My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

8 – 03. We Like Each Other, But We’re Not Dating, Our Fourteen-Year-Old Selves

Ellie was not pleased.

At five, at ten, and even now.

She didn’t like Ido Yoon, who always displayed awkward smiles everywhere.

The childhood friend who should have been by her side now was genuinely not to her liking.

Overflowing with irritation, she complained to her mom.

“I told him to come quickly, but he hasn’t even sent a text! It’s really annoying!”

“Oh, really? Come to think of it, he didn’t come this morning either, did he? Where did he go?”

“….”

In response to Jung Yerin’s question, Ellie’s words became even more pronounced. With a completely annoyed voice mixed with bitterness, she revealed the whereabouts of her irritating childhood friend.

“… Girls were calling him because he was giving out chocolates, so he went to school.”

“hahahaha, Doyoon is popular, so it’s a big deal. Well, he’s so cute, after all…”

“Oh, Mom!”

“Sorry~ But if it’s Doyoon, he probably went out to meet and reject them in person… Right?”

“That’s true… But still, shouldn’t he have come by now? How far could it be!”

“When did he leave?”

“An hour ago!”

“Oh my… Well, he should be coming soon, shouldn’t he?”

“I don’t know!”

Looking at her grumbling face, Jung Yerin just smiled contentedly.

They were already fourteen years old.

The daughter, Ellie, who had always been so young, had now grown so tall that she resembled her. Her arms and legs had become slender, and in proportion, curves began to appear on her body, revealing her increasingly feminine form.

Her front bangs, styled in a see-through bang reminiscent of her favorite idol, were incredibly cute, while the beautiful platinum blonde hair still flowed long down her back.

Despite Ellie’s active nature and her constant desire for a short haircut, her mom, Jung Yerin, who liked the long hair reminiscent of a princess, knew better than anyone that she complained but still grew it beautifully.

In addition, inheriting Nordic blood, her skin was incredibly fair, and her facial features became even more distinct. Despite being a bit sharp, her attractive eyes were adorned with blue eyes like a dragon.

To both herself and her mother, she was becoming a more beautiful daughter day by day.

However.

“Ugh… I just want to put a leash on her!”

Jung Yerin, as a mother, was a little worried about the possessiveness and monopolistic tendencies that were now manifesting in a somewhat dangerous(?) way.

At this rate, she thought, she might end up imprisoning Yerin for real.

Of course, she knew her daughter wouldn’t do that, and despite Ellie appearing innocent, she had a surprisingly straightforward personality, so she trusted her to handle it well.

As a result, Jung Yerin could enjoy her daughter’s love.

The somewhat itchy feeling in her heart, the freshness of this youthful affection that she couldn’t quite remember when she herself had experienced it.

However, as a mother, as a woman, it was impossible not to meddle in this cute love affair.

“Ellie.”

“… What?”

“When are you going to date Doyoon?”

“?! Da-date? What do you mean date! Doyoon is already mine!”

“Ah~ I see… Anyway, you know what I mean.”

Frustrated but understanding the shy embarrassment of her daughter, Jung Yerin couldn’t help but reach out to her.

With her already pale face, she wanted to help her daughter, who still didn’t know that her emotions were clearly visible when she wavered even a little.

“Both Ellie and Doyoon are already in middle school. How about taking a step beyond the ‘childish’ stage?”

“…A step beyond? How?”

Although Ellie roamed around like a mischievous tomboy, it was really cute how she tilted her head and leaned toward her words like a girl. Even though she was 14, like all kids her age, she seemed genuinely adorable when conscious of being seen as a ‘child.’

As she became familiar with Korean culture, she no longer did it in front of her family, but Jung Yerin, who still knew that the two embraced when they met and parted, sometimes mentioned it with a laugh.

“Give chocolate and start doing ‘bisous’ from now on. She said it’s something they do together.”

“…What are you talking about! We don’t have that in Sweden!”

“Does she know what that is from separate searches, catching on right after I speak?” Eli thought, feeling incredulous.

Jung Ye-rin spoke with a subtle tone.

“Doyoon doesn’t really know about that, right? If you mention it, she’d probably just accept it, wouldn’t she?”

“…”

“And they say our princess goes as far as giving a kiss on the cheek, so Doyoon wouldn’t dislike that either.”

As she spoke, whether she had imagined it or not, Eli’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson than before.

– Stealthily, stealthily –

At the same time, drawing closer to Jung Ye-rin, almost imperceptibly, as if sharing a secret despite being the only two in the room, she whispered.

“Bise…? Or… bisou? Um, to not seem childish… What would be better?”

“…”

At the mention of those words, this time it was Jung Ye-rin who seemed incredulous. Knowing about that difference indicated she had probably thought about doing it herself.

‘Bise’ refers to an affectionate greeting where you press your cheek against someone else’s and make a kissing sound into the air.

‘Bisou’ carries the same meaning but involves actually kissing on the cheek or lips.

They were clearly different.

Eli asked her as if seeking confirmation on which one would be better, and of course, Jung Ye-rin already had a predetermined answer.

“Of course, ‘bisou.’ That seems better, doesn’t it?”

“Mm…”

“You want to do ‘bisou’?”

“Well… But…”

“But?”

