My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

12 – 04. No longer a young child, but not yet an adult at sixteen -2

Since entering middle school two years ago, there had been an increase in the days she spent separately with Ellie.

Even though we used to hang out together every day, now it was about two days a week that we spent apart.

Of course, I still believed that I could spend all 365 days of the year only with Ellie, but sometimes it wasn’t bad to have some time apart like this.

Today, just like my childhood friend and the friends including Yisoyeon who said they would go shopping, I also went with my friends.

“Siuuu!!!”

“No no no, what the hell?! Did you lose your conscience, you bastard? Why the hell is that going in?”

“My love, my light, my joy, my hope… King Goddu.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Wow, I hate the trashy team of Lee Jinwoo. How can I stop them when there’s only small fries?”

“Screw it. The game is crap even if I head the ball from outside the box.”

We casually came to the PC bang [internet cafe] to hang out.

When the number of people is enough, sometimes we play basketball or soccer, or occasionally go to the singing room, but today it was the PC bang.

Probably because the exams are next week, there were many kids going to academies or studying, so in the end, there were only four members including me.

“Lee Doyoon did an awesome cross with the clothesline!”

“To be honest, I made it all. Agree?”

“Totally agree~”

Like any other kids our age, a bit foul-mouthed, yet nice, and slightly giving up on studying.

I spent some time with those friends.

Actually, I originally planned to go home right away and study, but I couldn’t refuse the request to play for a little while.

Thanks to that, we came to the PC bang, played games for about two hours, and stood up from the seat.

And on the way out, grabbing my bag.

“Doyoon, are you already leaving?”

“Yes. See you later.”

“Take care~ Come again next time!”

I received the greeting from the sister who was looking at the counter. Even though I don’t come often, she remembers me and greets me like this when we meet. She even gives me a drink as a service sometimes.

There’s a reason she treats me so kindly.

“Hey, don’t you think that sister will give you her number if you ask?”

“What would I do if I got it?”

“You talk big. You’re really unlucky.”

“You’re someone who lives off your looks… Well, there’s Alicia, so what would I do if I got hers?”

“That sister is pretty too, but she’s in a different league.”

Even without the urging of my friends, I am well aware that it’s because I’m good-looking.

During elementary school, it was only out of kindness, but since entering middle school, it has been followed by frequent confessions, making it even more evident.

Not only my face, but thankfully, I grew taller without engaging in any special exercises, thanks to my parents. My physique, including my shoulders, was well-proportioned.

Moreover, with my mom and Mrs. Eline collaborating, refining my style, I shone even brighter.

Due to this good looks, people generally showed favor, which I honestly enjoyed.

Above all, Ellie liked it.

Anyway, even after leaving the PC room, we didn’t immediately return home in regret. We bought drinks at the convenience store, stood nearby, and chatted for a while.

“What are you doing next week? It’s a breeze because it’s exam period.”

“I’ll play games at home.”

“Damn, facing off against that sh*tty Barcelona team and Real Madrid…”

“And what about you, Yoon Ido?”

“I need to study.”

“You study alone like a damn hermit. What were your scores on last year’s final? Pretty high, wasn’t it?”

“Back then… around an average of 80?”

“No way, damn. You’re really good. Without even going to an academy.”

“Just pay attention in class. And I got a lot of help from Minjae, who secretly copied the academy practice questions.”

“Seong Minjae? The guy from Class 4, the anime nerd? Right, that dude’s an anime nerd too.”

Just random banter without any particular meaning. But it was the kind of enjoyable chatter friends had.

Today too, when the guys gathered like this, the question that always came up resurfaced.

“Hey, how far did you go with Alicia?”

“Why are you asking again, damn it? After doing everything, you’ll probably say you didn’t do anything.”

“A real f*cking tease.”

Of course, even if I told the truth, they wouldn’t believe it. So, I just laughed it off when such questions arose.

Even if I did something with Ellie, I wouldn’t go into detail about such stories.

“Yoon Ido’s face doesn’t make sense, and Alicia’s seriously insane.”

“Isn’t it a bit much? She’s not some foreign beauty; she has a more Korean vibe, making her even prettier.”

