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Translator/Editor: Ryuu
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◈ My Platinum-Blonde Childhood Friend is Too Pretty
Chapter 24: Cuddling and Whispering Sweet Nothings with Elli Under a Palm Tree (2)
"What were you scolded for earlier?"
On our way to the bus stop after evening self-study, Lee So-yeon, who had witnessed Elli and me getting scolded, asked why, prompting Elli to immediately shoot me a glare.
"It's because of this guy."
I felt that was a bit unfair. All I did was try to entertain Elli, following her whims.
"Why? You enjoyed it too, didn't you?"
"Hmph."
Still, she couldn't deny that it was fun and snorted, turning her head away.
So-yeon, curious to death, started pestering us, wanting to know what we did.
"Ah, come on! Don't be stingy, tell me what you two were up to! Include me next time!"
"Will you tell?"
"Tell me!"
"Give me your hand."
"My hand? Here."
Lee So-yeon's small hand reached out in front of me.
I had no intention of playing the same game I did with Elli, just writing letters on her palm to explain simply.
But then...
-Squeak
Elli grabbed me by the collar, eyes wide.
"Want to die? What are you doing in front of me?"
"No, I was just going to write a letter…"
"Wanna lose your life?"
"Sorry."
Even with a close friend like So-yeon, any physical contact was absolutely forbidden.
"Letters?"
Elli's blue eyes gleamed devilishly, her face turning fierce, and So-yeon tilted her head in confusion. Reluctantly, I just explained it verbally.
"Writing letters on Elli's palm, and guessing what was written..."
"Oh, what's that… Though I want to say that, Elli must have been happy? Playing with Do-yoon's hand during self-study~"
"Shut up."
Elli, possibly embarrassed, let go of my collar and blushed.
Finding her reaction adorable, So-yeon and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm heading off first! See you tomorrow!"
With that, So-yeon, who had been teasing Elli, boarded her bus and left.
"Want to walk home today?"
"Shall we?"
We began walking down the dimly lit night street.
It was only two bus stops to our homes, not a taxing distance, and sometimes we chose to walk.
Usually...
-Swish
...when we wanted to hold hands.
I silently took Elli's offered hand, our pace leisurely.
Elli, preferring not to be seen in public, chose routes along back alleys for our skinship.
-Thunk
Like now, Elli naturally walked close to me, shoulder to shoulder.
"Elli."
"What."
"Do you want to play that game again tomorrow? The one we did today."
"......"
After a moment's silence, Elli responded in a tiny voice.
"From 30 minutes in. We'll study until then."
"How about we focus until 9:30 every day? Then take a 20-minute break, to relax or play."
"...That could work."
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, but not a bad one. Considering Elli's concentration issues, studying hard until then before taking a short break seemed reasonable.
We'd have to be more cautious not to get caught by the teacher again, though.
"Come to think of it, it's already Wednesday. Nervous about the photo shoot this weekend?"
"Not really. Just have to pose for a few shots."
"I really want to see it. Too bad."
"Next time. You're helping Min-jae noona, after all."
"Yeah, but still..."
As we chatted, we entered a particularly desolate alley, only one flickering streetlight illuminating the path.
Though we'd passed this way many times before, and were together, it didn't feel scary.
Just then, Elli stopped under the blinking light.
"What's wrong?"
Elli stared at me intensely, and I wondered if perhaps my shoelace had come undone. But her shoes were tied.
Turning to see what was the matter, I felt Elli fidgeting with her fingers.
A ticklish sensation spread across my palm.
-Swish, swish...
I realized then that she was playing our palm-reading game again.
Focusing on the sensation, I quickly understood what Elli's fingers were tracing.
Immediately, I released her hand.
Elli allowed it, and I wrapped my now-free arm around her.
And naturally...
-Peck
Our lips met.
-Peck
Elli did the same.
Afterward, as if nothing had happened, we continued walking, hand in hand.
"Going straight to bed when we get home?"
"Nah."
"Then why now?"
"We'll do it again later."
"Ah."
I nodded, understanding.
There was no need to stick to morning and evening routines anymore. Now, we just embraced and kissed whenever we felt like it.
