiot."

"Hmph."

She snorted again and pulled away her hand, breaking free from mine.

But the hand she initially held mine with remained interlocked, and as she slowly pushed her freed hand towards me.

-Crack...

She didn't grab my collar, but gently caught the edge of my clothes, bringing her face closer and pulling me towards her.

As our faces drew nearer, I quietly let her lead, and Elli, too, captured me in her blue gaze.

"Bisou..."

She whispered softly, almost like casting a spell.

"Bisou is a greeting."

"Yes."

"A greeting, not a kiss."

"...?"

Her voice, laced with reprimand as if I should have known, made it clear.

"So, this isn't our first kiss."

As she uttered those enticing words, denying my explanation.

-Chu...

Her lips gently pressed against mine.

My heart stopped for a moment.

Her cheeks were incomparably soft, but her lips were beyond comparison.

The sensation, chilling yet thrilling, the faint taste of fondant chocolate, the intoxicating scent of her, the touch of our noses, and the warmth of her breath.

'...She's beautiful.'

Her face, with eyes closed and lashes beautifully resting, resembled a sleeping princess.

-Thump! Thump!

My heart, once still, now pounded as if it would burst.

I wished it would last forever, but Elli's lips soon parted from mine.

That brief kiss... no, bisou, felt like time had stopped, and then Elli, pressing her forehead against mine, maintaining the closeness of our kiss.

With flushed cheeks, she spoke to me.

"Think about the kiss. If it's not romantic enough next time, I'll kill you."

"...I will."

"And from today, this is our bisou. We'll do it every day. Forget, and you're dead."

"I'll make sure of it. I won't forget."

"And..."

She hesitated, her lips moving uncertainly, then continued somewhat shyly.

"Ah, you know? Bisou is usually... something we do for each other..."

"Elli."

Before she could finish, I called out to her. Despite my foolish actions today that upset her, I wasn't that clueless.

She stopped, and this time, I pressed my lips to hers.

-Chu...

Holding the back of her head gently with the hand she had released.

I gave her a bisou, as soft as a marshmallow, with her eyes closed once more.

The unforgettable first kiss at the playground... well, not exactly a kiss but our first lip bisou, came to an end, and we headed straight home.

On the way back, we didn't speak a word to each other.

But our clasped hands felt warmer than ever, and though we walked a bit apart, it somehow felt closer than usual.

And when we arrived in front of the house.

"Here."

"Thanks. Did you make it yourself again this year?"

"Hmph. Of course."

I received chocolates from Elli, a pretty box likely filled with various shapes of chocolates, similar to last year's.

I held it dear, looking at her, wondering what we would do next.

Like every year, perhaps we would wash up, gather again, eat the chocolates together, and share stories.

But.

"I'm going to wash up and rest."

"Oh, you want to?"

Respecting her wish to rest, I nodded, feeling mentally exhausted myself.

After all, today's joyful moments had overwhelmed my brain.

I waited for her to enter her house before heading in myself, watching her go.

But as I did, Elli gave me a dissatisfied look.

Wondering why, I stared back until she exclaimed.

"...Kram!"

"Ah."

At her word, I instinctively pulled Elli into a hug.

And as I embraced her.

-Chu

Elli lifted her head slightly and kissed me.

And I, in turn.

-Chu

Returned the gesture, a fleeting touch, too innocent to call a kiss.

"...See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Tomorrow..."

After that, Elli hurried into her house, her platinum hair fluttering behind her.

I watched her go, then returned home, my body feeling drained.

In a daze, I changed clothes, washed up, and.

-Flop

Sat on my bed.

The sensation of her lips lingered in my mind.

"I'm still... 17."

I murmured, filled with a sense of longing.

Wondering how long until I became an adult, though no matter how many times I counted, it seemed far off.

And we were just 17, on the verge of entering high school.

"So? What happened?"

"What do you mean 'what happened'? I was about to slap him, but he suddenly became so cute... I just upgraded our bisou properly."

"Oh my... Then, did you guys...?"

"It's not a kiss. It's a bisou. A greeting."

"Hehe, right~ Do-yoon is so strong and handsome, yet why is he so adorable?"

"Tell me about it!"

As soon as Elli got home, she quickly showered, sat on the sofa, and began chatting with her mom, Jung Ye-rin, about the day's events.

She planned to call So-yeon later to share the story, but Jung Ye-rin was always the first to know.

The mother-daughter duo was as close as best friends.

Elli, excited about the day's events, detailed everything from start to finish, and Ye-rin happily joined in, enjoying her daughter's tales.

Then, Ye-rin spoke in a teasing tone.

"Elli."

"What?"

"Do you need condoms? Should I buy you some good ones?"

"...?"

The blunt question was too direct for a daughter just entering high school, but Elli blushed slightly and took it seriously.

Anyone else might have gotten an explosive reaction, but with her mom, they had already shared all sorts of candid talks.

And for Elli, condoms were a serious consideration. She couldn't count how many times she had wanted to pounce on Do-yoon that day.

But she shook her head.

"...No need. Auntie is there too."

"Ji-eun? I don't think she'd mind much."

"But she'd feel really lonely. If Do-yoon becomes completely mine."

"Hehe, so you're holding back for her?"

"Yeah. I like Auntie too."

Jung Ye-rin was surprisingly open-minded, despite her prim appearance, and Song Ji-eun seemed outgoing but was actually quite conservative.

Though they wouldn't get angry about the kids spending the night together, Elli sensed that doing so at a young age wouldn't sit well with them.

In middle school, she thought it was too early, planning to let loose at 17, but as she grew, she began to consider those around her more, slowing her down.

Song Ji-eun, Lee Do-yoon's mom, was like another mother to Elli.

Despite occasional squabbles over Do-yoon, their close relationship allowed for such interactions.

Elli didn't want to disregard Song Ji-eun's feelings.

And Jung Ye-rin was very proud of her daughter's considerate nature.

"Elli's all grown up now? Considering your mother-in-law's feelings too."

"I'm 17, you know?"

"Yeah... Already 17, my daughter."

"Hehe."

Elli was intoxicated with her own mature thoughts and actions, especially pleased with her mom's praise.

But still.

"Mom."

"What's up?"

"That, just in case, order them. That... Lee Do-yoon might not be able to hold back..."

"...Hehehe. Okay, I'll get you some good ones."

"Okay..."

And so.

While I sat in my room, lost in the touch of her lips, the neighboring mother and daughter were having a saucy, cheeky conversation.

With just a pseudo-kiss disguised as bisou, I was half out of my mind, unable to imagine such a conversation.

And we were…

Still not officially dating, but clearly more than childhood friends.

Embarking on our days as high school students.

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