WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: Ryuu
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty
Chapter 18: It’s the Same even in High School (2)
Limping towards the first-floor infirmary, my steps felt unbearably heavy.
Not just the pain in my foot, but the dread of dealing with the aftermath made my body tremble.
Not only had I injured myself doing exactly what I was warned against, but the shopping plans for the day were likely ruined because of me.
Even as I awaited the teacher's diagnosis in the infirmary, my body felt like it weighed a ton.
I briefly considered hiding the injury and enduring the pain until after the shopping trip.
"It's a mild sprain. I'll tape it up, but be careful until it heals."
"Thank you."
It was clear that going shopping in this condition was out of the question.
Fortunately, it wasn't a severe sprain, and I received only minor treatment, but the thought of making it worse by recklessly moving around was terrifying...
Abandoning such foolish thoughts, I heard the bell signaling the end of class and promptly left the infirmary, heading straight to the classroom.
Carefully climbing the central stairs to avoid straining my injured foot further, I reached the second floor, where the first-year classrooms were located.
I stealthily checked my surroundings before entering, hoping to delay Elli's discovery of my injury.
Though it was inevitable, I wished to avoid it for as long as possible.
Fortunately, it seemed I was late enough that no one from Elli's class was around.
Quickly, I slipped through the back door into our classroom.
"Are you back? How bad is it?"
"Not bad, just twisted it a bit."
"I knew it when you started showing off your dance moves."
Welcomed back by friends who had returned earlier, I took my seat.
Ignoring their teasing, I quickly changed at least my top while the girls were in the changing room. As for the pants, I figured the teachers would understand if I explained my injury.
With just my school shirt on, I leaned on the desk, deep in thought.
'What to do now...'
I pondered how to explain myself later.
But realistically, there was no way out. Too many had seen me fall during my dance, and I had no desire to lie about it.
"Sigh..."
Resigned to honesty, I sighed deeply.
-Thud! Crash!
"Damn, what's that!"
Someone burst through the back door with such force it seemed they might break it.
The sudden entrance shocked everyone, just as students were returning from changing, leading to a chorus of curses.
However, when they saw who it was, the room fell silent. I broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing.
"Lee Do-yoon."
"Do-yoon."
Elli, with her platinum hair flowing and eyes narrowed in anger, approached me with a cold face, devoid of her usual bright smile.
Of course, I was immediately seized by the collar.
"Hey."
"...Yes."
"Didn't I tell you not to do it?"
"...I'm sorry."
"Do you want to die? Getting hurt again?"
"I apologize…"
"Lee Do-yoon."
"Yes."
"Do you enjoy getting hurt after I've told you repeatedly not to do such dangerous things?"
"I'm sorry…"
"Vill du dö? (Do you want to die?)"
"Förlåt… (Sorry…)"
Elli's blue eyes flashed with genuine fury as she confronted me forehead to forehead, genuinely terrifying in her anger.
Not just Elli, but also beside her.
"Do-yoon."
"...Yeah."
"Do you enjoy worrying people?"
"No... I'm sorry."
"Was it fun? Elli kept telling you it's dangerous, yet you did it again and got hurt?"
"......"
"I'm curious, aren't you? Say something."
"I was wrong..."
Elli's anger was daunting, but Lee So-yeon's serious tone, devoid of her usual humor, was equally formidable.
This was the first time Lee So-yeon had been this angry with me, and it was also the first time I'd been so foolishly injured.
I had no words in response to their rebukes, knowing they spoke out of concern for me.
As I bore the brunt of their anger.
"It was a bit dangerous."
"That's what I said."
The girls who returned late nodded in agreement, while the boys.
"Pff..."
"Keh..."
"Idiot... Hehe..."
Laughed quietly, finding my scolding amusing, and watched with interest.
What could I say? It was true I had acted foolishly and got hurt, so I couldn't protest their mockery.
The scolding continued until the bell for the next class.
-Ding, dong, ding...
"I'll see you after sixth period. Don't go anywhere."
"If you try to sneak off, you know what'll happen."
Their warnings extended into the break after the sixth period, leaving me mentally exhausted.
When the day's classes finally ended, and it was time to go home,
Predictably, they rushed to our class immediately.
But this time, it wasn't to continue their lectures.
"Let me support you. Don't use that foot unnecessarily."
"I'll carry your bag."
"Thanks to both of you."
Elli clung to me, offering support, while So-yeon took my bag and stood on Elli's other side.
Thus, I left the classroom, supported by the renowned kindness of two beautiful girls, to the backdrop of.
"...Damn."
"Are they taking him home like that? Lucky bastard."
"At least it's just his foot."
"Why 'at least'?"
"If it were his hand, imagine... At home..."
"......"
"......"
"What about his hand at home? You're twisted, man."
"They'd have a tougher time, I mean. Don’t slander me, dude."
The mixed sighs of exasperation and jealousy from my friends who had mocked me for two hours followed me.
"Seriously, try it again, and I'll break every toe you have."
"...I won't do it again."
"Do-yoon, it's not too painful, is it?"
"Not much. The school nurse said it's a light sprain and will heal in a day or two with some rest."
"That's a relief."
The threats and concerns continued on our way home, and we took a taxi.
Except for the taxi ride, Elli almost carried me, helping me walk, while So-yeon carried our bags.
And I,
Although it wasn't the time for such thoughts, felt strangely comforted by Elli's support.
