WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend Is Too Pretty ◈

Chapter 86: 33. Sweet Domestic Life with My Platinum-Blonde Girlfriend -4

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Elli and I ended up barely leaving the apartment until February.

That wasn't the plan we'd made before we started renting independently.

The idea was that even if we stayed cooped up through mid-January, once we'd settled a little into living on our own, we'd go out and enjoy ourselves here and there, just the two of us.

But the farthest we actually ventured after moving in was a large supermarket fifteen minutes away. That was it.

Being alone together in this cozy two-room apartment from morning to bedtime was more than enough to turn Elli, who used to love going out on dates, into a complete homebody.

By around February, at least, we'd moved past the phase where one glance at each other led straight to tangled sheets, and we started picking up the hobbies we'd put aside since our third year of high school.

-Strum, strum, strum

"When you smile, a dazzling light shines down on me..."

"Mmm..."

Even though I'd barely touched my guitar the previous year, almost two years of practice had made my playing sound pretty decent.

Part of it was that I hadn't just been practicing alone the whole time. Before Jeong-woo hyung left for the military, he'd often watch me practice and we'd play together here and there, so I'd improved a lot.

Thanks to that, Elli, who'd been a little unenthusiastic about it when I first started, had loved having me sing for her while I played ever since my birthday two years ago.

Especially in moments like this, just the two of us. When I sang her a love song, she'd press close beside me, those blue eyes sparkling as she watched me, and then.

"How was that?"

"Det var bra! (That was amazing!)"

The moment the song ended, she'd throw her arms around my neck and rain kisses on my lips.

And then sometimes Elli, unable to rein in her excitement.

"Elli, we said we'd make lunch together..."

"Forget it, we'll do it later."

-Rustle!

She'd pull my clothes off and then, right there on the sofa...

Well.

Anyway. On top of guitar, I also started drawing again, my favorite hobby since I was little.

Along with that, I reopened the freelance commissions I'd put on hold for the past year.

Drawing things to suit other people's tastes was something I genuinely enjoyed, and taking commissions kept my wallet in very good shape.

I had thought about trying a part-time job at a cafe or convenience store at least once, just for the experience.

"Should I get a part-time job? At a cafe, or a convenience store... or a bar or something."

"I told you to stop saying useless things. Want to die?"

"...I'll just stick to art commissions."

"Hmph."

Elli absolutely refused. She'd earn date money herself through her fitting model work before she'd ever let me work a part-time job outside the house. She wouldn't forgive it, she said.

So I gave up on any outside work and sat at the computer drawing on my tablet, and whenever Elli finished the housework she'd come nestle into my arms.

She'd squeeze herself into the gaming chair I was using, this platinum-blonde cat of mine demanding my attention, which meant I could never stay focused on drawing for long.

And today, Elli took it one step further.

"Do you need a model?"

"A model? Are you going to wear a swimsuit for me?"

"No. A nude model."

"......"

"For your drawing practice. Do you need one?"

She dangled the idea of posing nude to muddle my head, and then.

"...Let me just finish what I'm working on first, then I'll take you up on that. I want to get this one done as soon as I can."

"How long will it take?"

"About thirty minutes?"

"Okay. Go ahead."

"I'll finish quick... Elli? Why is your zipper..."

"Keep working. I'll entertain myself until you're done."

"Wait... ah...!"

She slipped under the desk and made things very difficult for me, and the rest inevitably took the direction it always did.

We were a couple in our prime who'd held back for years, so there was no helping it.

Even so, in our own way we enjoyed our hobbies, and we slowly got used to living together, just the two of us, renting independently, until the place we called home started to feel truly like ours.

* * *

February 12th.

My university orientation camp was getting closer.

But Elli's mood didn't especially sour just because it was drawing near.

She'd had a bit of a strong reaction when she'd heard about it over casual drinks with friends, but...

She knew by now that a university orientation camp wasn't some insane wild party. At its core it was just a freshmen bonding event, and she understood that.

She still didn't love the idea, but it wasn't enough to make her grumble about it every single day.

If anything.

"You said you heard things at orientation. Write down exactly what you need, right here. So you don't forget anything."

"Toiletries, a change of clothes, a charger... those are the most important things for now. They told me to wear something comfortable to move in."

"Not much, then. Take your Laiki duffel bag. I'll pack your clothes and everything into that."

"Sure. Oh, they said to definitely bring some hangover remedy, but I probably don't need one, right?"

"Hangover remedy... actually, no. Get some. I'll ask Bini-noona which one is good."

"Bini-noona? Wow, she'd definitely know... okay. Thanks, I'll leave it to you."

She took care of me with the same thoughtfulness as always. I really loved this side of Elli.

Even if she snapped at me sometimes and could be stubborn, her heart and the way she always looked out for me were things I treasured.

"And you know, right? Starting three days before the orientation camp, you and I..."

"Yeah, I know. I'll just turn my phone off from then."

