My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

27 – 10. Preparing for a Date with Childhood Friends

As if determined not to miss it, thin arms tightly wrapped around my neck.

Soft and sweet lips that didn’t leave me.

Beautiful blue eyes that stared at me, as if I could fall into them.

“Softly…”

Embracing the slender body of Elly in my arms, I couldn’t help but smile.

I felt it.

My longing for Elly today and her feelings were mutual.

No, it was more than that.

“……”

Her eyes, looking at me without blinking, were shining not like the white tiger in the safari, but now like a brightly colored bird of prey.

As if wanting to devour me right away, with a somehow ferocious sensation.

Yet, despite that, she did nothing beyond that.

Even though she pressed her moist lips against mine for a long time, Ellie never initiated the next move.

How could I not know this?

It meant she left the initiation of what comes next to me.

“I should hurry a bit.”

So, once again, I resolved.

To quickly finish preparing so I could rush towards Ellie, who was waiting for me to take one more step closer.

For Ellie.

And for myself.

***

The day Ellie went to work as a fitting model, and I temporarily distanced myself to take on a freelance job from Minah noona.

Ellie, who had been applying her makeup longer than usual in a strange atmosphere, didn’t change much afterward.

Except for one thing.

“…”

Ellie’s gaze directed at me started to carry a somewhat dangerous gleam more frequently.

Like a predator eyeing its prey.

While she had shown such a look occasionally before, the frequency seemed to have increased.

“Ellie, why?”

“…It’s nothing.”

If you asked why she was staring so intensely, she would blush and avoid eye contact.

Yeah.

It was something.

Really something.

“If Ellie tries to do something strange, make sure to tell Mom. Got it? Mom believes in our son…!”

“Why are you like this, Jieun~ If someone hears, they might think our Ellie is up to something bad~”

“Then can you confidently say your daughter hasn’t been doing anything strange lately? Put your hand on your heart and say it.”

“hehehehe…”

“You’re just laughing because you have nothing to say! Son! You really have to take care of yourself!”

On some days, I wondered if my mom and an elderly lady had conversations like this beside me.

Still, other than that, everything was the same.

As usual, exchanging glances in the morning and evening, and in between, whenever our hearts synced, our lips would touch.

However, as the midterms approached, I began to focus more on studying. Even during our study sessions, except for the final 20 minutes we set aside for breaks, we worked diligently.

During those 20 minutes, we would simply hold hands or steal a quick kiss. Isuyeon must have known we did that right before we finished; she always sneakily watched us when Eli wasn’t looking.

And sometimes, on days when Eli and I had a moment alone.

That was when we secretly started a project.

“Ma’am.”

“Yeah? What is it, Doyoon?”

“Do you happen to know Eli’s finger… um, ring size?”

“hehehe. Looks like our little Doyoon is preparing something cute, huh?”

“I want it to be a secret from Eli.”

“Alright, alright~ Eli’s ring size… Of course, I know it. It’s the same as mine. I’ve even tried on a ring of hers jokingly before, so I’m sure.”

The madam, seemingly amused by my question, cackled mischievously as she figured out Eli’s ring size before anything else.

I felt relieved at this point.

While investigating couple rings, I discovered for the first time that everyone has a different ring size, something that might seem obvious.

You can buy them almost anywhere, but getting the size right wasn’t that simple.

If the madam hadn’t known, preparing a surprise would have been challenging.

And there was another aspect about the ring that troubled me.

“A jewelry workshop… would that be alright?”

I had been contemplating buying something decent within my budget, but the idea of making a ring together, something we both could wear, was incredibly appealing.

Eli would probably like it too.

So, regarding this matter, during the weekend when we went out to relieve some exam stress, including Isuyeon, the three of us.

While Eli briefly stepped away to the restroom, I quickly asked Soyeon.

“Soyeon, Soyeon.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“You know, I’m currently preparing a couple ring.”

“Really?! Show me! What kind are you planning?”

“Well, I’m still undecided on the design… But what do you think is better, buying from a good brand that we both wear or going to a jewelry workshop and making it ourselves?”

“Making it? At a jewelry workshop? Going on a date together?”

“Yeah.”

In response to my question, Lee Soyeon frowned, clenching her fist and appearing deeply engrossed in thought for a moment.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“Um, Soyeon?”

“Oh, sorry. It’s such a difficult decision… I really can’t choose. I like both of them so much! Wouldn’t Ellie like either one a lot?”

“Hmm…”

“Or how about getting both? Buy a couple ring, make something at the workshop… It doesn’t have to be a ring, maybe a pendant?”

“A pendant… that might not be a bad idea?”

“Right?”

I hadn’t expected much and was just seeking her opinion, but I could actually get reasonable advice.

As I nodded in satisfaction, Soyeon leaned closer, her eyes sparkling, and asked.

“But are you two really dating now?”

“That’s the plan. I’m waiting for Ellie to tell me first, though. In truth, we’re pretty much already dating.”

“Mm, good thinking. You guys are going to the beach together in the summer, right? You should really make it official and deepen your relationship there… hehehe.”

“You’re a pervert.”

