Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 62

A video titled “Hey, am I cute? 62” was uploaded.

The video showed the accident at Meltz Company. Someone had filmed and uploaded it.

The vehicle suddenly accelerated forward, lunging toward a pedestrian. A dealership employee [someone who works at the car dealership] was hit, while a child and an adult miraculously rolled out of the way.

The short video ended there, but the comments exploded with activity.

-헐?! [Korean slang expressing shock, similar to “OMG?!” or “WTF?!”] What happened to the person hit by the car?

-Seriously, that’s crazy. Why did the car accelerate like that?

-That lady is so shameless.

-Maybe it’s the video quality, but you can’t really see her face.

Initially, the comments focused on the dealer’s condition and criticism of the woman, but soon shifted to the adult and child.

-The baby next to himㅠㅠ [Korean emoticon for crying] I hope the baby wasn’t hurt?

-Looks like the dad saved him, fortunately.

-Insane reaction speed??

-If he hadn’t reacted so fast, three people would have been hit.

-Wrapping the baby in his arms and rolling is super fast ㄷㄷ [Korean abbreviation for “ㄷㄷㄷ,” representing trembling or awe]

[Views 40,000]

It wasn’t a massive number, but it indicated a significant issue.

After watching the video and reading the comments, I put my phone away.

‘Fortunately, my personal information wasn’t revealed.’

It would have been troublesome if my face had been clearly visible. But, now that I think about it, the person who uploaded the video must have blurred people’s faces.

They seemed to know what they were doing.

“Hyung.”

“Huh? Ah! Sorry. Was Hyung being boring?”

“Ah ah.”

Siha shook his head and pointed. Kangin University Hospital Emergency Room.

He seemed to remember our previous visit to the emergency room.

Just thinking about that time makes cold sweat run down my back. I really thought something terrible was going to happen to Siha.

I didn’t know kids could get fevers for no reason…

“Let’s not go there next time, okay?”

“Ah ah.”

“And today, we’re going to visit the dealer. I prepared these drinks, so Siha has to give them, okay?”

“Ah ah. Siha will!”

Siha thumped his chest.

Anyone who receives a gift from Siha will get better quickly.

“But we can’t go up right away. Someone’s joining us.”

“Ah ah.”

“Yeah. So, let’s wait a bit.”

“Ah ah.”

While Siha and I were sitting and chatting, a foreigner approached. He had a high nose and a strong presence.

He didn’t smile much and seemed rather stiff.

I immediately recognized him as Liam.

I had expected him to be curious, but I hadn’t anticipated such a stiff demeanor.

It seemed my prediction was off.

You really have to meet people in person to know them.

“Hello. Liam. I’m Si-hyuk. This is Siha.”

As if recognizing his name, Siha waved his hand.

“Ah ah! Liam! Hi!”

Liam gave a slight smile.

It was a smile with more gentlemanly dignity than I expected.

“Nice to meet you. Hello to Siha too! It’s nice to see you two like this. Siha is cute, as expected.”

“Ah ah. Hi!”

Liam looked at Siha affectionately and taught him how to say hello in German.

“Goo-ten Tag-”

“Ah ah?”

I explained to Siha, “Hello. ‘Hi’ in English is ‘Goo-ten Tag’ in German.”

“Ah ah. Goo goo!”

“Goo goo is a bird sound. Now repeat after me. Goo-ten Tag-”

“Coup d’etat?”

Liam burst out laughing.

“‘Coup d’etat’ would be a big deal! Haha. Kids say the funniest things sometimes. Unexpected things.”

“Haha. Right?”

“Yes. I’m glad I met you today, even if the place is a bit… like this.”

“Thank you for agreeing to visit the hospital with me today. It couldn’t have been easy.”

“Well, although I’m meeting you for the first time, you’re not exactly unrelated to the company.”

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

The reason I asked Liam to visit the hospital wasn’t particularly profound.

I had a small hope that Meltz could offer some assistance in this situation.

Of course, the company would handle it, but I thought that seeing his face, even once, might prompt him to give me a call.

I had that small ulterior motive, but now, figuring out what kind of person he was took priority.

‘He’s not introverted, but he’s not without inner feelings either. As expected, it seems like German characteristics are mixed with a sales mindset?’

Germans are often perceived as cold, but many have deep inner feelings. It’s also characteristic of Germany that work is done meticulously.

The fact that the translation publication I mentioned earlier takes a year is an example of these traits.

‘Hmm.’

I talked with Liam as we looked for Park Joong-hyuk’s hospital room.

Park Joong-hyuk was bandaged up inside.

It seemed like he had a fracture, but the surgery went well, and he was recovering well.

That was fortunate.

“How is your body?”

“Ah! Mr. Si-hyuk. Thank you for visiting. Is that Liam behind you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I see.”

Park Joong-hyuk gave a bitter smile. He didn’t seem too pleased.

Still, I thought it would be good for them to meet and talk.

If I could appeal to Liam’s emotions a little, maybe he’d offer some help?

