My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

14 – 05. The end of the prologue. Seventeen before the story begins

In the summer, we went to the beach.

As usual, Ellie’s family and ours together.

Since everyone preferred dipping their feet in the sea breeze rather than enjoying water play, we spent leisurely hours.

And at the beach, as Ellie had done before, she wore a rash guard this year too.

As for me, I wondered why someone invented such a swimsuit, but I didn’t express it.

I was curious, however, about why fashion-conscious Ellie insisted on wearing a rash guard.

Later, her mother subtly explained that she still wasn’t satisfied with her chest size, and that’s why she didn’t wear a bikini because it didn’t fit the way she wanted.

She added that she might wear one from next year, so look forward to it.

While that fact made me happy, on the other hand, I was a bit worried.

Since she might not want to show it to other guys, a rash guard might be okay too.

***

In the fall, we went to an amusement park.

Originally planned for right after the midterm exams in the first semester, it got quite delayed due to Ellie getting caught up in some magical mishap that day.

Although we came far to have fun, we didn’t ride many rides. Ellie was careful not to mess up her nicely arranged hair.

Thanks to you, we almost skipped the rides and went straight to the safari in the amusement park to see the white tiger this year.

As Elli stared at it intently, she pinched my arm.

She asked me what I thought it looked like.

I apologized to her, but deep down, I thought it really did resemble her.

Elli and the white tiger, both proud and cool, occasionally rolling around cutely, were a perfect match.

We wandered around like taking a half-hearted stroll until the surroundings grew dark, watching the parade and leaving the amusement park.

On the way home, Elli said,

“Let’s go to the place with the Ferris wheel next year.”

“Next year? We can just go to a different place this year.”

“I’ll ride the Ferris wheel next year.”

I nodded silently at her firm statement.

I vaguely understood the difference between this year and next year in Elli’s mind.

In winter, we went to a ski resort.

Just as it was only natural for our father, Elli’s things were also booked in advance, and Elli happily went to the ski resort with me as if it was natural.

And every time we went, I felt it, Elli was really good at skiing.

I was decent at skiing since I came every year, but Elli was on a different level.

With her platinum hair fluttering under her hat, riding down the advanced slopes on skis, she looked truly cool.

Right after that, Christmas arrived.

On Christmas Eve, we gathered with friends and sang in the karaoke rooms, and spent the day with our family.

It seemed like Elli wanted to play separately with just the two of us, but because Marcus… Mr. Mark looked sullen, we had no choice.

Late at night, I sneaked out of the living room where the adults were chatting under the influence of alcohol and followed Elli to her room.

“From next year, we’re definitely going out to play.”

“Should we go out early in the morning? Watch a movie, have lunch, and go shopping together?”

“Definitely. It’s Christmas, not some family gathering.”

I could see the burning determination in Elli’s eyes. Of course, I agreed with her words.

Probably.

Starting from next year, when we would refer to each other not as childhood friends but with a different relationship, I wanted to spend Christmas with just Elli and me.

And a few days after that.

As Ellie had said in spring, we were still 16 years old.

Suddenly, we had already turned 17.

***

Though I had expected something throughout the year due to Ellie’s statement, nothing dramatically changed as soon as it became January 1st.

It didn’t change dramatically, but it did feel a little different.

Her gaze looking at me, the way she did my hair in the mornings and evenings, somewhere…

I’m not sure how to express it, but it seemed like it was filled with color?

Facing that, I naturally started to wait and anticipate February 14th. Because the memories of Valentine’s Day when I was 14 are still vivid.

At that time, Ellie taught me a new Swedish greeting and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

And kram, which made me feel happiness by embracing Ellie’s slender body every day, was complemented by hosse, which kissed her soft cheek.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter.

Except for the rare occasions when I slept over at my relative’s house, we exchanged such greetings every day.

And now I knew.

The fact that in reality, they don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in Sweden.

I now knew that it started because Ellie wanted to kiss me on the cheek every day.

So, after three years have passed, isn’t it time for the next step?

That’s what I thought.

Being in adolescence at 17, where even just holding hands with the girl I like makes my body slightly react.

Filling my mind with thoughts of myself who’s still in my prime, handsome or whatever.

Like that.

Finally, the awaited morning of February 14th arrived.

I had trouble sleeping the night before, so I was tired, but when I woke up early and came out of my room with a clear mind.

“Why are you getting up now? Haven’t you prepared to go out quickly?”

“…It’s 7 o’clock now?”

“So what? Do you want to die? Hurry up and wash up?”

“Sorry, I’ll go wash up right away.”

It seemed like she was even more excited about today than me.

Ellie, who had already finished getting ready perfectly, was sitting on the sofa in our living room, waiting for me.

I knew we were going out early, but I really couldn’t have imagined that she would already be ready at this time.

I was taken aback and quickly went to the bathroom, washing up as quickly as possible.

And then.

“Wear this and this today.”