We'd made a promise that in the days just before I left, Elli and I would spend some close, warm time together, like we had in early January. To charge up in advance for the days we wouldn't see each other.

I knew I'd miss Elli, so that kind of recharging was more than welcome.

"Wear that again for me then. The lingerie Mina-noona sent us as a present."

"The lingerie? If I wear it, are you confident you'll go all out?"

"Absolutely. Last time you wore it I was pretty intense, wasn't I. You remember, right?"

"...Hmph."

I was also really looking forward to seeing Elli in the black, sexy lingerie Mina-noona had passed along through Minjae as a gift.

She'd said she'd bought it for novel research, but it fit Elli perfectly, so she'd given it to us as a housewarming present.

It was so sexy and daring that when Elli wore it for me a few days ago, I'd completely lost it.

So when I brought it up, Elli seemed happy enough to go along with it. She'd been into it too, since I'd been so worked up.

"Oh, Valentine's Day is the day after tomorrow."

"Already? What should we do this year? Are you making chocolate again?"

"Do you want some?"

"Of course, if you're making it for me."

"That's true even if it's not chocolate, isn't it."

"Sure, but still."

Whatever Elli put effort into making for me, I'd be moved by it and eat every bite happily, no matter what it was.

At my quick answer, Elli, still nestled in my arms, went quiet for a moment, turning something over in her mind.

A moment later.

"Then let's do something other than chocolate."

"What instead?"

"Get up. Let's go out."

"Hm... all of a sudden? You said hyung and noona were coming over tonight."

"We'll be back before then."

We'd been having a warm, easy afternoon at home, but at Elli's sudden urging I got ready to head out.

I fixed my hair quickly and changed into the outfit she picked for me.

The look she chose today was very casual, though.

Sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and a puffer jacket over it all. Simple.

It was definitely comfortable, and I appreciated that, but normally Elli put real effort into styling both of us, even if it meant a little inconvenience.

The fact that she wasn't doing that made me think she was probably just heading to the supermarket to pick up some ingredients.

But the moment we stepped outside, Elli walked toward the subway station, not the supermarket.

"We're taking the subway? Where are we going?"

"Gangnam."

"Gangnam?"

A completely unexpected destination. A question mark popped into my head, but I didn't bother pestering her for details and just followed along quietly.

It had been a while since we'd gone this far out together, so I let myself enjoy the rare feeling of an outing.

And we arrived at Seolleung Station.

"......"

-Glance, glance

It had been the same on the subway, and it kept happening even after we came out of the station. People passing by kept stealing glances at Elli.

If anything, more openly than they had back in high school.

It was unavoidable, really.

Elli had grown more beautiful from the year before last to last year, and from last year to this year.

It might have been just my own perception, but ever since we'd started sleeping together, there was something subtly sensual about her that made her even lovelier.

On top of that, when sunlight caught her platinum-blonde hair, anyone who saw it naturally had their gaze pulled toward her.

Of course, it was something I was used to, so I brushed it off easily enough and walked with her down the busy street.

"Turn right at the intersection... it's walkable. Let's go."

"Is it far from here?"

"A little. I just wanted to walk a bit after being cooped up so long. Is that okay?"

"If that's what you want, of course it's fine."

Elli, similar to how she'd always been but a little softer now, a little more warmth in the way she looked at me, tucked her arm through mine.

We walked through the crowded Gangnam streets and arrived at.

"...A lingerie store?"

A specialist lingerie shop, no less. The kind of place that was a little hard for a guy to just walk into.

I stood there for a moment, genuinely blindsided, and Elli gave me a coy smile and explained.

"You seem to like lingerie, so for Valentine's Day I'll wear whatever you pick."

"What I pick?"

"What you pick. I was originally going to do a cosplay for you, but... you still haven't chosen anything for that."

"Sorry... it's hard to decide..."

Even as we talked, my feet hesitated a little at the sight of all the bright, delicate underwear visible inside.

But when Elli said she'd wear whichever lingerie I chose, I steeled myself.

I'd picked out things like swimsuits for her before, but it felt different now that we were adults compared to back when we were minors.

Now I could more openly watch her wear what I chose. Watch her put it on, change into it, take it off... or take it off her myself.

The motivation welled right up.

Honestly, walking into a place like this was embarrassing, but with a reward that certain, there was no reason to hold back.

-Jingle!

I followed Elli through the door as she pushed it open.

"Welcome."

Couples coming in together must not have been unheard of, because the staff greeted me with a bright smile, perfectly unfazed by my presence.

"......"

I walked past her and faced the full expanse of the store, so many styles, so many varieties, all laid out before me.

And among all of it, the moment I stepped inside, there was one piece I couldn't look away from.

Good grief.

"...Elli."

"What?"

"What about that one?"

"Which one are you... pervert."

She shot me a look immediately, and not without reason.

A pink see-through bra, the back completely visible through the sheer fabric, had completely captured my heart.

I needed to see Elli wearing it.

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