My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

61 – 22. My Birthday Party and Ju-hye-ryeong

The next day, Eli’s bunny girl costume arrived. And I received a message from Min-ah’s sister saying that the Alice cosplay had also arrived.

However, since the mid-term exams were approaching, we couldn’t meet up right away.

The bunny girl costume also couldn’t be worn because our parents were never away from home on weekends.

I just wanted to see the costume, but Eli wouldn’t show it to me, saying I had to wait until she wore it.

Thanks to that, I felt disappointed and focused on studying for the exams.

Usually, I would watch lectures online during breaks and sometimes meet up with So-yeon at each other’s houses.

“……So, the necessary and sufficient condition for z² to be a negative real number is…”

“x=0, y≠0. Is that correct?”

“That’s correct!”

“Thanks. You explain it really well.”

“Hehe, I’m grateful to have So-yeon’s help.”

“Thank you, So-yeon.”

So-yeon was very good at studying, so I usually asked her a lot of questions about things I didn’t understand.

Unfortunately, the only thing I could teach her was English, which made me feel a bit sorry.

“…….”

While we were focusing on our studies, Eli was checking her phone, pretending to solve problems.

It’s true that Eli has a hard time concentrating on her studies, but at the moment, she was chatting with the shopping mall CEO on the phone.

Starting from mid-October, her fitting model schedule had been packed.

However, since winter season is approaching, there will be many female coat photoshoots, and our couple look will be scarce, with Eli mostly taking solo shots.

After solving a difficult math problem, I asked Eli, “What did the CEO say?”

“He asked if I can meet up with him every week in November.”

“That’s crazy. Didn’t he give you a bonus last time because of good sales?”

“Yeah.”

Although Eli responded, her gaze was fixed on her phone, indicating that she was worried.

The CEO takes good care of us, considers our convenience, and even gives us a lot of allowance, not to mention occasional bonuses. We’re very grateful.

Of course.

“Right, the cardigan we shot last time was so pretty! I bought it as soon as I saw it, just like Yujin did?”

As Soyeon said, Eli’s modeling career actually helps a lot with sales, so it’s only natural that the CEO treats her well.

“…What to do.”

The reason Eli was worried now was that she would have to spend time away from me.

I have to attend guitar lessons every Saturday according to Jungwoo’s schedule, and photoshoots usually take place on Saturdays as well, which takes a long time.

As a result, just like when Eli first started as a fitting model, we hardly get to see each other on Saturdays, except for morning and evening.

It’s clear that Eli enjoys her modeling job, but she’s hesitant to be apart from me.

On the other hand, the fact that Eli is worried about being away from me, even if it’s just for work, makes me happy.

“Let’s do it. You want to do it, right?”

I encouraged Eli to make a decision.

In reality, I also didn’t want to be apart from Eli, but Eli would feel the same way.

I didn’t want to feel the emptiness of not having Eli by my side, just like during our first photoshoot.

But we can’t be stuck together forever.

And unlike our first fitting model photoshoot, we’re now in a romantic relationship, exchanging passionate kisses every day.

Both Eli and I must have felt a sense of security and comfort in our minds.

I said those words to comfort her, but Eli suddenly gave me a sharp look.

“What’s wrong? Why are you sending me away? Do you want me to die? Are you going to abandon me?”

“No, I have guitar lessons with Jungwoo that day anyway. You can come with me, but you’ll just be checking your phone and wasting time. I want to be with you too… but don’t you think being a fitting model is fun? So just do it.”

“It’s nothing. It’s just a job…”

“Don’t say that. Since we’ve just started practicing our song, I’ll work hard and surprise you on your birthday.”

“…….”

“We’ll keepRuleContexts like before, so you don’t have to worry.”

“…Hmm.”

Eli wants to be a fitting model, but she doesn’t want to be away from me. She’s pushing me away, but when I tell her to go, she gets angry and asks why I’m telling her to go.

She’s revealing her contradictory feelings and expressing dissatisfaction, but I can understand her and calm her down with a smile.

“Thump thump… thump thump!”

“Don’t make a sound with your mouth.”

“Ah, why~ I’m living for the day when I can see you two lovebirds together!”

“I’m annoyed. I won’t call you when we’re cosplaying.”

“That’s too much! I’m trying to muster up the courage to see that every day! How can you do this to me?! I’m even teaching you how to be a good husband!”

“What’s with you.”

Isoryeon, who was teasing Eli while drawing a curved line with her eyes, and Eli, who was blushing with embarrassment, were bickering, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Yes.

Even if we’re apart sometimes, as long as we can spend our daily lives like this, it’s enough.

Later, when Eli and I get married and I start working, we’ll naturally have times when we’re apart, anyway.

Moreover, considering our current situation, it’s highly likely that we won’t attend the same university, so it’ll happen sooner or later.

It’s better to stick together if possible, but we need to get used to being apart, too.