“Oh, that! Exactly that vibe!”

“Maybe it’s because she’s mixed race? She’s mixed race, right?”

“Yeah. Her mom is Korean.”

“Ha, really damn jealous. I envy being with her more than anything else.”

“I envy Yoon Ido more. It feels like I can’t even breathe when I’m with him.”

Perhaps because we were at an age when we were very interested in the opposite s*x, the talk about Ellie became even livelier.

When I heard my friends praising Ellie and talking about how well we got along, I was pleased, so I held my ground a bit longer.

In the midst of that, the topic shifted to other girls besides Ellie.

“Joo Hye-ryung likes Lee Do-yoon too.”

“Yeah, he’s famous. When you run into him and Alicia in the hallway, it’s really intense.”

“They flirt like crazy.”

“So, Ji Dong-hyun looks at Lee Do-yoon with envy because that guy likes Joo Hye-ryung.”

“But isn’t he scared stiff of Lee Do-yoon? Can’t even say a word?”

“Isn’t it because of his appearance? If you mess with Lee Do-yoon, more than 90% of the girls in the school will turn against you.”

Then, names of familiar but somewhat difficult-to-handle girls and boys were mentioned.

“What about Lee So-yeon?”

“Lee So-yeon… isn’t she just a close friend?”

“We’ve been friends since elementary school.”

She’s mischievous and sometimes a bit awkward, but a friend who has been close to Ellie and me since elementary school.

“I don’t know about Lee So-yeon, but Yang Ji-yoon is a hundred percent sure.”

“How do you know?”

“Just watch her expression change when she talks to Lee Do-yoon. You’d have to be blind not to notice.”

While hearing the name of the girl who confessed to me yesterday, a girl I regretfully had to reject.

“Hey, hey, Lee Do-yoon. Can you play basketball tomorrow?”

“I can during lunch. Can’t after it’s over.”

“Then eat quickly and come out. We’re gathering members.”

“Got it. See you later.”

After chatting with friends for about an hour, I made plans for lunch tomorrow and said goodbye.

On the way back, I exchanged texts with Ellie.

Even on days when we don’t hang out together, we regularly share where we’ve been and what we’ve been doing.

It seemed like Ellie had a fun time shopping with Lee So-yeon, and they even went out for dinner.

“She’ll be coming late.”

Anticipating that today’s greetings would be a bit delayed, I headed home.

Twice a day, every day. Despite doing it for years.

The exchange of greetings and visuals with Ellie always made my heart race, and I looked forward to it.

After eating the snack my mom prepared, I sat at the desk and focused on studying for a while.

Because I had come home a bit late, it was already late at night by the time I took a short break.

I organized the past exam printouts I received in exchange for drawing for a friend, stretched, and headed to the bathroom.

I also took care of the skincare routine that Ellie insisted on before going to bed, brushed my teeth once more, and then.

“Going to sleep?”

“No. Ellie will be here in a bit.”

“What’s with him coming at this hour… Your mom believes him, you know? Our son, is he already like this?!”

“Well, well. Just trust me, Mom.”

“I will! I’ll trust only Doyoon!”

Listening to my mom’s playful and affectionate shouts, still filled with so much love for me.

When I returned to the room, I turned on the computer and raised my hand to the tablet. It was to refine the drawing I received a request for before Ellie arrived.

This wasn’t a request from a school friend; I received it as a commission from the community I participate in.

Until last year, I had been drawing casually and for free as practice, but now I was putting more effort into it and charging a modest commission fee.

There were so many requests that I decided to filter them out and select only those willing to pay a commission fee.

“Thanks to this, I have a bit more pocket money.”

Even if I charged the maximum, it was only a few thousand won, but honestly, it didn’t take long to draw one.

Primarily in a Japanese manga style, my drawing style with a touch of drama was quite popular.

I hadn’t formally studied art, but I had been drawing steadily whenever I had time since I was young, so my skills were decent.

Moreover, most of the requests were based on existing characters from other works, so it was quite easy to draw with clear models.

Since it wasn’t a high-paying job, I didn’t need to focus too much on details.

It was a hobby that I enjoyed, a perfect way to earn pocket money.