Following this new rule, I kissed Elli once on the way home, once in front of my house, and three more times before bed.
Elli, with her hair tied up, visiting my room, looked incredibly pretty, especially her nape.
I might kiss it next time she ties her hair up.
The next day, back to self-study time.
As discussed, we focused on our work until 9:30.
Then, checking the teacher's position, Elli and I shared a look.
...
Elli's eyes, filled with a strange desire, told me she wanted to play our hand game again.
So, this time, I handed her my palm and guessed the messages.
Let's see.
The first one...
-Swish...
Hmm. Hmm.
Despite the ticklish feeling, Elli's finger-drawn letters were easy to decipher.
[Me: Like]
Elli's lips curled into a smile. I'd guessed right.
Next, she wrote...
[Me: Like]
It was the same again. Checking my response, Elli used her eyes to draw curves.
The third round began.
Elli's fingers traced the same path as before.
Instead of responding by text, I looked into her eyes and mouthed the answer.
"Like."
As I smiled...
-Woosh...
Elli's face flushed red. Maybe saying "like" in such a space made an impact.
...
Elli, with her beet-red face, suddenly started looking around.
Then, leaning in quietly, she approached me.
I was surprised. I hadn't expected Elli to go this far in such a place.
Of course, I leaned in too.
With furrowed brows, flushed face, and pursed lips, she came to kiss me.
How could I resist?
So, we shared...
-Peck...
A light, barely touching kiss.
But then, behind Elli...
Lee So-yeon appeared.
She watched us with an (O_O) expression.
Startled, her face turned as red as Elli's, her hand covering her mouth.
Our close friend.
She quickly zipped her lips, then turned away with a smile.
It all happened in an instant.
Elli straightened up immediately after our lips touched, her face still red, avoiding looking at me until self-study ended.
Meanwhile, I texted So-yeon.
[So-yeon: OMG!!]
[So-yeon: Doing that here!]
[So-yeon: My heart's racing! I love it! What do I do :>!!!]
[So-yeon: Kyaa! You kissed, right? You did, right?]
[Me: Let's keep it a secret from Elli]
[Me: If she knows you saw, she won't do it here again]
[So-yeon: Hahahahahaha]
[So-yeon: Promise you'll do it again! Signal me next time!]
[Me: Hahahahaha]
[So-yeon: You must!!]
So-yeon, genuinely wanting to see it again, didn't seem uncomfortable at all.
As for me, kissing Elli in the study room was thrilling and fun.
Hmm.
I wanted to do it again.
No matter who was watching.
And on the following day, the week's last.
Friday.
We didn't do anything special, just held hands throughout the evening self-study.
After returning home, Elli took over my bed until late.
"Come here."
She beckoned me to her side, and we spent time together, shoulder to shoulder.
Probably nervous about tomorrow's fitting model gig, she was pre-charging for the time we'd be apart.
It's rare for us to be separated even for a short while, and now Elli was making the most of our time together.
Seeing her like this, Elli's girlish side seemed particularly adorable...
"Lee Do-yoon."
"Yeah."
"Just work tomorrow and come back."
"Huh?"
"If you do anything else, I'll kill you."
"......"
"Answer."
"I'll just draw and come straight back."
"Hmph."
Even then, Elli didn't forget to warn me.
Adorable. Very much so.
Saturday morning.
As Elli's parents busily prepared for her "first fitting model shoot" next door, Elli sneaked over to our house.
And...
-Peck...
As usual, we embraced and shared a kiss. Then, with her forehead against mine, she said,
"Keep checking your messages whenever you have time, and let me know what you're doing."
"I'll report on the dot. Send me photos if you can. I'm really curious."
"If there's a good shot. We'll see."
With that request, Elli left with her parents, who seemed excited for a picnic, for her fitting model job.
I waved goodbye, confident that Elli, though slightly nervous, would do well.
A few hours later, while drawing at Min-jae's house, I realized something.
The problem was more with me than Elli.
'I miss Elli.'
Just a few hours apart.
My childhood friend's beautiful platinum hair, her pale face, her blue eyes looking at me...
I already missed her so much.
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