My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

124 – 45. Autumn, University Festival

We consistently went to the gym, accepting Hyunho’s suggestion.

Although I said I wouldn’t receive personal training, I felt too guilty, so I did a few more sessions.

Even though it hadn’t been long since we started, I couldn’t feel the muscles growing, but the exercises that were initially difficult started to feel more natural with time.

“Princess carry?”

“Try it.”

“Uh, um… I’ll try it once. Hmph…!”

-Kwak!

“Is it okay?”

“Not heavy at all?”

“Not at all. It’s incredibly light. Haven’t you been eating well lately?”

“Don’t lie to me. Tell the truth.”

“…It’s true. It’s light.”

“Heh.”

-Swoosh

“It seems like you’ve gained some muscle here too…”

“Uh… I’ve gotten a bit more toned, haven’t I…?”

“What… it’s so-so. Did you do a full-body workout yesterday too?”

“In the beginning, it was good, so… Hmph… I feel like I’m getting the hang of it…”

“Put me down now. What are you doing, trembling like that?”

“Hua……”

“Is it really that hard?”

“…No? To be honest, I could’ve done another hour, but you told me to stop, so I did.”

“That’s what I mean.”

Moreover, it was good that Eli, who hadn’t asked me for anything, was making requests like this princess carry. My strength hadn’t increased significantly, but the fact that I had gained trust was significant.

However, since Eli was tall and had a large chest and buttocks, her weight was a bit on the heavy side, making it difficult to do the princess carry for long.

It was natural that lifting a person was harder than lifting weights of the same weight.

The fact that I was becoming a reliable boyfriend who could give Eli a sense of security was releasing dopamine in me, making exercise more enjoyable.

And even after a month, Eli was still only running on the treadmill.

It might seem like that’s all, but doing high-intensity exercise for over an hour was enough as aerobic exercise.

Of course, I didn’t just do that, I also consistently did Pilates and squats at home every evening.

“Eli, your butt looks like it’s sagging.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Really? Let me help you.”

-Jumulruk

“Are you going to keep interrupting my workout?”

“Am I interrupting? I’m helping you.”

“Helping… uh…”

-Jumulruk, Jumulruk

“…You’re dead.”

“Do you want to take a shower now?”

“What shower? Let’s go to bed. I’ll be on top today, so just lie down quietly.”

I often transitioned to other exercises while doing squats and playing around, but that’s how it was.

Exercise became our hobby.

I was happy to have a hobby to do with Eli, and Eli was also very pleased with the recent situation.

I heard the reason from Eli, who was drunk on a Friday night.

“It’s good, so I’ll try harder.”

“Are you touching my muscles?”

“That’s also good… I love it at night.”

“Really?”

“Yes… I’ll do it again… I want to…”

“Shall I carry you like a princess?”

“I love being carried like a princess…”

After starting exercise, my energy increased at night, and I gained confidence in myself, which showed on the outside.

Anyway, whatever.

It was a really fulfilling summer.

Eli and I drove around, went on drives, traveled with friends and family, and drew a lot of pictures in our free time.

We also sang with Jungwoo hyung, recorded songs, studied for various certifications including English, and started going to the gym around August.

Although it seemed like we were just playing around every day, we actually spent our time very busily.

If I were alone, I wouldn’t have been able to do even half of it.

But Eli was by my side, and we did almost everything together.

Everything was enjoyable.

It’s been like that since we played in the mud as kids. Even if something wasn’t interesting, it became fun if Eli was with me.

Now, Eli is even supporting me, so it wasn’t hard to study at all.

Still, there wasn’t time to do anything else, so it was like a hamster on a wheel.

But with Eli, every day was a newly enjoyable day.

September arrived.

***

A day in autumn, with a gentle breeze.

Early September, right after the semester started.

University festivals were just around the corner. As a freshman in the Business Administration department, I was tasked with helping out with our department’s festival preparations.

“Do you remember, Idoyun, how you got sick in May and skipped the festival?”

In fact, just like my senior said, I did help with the preparations in May, but I didn’t participate in the festival itself.

No, I didn’t participate.

Coincidentally, I got a car back then, and Elly and I went on a drive and had fun, only helping with the preparations and skipping the festival, citing illness as an excuse.

It was also very enjoyable to drive around with Elly, and since it was during the university festival period, we avoided the crowded dating spots in Seoul.

The conditions for a car date were just too perfect.

Of course, I did help with the preparations and even came to help with the aftermath, but I did lie and skip it, which is a fact.

Therefore, I felt guilty and was determined to participate this time.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m not saying you were sick or anything…”

I apologized in that sense.

The female seniors who came to convey the message scolded me instead.

“Hey! Idoyun said he was sick, so why are you talking like that!”

“You’re saying he was sick, but as a senior, you’re talking like that? It’s ridiculous! You’re being too kind!”

“You even came to help with the aftermath, which is already commendable. What more do you want?”

