My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

29 – 10. Preparing for a Date with a Childhood Friend – 3

“Get beaten up by Alicia, Lee Doyoon.”

“If you survive, come to the PC bang. We’re here just for a bit to grab this.”

“Suddenly, these donuts are insanely delicious.”

Seeming like they’ve finished their tasks, Chaehwa and Jinwoo laugh at me and move away.

I stood there dumbfounded as if rooted to the spot.

Well, it wasn’t really that big of a deal.

-Beep

-Who is it?

As expected, in a cold and erratic manner, Ellie’s voice resounded through my ear via the smartphone.

I remained composed. Ellie isn’t unaware of Bini noona.

“The kids sent a message, and that’s why I called. It’s Bini noona. We coincidentally met here. Seemed like just a brief hello and leaving.”

-Bini unni? Why is she there at this time?

“She said she took a half-day off. Said she’s on her way to buy drinks from the mart.”

-Hmph.

A sense of relief came through Ellie’s chuckle beyond the waves.

It’s cute.

But without revealing that sentiment, I naturally redirected the conversation so my adorable childhood friend wouldn’t feel uneasy.

“Just chatting with Lee Soyeon. While eating snacks.”

“Must be fun.”

“Are you done with what you wanted to do?”

“Well, kind of.”

“Then come here…”

“Should I call Doyoon? We were in the middle of a naughty conversation…Oops!”

“…I’ll be back after dinner, see you later tonight.”

“Yeah.”

-Click

Ellie’s call ended before they could have a long conversation. I’m glad they seem to be having fun, even though I’m not sure what they were talking about.

I headed towards the PC room where my friends were.

I should play games with the guys and search for a theme park to go on a date.

Which amusement park is famous for its Ferris wheel?

***

And now it’s the weekend after the exams.

After finalizing the most important couple rings, we decided to play games with our friends and search for a theme park to go to. Just in case, I also booked train tickets in advance.

Now, what’s left…

Is there anything special?

If we really have to consider, it’s only about what clothes to wear that day, but anyway, when the time comes, Ellie will specify my outfit to match hers.

I don’t have the right to choose my clothes.

Anyway, my preparations are done, but Ellie seems to be very busy.

She didn’t come to meet me even though it’s the weekend, and after a brief chat in the morning, she continued doing something at home.

So I wanted to go and see what she was doing.

“hehehe, don’t come today~”

“Dooyoon, if you’re hungry, order something to eat with dad. I’ll stay here to have a talk for a while. I have to give her some attention…”

“You should trust your daughter a little bit~”

“What should I trust when she’s already acting like this?”

I got rejected by my aunt and mom. I couldn’t break through the defenses of my mom, who seemed both thrilled and cautious while cheering for Ellie.

Thanks to that, I returned home full of curiosity and anticipation.

“Dooyoon, mom didn’t come?”

“She said to order something to eat with dad.”

“…Alright. Should I call Mr. Mark and the three of us can eat together?”

“Okay. I’ll contact you.”

Upon receiving a call from the uncle when my dad suggested ordering delivery food for the three of us, he promptly came over to our house.

So the three men gathered at our house and had jajangmyeon, jjamppong, and tangsuyuk delivered, and we ate them.

-Furulurup!

Honestly, it was really delicious.

Since both my grandmother and our mom always cooked delicious meals, occasionally when we ordered this kind of unhealthy delivery food, it sticks to our mouths.

I think my dad and the uncle are the same, as the three of us hurriedly finished our dishes and started chatting.

“Do-yoon, are you going to hang out with Ellie next week?”

“Oh, did you hear?”

“Since they’re still talking about it over there. Have fun and come back.”

Brushing back his platinum blonde hair like Ellie’s, Uncle Mark said with a gentle smile.

Although Ellie resembles my grandmother in appearance, when I see her platinum blonde hair, fair skin, and blue eyes, it becomes clear that she is also a woman like Uncle Mark.

Thanks to that, I also liked Uncle Mark a lot since I was young.

Fortunately, Uncle Mark also supports my relationship with Ellie a lot. Of course, there is still a position where he cannot allow such and such behavior as a father with a daughter.

“Where are you going? Mom didn’t even know about that.”

Dad asked about the destination with an interested tone from the side.

It was natural that I didn’t know yet since I haven’t told Ellie.

Well, there’s no need to hide it.

“We’re going to Family Land in Gwangju.”

“To Jeolla Province? You’re going that far?”

“They say the Ferris wheel there is the largest in Korea. I even booked everything.”

“It’ll probably cost quite a bit… Should Dad give you some allowance?”

“It’s okay. I still have a lot left from the money I earned from drawing.”

“Earn and spend the allowance on your own. Impressive, our son.”

Dad patted my head as if I were amazing. And Uncle Mark also laughed happily at my story and tapped my shoulder.

“Um. Excellent. Be careful and take care. Look after Ellie.”

“I will.”

“And… you know, Do-yoon?”

-Waaah…!

“Eek…!”

“I can’t stay out overnight yet.”

“Ugh… of course…”

“You know, right?”

“Sure…”

“Doyoon likes that we can communicate well.”

Mr. Mark, who had a good physique and strength, seemed to pop his shoulders in an instant.

In response to the warning engraved in my body, I nodded vigorously, swearing not to do such a thing unless Eri wanted it.

Of course, I had no intention of doing something Eri didn’t want without hesitation.

“By the way, it’s fascinating to see Doyoon learning Swedish. Should we all go to Sweden together someday?”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. Sweden is a beautiful country. I definitely want to invite Doyun’s family.”

