WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend Is Too Pretty ◈

Chapter 75: 29. What You Have to Do After the CSAT Is Over

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Third year of high school is hard for everyone.

You have to spend most of your day focused entirely on studying, and if your grades don't climb, the stress builds up. You want to go out and have fun, but the atmosphere around you won't allow it, and the pressure piles on from every direction.

That's how most third-years feel. But I was a little, no, a lot different.

Thanks to my girlfriend.

Elli's devotion, those actions that everyone around us had already labeled bride lessons, didn't slow down even when summer arrived.

She was still dead serious about housework and cooking, and because of that I was being looked after as though we were already living together.

My mom was helping out in her own ways too, of course, but somewhere around the start of summer she seemed to have handed me over to Elli about halfway.

"Wake up."

"Mm..."

"Before I eat you alive."

"......"

"Before I stop feeding you."

"I'm up."

Every morning she woke me with that pretty voice of hers.

"Today's a classic. Sausage and fried eggs... delicious."

"Don't overeat though. You always get so sleepy when you eat a big breakfast."

"I'll keep that in mind."

She set out breakfast for me too.

And after school.

-squeeze...

"Did you work hard today?"

"Yeah. But going through past exam questions all day made my head spin."

"Are you exhausted?"

"Not exhausted exactly, just a little more tired than usual..."

"Want me to hug you to my chest?"

"......"

"3, 2, 1..."

"Hug me."

"Bend down a little."

"Got it... mmph..."

She welcomed me home late with a warm, full embrace, calling it a reward for studying hard.

"Tell me what you want to eat tomorrow. Pick from these."

"Hmm... burrito or pancakes?"

"Pick one."

"Then pancakes."

"If you picked pancakes because they seemed like less work for me, pick again."

"No, I genuinely just want pancakes..."

"Choose."

"Burrito...?"

"Good."

"The answer was already decided, wasn't it."

"What?"

"Nothing. Thank you, as always."

On weekends she also made snacks, or rather, snacks she wanted to make, which happened to be things I liked eating, food that was easy to munch on while studying, tailored to my taste.

There was no way I could run low on energy.

Waking up in the morning and hearing Elli's voice, catching a glimpse of that beautiful platinum-blonde hair, I was already in a state of pure happiness before anything else happened. On top of that, eating the breakfast she'd prepared for me, coming home late to a kiss and a hug. Snacks on the weekend.

When I was studying at home, she'd entertain herself quietly on my bed and give me a kiss right on cue when I took a break.

With all these luxuries, there couldn't have been a happier third-year student in the country.

And wanting to give back, I found myself studying even harder than before.

Elli was giving everything she had to taking care of me, solely for my sake, even if she did seem to enjoy it quite a bit herself. If I didn't put in the effort, everything she was doing would go to waste.

There were times when it got a little out of hand, of course.

Like during summer vacation.

I was at home, air conditioning on, studying in comfortable cool air.

"...hm, hmm-hm, hmm..."

"Elli."

"What."

"I can't concentrate..."

"Why can't you concentrate. Want to die?"

"You're lying on my bed in a bikini. How am I supposed to concentrate?"

"So it's my fault? Should I stop wearing bikinis?"

"Absolutely not... I'm sorry. I think that one's on me. I'll try to focus again."

"Hmph."

Our parents were out that day.

Despite having no plans to go to the beach, since it was third year, Elli had bought a new, eye-catching bikini and was sprawled across my bed in it.

I knew she was doing it for me, for my viewing pleasure. But with my girlfriend wearing a swimsuit barely different from underwear right behind me, there was no possible way to concentrate on studying.

"Lee Do-yoon."

"Yeah?"

"The one you're working on, that's the cram school mock exam Seong Min-jae gave you, right?"

"Right. I'm doing the Korean section."

"How far are you?"

"I just started this one... number three."

"Number three... you got four wrong on the last mock, so if you finish everything within eighty minutes from now and get three or fewer wrong, I'll hug you."

"...To your chest?"

"To my chest. Can you focus now?"

"I absolutely can."

Even so, Elli had given me a bet I couldn't refuse, and I was able to get back on track.

I got one question wrong. I'd done much better than expected, and Elli pulled me into her arms with a satisfied look.

"......"

"Good?"

-nod

An embrace that would feel new and happy every single time, ten thousand times over. Being wrapped in that soft warmth and that wonderful smell was something I couldn't compare to any other moment.

Nestled against her, I was drawn in even further by what she said.

"Remember? I said if you do well on the CSAT, you get to choose my cosplay."

"......"

"So do well. I'll wear anything you pick."

"......"

"Anything."

That bold declaration required me to step away for a moment, but it gave me a burst of energy all the same. Honestly, even with all of Elli's care, I'd been starting to feel a little worn down around that point, and being reminded of next year's reward gave me something like a second wind.

Summer passed.

The CSAT was right around the corner.

* * *

November.

I was buzzing with a pleasant kind of tension.

I was actually eager to take it. Not the desperate desire to get it over and be free, just genuine confidence. I was almost looking forward to the exam.

Looking back on the past year, I knew I had given everything I had.

My scores had climbed to the top of the range, and even on bad days the floor was high. If I bombed the CSAT at this point, the only explanation would be some external factor I couldn't foresee.

So when I was winding down after a day of studying, Elli and I were counting our chickens together.

"If I score around what I did on the last mock, SKY is totally within reach... but then what do we do? If I actually get in somewhere nearby, we technically don't need to live together separately..."

"We're doing it regardless. Even if it's just one block from home. We're absolutely doing it."

