chapter 20
20 – 07. Playing on the Weekend with a Platinum Blonde Childhood Friend
About a month after entering high school.
Whether it was our class or another class, whether it was a different grade. We gradually became accustomed to Eli’s presence.
Perhaps it was because she was a pretty girl, or because she was a foreigner who had obtained citizenship.
At the time when Elly’s friends were having a hard time bringing up her story directly, they became able to bring it up little by little without hesitation.
Around this time.
Since a while ago and until now, there was always something that the boys who had become close to me were curious about.
“What do you guys do on the weekends? Going on dates outside?”
It was about what Elly and I do and have fun with on the weekends.
This question had been asked every year since around middle school.
It had some innocence when we were in middle school, but now, it has been about a month since we entered high school.
“……”
“……”
Seeing these guys surrounding me with sinister eyes, I could somewhat understand what kind of answer they wanted from me.
In the eyes looking at me, there was a deep curiosity about adult-rated things.
“Tell us some stories. We’re really curious.”
“They’ve been together since kindergarten, they said. What, are they going to play outside on the weekend? Definitely gonna have a home date.”
“So, what do you do at home?”
“Well…”
As they spoke subtly and looked at me with a blurred end to their words, it was almost like a test.
After school today, they suggested playing basketball, so I sent Elly home first and played a game with them for the first time in a long while.
Taking advantage of a short break, they gathered around me in a huddle inside the basketball court and asked me this question.
Maybe they were expecting us to do something dirty.
I understood. It was the time when we were very interested in such things, and as a 17-year-old high school student with vigorous blood, I was no different from them in a position to speak for men.
It was also a bit amusing to see these big guys with excited eyes.
“Well, if you ask what Elly and I did last week…”
I carefully recalled the memory.
Starting from the Saturday four days ago, I spent two days with Elly.
***
The weekend of the first month of high school.
A period when I became a little more accustomed to the school life that was similar yet different from middle school.
I overslept a bit because I stayed up late the previous night, not drawing a picture, but watching an interesting anime that Minjae recommended.
Thanks to my groggy head, I woke up around the time when lunch was probably approaching.
“Ugh…”
I groaned, squinting at the brilliant light covering my face. I couldn’t open my eyes right away.
Struggling to lift my eyelids, there she was in front of me.
“…….”
The princess.
Sitting gently on the bed, her platinum hair, already radiant in the sunlight, slightly tousled.
Partially obscured by long eyelashes and eyelids, jewel-like eyes.
Even without heavy makeup, her plump lips, slightly parted, emitted a reddish glow, and a faint blush adorned her cheeks as if the color had spread.
That princess, my childhood friend, Ellie.
Beyond the blurry vision, she looked down at me.
-Sararak…
The touch gently sweeping through my hair began to register in my awakening consciousness.
Despite it being the weekend, she was wearing an unusually pretty blouse-like shirt, and a skirt that seemed to extend from her shoulders…
Huh? A skirt?
The moment I realized that, I snapped out of my drowsiness.
Waking up with a start, I turned my head.
In my eyes, Ellie was not wearing a skirt but a dress.
Not as playful as before, she still preferred active clothes, making this outfit a rare sight.
In such attire, with her white legs visible underneath, I fully awakened.
However, I didn’t get up. I lay there, reluctant for Ellie’s petting to end, and opened my mouth.
“Where are we going?”
I asked, wondering if she had dressed up with the intention of going out with me.
“Nowhere. Get up and take a shower.”
Ellie replied curtly, adding one more thing at the end.
“Because we have a date, Vizhu.”
“…….”
Ellie, who looked lovely even just breathing, told me to hurry up and wash while dressed in a white shirt and a black dress, ready for a kiss.
-Quickly
“I’ll wash up quickly.”
Even though the gentle touch felt pleasant, how could I just lie down?
I immediately got up and headed to the bathroom.
-Clatter!
But the moment I opened the door.
“Huh?”
I realized that our cozy home was locked in silence. At this time, both Mom and Dad would typically be in the living room, watching TV and chatting.
Wondering if they had gone out somewhere, I turned to Ellie and asked.
“They went for a drive. With our dad.”
Both families had left us alone, as I learned from Ellie.
***
-Shhh…
I took a morning shower right away. It’s not like I had any expectations for being alone with Ellie. It just became a habit to take a shower, ensuring that Ellie wouldn’t catch any unpleasant smell from me, as we had hugged each other every morning and evening since we were young.
