My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

6 – 02. A Childhood Friend of Ten-Year-Old Platinum -2

Before the morning alarm went off.

I opened my eyes to the faint morning sunlight coming through the curtains.

As soon as I opened my eyes, what I saw in front of me was a light blue ceiling with constellation-shaped fluorescent stickers attached. Stickers that Ellie likes.

There are similar ones in my room, but my room is surrounded by mint-colored wallpaper.

In other words, this is not my room…

“Ugh… so annoying…”

Next to me, lying down with a groggy head, I heard a small sleep-talker groaning at the sunlight seeping in.

As soon as I recognized it, a slight weight that felt like my shoulder being pressed down, the soft touch and warmth of the body, began to be felt on my arm.

Lying in the same bed, someone else’s presence becomes vivid.

I turned my head gently.

And there.

-Swish…

Platinum-colored hair flowing down like waves with the slightest movement, and a pure white face filled my sight.

Just a little movement of the face could cause it to collide, since we were so close, sharing the same pillow, Ellie.

Even though she was still asleep, I couldn’t help but admire her small but precise features, long eyelashes, and pretty plum-like lips… Anyway, Ellie’s beautiful face.

While looking at her face that I couldn’t help but look at.

Feeling the touch of the arm that was hugging Ellie tightly.

I unintentionally raised my hand and gently stroked Ellie’s cheek.

-Softly…

Carefully stroking her cheek flesh, as if touching a treasure, like marshmallows.

Soon after.

“……”

Ellie opened her eyes. Dazed, not fully awake from her sleep yet.

-Swish

I raise my upper body, releasing my arm. As I do the same, I notice our matching outfits of pink and sky blue pajamas.

Blankly, Ellie looks down at the blanket and mutters.

“…Vad är klockan nu? (What time is it now?)”

“Just a moment… it’s 6 o’clock.”

“……”

Spending every day with Ellie, I naturally started learning some Swedish.

I can’t hold a conversation, but I can understand a few things she casually writes.

And it seems Ellie realized she could sleep a little longer at the time I told her.

With half-closed eyes, she looks at me.

-Swish! She pulls me closer and lies back on the bed.

In that sudden but now somewhat familiar embrace.

“Sleep a little more…”

With that small tantrum.

I also close my eyes again, feeling Ellie’s hair against my cheek and the warm breath she exhales.

I was still somewhat awake, but I couldn’t resist the warmth when I’m cuddled up to Ellie.

I knew that from past experiences.

***

Yesterday, I ultimately didn’t have time to draw.

Since no one was at home, I took the opportunity to eat sugar toast with Ellie. But we were caught by her late-coming aunt, and Ellie ended up fussing.

I defended Ellie by saying I ate it because I wanted to, but the aunt somehow sensed that I was lying. Maybe I’ve been lying a little too much.

As a result, Ellie’s cheeks were puffed up after dinner, and I stayed with her to comfort her like a childhood friend.

We watched YouTube together, played Tic-Tac-Toe, and even games… And then, when it became late at night, it was time for me to go home, take a shower, and sleep.

Ellie didn’t give me a ‘kram,’ a hug goodbye.

With her head turned to the side, not saying a word, I casually informed the aunt and uncle.

“I’ll tell my mom that I’m staying here.”

“Really? The aunt will make something delicious in the morning~”

“Do-Yoon, would you like to shower with me and uncle? I’ll pat your back.”

“Yes, please.”

Ellie not giving a hug goodbye meant that today wasn’t over yet, and she didn’t want it to end.

I had experienced this before, so I immediately understood its meaning and came back here with my pajamas in hand.

And as always, I bathed with Mark, who would often tell me stories like, “Not yet, Doyoon. We’ll talk about it again in 10 years,” but would always kindly smile.

Wearing the pajamas that Grandma gave me, similar to Ellie’s but in a different color, I played a little more.

“Doyoon, kram.”

“Yeah.”

Just before falling asleep, I received Ellie’s hug on the bed and covered ourselves with the blanket.

And this morning, after sleeping with Ellie for the second time.

“Did you sleep well? Since I made sausages and spam that Doyoon likes, come out and wash up with Ellie~”

“Yes.”

“Yawn… Hey… Doyoon…”

“Oh, yeah?”

-Kkok…

I held her hand and walked out of the room, exchanging morning hugs before washing up and eating.

Ellie, with slightly messy hair from not fully waking up, is really beautiful. I think that every day, even today.