“Would she fall for it?”

Jung Ye-rin thought.

If Idoyoon were to see Eli in her current state, blushing with embarrassment and fidgeting with her fingers…

She would just naturally embrace her and give her a kiss on the cheek, she thought.

Anyway.

Eli’s final ‘would she fall for it,’ unable to shake off her suspicions, was actually asking ‘Would Idoyoon be fooled even though she knows?’

With the assurance that her daughter harbored a fresh love, just like Eli, Jung Ye-rin could confidently assert that.

“She’ll fall for it. Without a doubt.”

She could provide a confident response.

And the two, mother and daughter…

-Nods-

Giving and receiving determined glances, I nodded my head.

***

It was still early, before lunchtime.

I received a call from the girls I used to be close with in elementary school and went to the school.

I knew why they called, and I hurriedly came because I appreciated their thoughtfulness of deliberately calling me on the day before Valentine’s Day to remember Ellie.

And at the school, I met them and received chocolates, along with confessions, from each one.

“I like you. But do you like Alicia?”

“Yeah, that’s right. But thanks for the chocolate. I’ll enjoy it.”

“This was expensive, you know! Don’t leave any!”

Because we already knew each other’s answers, this confession itself was just a source of joy for these girls who were only 14 years old, so the atmosphere was very cheerful.

Thanks to that, the confessions were very straightforward and direct.

I responded to each one and received chocolates.

Actually, I thought Ellie would reject me, so I didn’t even plan to receive the chocolate, but it wasn’t a cheap defective product, and I appreciated her confession, so I couldn’t possibly refuse.

That way, I listened to confessions and received chocolates from four girls, and just the fact that these girls gave chocolates to the boys they liked on Valentine’s Day made them happy, and they giggled at each other.

And as gently as possible, I delivered words of rejection to these girls, now being the last girl to give chocolate.

“Do-yoon, I like you too!”

“Don’t lie.”

“Kiki…”

I couldn’t be as affectionate as So-yeon, who grinned and gave me intentionally heart-shaped chocolate.

I didn’t know before, but now I knew.

So-yeon was a child who enjoyed causing trouble between Ellie and me and watching our reactions.

I couldn’t help but notice. Since the third grade, So-yeon consistently gave me gifts, whether it be food or something else, while being wary of Ellie. Only when Ellie was present.

Even in this heart-shaped chocolate she was giving now, the scent of trouble was strong.

I learned what a trouble-causer was from watching it frequently on NewTube, and it was her.

Even though she was a sensitive child who could potentially get hurt by my firm words, So-yeon responded with a mischievous smile, her short black hair fluttering.

She couldn’t be compared to Ellie, but in reality, she was quite a cute child too. During the math field trip, while playing a truth game with the boys in our class, I heard her confessing that she liked So-yeon here and there.

Of course, to me, she was not just a trouble-causer, no more, no less.

“It’s true~ But actually, I like Alicia more! She’s really pretty.”

“I know that too.”

“So, I’m asking you to do the same thing you did last year for my birthday this year!”

“Let’s think about it this year. You know, we fought with Ellie for three hours.”

“Pff, I bet it was Alicia who was nagging all by herself.”

“If you knew that, why did you show the picture I drew to Ellie and brag about it?”

“I’m sorry! But it was so fun! Alicia was completely adorable when she got mad!”

“That’s true, though.”

But what couldn’t be ignored was the fact that I could sympathize with Ellie, who had fallen for Alicia’s pretty face.

Especially the picture of Ellie wearing a beautiful dress that I had drawn. I liked it very much, to the point where I asked her to draw Princess Ellie as a birthday present.

Of course, I happily drew the picture, and thanks to that, I ended up giving the picture to Alicia instead of herself. But let’s forget about that.

Anyway, various things happened, and I somehow became closest to Isuyeon among the other girls excluding Ellie.

And our connection didn’t end in elementary school.

“Then, I’ll go too. I’ll spend a Happy Valentine’s Day with Alicia and see you at the entrance ceremony!”

“Okay. Well… thanks for the chocolate. See you at the entrance ceremony.”

She was assigned to the same middle school as well.

As I waved my hand goodbye to Isuyeon and the other girls with a bright smile, I felt the same way as I did when they waved their hands goodbye to me.

Holding the received chocolates in my arms, I headed home.

I was very grateful for their hearts, but as expected, I couldn’t think of any other girl besides Ellie.

I fell in love at first sight when I was five years old, and my feelings had grown much stronger now. I was confident that they would grow even more with time.

I’m sorry for the girls who confessed to me, but Ellie had already filled my mind.

Maybe she’ll be upset when she sees these chocolates, but as Isuyeon said, even her upset face was cute because it was Ellie.

I still wanted to see Ellie’s face every day.

With that thought, I arrived at my apartment with light steps as if I were flying.

Just as I was thinking that I should stop by our house first after getting off the elevator.

“Hey!”

A sharp voice calling me from behind in a different line from our house on the corridor caught my ear.

When I turned around.

Someone slightly taller than me.

A well-defined face, including the eyes.

Someone who might throw a punch if provoked.

Carrying a guitar case on their back.

That kind of man.

“Lee Doyoon.”

He called out to me, walking steadily.