My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

128 – 47. As the Separation Approached

After the university festival ended, I applied to the army.

“Are you sure you’ll get in?”

“Yeah. To be honest, you can apply with just a TOEIC score, but I also prepared for the TEPS and speaking tests just in case. I thought it would increase my chances if I showed off my English conversation skills.”

“You have to get in. If you don’t, I’ll die.”

“I’ll do my best, but it’s not like I can control the outcome…. Yeah, I’ll try my best.”

I could sense Eli’s sincere wish in her voice. I also wanted to get in, but now it was out of my hands.

The rest was up to fate.

I didn’t want to be apart from Eli for months either.

I really hoped I would get in.

***

At the end of September, we welcomed the Mid-Autumn Festival, a national holiday.

Eli woke me up early in the morning.

-Shake, shake

“Wake up.”

“Why…?”

“I told you. It’s Chuseok, and you have to go to your parents’ house. You need to help with preparing the meal too.”

“Ugh… You went there yesterday and sent a gift, and it’s only 4 am now…”

“It takes a long time to get ready, and we need to wash up too.”

“That’s too hasty…”

“Hey, Idoyun.”

“Yes…”

“Don’t you have something to do with me before washing up? We’ll be back tonight, so let’s recharge beforehand.”

“……”

“Won’t you do it? I’m only wearing my underwear now, can you bear it?”

“…Can’t bear it.”

“Then get up right now… Ugh…!”

Although our little romantic act had preceded, we still finished our preparations early.

And we headed straight to my house. It was as natural as going to my parents’ house with my wife, or my husband going to his parents’ house.

“I’ll make the rice cakes, Mother.”

“Go ahead. It’s not like Father will wake up soon, so take your time.”

“I was going to make the braised short ribs too…”

“What?! This foolish woman dares to do even the braised short ribs for my son…! That’s my job!”

“Heh.”

As soon as we arrived, I saw my mom and Eli chatting like old friends.

“Has our daughter-in-law arrived?”

“Good morning, Father.”

“I overslept a bit. Are you making rice cakes?”

“Yes. It’s almost done, so just wait a little.”

“Of course, I’ll wait. Did Eli make the braised short ribs too? It smells especially delicious today…”

“That’s what I made.”

“…It’ll be delicious.”

“Come to my room.”

“No, it’ll be delicious…”

“Now.”

I also saw my dad, who was too fond of his daughter-in-law, arguing with my mom.

After finishing our meal preparations, we visited our neighbors.

“Mother-in-law.”

“Hehehe… Calling me Mother-in-law is so nice~ From now on, call me that, okay?”

“Yes, of course. Ah, Father-in-law.”

“……”

“Dad, you’re calling me.”

“Yes… come on, Do-yun…”

I greeted my mother-in-law, who loves to use my formal title, and my father-in-law, who seems a bit disappointed that I’m not using Elly’s name.

After that, we gathered at one house, had a meal together, ate snacks, watched TV, chatted, and even had a drink.

I fully enjoyed Chuseok with my family.

“Elly, you were like a real daughter-in-law today.”

“What, didn’t I do that usually?”

“You did, but you did it even better today. It really felt like we’re one family…”

“Hmph. What’s the point of having a family without kids?”

“……”

“Why did you suddenly stop talking? Are you going to die?”

It’s true that having a child would make our parents dote on their grandchild, which is something I also wish for, but…

It’s still too early for that.

“I love you, Elly~”

“Whatever.”

“Do you know how I feel?”

“If you don’t use a condom, I think I’ll know.”

“I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen. I won’t let you get pregnant today.”

“Heh, go ahead and try.”

So, we spent a sticky night, just like any other night, even during the holiday.

***

In October, there was a midterm exam.

Of course, I did my best to focus on my studies. Elly helped me by taking care of everything around me, as always.

She perfectly managed the household chores, prepared meals, and even took care of snacks.

-Squeak, squeak…

“If you’re tired, it’s hard to study. Let me help you, and you can take a break.”

“How can I take a break when my girlfriend is taking off all her clothes and getting on top of me?”

“I’ll take care of it, so just lie down and relax… Yeah…”

At night, she even provided bodily services.

Thanks to my consistent exercise routine, I didn’t feel as tired even when I combined studying with s*x.

Elly’s dedication also helped me get good grades on my midterm exam.

And on my birthday, which followed…

“Meow.”

“Did you put a tail on your butt again?”

“Meow~”

“You’re so cute, our Elly-cat.”

“Meow, meow…”

I could meet Elly, who was wearing cat ears and a tail, and making cat sounds while naked.

It wasn’t a joke even when she was being a puppy, and now she’s just as playful as a cat. Unlike when she was being a puppy, she’s actively moving around and licking my entire body, which is thrilling.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but dote on Elly-cat all night long.

