My Platinum-Blond Childhood Friend Is So Pretty

53 – 19. Music Study for Ellie -2

The plan itself was good, but there were still realistic issues.

About 4 months until Ellie’s birthday.

It seemed like a long time, but when I thought about practicing playing the guitar and singing during that period, it felt too short.

Moreover, I had never even held a guitar in my hands… No, that’s not true. I had held an electric guitar once before, when Jungwoo handed it to me, but I only listened to it briefly.

Could I, who knew nothing about the guitar, sing a whole song in four months?

“Will it work, hyung?”

“It’s up to you.”

“Even if I try to make time for it, I won’t be able to do it every day.”

“I can’t teach you every day either. Do you think I’m asking you to do unpaid labor?”

“Well, then?”

“I’ll teach you only on weekends and lend you the guitar so you can practice at home alone. Anyway, you have to start by getting familiar with the chords.”

“That’s true… Is it more difficult than I thought?”

In the beginning, you’ll learn the chords, then practice playing songs on the guitar, and then practice singing along with the songs.

Four months seemed like enough time, but it felt very short.

But Jungwoo hyung was confident.

“It’ll be fine. I didn’t even think about learning complex melody lines, and if it’s too hard, just strumming the basic chords while singing will be enough.”

“Do we have enough time? There are still four months left.”

“If you have no musical sense, it might be tough, but in my opinion, you have some talent.”

“Really?”

“I can sense it when you sing. Of course, singing and playing an instrument are different, but you’re not trying to reach a professional level or anything.”

“I see… Alright, I’ll give it a try. Teach me.”

“Alright. Let’s start with a song.”

“What should I sing? An old song on acoustic guitar? Like… one by Lee Moon-se?”

“Even recent songs will work. Just sing something to get started.”

– ♬♪♬ ~

“Um… Oh, this one.”

“You know it? Go ahead and start.”

“Okay… Ahem… Let’s break up, I wanted to say that today~ Oops, wait. But singing this kind of song to Ely isn’t really…”

“Hey, you…! You were doing so well, and now you want to start over?! Just keep singing!”

“Ah, sorry. Again, again.”

***

I had thought it would be fun even before meeting with Hyung today, but it turned out to be a much more enjoyable time than I had anticipated.

I already enjoyed singing at karaoke, but singing with an acoustic guitar was a different and fun experience.

Even Jungwoo hyung, who claimed to like my voice and singing, had a somewhat complicated expression when we finished the first song.

“…Hey. Have you ever thought about secretly forming a band with Alicia…? Ah, no.”

The face brimming with nostalgia gathers the words spoken and holds them close. It felt good to be praised openly for answering the call, honestly.

“It feels a bit awkward when you keep floating it like that.”

“Maybe it’s because our styles are different… I don’t know why it’s so good like this. Anyway, let’s sing one more song. After that, I’ll teach you the guitar.”

“Okay.”

And so, following the rhythm of the elder’s play, one more song was sung, and from then on, the guitar was handed over.

“First, try to learn the basic eight chords, then we’ll decide based on how quickly you master them. And adjust your posture while holding the guitar.”

“Like this?”

“Relax your shoulders more. Yeah, like that. Feel it?”

“Really? Hey, take a picture for me, bro!”

“What… hold on.”

They took a photo, studied the strings’ numbers and basic names of the guitar.

Afterward, they tirelessly practiced chord progressions.

“My fingers feel like they’re going to fall off…”

“It’s because you’re not used to it. You’ll get better with time. Let’s try the E chord again.”

“Ugh… it’s tangled!”

“But you’re doing well nonetheless. You remember what I taught you and play it well. Study a bit harder and come to our university.”

“Will you teach me there too?”

“I’ve already graduated for a few years, what can I teach? I can’t even remember.”

“Lazy.”

Though it wasn’t diving straight into music performance from the start, they were only repeating and mastering basic chord progressions. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable.

Even though they had just learned, they could somewhat clumsily perform something akin to a romantic melody.

