My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty - My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty chapter 137

137 – 53. After Training

It’s not unusual for girlfriends or parents to send gifts to the training institute.

But although it’s a common occurrence, it’s not often that you see people around you receiving gifts, so it feels special.

So, it was the third week, and Eli’s package arrived, making everyone curious and gathering around me.

“Look at this, this is… identical to the one I wanted! Did you ask her to buy it?”

“It’s a famous brand from Gomshin Cafe. She saw it and bought it before I even asked.”

“Wow~”

“What’s with all these gifts? Knee pads, hot packs, letters, and envelopes, notebooks, ballpoint pens… What’s this, a blister prevention pad?”

“Do you have time to rest? Just give me one of these. My calves are cramping.”

“I’ll divide them among us, so let’s share. She said she sent a lot.”

“But seriously, can all these gifts be allowed? Are people without girlfriends going to die from sorrow?”

“And she’s being too kind.”

“Chan-hu hyung will receive his soon, right? His girlfriend said she was sending something.”

“I don’t know what she sent, but it seems like she only sent the knee pads and blister prevention pad.”

“Even if she just sent those, it’s still appreciated. This guy’s being ungrateful.”

When I called, I didn’t hear everything she sent, but it seemed like she put in a lot of effort and added various items.

It seemed like she did thorough research, and there were no unnecessary items.

The instructor’s eyes were shining brightly as he handed me the box, but I was already receiving an excessive amount of gifts, so it didn’t mean much.

As I received the box full of Eli’s love, I felt happy and touched, and the most beautiful envelope caught my eye.

While my colleagues were taking turns receiving their gifts, I carefully opened the envelope.

Then…

-Tuk, tuk… Swish

Several photos fell out along with the letter.

At a glance, the photos were mostly of Eli alone or of us as a couple. But there was one photo that stood out – it wasn’t taken alone.

One of my colleagues nearby caught it with a sharp eye.

“What’s this? Who is this? Is this your sister? Friend? Who is it?”

“What’s going on?”

“The girls in the photo with your girlfriend are so pretty!”

“What’s up?”

The photo showed Eli in the middle, with Lee So-yeon and Joo Hye-ryeong smiling and making a V-sign on either side.

It looked like it was taken recently.

To me, it was just a familiar face of my close friends, but to my colleagues, it was definitely an attention-grabbing photo.

It was obvious that Lee So-yeon and Joo Hye-ryeong were cute and pretty.

Of course, the best was Eli.

“They’re my friends and my girlfriend’s friends.”

“Same age? Introduce us.”

“No way. They don’t like that kind of thing.”

“Please! Introduce yourself!!”

Thanks to my colleagues, who were going crazy, I got down on my knees in front of the bed and begged them to introduce me, but…

I just laughed it off and picked up Eli’s letter.

[ To my beloved husband♡ ]

The first sentence, written with a heart, made me laugh out loud with its round and cute handwriting.

My heart felt warm and cozy.

***

“…So? Did you send that too?”

─Yes. You must have suffered a lot during training. I checked everything that was sent in. Don’t forget to apply it morning and night.

“I’ll apply it diligently. Thank you.”

─And do you want something to eat during the graduation ceremony? There’s nothing around, so I’ll buy it separately.

“What do you want to eat… your kimchi rice balls?”

─Will that do?

“Eli’s kimchi rice balls are the best. They’re the most delicious and I love them. But making kimchi rice balls takes a lot of effort, so I’m sorry…”

─Hmm. What’s so hard about kimchi rice balls? I’ll know. If you want to eat something else, tell me.

“Yes. Ah, time’s up, so I’ll hang up. I love you, Eli.”

─I love you too. Be careful until the end. Got it?

“I’ll be careful.”

I hung up the phone, and a smile spread across my face.

Another package will arrive soon.

After sending the first package, I received several over the next two weeks.

Eli’s worries, heart, and love were, of course, delightful, but it was a bit excessive to send them so frequently.

It seemed like the instructors and trainers were keeping an eye on us, and it was inevitable that the workload would increase.

Moreover, while inspecting the package contents, I saw Eli’s photos, and from then on, the gazes became even more piercing.

And then, one day during training…

During break time, the instructor asked, “Is there a married man here?” and I honestly raised my hand.

Thanks to the trainer who was present, the fact that I was married to Eli spread like wildfire.

“…….”

– Thud

But there was no pity or sympathy towards me as a married man.

From then on, they glared at me even more fiercely, grinding their teeth.

Well.

It was understandable that they wouldn’t pity me as a married man, given how beautiful Eli was.

Even if I knew nothing about Eli, just looking at her beauty would make me want to get married, and it was that captivating.

Especially the photos Eli sent, which were taken casually but still looked beautiful, were even more so.

Those things piled up, and when Eli’s package arrived, I would receive a subtle cold shoulder for some reason, and I had given up.

It was because Eli was too beautiful, and there was nothing I could do about it.

***

Five weeks into boot camp.

The training schedule was mostly complete, with the final exercise being the last.

