My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

37 – 14. Part-time Job as a Fitting Model with Ellie

Vini’s plan wasn’t anything extraordinary.

“If I suggest the two of us go out together, it’ll be too obvious~ So, you subtly float the idea to Jungwoo, and the four of us go. Just for a day and night.”

“The accommodation? Shared rooms are not allowed if there are minors.”

“Really? Is that a thing?”

“You’re talking to my sister, so keep it down.”

“Got it.”

Although a momentary curiosity arose, I quietly closed my mouth under Ellie’s 200% seriousness.

I had never considered staying overnight, thinking that Mr. Mark or our mom would never allow just the two of us to sleep together, but legally, it wasn’t possible.

But how did Ellie know? Did she search for it before?

“While running a homestay in Daecheon, we have a relative who recently organized their place. They used to run it as a homestay, didn’t do business this year, and are planning to demolish it soon, so they’ve already changed its purpose. It’s no longer a homestay…”

Then, tapping her lips thoughtfully for a moment.

“Well, forget the complicated part! Anyway, right now, it’s just an empty relative’s house, so it’s okay to use~ Before, it was used as a homestay, divided into well-soundproofed rooms. You get the idea, right?”

With slightly suspicious but generally understandable content, the explanation ended.

Ellie accepted her sister’s proposal without hesitation.

“Alright. Let’s do that. Since my brother will… persuade him. I’ll make sure he agrees.”

“Me?”

“Are you not going on a one-night sea trip with me?”

“I do want to go for sure, but…”

“Then persuade him. Somehow.”

“I’ll try.”

-Eagle Eagle

Eli’s eyes flared blue. There was a sense that if he couldn’t persuade his brother, he wouldn’t just let it go.

It was sudden, but even from my perspective, it was certainly something to welcome.

I won’t betray the trust of my uncle or mom, but how could I dislike spending a night alone with my girlfriend?

“hehehe, you guys can have your own fun. I’ll just share a room with Jungwoo.”

“Um… but sis, even if we go, how can we share a room with my brother?”

“Well, obviously with some alcohol… I’ll handle that~”

“….”

It smelled of a mischievous plot, but… he’s an adult too, so, well, he’ll figure it out, right?

“For now, that’s all you need to know. Let’s talk again around your finals~ If we decide to go, we won’t need a reservation anyway. If things work out, you guys can go for a day trip together.”

“Got it.”

“Please, sis. I really want to go.”

“Just trust me~ I’ll make sure Jungwoo falls for me… I want to go to the beach together, so I’ll try my best.”

“…Fighting.”

I lightly cheered on the determined spirits of the two girls while sipping grapefruit ade.

For us, who had just become a couple.

Despite it only being mid-May, summer plans were already starting to take shape, one by one.

***

Weekend.

On the day of Eli’s second shoot, I finished getting ready early in the morning and got into the car driven by Ye-rin ajumma.

For Eli, who says she doesn’t know what to do when we’re apart for too long. Of course, I’m just the same, unable to stand it when I can’t see her.

Mr. Mark had work, so he couldn’t come with us today. In the car with just the three of us, Eli and I sat close together in the back seat.

“Doyoon might just have to hang out in a corner with the ajumma. Will he be okay?”

“As long as I see Eli, time will fly by, I’m sure.”

“I’ll kill anyone else you look at.”

“hehehe, alright~ I’ll also have to chat quietly with my son-in-law while watching Eli.”

“I had similar thoughts as well.

Casually conversing with the lovely Ellie, perhaps chatting with the lady or observing a fitting model’s photo shoot. I went with such a carefree mindset.

It was an easy stroll, not on the streets but into a staged studio following Ellie and the lady. There, I immediately met the mall’s owner. She seemed to be in her late thirties, exuding self-assuredness as if armored with a confident smile on her face.

“Oh dear, you’ve had quite a journey. Alicia, thank you for coming again. And this here is…”

“I just tagged along…”

“My boyfriend.”

“Ellie’s boyfriend.”

“Oh, sorry! I insisted on bringing my daughter along…”

“Oh! That boyfriend? It’s okay. By the way, quite handsome… Hmm… Well…”

Before completing her sentence, her gaze suddenly dissecting me was slightly disconcerting.

Different from Ellie, it was akin to a carnivore spotting prey, causing my body to instinctively stiffen.

A moment later.

– Slap!

The woman, in her late thirties, the owner, grabbed my shoulder and said, “Have you ever thought about being a fitting model?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I haven’t.”

“…Firm, aren’t you?”

My resolute refusal unsettled the owner, though I had genuinely never considered it.

While not entirely disinterested in such matters… I’d rather spend my time drawing than working as a part-timer.