Lost in the guitar, time flew, and before they knew it, their practice room rental time had ended.

“Already over?”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“More than I thought? I’ll have to try it more at home.”

“From around 9 PM, it might bother others, so don’t do it.”

“Oh, right. Then until then… after that, I’ll have to draw some pictures.”

“Sure. When I release an album later, you can draw the cover.”

“What?! You’re releasing an album?! Debut as a singer?!”

“Not a singer… but I can make an album anytime if I invest money. I just choose not to.”

The guitar that my older brother had brought was currently on my back. Somehow, just having it there made me feel a bit gloomy. It felt as if I had become someone who plays music.

As we chatted, we went outside and had lunch, which also served as dinner, at a nearby fast food joint.

One hamburger set each.

“We could’ve gotten something more expensive.”

“I haven’t fallen so low to the point where I’m getting expensive things from high schoolers.”

Even though my older brother said he would treat me, I insisted on paying out of gratitude.

Originally, I wanted to buy something a bit more expensive, but perhaps he didn’t want me to spend too much money, so we ended up deciding on hamburgers.

“Hey, can I learn an old song…like the one we talked about earlier, by Lee Moon-sae? I want to sing it for mom. She really loves it.”

“Old songs are actually easier. It’s hard to sing them well. But why?”

“She’s really into it. Plus, it might make Alicia jealous.”

“Well…that’s a reason.”

“It’s fine. It’s worth learning. Ah, if I knew this earlier, I would’ve asked you to play that song earlier. I can play the guitar part for “Garooso,” you know…damn it.”

As my brother and I took bites of our hamburgers, we chatted comfortably.

-Swish

“Excuse me…”

Someone approached us and nervously opened their mouth, seeming a bit tense.

When I turned my head, there was a college girl who appeared around twenty and hesitated as she looked at us.

More precisely, at me.

And as our eyes met, her face flushed, and she handed me a piece of paper.

“U-Um, if it’s okay, please contact me…!”

“Ah, I’m sorry…”

“Okay then!”

Without even taking it, she placed the paper on the table and disappeared like the wind, the college girl.

I was about to reject her, but she had already left the store, and in the end, a piece of paper with a name and phone number was left on the table.

Of course, I left it untouched. It’s a sorry story, but there was no room for consideration.

“Hey, if tomorrow…”

“….”

“Hyung?”

And as if nothing had happened, I turned my head again to continue the conversation with my brother.

Jungwoo hyung had his eyebrows furrowed, closing his eyes.

After a while, he murmured in a low voice.

“This is a bit embarrassing… Leaving me and going to a high school girl…?”

“No, hyung… I’m going to start dating Binnie noona now…”

“What does that have to do with anything? I can’t allow it. Hey, let’s move to a café. I’ll wait until I get her number.”

“Hyung…”

***

In the end, I moved to a café with my hyung. We ordered drinks that were priced similarly to a hamburger set and continued our conversation.

Perhaps his joke about getting her number was just a joke, and he moved us here with the intention of buying me at least a drink.

Just before leaving the café, a woman asked Jungwoo hyung for his number.

“I’m sorry. I have a girlfriend.”

Naturally, hyung immediately refused. But he seemed pleased nonetheless.

But…

It would have been better if it ended there.

That woman who was rejected by my hyung…

“Well then… Is it possible for me to have your number?”

“……”

“……”

She even asked me for my number without giving up…

I was just dumbfounded, but Jungwoo hyung’s expression at that moment was honestly amusing. It was a face that had been betrayed by trust.

Anyway, after that incident, we returned home.

“Hyung, thank you. I’ll take good care of the guitar.”

“Sure. If you have any questions while practicing, just message me. And always take care of your throat before we meet.”

“Okay.”

That’s how I said goodbye to hyung in the hallway and returned home with his guitar.

“What’s this, son! Where did this come from?”

My mom greeted me and asked about the source of the guitar. She had a truly surprised expression on her face.

Well, even though Jungwoo hyung often teased me, I never really showed much interest.

