NOVEL NEXT chapter 59
59 – 21. Eli, the Idol Fiancée
Mid-September.
It had been two weeks since Eli’s cosplay and bunny, reverse-bunny debate.
I still remembered searching for reverse-bunny online that night, screaming and passing out.
As the second semester’s midterm exams approached, I received special news from my dad.
“Are we really going?”
“Of course, we’re going. We’ll go around Christmas, so take your passport photos within this week, okay?”
Despite dad being busy, our Sweden trip was half-confirmed.
But wouldn’t it be too late to book our flights now? Shouldn’t we prepare as quickly as possible?
“I have a date with Eli later, so I’ll take the photos then. Can I take them at a photo studio or a photo booth at the train station?”
“Go to a photo studio. It’s hard to get the exact specifications right at those booths, and they might get rejected.”
“Got it. But how many days will we be gone?”
“I’m not sure… Dad can’t take a long vacation, so excluding travel time, it’ll be around 3-4 days.”
“That’s a long trip!”
“Is it?”
Dad chuckled at my obvious excitement.
I was really happy and excited.
I would get to visit Eli’s birthplace and see the beautiful Sweden in winter, just like Mark ajusshi always said.
And I thanked dad.
I didn’t know much about dad’s work, but I knew he was busy, often going to the office even on weekends.
So, he usually took a day off during vacations, but this time, he was using a relatively long vacation.
Although I didn’t know, it seemed like dad would have to work harder because of this.
‘I’ll play the guitar and sing for mom and dad, and I’ll choose a song dad likes.’
I decided to choose a song dad loved as a way to repay his kindness. I was already planning to start practicing simple songs, so it worked out well.
Mom might feel a bit left out, but since both parents loved similar artists and songs, it would be okay. Besides, mom seemed to value listening to me play the guitar more than anything.
With big expectations for my first overseas trip, I was about to ask dad more questions.
-Ting-ting-ling… Dong-dong
“It’s me… Hello.”
“Ah, Eli.”
“Eli’s here? Come on in.”
Eli, who had come to see me, walked into the house wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and a shirt.
It wasn’t surprising that she knew our home’s password and entered naturally.
Eli walked into the living room where my dad and I were sitting and sat down beside me.
“Is mom still there?”
“Yes, she is. And ajusshi said to tell you to come over whenever you’re free.”
“Really? But Mark isn’t here now…”
Eli, who showed a completely different, gentle voice and feminine side when talking to my mom and dad.
Eli always acted like this in front of my dad.
Of course, when our mom and dad were together, Eli would fight with our mom like siblings, but otherwise, she made an effort to show a more mature side.
And our dad would look at Eli with a warm smile, as if he thought she was really cute, and would do anything for her.
I would do the same.
Anyway, as soon as Eli sat down, she started chattering excitedly.
“Eli, did you hear that we’re going to Sweden in the winter?”
“I told you before.”
“It’s confirmed. Dad took a passport photo.”
“Really? Are you really going, Uncle?”
“Hmm. Eli, you also wanted to go to Sweden with Doyoon, right? Our future daughter-in-law wants to go, so let’s make it happen.”
“Det var bra!” (It was good!)
Recently, Eli has been using Swedish phrases that she’s learned, and she even punched the air with her fist.
As she expressed her huge emotions unknowingly, my dad and I looked at her with eyes that seemed to be seeing the cutest creature in the world.
Then, Eli blushed and lowered her head, but she still asked my dad in an excited tone.
“Did you discuss everything with our dad too?”
“I couldn’t meet Mark yesterday, but I think we can go together. I was thinking about it around Christmas, and Mark said he’s available anytime after mid-December.”
“Then I should take a photo with you today too. I need to get an update soon…”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since Eli went, so let’s take one together.”
“Okay, I will.”
“Please take good care of our Doyoon. I’m counting on you.”
“Leave it to me.”
When Mom is around, Dad just calls her Eli, but when Mom is not around, he openly calls her his daughter-in-law.
His tone was very natural, as if it was a matter of course, and Eli didn’t feel any discomfort hearing it.
Watching them, my heart felt fluttery.
The platinum friend who was sitting next to me, trying to look good in front of my dad, would one day become my wife, and that thought deeply resonated in my heart.
It was something I had always hoped for, and I believed it would happen unconditionally.
But it was a new realization in the midst of our daily routine.
“We’ll be right back.”
“Have fun and come back. Do you want some pocket money from Dad?”
“No need. I’ll just… ah, change my clothes.”
“Come here. I’ll pick something for you.”
“Okay.”
As I followed Eli’s lead into the room, I quietly waited for her to decide what to wear, opening my closet.
Usually, she would pick something similar to what she’s wearing, but it seemed like she was thinking more carefully since we were taking a passport photo.
She was doing this for me, so I couldn’t just tell her to pick anything.
“Eli.”
But I thought I could give my opinion.
“Why don’t you wear the mint-colored knit jacket we bought last month? We matched our couple’s look, and it’s neat and stylish.”
“…….”
“Is that okay?”
“No, it’s fine. I definitely put it in here…”
The couple’s knit jacket we bought last month to prepare for fall.
I thought it would be comfortable and neat to wear, so I suggested it, and surprisingly, Eli seemed to think it was okay too.