Afterward, I washed up at Ellie’s house and had breakfast.

And finally, I came back home.

“Our son! Always playing with Ellie… Are you not going to play with Mom anymore?!”

“Mom, my clothes.”

“That’s too much! I can draw pictures with Doyoon as much as he likes…”

“And my bag… Oh, here it is.”

“I wanted to give you the spam and sausages that Doyoon likes too…”

“After I finish today, I’ll play with Ellie and come back.”

“Really? Be careful and don’t get hurt. Is school still fun?”

“Yes. It’s fun.”

“…Strange. I can’t imagine a word like ‘fun’ coming out of me or your father…”

“Ji-eun. I was good at studying…”

“So, are you saying I was stupid? Huh?”

“…Doyoon, should Dad give you an allowance?”

“Please. I want to buy something sweet and share it with Ellie.”

“Okay, okay. We’ll buy lots of delicious things for our future daughter-in-law.”

My mom playfully handed me my clothes and bag. Additionally, she also gave me an allowance from my dad.

Coming home after spending a day at Elin’s house was nothing special for our family.

It was just another day.

“Goodbye!”

***

Walking to school side by side with our backpacks, Elin opened her eyes wide and warned me.

“Ido-yoon, if they try to give you anything, don’t accept it.”

“They? Oh, you mean the girls?”

“Whether it’s the girls or anyone else! If you want to eat that kind of stuff, come with me to the convenience store behind the back door!”

Even though I received this warning every time, I couldn’t help but greet the other kids who approached me with a smile.

So eventually, I ended up accepting and hearing these words from Elin wasn’t just once or twice.

“Okay, I got it. I won’t accept it.”

I obediently nodded my head in front of Elin. Since I couldn’t refuse a gift, I could secretly accept it if someone else gave it to me…

“Just accept it. I’ll make you eat clay during art class later.”

“……”

At her subsequent words, a cold sweat ran down my neck at her voice, which was about 60% sincere.

I hoped that my friends wouldn’t give me anything today if possible.

After all, I didn’t receive something every day, and if we really counted, there were far more days when I didn’t receive such things.

“I absolutely won’t accept it. Ah, right! Dad gave me some pocket money, let’s go play and buy some Dalgona later.”

“I want to eat a gachapon.”

“I’ll buy you what you want. Dad told me to buy you something.”

“Let’s sleep well at your house today. Let’s thank your dad…”

“Then let’s draw before we sleep!”

“Drawing… hmph. Well, whatever.”

My refusal to accept snacks seemed to have put Elin’s ever-changing mood in a good mood. I was thrilled at her answer of wanting to draw together for once.

Since Elin usually did what she wanted, there may be only one day a week when we could draw together.

I thought about how I couldn’t wait for night to come as rare opportunities like these came.

We arrived at the classroom with excited footsteps.

And the moment we placed our bags on the adjacent desks at the front.

“Hey! Have you guys seen this? It’s so funny!”

“After it’s over, let’s go play in the playground!”

The kids who arrived first naturally crowded around our desks.

Talking about playing in the playground after it’s over today, showing the funny TikTok videos they watched while pushing their phones.

In the midst of the lively and chaotic kids.

-Tuk, tuk

Secretly, as if telling me to spread out my palm, I reflexively opened my hand.

At the same time, something clearly unpleasant and rough touched my hand, and the kid who handed it to me even folded my fingers with their own kindness.

When I glanced at them, Soyeon, who gave me something to eat yesterday, playfully smiled at me.

“Eat it.”

And while watching their mouth shape the words, sweat of gratitude welled up in me before anything else.

They gave it to other guys yesterday as a secret, and they still gave it to me secretly now, but…

In reality, since there were quite a few kids who noticed the ones who were always around, the ‘secret’ wasn’t really a meaningful word that we both knew.

Since Nana and Ellie often received these treats as gifts, there weren’t any kids who cared in the first place, and although I was thankful for having friends who treated me well…

I just hoped that Ellie wouldn’t give it to me in front of Nana.

At least just for today.

-Slightly

But if only Ellie didn’t notice, I subtly glanced to see if she had caught on.

However, as expected, as if determined not to miss it.

“……”

Ellie’s blue eyes were directly aimed at me, at my hand.

Even though the kids around were making noise or talking, Ellie’s pupils were solely focused on me.

As if she was watching whether I would eat what I just received or not.

“It’s scary…”

With a gaze that seemed to be blazing and chilling at the same time, it was a frightening look.