***

It was already November.

Eli and I, who had been pretending not to care, had been secretly nervous about the announcement of the successful candidates for KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the United States Army).

From morning, we couldn’t sit still and wandered around the computer, and as the announcement time approached, we sat in front of it with bated breath.

“Are you going to press it?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll make it. You’ll definitely get in and come out often to see me.”

“…Of course, you have to. Press it.”

After saying words of comfort to Eli, who was clasping his hands together in prayer, I carefully clicked the mouse button.

-Click-

Then, on the monitor screen…

“…….”

“…Final pass?”

“…Is this real?”

“It’s done!!”

To our surprise, the message that we had passed the KATUSA selection was displayed. We had hoped for this, but now that it had happened, we were stunned.

At the same time, Eli let out a loud, joyful cheer, the kind that only comes out once a year.

“We did it! Is this real?!”

“Yes, it’s true… I think…”

“We did it! Hehehe…! We did it, Idoyun!”

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong with your face? Why don’t you look happy? Do you want to leave me and go to the army?!”

“No, no! I’m really happy too! But it’s just that it doesn’t feel real and the competition rate was high this time. Wow, we did it?”

Just in case, I had also applied to the air force and taken a civil service exam, but luckily, I got into KATUSA.

Even though I was looking at it, it didn’t feel real. So I kept clicking on the pass page with the mouse, and Eli was calling somewhere to share the news.

“We did it! Yes, yes! Remember what I told you before? KATUSA? Yes, that’s it! Now I just have to go to the training camp, and even though it’s not like I can commute from home, I can still take breaks. Yes, yes. Let’s go out for dinner tonight! I’ll get ready and meet you then. See you later!”

Eli was talking excitedly, and it was amusing that the first person he called was our mom.

Anyway, it was fortunate… but when I thought about going to the training camp, it was different from when I came out.

I had thought that if I just got into KATUSA, I could go back and forth to the training camp as much as I wanted, but now that I had passed, I didn’t want to go to the training camp at all.

I wouldn’t be able to see Eli for at least 7 or 8 weeks, including the 5 weeks at the Nonsan training camp and the KATUSA training.

It was unavoidable.

But anyway…

“Idoyun! Our parents and our family are going out for dinner together, so get ready to go!”

“Okay. But isn’t Dad still at work?”

“Not now, at 7 pm!”

“Then I can take my time getting ready. Will you give me a kiss as a reward? You did well!”

“Hehe… You did well! Yes, I’ll give you a kiss. Come here!”

-Click!

Eli was this happy.

Really, it was fortunate that I had passed.

(Note: KATUSA is a program where Korean citizens serve in the US Army. The training camp mentioned is a basic training camp for new recruits.)

***

Time passed again, and it was mid-December.

The final exams had ended.

We had finished our semester, submitted our winter break plans, and the winter vacation had begun.

Until my exams were over, Eli had been tirelessly supporting me like before, but as soon as the break started, she immediately took me on a trip to various places.

“We’re going to Nami Island tomorrow.”

“Nami Island is great.”

“We have a photoshoot the day after, so we’ll stay in Sokcho. Remember.”

“Okay.”

Except when we had modeling shoots, Eli led the way, and we enthusiastically explored every nook and cranny, putting aside all other hobbies.

We were celebrating her passing the army officer test.

We were also celebrating my good grades on the final exams.

We had always enjoyed taking trips together whenever we had the time.

So, we came up with all sorts of excuses and took off on a whim.

We visited popular dating spots all over the country, and even went to a luxurious hot spring hotel we had booked in advance for Christmas.

“Ah…”

“Did you sleep well?”

“I didn’t sleep at all… You didn’t let me sleep…”

-Bang!

“Then let’s sleep some more and visit our parents?”

“Okay…”

We welcomed the new year in each other’s arms, naked in the same bed.

It was a dreamlike, picture-perfect day.

That’s how it was.

Until mid-January, we only experienced happiness.

But as my enlistment date approached, with only a month left.

“…….”

A shadow gradually fell over Eli’s face.

And from that time on, Eli often got lost in thought.

-Silence

She would stare at me silently, and then again, get lost in her thoughts.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…Nothing.”

Even when I asked her, she would avert her gaze and change the subject.

It wasn’t just that.

“Eli, let’s go out later…”

“I have a promise to keep, so I’ll be back soon.”

“A promise? With who? So-yeon?”

“…Yes, I have a promise with So-yeon. I’ll be back before dinner. If anything happens, I’ll contact you.”

“Ah, okay. Have a good time.”

Eli started going out alone without me.

It wasn’t just for a day, but for several days in a row.

It was the first time something like this had happened in my life.