After finishing the shower and changing into underwear and comfortable sweatpants in the bathroom, I came out with wet hair to find Ellie waiting for me with a hairdryer in hand.
“Sit. I’ll dry your hair.”
From then on, Ellie’s delicate touch brought me great comfort.
-Whiiing!
With great care and occasional bursts of warm air, she meticulously styled my hair, and this pleasant drying session lasted for almost 30 minutes.
“All done.”
“Thanks. But seriously, you’re not going out? The outfit you’re wearing now is really pretty, it’s a shame.”
“Hmph, it’s fine. I’m going to play at home today. You should change quickly too. I laid out your clothes on the bed.”
“…? Play at home and change?”
Honestly, if you’re playing at home, sweatpants would be more comfortable… I thought and was about to say, but Ellie’s voice immediately lowered.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll change.”
Normally, when playing at home, I didn’t pay much attention to what I wore, but today felt a bit different.
Well, Elly is wearing a really pretty dress, and I can’t just not wear something when she’s all dressed up.
The prepared outfit consists of black slacks and a white knit sweater.
It’s a monotonous color combination that Elly doesn’t particularly like, but it seemed like she coordinated it with the shirt and dress she’s wearing.
Kind of like a couple look.
I hurriedly changed into my clothes. We need to go out quickly, do kram and bijou with Elly, and enjoy the home date for as long as possible.
After getting everything ready, putting on socks, and even taking out a jacket to put on, I left the room.
-Swish
Elly, who was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for me while playing with her phone, stood up when she saw me.
And she called me with a confident nod.
Softly.
“kram.”
Adding that one word.
But her body was already prepared to embrace me, arms slightly open, waiting for me to come and hug her.
It was so cute that I almost burst into laughter without realizing it.
I approached Elly, who was revealing her pretty thighs and legs under the slightly short dress.
-Smooch, smooch…
I hugged her thin waist and gave her a bijou.
“…….”
“…….”
The ‘greeting’ was over, but it was a shame to separate right away. Elly, showing freshness and femininity like today, was rare, and it set my heart on fire.
So, without saying anything, I brought my face close to hers again.
Do we really need to do bijou again? I left such questions unanswered.
As if giving permission, Elly’s apricot-colored lips naturally pressed against mine, as if suppressing my lips.
“Mmm…”
Slightly longer than usual bijou. Honestly, it felt more like a kiss than bijou. But for us, it was still not just a kiss.
-Snap…
For some reason, it seemed like Elly preferred doing it longer like this, and the strength of the arms around my neck became stronger.
We exchanged bijou, or rather, kisses.
***
After finishing bijou, or rather, Elly led me to the living room.
I turned on Netflix on the TV and sat on the floor with my back against the couch, while Ellie came between my legs and leaned against me.
And in that moment…
I realized.
“Valentine’s Day?”
This year’s Valentine’s Day was very similar to the time I spent with Ellie at the room cafe.
Back then, she was wearing a skirt instead of a dress, and the show on Netflix was a romantic movie rather than a recent trendy drama.
There wasn’t much of a difference, really.
And usually, she would have prepared something nearby, but today she hadn’t done anything, which was a little different.
With Ellie setting the ambiance like that and peacefully burying herself in my embrace, she brushed her side hair back, making sure her ears were visible. She didn’t even wear small earrings.
With her head slightly tilted to the side, as if telling me to look at her ears.
I couldn’t understand what Ellie wanted.
“Is it because you want a kiss like last time?”
Today, Ellie seemed even cuter, to the point of driving me crazy.
Even if she had just asked normally, I would have gladly obliged, but she didn’t want to say it with her own mouth. She wanted to recreate that moment.
“Phew…”
“What? Why are you laughing?”
“No, the movie is a bit funny.”
“Hmph.”
I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
Ellie’s voice, chastising me, had a slight hint of annoyance.
As if asking why I wasn’t doing it sooner.
With a smile and a deep breath, I pulled Ellie’s waist tighter, as if giving her a signal.
“….”
Perhaps Ellie noticed my intention in that moment, as she didn’t say anything else. The hand that was brushing her hair also lowered slightly.
And so…
In front of me, a table was set with a meal.
“Chirp…”
“Heeuk…”
With a joyful heart, he pressed his lips.