*Swoosh, swish…*

Still, I paid a bit more attention and refined this drawing more than usual. Although the coloring was already done, I adjusted and corrected it as much as possible.

I usually didn’t go this far, but since it was a picture of Nelsa from Frozen, a princess character I liked for a long time and who felt similar to Ellie.

As I was working on it, touching it up a bit before Ellie arrived.

*Click*

The door opened, and footsteps passing behind me towards the bed reached my ears.

No need to check; it was Ellie. Even now, my parents knock before entering my room, but Ellie just walks in.

“You’re here?”

“Uh.”

“Just a moment. I’ll finish quickly.”

“Hurry up.”

Since Elli had arrived, he hurried to wrap things up. Anyway, he had done enough, and his hobby and side income were not as important as Elli.

*Splash*

When he tried to save the picture and send it to the client’s email, he heard a crashing sound.

Glancing beside him, Elli was lying face down on my bed, buried under the blanket.

Lying on neatly arranged bedding, burying her face in the pillow, her platinum blonde hair fluttered messily.

Wearing a pink, fluffy pajama that felt like a plush toy.

“……”

And the moment I looked over there, I couldn’t turn my head away.

The pink fleece pajamas Elli was wearing, although a bit thick for the cool weather, had very short shorts.

Thanks to that, from her thighs to her toes, everything was clearly exposed, and Elli’s white and pretty legs naturally captivated my gaze.

Honestly.

Now that I’m 16, everyone compliments me for being handsome and kind, but as a teenage boy.

Whenever I see Elli in such a defenseless state, I can’t help but feel strange emotions in various ways.

Although Elli doesn’t think about doing such things as much as she doesn’t want to, my body couldn’t help but react in various ways.

Looking at that perfect line from her buttocks, I couldn’t help but think about it.

For a while, forgetting to even breathe, I quickly finished the work.

I have to finish this so I can say goodbye to Elli.

As I turned my gaze back to the computer, Elli’s dissatisfied voice reached me.

“What’s this? Did you wash the blanket?”

“My mom did it today. Smells good, right?”

“…Tch.”

I didn’t know what he wanted from my bed, but in Elli’s whining that seemed to grasp that feeling, I unintentionally smiled.

After a while, having finished my work, I turned off the computer.

And I turned the swivel chair to look at Elli.

“It’s all done.”

“……”

At my words, Elli, still lying down, turned her head slightly to the side.

The slightly lowered eyebrows, the crooked lips, and yet, the beautiful face. She was truly the epitome of a self-centered princess.

Now, the routine that we always followed—where the princess would get up, exchange ‘greetings,’ and return home—was about to happen again.

As Ellie lay there, she unexpectedly threw out a thought.

“Hey. I heard you confessed to Yang Ji-yoon yesterday.”

…How did you know? Only she and I knew about it… Oh.

“Did Lee So-yeon tell you?”

“She said you did.”

“I did.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Were you planning to hide it?”

“She asked me to keep it a secret. She knew I would reject her, but she wanted to tell me before graduation.”

“Hide it?”

“Yeah, even though it’s that kind of thing…”

“Do you want me to pry?”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t hide things from me. Especially things like that.”

“Well…”

Even though it was a bit intimidating to see her speaking while lying down with her eyes flickering, she would probably keep it a secret if a similar situation arose again.

Of course, it would depend on the circumstances each time.

In this case, she apologized to me while confessing, saying sorry for saying such things when she knew I had Ellie.

She even shed a few tears, so how could I not keep it a secret?

Unable to bring myself to admit it, Ellie probably thought the same about herself and didn’t bother responding.

-Rolling

She simply started rolling around the bed in various directions.

-Rolling

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you bored? Want to play around a bit before sleeping?”

“No. Hey, Lee Do-yoon.”

As Ellie, who had been rolling back and forth a few times, stopped and lay down to look at the ceiling.

And in that position, she called me and stretched both arms upward.

“It’s too much trouble to move. Let’s just stay like this today.”

“…Like this?”

“Yes, quickly.”

“Fine… got it.”

I approached Ellie, pretending to be nonchalant and calm.