“Thanks. I’ll put them on right away…”

“And what’s with your hair? Come out right now. I’ll tidy it up for you.”

“Got it.”

While I showered, Ellie rummaged through my closet and coordinated my outfit. Matching her style and feeling.

Then, she grabbed the blow dryer and styled my hair.

This was a regular occurrence. Truthfully, I had no say in my outfit choices. Even my casual wear and pajamas were all influenced by Ellie.

In less than an hour, I was meticulously prepared for our date.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Together with Ellie, I left the house.

And as soon as we stepped out of the house.

“Hug.”

Unusually, Ellie, wearing a skirt, extended her arms to me for our customary embrace.

I naturally hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek, expecting Ellie to do the same, of course.

Up until this moment, except for being dressed up nicely, Ellie was no different from her usual self.

-But…

I thought so even as Ellie’s lips touched my cheek.

However.

As her lips made contact.

-lick

“…!”

In that instant, a moist sensation, chilling and startling, lightly licked my cheek, shocking me to the core.

Frozen in place from the unusual touch, the kiss, and the eerie feeling that enveloped my entire being.

Wide-eyed and frozen, Ellie slightly recoiled, extending her hand to me as if nothing had happened.

Her once pristine white cheeks were now flushed red.

“What’s wrong? Hold my hand.”

“You just… on my cheek…”

“On your cheek, what?”

“… No. Are we going to hold hands?”

“I’m going to hold it. By the way, the moment I let go of your hand today, I’ll kill you, just so you know.”

“Ah, okay. Got it.”

Still not fully grasping the situation, I took Ellie’s hand absentmindedly.

With our pinkies locked, Ellie pressed closer, intertwining our arms slightly.

It felt like we were lovers, that kind of feeling.

Thanks to that, my mind had been a mess since before we even started, and I felt dizzy.

In truth, I had thought that if Ellie gave any signal today, I would manfully take the lead, even just a little.

But forget about leading, today was different.

Ellie today… how can I put it into words?

Yeah.

She was like a fierce predator.

Even with her elegantly waved platinum hair and her azure eyes staring directly ahead.

It felt as if I were looking at a safari’s white tiger, with its prey right in front of it.

***

The scheduled course for today itself was no different from usual.

We had spent so much time together until now, doing everything together and ultimately repeating the same things we had done before.

But if you ask me if I disliked it, that was absolutely not the case. For me, spending time with Ellie, even just sitting and talking, was satisfying enough.

Without shaking off the sleepiness from the unusual morning, I still tried my best to appear as usual and enjoy the date with Ellie.

However, Ellie was still not her usual self here as well.

First, simply interlocking arms and holding hands with me was something she wouldn’t easily do in front of others.

Even when we came across clothes that caught her eye while shopping for a child.

“Ellie, aren’t we too close…”

“What’s too close? The pretend breakfast we have every day is just a joke, isn’t it?”

“If you say so, then I don’t have anything else to say.”

She stood so close to me that our bodies overlapped, even when she showed me the clothes she found while shopping, almost erasing any distance between us.

And when we finally watched the romance movie she had been looking forward to and had even pre-booked.

“…”

-Tightly

Without saying a word, she held my hand tightly, not letting go for even a moment as we watched the movie. She didn’t even order popcorn or soda today, and I realized belatedly that it was for this moment.

And when we came out of the movie theater, we stopped by a nearby pasta restaurant.

“Ah.”

“Ah?”

“Open your mouth.”

“Ah─”

For the first time since I was a child, I fed pasta directly into his tightly gripped fork. With my own fork, without any hesitation.

Although I have done many things with Eli up until now, surprisingly, I had never done something like this before.

Because my heart was pounding wildly, I ended up getting indigestion towards the end of the meal.

In the next room cafe we went to.

In that completely enclosed space. In this place, called the motel for minors by other kids our age.

After putting on a drama.

“… Are you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all. Don’t you want to hold onto my arm? Grab it properly before you break a finger.”

“Hmm… Is this good enough?”

“Just perfect.”

I leaned my back against the wall and spread my legs apart, while Eli came in between my legs and leaned against me.

In that position, I wrapped my arms around Eli’s waist, and Eli bent his legs and placed his hands on top of mine.

Thanks to that, Eli’s platinum blonde hair tickled my face, and the sweet scent made me feel dizzy, and my eyes couldn’t find a place to rest their gaze.

Because.

“……..”

If I looked down just below, I could see the curvy chest, which is hidden by my arms that are wrapped around her belly.

A little further ahead, the slightly raised skirt and the white thighs that peeked out from there.

But I couldn’t possibly focus on the drama in this situation, as a man.

And in the midst of all this.

“…Heh, heh heh…”

Eli seemed to be in a very good mood. As if she really liked being in this position right now, she was tapping my hand lightly, humming a tune.

While I felt delighted that Eli seemed to enjoy being like this with me.

‘……..Should I touch her?’

I was caught in a whirlwind of intense conflict, wondering if this posture was meant to seduce me as well.