My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

66 – 24. Celebrating Eli’s birthday, and getting one step closer that day.

After my birthday, the days started to get colder.

From October to November.

As I was busy with guitar practice and studying, December suddenly arrived.

Eli liked all four seasons in our country, but among them, she liked winter the most.

I wondered if it was because she was born in Sweden, where winters are more beautiful. Mark said it was because she resembled him.

In November, Eli often went alone to fitting model shoots, but when she was at home, she would always cling to me.

“I’m cold. So hold me. Don’t let go of my hand.”

“It’s cold, what can I do? Come here. I’ll hug you.”

She said she was cold, but I knew it wasn’t her true intention.

Every winter, Eli would get closer to me than usual. It was the same even before we started dating.

Thanks to that, it became difficult to draw at home because Eli would always cling to me, but I found it cute because I knew she just wanted skinship.

The reason Eli liked winter might be that she could use the cold as an excuse to get closer to me.

Anyway, with Eli’s birthday approaching, our guitar lessons with Jung-woo hyung were finally coming to an end.

So, it was our last lesson.

“When the autumn leaves scatter in the wind…”

I played the guitar and sang in front of Jung-woo hyung.

Following his advice to focus on the song and not worry too much about precision, I sang with ease.

Jung-woo hyung listened to the entire song, which was originally by Im Seon-se.

*sniff*

I wasn’t joking; I really cried. It wasn’t like I was overwhelmed or anything, but just a few tears rolled down my cheeks.

Thanks to that, Jung-woo hyung was extremely surprised in front of me, nodding his head and giving me a big round of applause.

*clap clap clap clap clap!*

“This is it… my several months haven’t been in vain…”

“No… I don’t think I sang that well… I made a lot of mistakes…”

“That’s what makes it more perfect. Ah… that voice was supposed to be mine… no, it wouldn’t have been like this if it were mine. Dammit, it’s really my taste. The way the low notes settle is crazy…”

Although Jung-woo hyung hadn’t praised my voice just once or twice, I realized that it was really his taste.

Who would have thought that listening to a song would make me cry? I knew that music could evoke emotions, but…

“Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you enjoy playing the guitar?”

“Very much. I didn’t know playing the guitar and singing would be this much fun.”

“That’s why the song sounds better. You have to sing with enjoyment to bring out the flavor.”

“Oh, I see! I think I understand that. I just enjoyed it, so I wasn’t nervous at all.”

“Exactly? So, do you want to form a band?”

“If hyung gets Eli’s permission.”

“…….”

“Why don’t we try playing a song for Eli to listen to?”

“Did you think you wouldn’t do it? Stop talking nonsense and let’s start quickly. Ah, wait a minute. Let’s record a video. Vini also wants to see it.”

“Should we play it directly for Vini noona too?”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll listen to it again then.”

Learning guitar and singing from Jung-woo hyung was much more enjoyable than I thought. Especially, I received a lot of advice from him on how to sing.

Before, when we went to the karaoke together, he didn’t say much, but now that he’s become a teacher, he’s been correcting me on various small tips and breathing techniques.

However, I couldn’t fully accept it 100%, but I still did a much better job than before, and thanks to that, singing became more enjoyable.

─♬♪♬

This time, I was going to sing a song for Eli, accompanied by a simple guitar code, and Jung Woo-hyung started to ponder with a serious face.

“Should I persuade Ali…?”

To be honest, I was just doing this as a hobby, but since Jung Woo-hyung and I were having fun doing a duet, I thought I’d give it a try if I could persuade Eli.

Of course.

Eli, who had intuitively sensed how popular Jung Woo-hyung was among girls during his performances, wouldn’t easily permit me to form a band, but…

A few days later, on the weekend.

I waited for my dad to be at home and grabbed my guitar in the living room, where the bright sunlight was warmly pouring in.

“Oh, oh… Look at our Do-yoon, he’s so cool… What about me?”

“That’s Jung Woo-hyung’s guitar, right? Dad, you should get Do-yoon a new one.”

“Get an expensive one, a good one!”

“Of course, that’s a given.”

I had just picked up the guitar, but it was already chaotic.

Amidst the commotion, I smiled slightly and slowly plucked the guitar strings while sitting on the sofa.

And I started singing.

“When I smell the lilac fragrance…”

It’s a song that my parents love the most, “Under the Shade of a Roadside Tree” by Lee Moon-sae.

Personally, I also like it, and surprisingly, Jung Woo-hyung likes it too – a calm yet powerful song.

“In this beautiful world, I won’t forget…”

I played the guitar with a simple code, and the rest was covered by my voice.

“In the morning dew…”

At some point, my parents started singing along with me, and our family’s harmony made the song even more rich and beautiful.

As we played the accompaniment, we all swayed our bodies to the music, savoring the moment.

It was a short but enjoyable time.

-짝짝짝짝짝짝짝!!

“Oh, oh…! Our son should become a singer, shouldn’t he?!”

“That’s right. He’s doing much better than I thought, and he learned well from Jung Woo-hyung.”

As soon as the song ended, my parents gave me a big round of applause. They seemed to be extremely pleased.

I also listened to the recording Jung Woo-hyung made, and I thought my voice blended quite well with Lee Moon-sae’s song, so it felt good.

“Was it okay?”

“It was okay! It can’t be helped. Husband, let’s go to the karaoke! Let’s sing a song with our son!”

“Should we? Do-yoon, don’t you have a promise with Eli today?”

My dad’s words made me hesitate for a moment. I didn’t have a specific promise, but it was likely that Eli would come to our house or call me soon after this.

But since Mom was asking to go to the karaoke like this for the first time, and Dad also sensed that Mom wanted us to spend quality time together, he didn’t mention calling Eli.