Talking about the beauty of Ellie’s hair or face was now just painful to say, and her body, which had clearly developed curves since last year, was noticeable even when lying down.

I climbed onto the bed, capturing it in my gaze.

Doing it in this position was a first for me, placing my arms and legs on either side of Ellie as I lay over her, avoiding contact with her arms and legs.

In that position, I embraced Ellie, unable to slide my hands beneath her due to the difficulty of reaching behind her neck. Ellie pulled me in, her arms around my back.

*Kiss, kiss.*

We exchanged kisses on each other’s cheeks… No, pecks.

And then, I…

As I lay on top of Ellie’s slender body, feeling the softness of her curves, I found myself thinking slightly less pleasant thoughts than usual.

In reality, embracing was more uncomfortable than standing normally, but for some reason, it gave off a strange feeling…

“Yi Doyoon.”

“Huh, yeah?”

“Do you know what I bought today?”

“Clothes? I thought you bought summer clothes.”

Our greetings were over, and I pulled my arms back, returning to a propped-up position with the strength of my forearms, fearing that Ellie might feel too heavy.

However, Ellie’s arms around my neck did not loosen.

Thanks to that, facing each other with our noses almost touching, Ellie continued her words.

Words that made it even harder for me.

“I bought underwear.”

“…”

“Black underwear. Both bra and panties.”

“Uh, well… yeah. It must be pretty.”

What else could I say?

The room was already warm, Ellie’s body temperature was warm, and the parts of us in contact were hot.

Thanks for making me feel hotter than I’ve ever been, thanks to you, the cold sweat that broke out.

“Miss me?”

Even as she spoke, Elli blushed, throwing those words with a provocative glint in her eyes.

I didn’t hesitate for long.

“Yeah. I miss you.”

As a human Lee Doyoon, as a man Lee Doyoon, it was a 100% sincere confession.

Simultaneously, my eyes naturally slid past Elli’s neckline, over her pajamas, toward the collarbone peeking out, lower than that.

Imagining Elli in black underwear.

“Hmph.”

Seemingly pleased with my response and gaze, Elli chuckled contentedly.

“Later.”

“……”

“Now get up. You’re heavy.”

“…Okay.”

A hint of betrayal and immense regret filled my chest, yet I obediently rose from atop Elli.

And then Elli promptly got off the bed, her expression unchanged.

“Godnatt (Goodnight).”

“Yeah. You sleep well too.”

– Thud

After brief farewells, she turned and left.

And from the room Elli departed,

I, leaving behind my tangled emotions, extinguished the lights and lay on the bed.

As I covered myself with the blanket, Elli’s sweet scent pricked my nose, perhaps from her vigorous rolling earlier.

Thanks to her.

Thanks to Elli, who lay beneath me just now.

Elli, who hugged my neck.

Elli, who gave me kisses on my cheek.

Elli, who subtly tempted me.

Once again, flooding my mind entirely.

I immediately got up from bed and turned on my computer.

***

The next day.

After my fourth class, I prepared to go downstairs to play basketball with my friends.

It’s a tradition to go to the cafeteria after exercising and eat whatever is left.

“Yoon Idoo! Let’s go!”

“There are six of us? Shall we play 3 on 3?”

“They’re from the second grade anyway, so we can join with the basketball players.”

“Oh, right.”

And just as I was about to leave in response to my friends’ call.

-Rustle

“Hey, Idoo.”

“Elli? Why? I’m going to eat later…”

“Sit down.”

“Um…okay.”

Elli came to my class with several other girls behind her.

She told me to sit down with a somewhat scary expression, so I ended up sitting back down under that pressure.

Then Elli pulled out the chair in front of me and sat down herself.

Unexpectedly, she asked me an amazing question.

“Do you watch adult films too?”

Boldly, in a classroom where most of the students were still present.

Elli always captivated everyone’s attention from the moment she walked in, and even though I tried not to pay attention to her because her voice was so nice, if she spoke, it entered my ears clearly.

Thanks to that, in a situation where everyone in the class, including the friends I was planning to play basketball with, was focused on us.

Being praised for my honesty as one of my greatest strengths, I answered without any hesitation.

“No? I don’t watch them.”