“Aww… I want to go to Sweden too. I want to see Mr. Mark’s family and the country where Eri was born.”

“How about going in winter? Sweden is always beautiful, but it’s even more beautiful in winter.”

“Winter… If I adjust my schedule from now, I think I can go this time.”

Actually, there had been talks about going before, but it never materialized because Dad was busy with work.

So Dad crossed his arms for a moment, deliberating, and then made up his mind.

“Alright. I’ll make time for it by working hard.”

“hahahaha! That’s right! That’s great!”

And so, an uncertain travel plan to Sweden came about.

About half a year from now, the date that Mr. Mark seemed to like more than us, there was a minimum plan that we might actually go.

Eri had been getting tired of hearing about Sweden, and Mr. Mark had been disappointed every time, but I understood why they burst into laughter if I said I would go with them.

I knew that I didn’t want to be away from Eri for too long, and of course, other family members knew as well.

I didn’t know how it would turn out, but I was really looking forward to it, and even if it didn’t happen, I wanted to go to Sweden with Eri someday.

Just like Mr. Mark said Sweden is always beautiful, but even more beautiful in winter.

Eri is always pretty, but Eri on a snowy winter day is even more beautiful.

I really wanted to see Eri in Sweden during winter.

***

A few more days passed, it was Friday.

Today was the day before our date.

During lunchtime at school, Eri, Yisoyeon, and I sat together and talked while eating.

Yisoyeon, who mainly had a great interest in our date, was eagerly asking me about various things.

“But isn’t the 12 o’clock train too late to depart? We’re planning to do a day trip, you know.”

Since the destination itself was not a secret, I had already opened up about it. And considering the round-trip time it takes to get there, Lee Soyeon’s question had its merit.

But that’s a common story.

“Well, I need time to prepare in the morning.”

Naturally, I was confident that I could get ready in 30 minutes, but Ellie was different. Every time we went on a date like this, she always took quite a long time to prepare in the morning.

She probably went out early in the morning, set up at the shop, and even after seeing that for years, if she hadn’t learned, there would be a problem.

So, I reserved a train at a very relaxed time of 12 o’clock, and Ellie seemed quite satisfied with that decision when I first told her.

“Well done.”

Even now, she complimented me with a smile on her face.

Seeing us like that, Lee Soyeon laughed as if she were the one going on a fun outing, teasing us.

“Wow~ Doyoon, you’ve put a lot of thought into this, huh?”

“This is just basic.”

“But then, won’t you have too little time to play?”

“The round trip takes about seven hours, but there’s plenty of time to have fun. Anyway, we’re not going to ride a lot of amusement park rides.”

“Well, Ellie doesn’t really like that stuff.”

My ultimate goal is the Ferris wheel. Upon hearing that we were going all the way to Gwangju’s amusement park, Ellie would probably know that it was the main attraction.

Not saying anything about it means she likes the idea.

The train we’ll be taking back is at 11 o’clock, a very late time to return. But given the long travel time both ways and some thought I’ve put into it, it couldn’t be helped.

“Are you going to buy souvenirs on the way back? You two, I have some stake in this date too, you know?”

“Um. Since we’re going to Gwangju, should I bring back some packaged bibimbap?”

“That’s Jeonju! No, even if it’s Jeonju, it’s not bibimbap!”

“Just next time, I’ll give you a salted bun in each hand.”

“It’s a promise!”

Ellie seemed a bit quiet today, lost in thought, and after chatting with me and Lee Soyeon about the date for a while.

The topic changed.

“Have you heard about that? Ju Hye-ryeong hit it big on TikTok this time.”

“Oh, that. I saw it.”

It was a story about another friend from a different class that Ellie and Lee Soyeon didn’t particularly like, but it wasn’t like they hated her unexpectedly.

It was about their classmate’s story.

“It’s been quiet lately, but she was really going at it with that. She hasn’t been coming to you much lately, has she?”

“Yeah. But every time I upload a video, she sends a message asking me to watch it.”

“Hmm~ Did you watch them all?”

“I did. I watched them all with Eli every time, so don’t look at me like that.”

Although she mainly focused on daily lookbooks, Eli seemed to pay quite close attention to the videos, perhaps because the styling was good.

The dynamics between women were quite peculiar.

There were times when Eli and Soyeon expressed dissatisfaction, especially because she openly showed interest in me.

Recalling their conversation from the other day,

“She can be annoying, but as long as she’s at this level, it’s tolerable. Even though she subtly scratches at me every time we meet, she doesn’t do anything weird behind my back.”

“Right. Joo Hye-ryeong is a complete prideful person, so she wouldn’t do anything like that.”

There was a subtle sense of acknowledgment in their words, and I could understand to some extent.

Continuing the relationship where I exchange messages with Joo Hye-ryeong to some extent and don’t spread bad rumors or say weird things about Eli.

“Anyway, I’m glad they’re not bothering you. It’s getting quite heated now~”

“hahahaha…”

“Hmph.”

We continued various conversations like this and finished our meal.

And when another day of classes ended, we arrived in front of Eli’s house.

She said, “Wait here tomorrow at 10:30.”

It seemed like she was saying goodbye for now, as if we wouldn’t see each other until tomorrow, so I nodded as I thought about preparing for our date again.

“10:30. Okay.”

“I’ll send you a message with the clothes you should wear tomorrow night, so just wear them as they are.”

“Sure thing.”

With that, Eli stretched her arms towards me.

I instinctively pulled her into a hug.

-Smack…

Our lips met.

Perhaps today… no, until tomorrow morning, might be the last.

I savored the current visual and Eli’s soft lips.