Elli's chest, which my gaze inadvertently drifted to more often than I'd like to admit, pressed tightly against my side, causing a certain...
"......"
Indescribable emotion, one I couldn't dare voice, as if my injury had turned into a stroke of luck.
The canceled shopping trip was a minor disappointment, but it was something we could always do another time.
I couldn't help but suppress a smile as we entered the apartment elevator, turning to Lee So-yeon.
"Who told you I was hurt? You came straight after class ended."
"Were you planning to hide it, Do-yoon-ah? If no one told you, you would've kept it a secret, huh?"
"Are you crazy? Lee Do-yoon... Ugh, I might really kill you."
"...No, I was just wondering."
I had considered keeping quiet until the end of class, but Lee So-yeon's sharp remark made me avert my gaze and ask again.
"Did the girls text you? There are a few in our class who know you, right?"
"They did, but Min-jae was the first to tell us."
"Min-jae did?"
"Yeah. He said you hurt yourself doing that weird dance again and told both me and Elli."
"......"
I felt a mix of emotions. Knowing Min-jae, he must have informed them out of concern for me.
But the way he sneaked away after class, maybe he regretted it after seeing me get scolded by the two of them.
Still, it was the right move in the end. If I had tried to hide it and they found out later, Elli might have really hit me.
With their help, I safely reached home, and as Elli opened the door for me,
"Do-yoon, where are you hurt?!"
My mom, seeing me supported by Elli, rushed over in alarm.
She immediately knelt in front of me, took off my shoes and socks, and carefully wrapped my taped foot, making a fuss.
"Where, how badly are you hurt? Who did this to my son...!"
If I had been hit by someone, she seemed ready to grab a baseball bat and retaliate.
Elli snitched with a snort.
"Your son did it."
"What?"
"He hurt himself again doing that weird dance. This guy."
"......"
"No, I was just playing with friends and accidentally..."
"Lee Do-yoon."
"...Yes."
"Do you really want to get scolded by mom after a long time?"
"I'm sorry."
"My handsome son, does it hurt your mom's heart when you get hurt like this, or not?"
"I was wrong."
I just followed a trend, but none of the women around me seemed to understand. Dad and Uncle Mark laughed and praised me when they saw me dancing.
Of course, since I ended up getting hurt, I couldn't argue.
"Should we go to the hospital? I can get us to a university hospital in less than 5 minutes!"
"The nurse said it's really just a mild sprain. If I stay still, it'll heal quickly."
"Is that so?"
After a mix of scolding and worrying, my mom finally noticed So-yeon, who had been quietly standing behind us.
"So-yeon is here too? Did you help my son and Elli? Thank you~ It's been a while since you visited our home, hasn't it?"
It had been since sixth grade of elementary school, on my birthday, that Lee So-yeon last visited our home. Since then, we always met outside.
Of course, we saw each other at our middle school graduation ceremony, where my mom took many photos of us.
Lee So-yeon, greeted warmly by my mom, brushed her hair behind her ear and replied shyly.
"Hello, ma'am."
"My, So-yeon has become even prettier?"
"Ah, no~ It's you who gets prettier every time I see you, ma'am."
"Hehehe... So-yeon always knows how to say the sweetest things~ So kind~"
My mom always appreciated Lee So-yeon, who had been my friend since childhood, for her kind words during their exchanges.
Sensing their conversation might drag on, I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.
Elli, after getting me a glass of water from the dispenser, sat beside me.
"Thanks."
"Stay put at home today. And stay still until I come to pick you up tomorrow."
"I will. So, about our bisou tonight..."
"I'll come over in the evening, so wait for me."
"Okay. Sorry for not listening to you and getting hurt."
"Make sure it doesn't happen again. Just wait until I catch you doing it."
"I won't do it again, I promise."
"Remember that. Before I lock you in your room."
Though Elli's frown and glare were intimidating, her face and eyes were filled with concern for me.
Her worry was touching and uplifting.
Truly, I was freshly amazed.
I smiled reassuringly at Elli, then turned my attention back to the lively conversation between them.
Just then,
"Do-yoon always listens well, but sometimes he causes trouble like this."
"But having Elli around must be reassuring, right? Today, she was like a wife, supporting her husband all the way home~"
As usual, So-yeon, with a playful smile, glanced at me and Elli and dropped a provocative comment.
I, of course, agreed and simply smiled, while Elli muttered,
"Wife, what..."
Though she mumbled with a sullen face, the corners of her lips were slightly upturned.
And my mom, as always when someone hinted at me and Elli being a couple,
"Hmph, wife, what! I don't approve of Elli yet! I can't give my Do-yoon to her! I'll choose his wife later!"
She showed her motherly affection by pouting and shouting like a child.
Elli and I didn't pay much attention to my mom's words. My loving mom always said she couldn't give me to Elli, but we knew she really liked Elli.
It wasn't entirely insincere, but she did genuinely like Elli.
But,
Lee So-yeon probably heard it for the first time.
Usually, it was a reflexive response to my dad or Elli's mom teasing us at home.
And,
Whether it was the first time or not, Lee So-yeon's reaction to those words,
"Really?! Then, can I..."
Her shocked exclamation was an unexpected outburst.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Not only us but even my mom, who had made the comment, probably didn't expect it.
Caught by our focused attention, So-yeon froze for a moment, then awkwardly laughed off her genuine panic.
"...I was just kidding~ Ah, haha..."
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