I said that to Soyeon, who was smiling wickedly in a different sense than a middle-aged woman, but honestly, the thought was not entirely absent.

Ellie had vowed to wear a bikini this summer, and I was indeed eagerly anticipating that day.

If we were officially dating, I could probably engage in more intimate moments with Ellie in a bikini, just as Soyeon had suggested.

Well, more than that.

“Let’s go.”

“Ready? What should we watch next time?”

“Sandles. I want to buy a good pair in advance.”

“It’s not the season yet, is it?”

“I want to buy Jandals.”

“Do you want me to tag along? Don’t you remember hurting your foot last year while wandering around in those?”

“Oh, right.”

“I’ll get ones with straps. Just follow me.”

Although I wanted to monopolize her with a larger desire, seeing her cutely angry while worrying about me was enough for now.

It was a very busy April for me.

I didn’t study for the midterm exams at the end of April, I secretly looked up couple rings with Elli, and I worried about our dates.

I had enough money saved up before, so I temporarily stopped taking illustration commissions. I didn’t have time for that.

During those busy days, Elli would sometimes look at me as if she wanted to say something, but she didn’t show any signs of it as the midterm exams approached.

But on the day of the midterm exams.

“……”

Every day after taking the exams, I would go home early, and Elli’s eyes started to look at me fiercely again.

As if she had nothing to say. As if asking if I won’t do anything after the exams.

I still hadn’t decided which couple ring to get, and because I hadn’t set a schedule, I endured that look.

On the last day of the midterm exams.

Before Elli could say anything, I spoke first.

“Elli. Do you want to go to the amusement park next weekend?”

“Next weekend? Why not this week since the exams are over…”

Elli, who reflexively frowned in response to my words, suddenly stopped talking.

And after pondering something, she looked at me with an embarrassed look and spoke again.

“…You want to go next week?”

“I hope it’s next week.”

“……”

Elli’s expression became strange. She probably sensed something vaguely. It’s rare for me to specify a date like this.

“Well… it doesn’t matter…”

Maybe because of that, Elli blushed and started twirling her side hair with her finger.

It’s a shame that it couldn’t be a complete surprise, but I’m glad that we had at least this much time together secretly.

Besides, Elli won’t even notice the couple ring.

“It’s decided then. Saturday or Sunday?”

“Probably Saturday?”

“Okay. Next Saturday. So, for today…”

“I have something to do today. Can we go separately?”

“……”

If it were the usual Elli, she would have immediately furrowed her brows and questioned where I was going, what I was going to do, and only then would she let me go.

Especially on a day like today, when time was abundant and leisurely, it was natural to have fun after the exams.

But.

“…Sure.”

Even though there was a slight hint of dissatisfaction, I nodded willingly.

“Eli! Let’s hang out today then. Our mom keeps asking if you’re coming over after such a long time~”

Thanks to that, Isoyeon confidently grabbed Eli, who had free time today. She winked at me.

“By the way, when are you coming to my house, Ido Yun?”

“It won’t be that late, right? I’ll definitely be there before evening.”

“Got it. Let’s go, Isoyeon.”

“Yeah, yeah! Oh, let’s buy snacks on our way. Or maybe stop by a cafe and get some salt bread and croffle…”

With that, Eli and Isoyeon left the classroom first, and I got up, grabbing my bag.

The reason for today’s separate activities was to order couple rings from an offline store since there was nothing appealing on the internet. It was for a fairly well-known accessory brand among girls that I found out about through Isoyeon. The designs seemed quite nice, and since there was a store nearby, I decided to go there in person to see and make a decision.

It takes about 5-7 days for custom orders, so I should be able to receive them before next weekend. Since there wouldn’t be many customers during weekdays at this time, I thought I could leisurely browse and choose something pretty.

Just as I was about to leave the classroom with that thought in mind.

“What, you didn’t go with Alicia, this guy?”

“PC room, huh? With you, it would be a 5:5 match.”

Although friends, including Chaeha and Jinwoo, suggested going out for post-exam fun.

“Sorry, I have something to do today.”

“Oh, seriously ditching us. Hey! If you have time later, come to Hapjeong Leon!”

“Sure~”

Honestly, I was a bit tempted by the suggestion, but I declined and left immediately.

Hapjeong.

I thought I might as well hang out with the others if I finish quickly. Anyway, Eli will come home late since she went to Isoyeon’s house.

***

I got off the subway at Hapjeong, walked through the station, and entered a large complex inside.

It was a place with various shops, a place Eli and I had been to a few times before, but I had no memory of the accessory store I was going to.

I guess I hadn’t noticed it because I wasn’t interested until now.

‘They said it’s in the basement. Noid… Ah, is it there?’

As I wandered around, I confirmed that the store I was looking for was on the opposite side.

With light footsteps, my heart pounding with anticipation, I headed in that direction.

“Doyoon?”

Someone called my name from behind.

Turning my head, I recognized the voice, strangely familiar yet awkward, unexpectedly refreshing.

“You’re here in a place like this?”

A woman with a slightly decadent face, dressed in a neat suit, looked at me with a bright and welcoming smile.