My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

80 – 31. Eli’s Cute Drinking Habit

From the end of December to now, our homes and Eli’s home were busy every day.

After our dormitory was decided, we would often visit each other’s families on weekends, and as the new year approached, we started preparing for the move and cleaning the house.

It’s inevitable that useless items accumulate when you live in one place for a long time, so Eli and I took the opportunity to sort them out as we started our new life.

“This is something the kids used to play with a lot…”

“Just throw it away. They’re already twenty, twenty-one.”

“But… Do-yoon used to draw pictures with this doll next to Eli, laughing and smiling…”

“What’s with you? Your daughter couldn’t even play with it for 10 minutes and dragged it to the playground…”

“Oh, did that happen~?”

“Yeah, it did. Our son is still good, following the girls around.”

We reminisced about old memories from time to time.

However, we didn’t completely empty out Eli’s and my room. Since we wouldn’t be leaving forever, we left some things behind, excluding what we would throw away, so we could come back anytime we wanted.

So, on the moving day.

We ordered new essential furniture, and except for clothes, my computer, and personal items that could fit in our bags, there wasn’t much to move.

So, we didn’t call a moving center and just moved the stuff ourselves. It was close to our original apartment, anyway.

As soon as we arrived at our new dormitory early in the morning, our moms started cleaning everywhere, rolling up their sleeves.

The landlord said they had cleaned the place thoroughly just yesterday, but they did it again.

In the meantime, I worked hard to unpack and organize, and Eli neatly arranged everything.

“Don’t touch that box, Idoyun.”

“Why not?”

“Because it has my undergarments in it.”

“…Ah, okay. I’ll just move it to the room then.”

“Just put it down and take yours too. I’ll do the laundry myself, so you can go somewhere else now.”

“Okay.”

It’s not like we need to hide anything anyway.

I didn’t say anything unnecessary, like “You can’t see mine, but I can see yours.”

It was a small matter.

In the end, I’ll see everything Eli has anyway.

“Excuse me! Is this the residence of Idoyun customer?”

“Ah, yes! That’s correct!”

“Where would you like to install the bed?”

“Just a minute! Eli!”

We had specified today as the delivery date, and the furniture arrived one by one starting from lunchtime, with each piece carefully arranged according to Eli’s preferences.

First, a large queen-sized bed was placed in the bedroom, along with a desk for my computer and Eli’s vanity table.

The bedroom had a built-in closet to store our clothes, and a stand-alone clothing rack was set up in the adjacent room to be used as a dressing room.

Finally, we placed a modern-style three-seater sofa in the living room, large enough for Eli and me to lounge on.

“Is that about it?”

“It’s roughly done.”

That was the end of it.

The house already had most of the essentials, and we could purchase additional items like shelves later if needed.

The delivered furniture was all installed by the delivery personnel, and we only had to unpack and organize our luggage, so it wasn’t too difficult.

“It was tough…”

It was more exhausting than I thought. I had been looking forward to today, but my body and mind were too excited, so I might have gotten more tired.

Originally, adrenaline should have given me more energy, but I had been too pumped up for a few days, and my body couldn’t take it.

“There’s nothing left to do. Is there anything that didn’t arrive?”

“Eli ordered a coffee machine yesterday, but it should arrive soon.”

“Let’s take a break and have a cup of coffee made by our wife.”

“Hmm, I wanted to buy a better one…”

“It’s nice to sit here in the morning and have a cup of coffee. It’s certain that this place is too neat and tidy.”

“But our parents seem to think that this easy move is unusual, and they’re chatting comfortably in the living room.”

I had never moved before, having lived in the same apartment since birth, so this was my first time.

Thanks to that, I didn’t feel the usual stress of a big move, and even today’s tasks felt exhausting.

“For now, let’s just do this… We can change the arrangement later…”

Even at this moment, when the unpacking was almost done, my girlfriend was still busy running around the room and kitchen, doing this and that.

I couldn’t show my exhaustion.