After that, daily mental training continued, and by the following week, only the graduation ceremony rehearsal was left on the schedule.

After the training ended, the instructors didn’t bother us as much, and the atmosphere became more relaxed, with occasional small talk.

Around that time, the instructors who had been strict with me started to approach me casually. They handed me snacks and asked direct questions.

“Did you really get married? With that girl in the photo?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you been together?”

“16… no, we’ve been together for 4 years, I think?”

“Wait, 16? You’ve known each other since you were really young?”

“Yes. We were childhood friends. We immigrated here when I was 5.”

“……”

Anyway, since we were going to leave here soon, I didn’t bother to hide anything and just told them the truth.

They did give me some jealous glances, but it wasn’t too serious, and they even gave me a lot of snacks secretly.

However, by the time the conversation ended, I felt a greater sense of longing and sadness, as if I had opened Pandora’s box.

Except for occasional interactions like that.

I spent my abundant free time drawing.

At first, I was careful not to draw attention to myself, but around the third week, even the instructors didn’t bother me during personal time, so I started drawing then.

I drew in the notebook Eli sent me, using pencils or pens. Drawing was my most precious and enjoyable hobby.

My fellow trainees, who thought my skills were quite good, even requested various drawings from me.

“Can you draw something s*xy?”

“I’ll only do it up to 15+.”

They seemed to expect me to draw something s*xy, but I refused, saying it was impossible.

When I received requests from outside, I even drew s*xy things up to 17+, but I didn’t feel like doing that now.

Because of the training, my body was tired, and my libido had decreased, but as my body became more comfortable, those kinds of thoughts started to creep up again.

The hotter days with Eli kept flashing back…

And so, a leisurely and carefree time passed.

Finally.

The 6th week of training had arrived.

The graduation ceremony had begun.

***

The boring graduation ceremony rehearsal.

But that boredom disappeared like magic on the actual day.

Not just me, but all the trainees showed energetic and lively body language.

Because, at this place…

-Click, click!

“Where’s Jung-hoon? Is that him?”

“Min-woo!!”

Just like during the entrance ceremony, our families were watching, and the loud voices filled the building.

And among those family members, Eli was there, of course.

With her beautiful, unmistakable platinum hair, and our parents and in-laws standing on either side, with only our mothers and mothers-in-law present, as if our fathers and fathers-in-law were away on business.

“…….”

Although there was a distance, it seemed like he was staring at me with a somewhat dull expression.

Everyone was wearing the same uniform and military hat, making it hard to distinguish them, but he was precisely facing me, his body and gaze fixed in my direction.

“I found out about Yido-yun’s girlfriend.”

From noble mtl dot net

“Me too.”

“If you really had eyes, you couldn’t help but see. Her blonde hair is crazy.”

“And she’s right in front of us…”

“I’m so envious, my life is a mess.”

The people around me were discovering Eli during the graduation ceremony, their mouths agape in amazement.

Eli’s platinum blonde hair was impossible to ignore, even if you didn’t try to look for it. It stood out so much that it was unavoidable.

Like my colleagues, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Eli’s appearance, my heart racing with excitement.

We had exchanged many letters and had quite a few phone calls.

But meeting in person was still vastly insufficient.

And about 30 minutes later…

The graduation ceremony, which was surprisingly short compared to the preparation period, came to an end, and the long-awaited family visitation time finally arrived.

Each trainee headed towards their families, and I, too, welcomed the three people approaching me with a nearly jumping heart.

“Salute!”

“Our son! How did you become so manly? We don’t want you to go to the military, but you look so good in the uniform!”

“Yido-yun is really too cool~ Your shoulders have broadened, haven’t they?”

My mom and Ye-rin auntie approached me, making a fuss over my playful salute.

Listening to them made me laugh.

This small conversation showed me how much they had missed me during my time at the training camp.

And a few steps behind them…

“….”

Eli was there.

For this short 4-5 hour family visitation, she had put in so much effort, shining from head to toe like my girlfriend.

She wore neat jeans and a knit top, topped with an elegant coat.

In both hands, she held a lunchbox, and on her left ring finger, our couple ring sparkled.

Her wavy platinum blonde hair fluttered in the wind, and her face, which had turned slightly red, looked down.

“Eli.”

I called out to her, who was standing still, looking somewhat shy.

“……!”

She jumped in surprise, then slowly approached me, her footsteps light.

One step, one step.

Gently, gently.

“You said you’d prepare from morning, and you really did it, didn’t you?”

“Hehe, you’re so cute~”

My mom and auntie gave us a knowing look and stepped aside, and I opened my arms wide to welcome my lovely wife.

Soon, her slender body was in my arms.

-Tuk… tightly…

She dropped the bag she was holding and wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me close.

While embracing her slender yet voluptuous body, I buried my small head in my chest.

“…I wanted to see you.”

She lifted her head, looking up at me with her bright blue eyes, and said those words.

I responded with a bright smile.

“I wanted to see you too. I love you, Eli.”