"Well, our parents said they'd be fine with it, so it'd work out, but..."

"If they help with the deposit, I can cover rent myself. So we're doing it."

"I obviously want to do it too, no question... oh, what about here? We only need one room anyway."

"No. Too small. We need either a big room or two rooms for the clothes."

"You're right, we do have a lot of clothes. Should we get rid of some older stuff?"

"I already sorted out everything we don't wear. Yours too."

"Really? Wait, come to think of it, the closet did feel a little roomier lately..."

We were browsing apartments near the universities I was aiming for on an app, the two of us just messing around.

It was some serious wishful thinking given I hadn't even taken the CSAT yet, but the excitement about the future put us both in a good mood.

We were talking like that, Elli tucked in my arms, when she turned her head and rested her hand against my cheek.

"How are you feeling right now?"

"Great. Even better because I'm holding you."

"I won't be at the exam hall with you. Should I not come until after the CSAT...?"

"Then I might actually die from missing you before then."

With that I buried my face in her platinum-blonde hair. The silk-soft feel of it, the scent that hit me, settled something deep in me.

Elli really was my tonic. Holding that slender waist of hers like this, every trace of exhaustion just dissolved.

We kept talking like that.

"I'm a little sad we couldn't go anywhere this year because of studying."

"We'll go everywhere next year."

"Where?"

"All of it."

"The beach, an amusement park... overseas too?"

"Yeah. Just the two of us."

"Once the CSAT is done I should start saving up for our trips too. Let my drawing muscles stretch out... oh, or should I get a part-time job? Like a cafe..."

"I told you, if you work at a cafe, you die."

"Did you?"

"Want to die?"

"Then I'll just draw. Drawing is better anyway since I can do it at home while you're here."

"Right, just draw. I'll earn money doing fitting model work."

"Will you be my drawing model too?"

"Nude model?"

"......"

"Don't even picture it, you pervert."

"That's not fair..."

"Hmph. Well, it's not like I couldn't."

"......"

"Pervert."

While calling me names, Elli pressed herself closer against me. Her hand trailed along my thigh, and in that touch I could feel years of accumulated, restless want.

I pulled her a little tighter in return, but that was as far as it went.

We'd been holding back on kissing lately too, aside from our morning and evening ones.

We were at the tail end of being nineteen, right before the CSAT, and neither of us was confident we could stop ourselves.

"Do well on the CSAT. That's an order."

"Will you kiss me so I have the energy to?"

"You never ask for permission when you ki..."

"I wanted you to be the one to kiss me. Kiss me."

"...Come here."

Still, it was good to have these moments where I asked my girlfriend for a kiss.

Because Elli's soft lips made me the happiest person in the world.

* * *

Two weeks later, mid-November.

The day of the CSAT.

When I opened my eyes at the usual time, Elli was there in front of me.

"You're up?"

"...Yeah."

"Then go to the bathroom and take your time washing up. You have plenty of time, so relax in the shower. I've already set out your clothes, so just put those on."

"......"

"Breakfast is the same as what you've been eating these past few days. You haven't had any stomach trouble with rice and miyeok-guk in the morning, so. Still, only eat as much as usual. If you're really nervous, eat even a little less."

"...Elli."

"I put hand warmers in your coat pocket, so keep touching them on the way there so your hands don't freeze. Don't squeeze them too hard or they might burst, so watch out for that. And also..."

"Elli."

"What, what is it."

She'd clearly put so much more effort into getting me ready this morning than herself. Her hair wasn't as neatly done as usual.

She looked far more tense than I was, her face set tight, words pouring out of her the second I'd woken up.

I pushed myself upright, sat on the edge of the bed, and opened my arms wide, letting the happiness that was welling up in me show as a full smile.

"Come here."

"......"

Elli immediately came into my arms.

I held my warm, wonderful-smelling girlfriend close and thanked her.

"Thank you. I'll do as well as all the care you've put in deserves. I love you."

"...You don't have to do great, so if you mess up a little, don't stress about it. I'm still going to give you all the rewards I promised."

"I should still do well... no, you're right. Okay. Even if I mess up, I won't let it get to me and I'll just try again."

"Good. Just do your best."

"I will."

After I washed up and came back, Elli had everything ready, from breakfast to a packed lunch.

Always a little prickly, always doing things her own way, and yet for me she showed this side of herself without hesitation.

Thanks to my wonderful girlfriend, today too I was starting the day at a hundred percent happy.

"You've got this, son!"

"Just do what you've been doing. Your dad and I know how hard you've worked, so don't worry too much about the results. Better if they're good, but."

"Do-yoon. If you want to take Elli with you, you're going to have to give it everything today."

"Oh no... should I have made more for breakfast? Do-yoon, don't be too nervous..."

And to the send-off from both our families, all of them cheering me on together.

Auntie Ye-rin, who was worrying over me even more than my own mom, the usual calm nowhere in sight, made me smile without even meaning to.

"I'll be back!"

I took Elli's hand and walked out the door.

Just like always. Like we were simply heading off to school on an ordinary day.

"Seniors! Do your best on the exam!!"

We arrived in front of the noisy exam hall.

"Good luck."

"I'm going to enjoy the CSAT and come back."

"I'm glad you don't look nervous. Go have fun."

"Yeah."

"......"

"......"

-smooch!

Elli, who had already been drawing eyes from the crowd around us, kissed me right on the lips, bold as anything, in the middle of all those people.

I felt even more gazes swing our way after that, but neither of us paid any attention to it. After that brief kiss, we looked at each other and smiled.

"I'll be back."

"Come back."

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