“Do you need help with anything else?”

“…No way. Let’s go shopping first. Do you have the list?”

“I have it in my phone’s memo app. Should we go now?”

“We need to set the table for dinner later, and we don’t have anything, not even dishes.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Get dressed. Let’s go out.”

“Got it.”

Following Eli’s words, I quickly put on my outerwear and told the adults in the living room, “We’re going shopping for a bit.”

“Are you going now? Should we go too?”

“Dad said he’ll stay here and receive the delivery, so we can go together. I’ll drive.”

“Okay, then. You rest with Mark. We’ll be back.”

“Hey, do you know about the wine?”

“I know. We have to have a drink with our son!”

Mom and Auntie also got up from their seats to go shopping.

Although today marks the first day of our independence, unfortunately, it’s not the first time we’re experiencing it.

We had postponed our first drink with Eli due to our busy schedules, but today we’ve promised to do it with our family.

It’s a celebration of our independence, combined with our first drinking session.

“Shop well and come back~”

“Don’t buy anything unnecessary, just get what’s on the list.”

“Okay.”

“Mom, drive safely.”

“I’ll drive safely~”

After leaving the house, Mom and Auntie got in the car and headed to the large mart, while we walked towards the nearby Naeyso.

Holding Eli’s hand, I felt a sense of unfamiliarity as we walked through the neighborhood, which was near our old place but still a bit far away.

Something felt very surreal.

Even though we’re starting our new life today, it didn’t feel real.

The fact that I’m now living with this beautiful girlfriend, holding her hand, felt unreal.

“……”

“……”

Eli also gave me a sly glance with an excited expression, like a newly dating couple.

We’re a couple who kisses deeply every day, and it felt like I might burst out laughing at this situation.

I swallowed my laughter.

– Tight

After releasing Eli’s hand, I hugged her waist and said, “Eli.”

“What’s up?”

“Is it okay if I buy an IV mood lamp today?”

“Heh, go ahead and buy it. But just that. If you try to buy something weird again…”

“I know how to take care of myself.”

“That’s absolutely not going to happen. I won’t let you do it.”

“And who do you think you are, telling me what to do? Do you want to die?”

“You wanted to hold my waist, but no way.”

“No way. You’ll just get in the way, so let go now.”

I released my hands from Eli’s waist, as he said. To be honest, I did want to do it, but it was a bit uncomfortable to walk with my arms around his waist.

We went back to walking with our arms around each other, chatting as we went.

“I’m looking forward to drinking. We’ve never had a single drink together, not even during our school trip.”

“If you can’t handle your liquor, I’ll make sure you can’t drink from now on, so be aware.”

“If I have a bad drinking habit, please let me know. I don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of others.”

“Okay.”

“……”

“……”

“Ah, right. The bed is really comfortable. The new blanket is so fluffy and nice.”

“…Sleep is important, after all.”

“Right. Do you remember that?”

“What.”

“When we went to the beach last year.”

“What’s with that?”

“Now we can sleep together every day, just like back then. It’s really great.”

“…………Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you take care of that?”

“What’s that?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Of course, I took care of it.”

“…Heh.”

“……”

“……”

“Eli.”

“What’s up again?”

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

“…Let’s just do it quietly and quickly.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

***

We bought the items we had listed up earlier at a nearby store.

There were essential items like dishes, as well as couple-themed items like couple slippers, couple toothbrush cups, and a shower towel with only one available, but two people needing it.

We bought a bunch of items that screamed “newly-started cohabiting couple” vibes.

However, when our parents saw those items, they looked rather down. It was as if they felt like they had lost their son and daughter.

Anyway, we organized the items we bought, and my mom and Ye-rin’s mom prepared the food they had bought.

With Eli, I helped set up the anju (Korean-style pub food) and arranged the drinks on the small living room table, where everyone gathered around.

It was the evening of the moving day.

Finally, Eli and I were having our first drinking session together.

“You receive drinks with both hands, and when you drink, you turn your body to face the most senior person… that’s how it is.”