“Jungwoo hyung lent it to me. We’re going to learn guitar together.”

“Guitar? Why all of a sudden?”

“Um… Is it cool when older brother plays the guitar and sings…?”

“Are you trying to learn music like Jungwoo?”

“No, not really. I just want to learn a little bit.”

At that moment, my mother’s eyes narrowed. It seemed like she knew the reason why.

“You want to play it for the neighbor fox, don’t you? How nice… I bet they’ll love it, won’t they? Our son playing the guitar and singing? I envy them, so much~!”

My mother said this as if she genuinely envied Ellie. Yet, I could sense a tinge of sadness within her words.

I had expected this reaction from my mother, and even Jungwoo, of course. The accuracy of my prediction made me chuckle.

“Mom.”

“What? Should the mom who can’t even listen to her son’s songs make you some food?”

“Mom, you like Im Moon-se’s songs, right?”

“…But?”

“That’s why I asked Jungwoo to teach me a little. When I become good enough, I’ll sing it for you. Before Ellie, even before her.”

“……..”

“I might not be good at it, but you’ll still listen, right?”

“…Son.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we go eat something delicious with mom? How about some Korean beef? There’s a good restaurant nearby.”

“I already ate with Jungwoo. Let’s go another time.”

“Then, I’ll cut some fruit for you! Go rest comfortably in your room after you wash up!”

“Thank you, mom.”

“hehehe… As expected, there’s no one like our son~”

My mother looked extremely delighted, with a happy face, as she hummed a tune and headed towards the kitchen.

And when I came back to my room after washing up, I saw an apple, beautifully and perfectly sliced, placed on the desk in front of the computer.

Seeing her so happy, I felt like I should sing a song on her birthday too, with the guitar.

Now that I think about it, Dad also really likes Im Moon-se’s songs…

“After I play it for mom and dad, I feel like I should sing for Grandma too…”

I was a hundred percent confident that it would happen. Since mom would surely brag about it to Grandma first.

Although I originally wanted to learn the guitar just as a gift for Ellie’s birthday, I had a feeling that I would continue playing it consistently in the future.

It’s okay because it’s fun.

I practiced the guitar until 9 p.m., as my brother had mentioned. Ellie hadn’t returned yet from playing with Lee So-yeon, and it was the perfect time to start drawing at 9 p.m.

I practiced the guitar I learned today, and while doing so, my mom came into the room and laughed as she watched me practice chords. After that, we ate fruit and I also drew pictures.

Then, around 10 o’clock at night.

– Knocks

Elli came to visit.

Wearing shorts and a t-shirt that I wear to bed, to play Bijou.

Since I hadn’t seen her face for a long time, I was so happy the moment Elli entered the room.

It seemed the same for Elli, as she naturally came into my arms without even exchanging any words.

– Hugs

Today, too, the pleasant scent and soft body of my girlfriend make me happy.

“Elli, did you have fun with Soyeon?”

“Yes. And you? You said you learned the guitar.”

“My brother taught me… hm…”

“Chirp… Chiff…”

As we talked, Elli, who was sitting on my lap, kissed me all over my face. And at the same time, she started feeling my body with her hands.

“It was… more fun than I thought… chirp…”

“Yeah… smooch…”

Conversation and affection happened simultaneously. It was nice to hear each other’s stories, but kissing each other’s lips or faces was also so wonderful.

With Elli’s saliva making my face damp, in the end, we shared a deep, passionate kiss as she slipped her tongue into my mouth.

“Mm… Haah…”

After sharing a steamy moment of intimacy, when we finally caught our breath and let our lips part,

I asked Elli for permission.

“You know, I want to spend a day or two alone with my brother to learn the guitar. Is that okay?”

And Elli gave an immediate response.

“No.”

Of course not.

I have to be honest about the reasons if I want Elli to agree…

“Don’t say ridiculous things and stick out your tongue. Because… I want to taste it.”

“…Okay.”

Should I finish what we were doing?

Because my girlfriend wants to taste my tongue, that’s the priority!