It’s not like we have no choice, but it’s because Eli wants to do what she wants.

I can always support her.

***

Two weeks later, when the midterm exams were about to end.

With only one subject left, we chatted with our friends in the classroom, which was bustling with excitement.

“Hey, Idoyun! So, when’s the birthday party?”

“We should do it this weekend. Are you coming?”

“Is one ChuPaChups enough as a gift?”

“That’s fine. Let’s have fun together.”

“No way… You’re reacting like this, and it makes me feel like trash.”

“You’re trash, Jinwoo.”

“Bullshit.”

Since my birthday was on the following Monday, the conversation revolved around the party.

Although I also made separate plans with Eli, on my birthday, we usually gather with friends and have a big celebration, so it’s become an annual event!

This time, too, only the friends who gave me a definite answer were excited, and we were worried about where to gather.

We could just do what we did last year or the year before, gather at a karaoke room, sing, and have fun, and those who leave early can leave, and those who stay longer can eat and leave.

That sounds easy, but the number of people is increasing…

“Idoyun~ Can we come too?”

“Of course, you can. If you’re coming, then come.”

“But what if Alisa says something if we come?”

“It’s not like we’re not gathering on birthdays. The gift is fine, so come and let’s eat cake together. I’ll buy a lot.”

“What’s with you? It’s your birthday, so why are you buying?”

“If you’re going to buy, then thank you.”

I welcomed everyone, including the girls in our class, with a smile, without rejecting anyone.

Even Eli, who was coming to celebrate my birthday… no, actually, she never gave girls the cold shoulder, not even on ordinary days.

The only concern was whether we could find a karaoke room that could accommodate this many people.

“Can’t we do it at a karaoke room… Should we rent a party room?”

“Remember that place we went to for Shin Chae-hwan’s birthday party? Wasn’t it a bit small?”

“Maybe there’s a bigger place than that?”

“What, if we search, it’ll be there, right? I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay, I’ll look into it too.”

“Hey, find a place with karaoke machines. If not, it’s gonna be a total disaster.”

“Okay.”

While I was having this conversation with Jinwoo, the classroom door opened, and a loud voice called out to me.

“Idoyun! When’s your birthday party?”

“Saturday!”

“I’m going too!”

“Come on!”

“That punk Beokjoo is coming too. Wow, damn… how many people are coming?”

“I don’t know? It seems like only the people who asked are coming, about twenty or so.”

“This is crazy.”

It definitely seemed like there were more people this year. I had to meet up with my middle school friends separately.

As I waited for Eli to arrive, I accepted the invitations from my friends one by one.

A little later.

-Ding dong!

“Idoyun, come here.”

Eli, who had been chatting with our classmates for a bit, entered our classroom.

“He’s here. Have a good time.”

“You too. I’ll post the party location on the group chat.”

“If I find a good spot, I’ll send you the link.”

“Thanks~”

I said goodbye to Chaehyun and Jinwoo and got up from my seat.

Then, I approached my girlfriend with platinum hair, who was waiting for me by the back door, drawing everyone’s attention.

Next to her was also Soyeon, who was smiling brightly as usual.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

“Yeah, there were people in our class who wanted to come to your birthday party, so I told them to come.”

“Is it okay, Doyun?”

“It’s a birthday celebration, so I’m grateful. If you ask, they’ll all come.”

I think it was Eli’s friends who asked.

Although Eli only stuck with me these days, not playing actively and mostly spending time with me, her sociable personality from elementary school days was still intact.

Plus, she was exceptional in fashion and makeup, even working as a fitting model, so there were many people who talked to her about that.

Thanks to that, she had many close female friends. And, of course, there were also many people who were jealous of her.

Anyway, after gathering in the classroom, we headed out immediately.

“Did you both do well on the exam?”

“Just okay, nothing special.”

“I felt similar to last time. How about you?”

“I think I did better than last time. Thanks to Soyeon.”

“Do you know how grateful I am?”

“I did well.”

As we chatted, I received praise from Eli, feeling like our scores would definitely increase compared to last semester.

Since we’re the ones who stand out, we caught the attention of our fellow students as we walked down the hallway.

As a thank you for frequently teaching me, I told Suyeon that I’d buy her a drink at a cafe, when…

A voice stopped us.

“Doyun-ah!”

It was Juhwalyeong, with her stark black, long hair and a face that’s unexpectedly innocent and cute, despite her striking features.

She’s a popular fashion Ttokki who’s gained many fans.

She grabbed us, or rather, me, and smiled brightly as she started talking.

“Long time no see, Juhwalyeong.”

“Yeah. So, you’ve been watching my Ttokki videos every time?”

“Of course, you always send me the links. I watch them with Eli. Your outfits are really cool.”

“Thanks.”

“But what’s going on?”

As we exchanged these brief words, she…

“Are you having a birthday party this weekend? Can I come too?”

She asked with confidence and a pretty smile.