“I don’t have a promise, but I’ll contact him later.”

“Okay. Ji-eun, let’s get ready to go out.”

“Let’s go to the karaoke and also look at guitars. We’ll buy one for our Do-yoon!”

“Sounds good.”

I watched as my mom, all excited, headed into her room to get ready, and then I called Eli.

As expected, she was thinking of coming to our house soon, so I told her about what was happening now.

“Mom loves it so much… she suddenly suggested we go to a karaoke room together.”

─Hm…

“I’ll go and contact you again later.”

─That’s about it, right? I’ll call you when I get home.

When I told her that Mom loved it a lot, Eli seemed to have high expectations too.

I felt a bit nervous about telling Eli, but I gained more confidence than that.

Jungwoo hyung and my parents also said it was great, so I wanted to tell Eli about it too.

After that, we went to the karaoke room.

“Someday, we’ll all…”

We really sang our hearts out to Im Moon-seok’s songs with Mom and Dad. After singing until our throats were sore, we went out to eat with our parents and even went to a music store where I picked out a guitar.

Although I wasn’t an expert on guitars, I had learned about a few good brands from Jungwoo hyung, so I could choose a decent one.

And when we got back home…

Eli was waiting for me in front of our house after receiving my call.

As soon as I saw Eli, Mom’s face lit up with a smile and she said…

“Eli, you haven’t heard Do-yun’s guitar song properly yet, right? It was so good, and I heard it before you did!”

“…….”

“…….”

For a moment, my dad and I were taken aback, losing our words, at Mom’s sudden, genuine outburst.

Eli just…

“…….”

Her mouth was agape, speechless.

In fact, I had told Mom beforehand that I would tell Eli first, so Eli knew how much Mom liked me and how jealous she would be if she heard it first.

So, until just now, Eli didn’t have any particular thoughts about being late to hear the news.

But when Mom directly boasted about it, jealousy and resentment appeared on her face.

Seeing her immediate reaction, my dad and I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

It was just too cute.

“Do-yun’s voice is so good… you have to hear it!”

“Hmm, you promised to sing for me too.”

“Did you? But this is the second time?”

“…….”

“Our son comes first, so it’s natural for his girlfriend to be second. That’s right?”

“…Do-yun, come here. Let’s go to my room.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s the second time, but you two have fun playing together.”

It was nice to see Mom and Eli getting along well. As for soothing Eli’s hurt pride, that was my job.

Although she didn’t show any dissatisfaction, Eli’s heart was still a bit hurt.

I told her I loved her so much that my throat was sore, and of course, she was my priority, and I gave her a bunch of kisses. Only then did Eli’s mood improve.

This annoying part of her was also so cute.

***

It was Eli’s birthday, which we were going to celebrate in a few days.

Eli and I, having just taken an exam, were celebrating our birthdays around the same time, so many friends came to congratulate us.

Of course, since Eli has a difficult personality to get close to, there were fewer people than when it was my turn, but it was still a big gathering.

We had a blast with our friends, and just like on my birthday, both families got together for a meal.

And the next day…

My parents told us they were going out for a drive, and they deliberately gave us some alone time, knowing that I had been practicing the guitar to sing for Eli.

“Hey, Eli?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“I’m trusting you, so let’s spend some quality time together. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“……”

“Do you need to answer?”

“I won’t do it.”

“Alright.”

Even though Mom gave Eli a stern warning until the moment she left, it didn’t matter anyway.

Anyway…

“I’ll do it.”

“Just a minute. Let’s start filming first.”

We were dressed in our date outfits, and Eli had set up the phone to record a video.

Just the two of us, alone in the house.

─♬♪~

I started singing a song for Eli.

It was a song I had been practicing on the guitar, and I had studied it especially for Eli.

So I was a bit more nervous than usual.

I strummed the strings, looking straight at the platinum-haired princess, who was gazing at me.

I sang.

“The curtains sway slightly~”

It was already the end of our first year.

As always, I spent a lot of time with Eli, studied hard, drew pictures, worked as a fitting model, and practiced guitar and singing.

I had a fulfilling year, packed to the brim.

“I made this melody for you~”

It might have been tough at times, but I was always happy because Eli was by my side. Even when she wasn’t, Eli was the reason for everything.

“…….”

With a happy face, her eyes curved into a smile, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to hold back her laughter.

My girlfriend, looking at me.

Sometimes, reality felt unreal, but she was still a beautiful sight, with her platinum hair and blue eyes, my childhood friend.

I sang my heart out to her.

“I’ll wait for you, wherever you are~”

The moment the song ended.

I savored the romantic atmosphere, gently put down the guitar, and tried to hug Eli.

And again, “Happy Birthday” to you.

I wanted to tell you I love you, but…

“El…”

-Bam!

The moment I called out her name, Eli.

She rushed over and hugged me tightly.

And then, she pushed me onto the sofa and…

“Haah… Chuuh…”

She kissed me, her lips overlapping mine without a gap, her eyes shining with love as she gazed at me, her tongue roughly exploring mine.

I thought I’d talk to her after the kiss, but…

However, even an hour later…

“Mm… Jjooob…”

She continued to kiss me, not giving me a chance to speak, her wild tongue exploring my mouth, my girlfriend who was like a beast.

Eli, who was deeply moved, didn’t let me go for a long time.

“Haah, ha… You’re going to sing for me every month… No, every weekend. Just for me. Unconditionally.”

“Huu… I’ll do that. But can I have a sip of water? My throat is really…”

“No way. You can only drink mine. Chuulp…”

“Wuh…!”

She gave me a warning look with a hint of danger.

I was happy, so it was okay.

But the way she mixed her saliva with mine was… It was a difficult yet happy day.

It was Eli’s birthday, a joyful day that made the next day feel a little closer.