“If you don’t want to, there’s nothing to be done… Sorry for saying this out of the blue.”

The owner didn’t push or insist in a messy way.

However, with a face full of regret, she muttered loud enough for all of us to hear.

“It would have been nice if you and Alicia could take similar photos… Other guys aren’t in the same age range or vibe, so…”

And at the moment she said those words.

The moment Ellie’s face turned toward me upon hearing those words.

I sensed it.

Oh, I’m going to do this today. And…

Sure enough.

“Dooyoon.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s do it together today. You don’t have anything else to do besides watching anyway.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Boss, do we have anything suitable for us to shoot together?”

“Of course! Whether it’s couple looks or similar styles, now is the perfect time for matching looks. Oh, didn’t expect your boyfriend to be this handsome? He’s tall, broad-shouldered… Alicia, it seems like he matches well with you.”

“Then, I’ll join too. Will you pay me for the part-time job?”

“Of course! Oh, but aren’t your parents here too? In that case, this time, we’ll give the money to Alicia. If they come next time, we’ll make a separate contract…”

As I watched the two people who were already excitedly chatting, I resolved myself.

I didn’t really want to insist on refusing. Since Ellie would just be watching anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to do it together.

And the middle-aged lady, Yejin, who was quietly watching the scene from the side, said,

“What should I do? Eun didn’t bring her with him; he’ll be so disappointed. Take lots of pictures and send them to him, even if it’s just for show.”

She seemed to be teasing our mom, letting out a mischievous laugh.

Well, it’s all part of the experience.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to personally experience how Ellie works.

***

The shoot was more serious than I thought.

When I think of fitting models I know, it’s the kind of image where they go out on the street, pull a car, and take pictures in beautiful backgrounds.

But just doing it inside the studio felt different. There were sets decorated with cute props like a girl’s room, and there was even a set that felt like a classroom.

“Look at that flawless skin. Indeed, being young is the best.”

“I don’t think I was like this when I was 17…”

“We were similar too. They’re a different class. But when you really look closely, they stick together. I was curious about that girl’s boyfriend, but he seems decent.”

“That’s right. By the way, she said Dooyoon, right? Dooyoon. From now on, don’t smile too broadly.”

“Yeah… got it.”

“You don’t even have to answer.”

After changing into clothes for the shoot, getting makeup and hair styling from the stylist, it felt a bit awkward. Seeing my face with slightly heavier makeup was a bit amusing.

“Dooyoon, say cheese!”

“Cheese.”

After that, while waiting for Ellie, who took a bit more time than me, I even drew a V-sign with my hand for the lady who was going to take our pictures.

Then, I heard some simple instructions.

“Since it’s not your first time, you don’t need to try too hard. Just follow the instructions from the photographer. As long as you don’t tense up, it should be okay.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Wow~ You don’t look nervous at all. Are you used to this kind of thing?”

“Not really… Maybe because I’m doing it with Elli, I don’t feel as nervous.”

“Yeah, yeah. Please do well today. Don’t just focus on your pretty girlfriend. The main model shoot is already finished, so it’s okay if it takes a little longer. Just relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Yes.”

They didn’t expect much from us rookies, so there were no detailed instructions.

And a moment later, Elli came back.

She was wearing a sleeveless dress with the same pattern as my short-sleeved shirt.

As soon as I saw her, I smiled and said.

“You look beautiful.”

“Hmph. It’s not bad, I guess.”

“Should we wear something like this when we go to the beach? The dress suits you really well.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Both Elli and I were wearing white basic tees underneath. I had on a checked short-sleeved shirt with only the top button fastened, and I wore shorts below.

Dressed in the combination of sleeveless dress and short-sleeved shirt, we entered the shooting studio.

Then the photographer came in and meticulously set our poses one by one.

“Alisa, softly lean against him from behind… Yes. Do Yun, slightly tilt your head this way and look up towards the reflector. Smile a little… Just like that!”

-Click!

From then on, the shoot began with varying levels of difficulty and ease… It felt somewhat like that.

They gave us instructions from start to finish to help us rookies, so it wasn’t difficult in that regard, but maintaining our expressions and poses under the scrutinizing gaze of many people was a bit challenging.

-Click, click!

Anyway, the shoot went smoothly. There were occasional moments when Elli’s makeup distracted me, but that was unavoidable.

And Elli too.

“……”

“Alisa! Stop looking at your boyfriend’s face and focus on the camera!”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

She would sometimes get scolded for staring at my face like that. It was incredibly cute when her face slightly turned red. I wanted to kiss her right away.

There were occasional adorable mistakes like that, but they weren’t significant issues. The shoot didn’t experience significant delays, and the people behind the camera laughed and found it cute.