We learned drinking etiquette from our dad, and Eli and I turned to face each other, looking at the clear soju in our glasses.

And…

*Gulp!*

“…Uh, yeah…”

“……”

“Hehe, look at both of you making faces! It doesn’t taste good, does it?”

“What’s the taste supposed to be? Son! If you can’t handle soju, why don’t you drink beer with your mom instead?”

As the burning sensation of the alcohol spread, Eli’s and my faces scrunched up at the same time.

To be honest, it didn’t taste that great. But the act of drinking itself made us feel like adults, so we were in a good mood.

Eli seemed to feel the same way, as she held out her glass again, asking for another round.

“Wow, you’re going to keep drinking soju? Then I’ll pour you a glass this time!”

“Doyun, do you want beer?”

“No, I’ll have soju too. Even if we switch, we have to drink what Mom pours for us.”

“…This is our son! Have you seen how cute our son is?!”

“I’ve seen it, I’ve seen it~ But Doyun, are you going to drink what your mother-in-law pours for you too?”

“Of course.”

I received my first glass from my dad, and Eli received hers from Mark ajusshi (a term of respect for an older man).

And for the second glass, we received them from our mom and Ye-rin ajumma (a term of respect for an older woman), and again…

*Gulp!*

“……”

“Eli, are you okay?”

“…I’m okay. It’s drinkable.”

“Really?”

“The first glass was a bit rough, but this one isn’t bad. Ah… Father, may I have another glass?”

“Our daughter-in-law is asking, so of course, I’ll give it to her. Here you go!”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm, then Doyun’s next is mine…”

“I’ll go first~ Our son-in-law, have a glass~”

“Yes, thank you.”

*Gulp!*

And the third glass.

To be honest, it didn’t taste good from the first glass to now. It was just a slightly bitter feeling, but the atmosphere of everyone enjoying themselves together was pleasant.

But unlike me, Eli seemed to really enjoy the third glass, as if she had finally found the taste she liked.

In the end, we went beyond three glasses.

“Doyun, the last one is my turn.”

“Thank you~”

“Fox, take this shot from your mother-in-law.”

“Yes.”

After finishing my shot, I saw that three bottles of soju were already empty. The adults were keeping up with our pace, taking one shot at a time, so it seemed.

Although we were drinking in quick succession, I didn’t feel like I was getting drunk.

Maybe I’m not weak against alcohol.

“How about beer next~?”

“Beer tastes better, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t know~? But most people find beer more refreshing than soju~”

“…I’ll drink it. Give me one.”

After soju, we had beer, taking turns to drink one shot each, and then Mark ajusshi brought out wine, which we could also taste.

As we drank, I found that wine or beer suited my taste better, but Eli seemed to have a strange preference for soju.

In the end, as we went around in a circle, Eli was holding a soju shot again, and everyone laughed and continued to pour drinks.

Even if we got drunk, this gathering was also meant to test our limits, so to speak.

“Doyun got accepted into college… not yet, but congratulations again on doing well on the exam~ Mom is really, since before, you’ve been like my son~”

“You’re my mother-in-law, though. In a way, you’re like my mom too.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t Doyun your son?”

“Not at all! Who says so? He’s my son!”

“Just 5% different, okay~”

“Not even 1%!”

“Doyun, I also think of you as my son. Take good care of Eli from now on. She’s family.”

“Okay, I will.”

“So, so. Doyun is also like a son, and Eli is like our daughter, and it’s all like that. Isn’t it?”

Our family was already quite loud when we gathered, but after drinking, we became even more boisterous than before.

In the past, I would only listen to their conversations while they were drunk, but now that I was drinking with them, I felt a strange emotion.

It was happy, amazing, and complex in many ways.

Eli probably felt the same way as me… right?

“Tsk.”

What’s with this?

Is it the “daughter-in-law’s drinking habit”?

“Wait, Eli, your face…”

“…What.”

“No…”

When did Eli’s face turn so red?