“Do we have some kind of Idoyun fan club in our department? I know everything! Anyway, you can’t deny that you couldn’t participate in the festival. Right?”

“I acknowledge that.”

“Okay. As I said before, I’ll put you in charge this time. Just don’t get sick, okay? You won’t get sick, right?”

“Of course not. I’ve started going to the gym to take care of my body.”

“…Can’t you just stop doing that? If you start working out, what about the other guys? I feel a sense of deprivation.”

“Haha…”

“Anyway, our festival sales will be complete with you. Without you, we’ll fail. I hope you take responsibility for that.”

“I don’t really know about that… but I’ll definitely participate this time.”

“Please, I’m begging you…”

Listening to that, it seemed like our sales weren’t that great in May, and we couldn’t even cover the costs of the after-party.

The seniors gave me a stern warning and left, and then Seongjun sat down next to me, pulling out a chair.

“Are you going to be in charge of serving only, or can you do full-time serving?”

“I don’t know. I’ll just work hard to make up for what I missed last time. Besides, our university doesn’t get that many people during festivals, right?”

“That’s true, but there were quite a few people. It was unexpectedly fun. If we think about it, it’s not as bad as the rumors.”

“That’s good. Our last day is when Yujin will come, right?”

“Did you hear that? We have to stay and watch, no matter what.”

“I’ll definitely watch, no matter what.”

“You’re going to watch with your girlfriend, who’s a fan of Yujin? Is your girlfriend coming to watch?”

“Yes. Elly is a fan of Yujin, so we’re going to watch together.”

This time, Elly wasn’t too keen on the festival for the same reasons as last time, but it didn’t look good to skip it again. Elly didn’t seem to want to stop me either.

Moreover, since Elly’s favorite idol was coming for the closing performance, I had high expectations this time.

“Are you going to prepare starting tomorrow?”

“I’ll go. I did help with the preparations last time, after all.”

“Ah, that’s right. Well, then, good luck. I’ll go first.”

“Already leaving?”

“I have a blind date tonight, so I need to get ready.”

“A blind date? Today?”

“It’s my last chance. I want to have fun with my college festival girlfriend too.”

“Ah…”

“I’m off.”

“Good luck!”

I sent off Sung-joon, who was leaving with a determined look, and grabbed my bag.

I headed straight home without taking a detour, thinking that I should make the most of my time today since I’ll be busy with festival preparations from tomorrow.

On my way home from university.

I stopped by a mart to buy the milk and eggs Eli had asked for, and strolled home, taking my time.

After living in this studio apartment for over six months, I finally felt like it was truly “our home” as I opened the door.

“Are you back?”

Eli came out to the hallway, wearing an apron, as if she had been cooking dinner.

Her appearance, like a housewife, made my heart flutter.

“I’m back.”

– Thud!

***

“I’ll be late from tomorrow on.”

“It seems that way. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. You lied and left early last time, so try your best this time.”

“I will.”

– Thud

Eli sat on my lap, interspersing our conversation with kisses.

Since the semester started, we’ve been apart for quite a while every day, so whenever I come home, we always spend around 30 minutes like this.

I also tell her about my daily life at school, no matter how trivial.

“What’s up with Vini noona?”

“She’s going on a trip with her oppa. She thinks she’ll have some time.”

“Isn’t it the first day? You can’t go together because you have a shoot that day.”

“I don’t think so. Maybe it’s the second day.”

“Then we can go together on the second day. We can do that, and on the last day, we can have a date since there’s nothing else.”

“Hmm… Yeah, we can take a look around and then watch the performance. That sounds about right.”

“Really? But we should get there early to get good seats, right?”

“We can’t get good seats. There are people who wait from morning, so…”

“That’s about it?”

“That’s about it.”

“I-do-yun.”

“Yes.”

“You know you have to handle women well during festivals, right? If you can’t, you’re dead.”

“Hmm…”

“Are you not answering properly? Do you want to risk your life?”

“It’s unavoidable to be friendly and attentive while serving, isn’t it?”

“That’s not what I mean. If there are other women approaching, you know what to do.”

“Alright, I understand. Do you trust me?”

“Heh, I’ll be watching.”

As Eli gazed at me with a slight scowl, I smiled faintly and pressed my lips together once more.

My girlfriend, who gets jealous over trivial matters, was cute.

In reality, when I was busy with work, I worried about strange men approaching Eli, and I got jealous too.

However, as a man, I couldn’t show that side of myself often.

“There’s no one else for me but you. I love you.”

I casually smiled and confessed my love.

“I know. I love you too.”

Eli also replied with love.

And what followed was, as always,…

“…….”

“…….”

***

“Do-yun, remember.”

“Yes, senior.”

“What you need to do at the festival is…”

“Serving?”

“That’s correct, but the most important thing is to attract women. Once women come…”

“Yeah, that’s a bit much.”

“What’s wrong with that!”