But I didn’t know where that outfit was, and Eli knew.
It’s my outfit, after all.
Eli opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a neatly coordinated set consisting of a beige knit jacket with white buttons, a white shirt to wear inside, and pants to match.
Then, as I was leaving the room, I said,
“I’ll change and come back, so wait here.”
“Okay, take your time. I’ll practice my guitar.”
“Alright.”
With that, Eli went to change clothes and returned to my room 30 minutes later.
She was wearing the same outfit as me, a white shirt and a beige short-sleeved knit jacket with a black point on the neckline.
A perfect couple look.
“Let’s go now.”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
“See you later!”
“See you later!”
“Be careful on your way.”
As we were about to leave the house, putting on our shoes at the entrance.
“…….”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just wait a minute.”
“What? Oh, okay.”
Eli took off her shoes again, approached our dad, and said something to him.
Our dad, who couldn’t hear Eli’s words, burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Alright, have a good time!”
Our dad, who was always calm and gentle, rarely showed such a big smile as he told Eli to have a good time.
What did she say?
“What did you say?”
“It’s okay, you don’t need to know.”
I was curious about what she said, but Eli’s face, flushed with a peach-like color, didn’t give me a hint.
Even if I asked Dad, he wouldn’t tell me, so what did she say?
Of course, that question was completely forgotten in the face of Eli’s next words. It wasn’t important right now.
“Let’s take some photos first and then go to the room cafe.”
“Are we going to the practice room later? What are we doing at the room cafe? Kissing?”
“Kissing is a given. Are you joking? We’re going to search for travel destinations. We’ll head towards Stockholm.”
“Oh… how did you know?”
“You’re going with your family, so we’ll probably go to a tourist spot nearby. Grandma lives not too far from there too.”
“Ah-ha.”
Even though we hadn’t discussed it much, my heart was already racing with excitement about the trip, just like when I waited for our beach trip with Eli.
I really had no idea what kind of thrilling schedule I would have with Eli.
It was going to be a fun itinerary with Eli.
Lee Do-yoon’s dad, Lee Do-hyun.
He smiled as he gazed at the spot where his son and his girlfriend, Elly, had left.
“They’ve both grown so much.”
It had already been over 10 years since his son started dating Elly and taking her on trips here and there.
At first, he thought it was just a fleeting romance between his son and a foreign-born girl who was unfamiliar with Korean culture, having met at the same kindergarten.
But the fact that it had been 12 years already was astonishing, even to himself. And to think they had even become neighbors!
“Yerin and Mark are good people too… and so are Jung-woo and Bin next door.”
In this day and age, it was rare to get along so well with neighbors in an apartment complex.
And all of these relationships had originated from his son, Lee Do-yoon.
Lee Do-hyun found this incredibly heartwarming.
His son, who had always shown respect to the adults around him and wore a bright, innocent smile, was someone he couldn’t help but feel proud of.
“He’s inherited only the good traits from me and Ji-eun.”
While Lee Do-hyun’s gentle and innocent nature was a strength, he was too soft, lacking in firmness. His wife, Song Ji-eun, had a strong sense of justice but was also hot-headed, lacking in calmness.
In a way, their marriage was a mismatch, but fortunately, they complemented each other as a couple and lived a happier life. Their son, Lee Do-yoon, had inherited only the good traits from both of them.
In that sense, Lee Do-hyun could understand why Song Ji-eun had become so fond of their son.
How could he not love this wonderful son of his?
And then there was Elly, his son’s girlfriend of 12 years.
“I wish she would become my daughter-in-law soon.”
Although they were still 17, having watched them grow up for so long, Lee Do-hyun was also eagerly awaiting that day.
Elly.
With her platinum hair, snowy white skin, and blue eyes, she was a beauty that could be seen only in movies.
As he had watched her grow up for over 10 years, Lee Do-hyun was always amazed by Elly’s beauty, which only seemed to increase with time, and by the way she had grown into a mature woman.
Although she had a bit of a strong will and shared a similar personality with his wife, Song Ji-eun, Lee Do-hyun had always been fond of her because she loved and cared for his son so much.
Lee Do-yoon, too, had never even imagined dating another girl besides Elly.
“If I suggest getting married as soon as they turn 20… Ji-eun might get angry. But maybe not.”
Of course, he knew it was unrealistic, but Lee Do-hyun wished Elly would become part of their family as soon as possible. He had been thinking this way for the past three years.
And Song Ji-eun, too, seemed likely to give her consent once they turned 20.
Although they bickered on the surface, it was clear that Song Ji-eun also saw Elly as her future daughter-in-law.
“Ha ha.”
Lost in thought, Lee Do-hyun couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
It had been ages since he had laughed so heartily.
But he couldn’t help it.
His son and his beautiful girlfriend, dressed in matching outfits, approached him with flushed faces.
“We’re going out, Father… We’ll be back.”
How could he not laugh at that?
Although Lee Do-hyun had jokingly called Elly his daughter-in-law from time to time, this was the first time she had addressed him as “Father” instead of “Mr. Lee.”
That’s why he was happy, and that’s why he felt grateful.
He looked forward to it once again.
“When are Do-yoon and Elly getting married?”
It would be nice if they got married soon and called him “Father” every day…
He said.