Well, it was just a thought, but I had to try everything I could because, in my current position, I couldn’t do much to punish the woman who caused the accident.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s a good person.”

“First of all, I’m grateful that you came to visit. Was the baby scared? The video looked really dangerous.”

“Is this the time to worry about others? Don’t worry, he wasn’t scared. Siha is much braver than he looks.”

“Is that so? Haha. Ah, are you translating this too?”

“Yes. If you want to talk, I have to do simultaneous interpretation. You should be grateful today. I’m an expensive interpreter.”

“Oh dear. Do I have to pay the cost with the insurance money? I was going to make him buy a car with car insurance, but it seems like I have to pay the cost. Haha.”

His condition must be good enough for jokes.

“Siha prepared a drink here, so please take it.”

“Oh! Really? Thank you, Siha.”

“Ah ah.”

Siha gently handed over the drink.

Park Joong-hyuk, who received it, put the drink in the drawer next to him.

I looked at it and opened my mouth.

“Where is your son?”

“He must be at home now. Haha. He’s very worried about me.”

“Ah… Is he alone?”

“No, he’s not alone. He’s with his mother.”

“I see. He must be very worried about his dad.”

“He calls me all the time, so it’s a bit difficult. Haha.”

Liam’s face, who was listening to the translation, was filled with pity.

“Please tell him to let me know if there is anything I can help with. And I will contact Meltz one more time.”

“He says to tell you that he is grateful just for those words.”

“It’s something I should do.”

While we were talking, someone came to visit the hospital.

A child carefully looked around and came in.

“Dad…”

Park Joong-hyuk looked embarrassed.

“No. Jiho. How did you get here?”

Jiho, who had promised to play with mud at the playground and then disappeared, appeared before my eyes.

***

-Walking path in front of Kangin University Hospital.

Siha and Jiho played together on the walking path.

Si-hyuk, who had parted ways with Liam, watched happily from a bench.

“Ah ah. Jiho hyung [older brother/friend].”

“Yeah.”

Siha made a round shape with his hands.

“Not come?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Ball!”

Jiho, understanding why he hadn’t come to the promised place, said softly, “I couldn’t go because of something that time. I’m sorry.”

“Ah ah. Play.”

“Yeah.”

Jiho and Siha held hands and walked along the path. They sat in a grassy area and looked at insects.

A mantis was hitting a grasshopper with its hand.

Pow pow!

He unfolded the praying mantis fist and subdued the grasshopper, then put it in his mouth.

“Ah ah!”

Siha watched, amazed.

“The grasshopper is pitiful.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not pitiful to be eaten, but it’s pitiful to be hit.”

“Ah ah?”

Not understanding, Siha tilted his head.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Ah ah.”

He was led to another place by Jiho’s hand.

There were exercise machines around, and Jiho put Siha on one of them.

A place with a round platform that could turn the waist.

“Then I’ll turn it.”

“Ah ah.”

As Jiho turned the platform hard, Siha spun around and around.

He felt dizzy as he kept turning.

“Stop~”

“Yeah. How was it? Was it fun?”

“Ah ah. Siha too.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Jiho sat in the round place.

Siha tried to turn the round plate, but it wasn’t easy, so he struggled.

“Heavy?”

“Heavy.”

“I see. Heavy.”

“Heavy.”

But Siha didn’t give up.

He turned the round plate, straining until his face turned red.

Waddle waddle.

He drew a semicircle with his protruding butt.

“Ah ah!”

Siha raised both hands high as if he had done it.

Jiho tapped Siha’s head.

“Good job.”

“Ah ah.”

At that time, Si-hyuk approached Siha and Jiho.

“You’re both playing hard. Can Hyung join you?”

“Ah ah.”

“Yes.”

“Before that, Jiho.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you come before?”

“I don’t want to say.”

“Um. Really? Then how did you get here? You didn’t tell your dad either. What about your mom?”

Jiho hesitated and turned his head.

“This lady brought me here.”

“Lady?”

“She said I wanted to see my dad, so she brought me.”

“Th, really? Where is the lady?”

“I don’t know. She said she’d pick me up later. Um, at 4 o’clock?”

“4 o’clock? Where?”

“She said she’d pick me up if I was in front of the hospital.”

Si-hyuk tilted his head.

He couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“I see. Then make sure to come to the playground next time. Let’s all dig and see if the mud ball is complete inside.”

“Yeah.”

Siha came closer to Jiho and held out his little finger.

“Ah ah.”

Jiho was slightly embarrassed and hooked his finger.

They made a promise once again, although it may not be kept.

***

On the way home after parting with Jiho, I held Siha’s hand tightly.

‘I can’t believe he would refuse like that.’

Jiho was the one who approached first, but there seemed to be a wall between us.

Even when I said I would wait, he only shook his head and told me to go.

Could it be that the child was being considerate?

I thought so, but looking at his actions and tone, it didn’t seem like it.

Just… really just…

It was as if he was trying to maintain a certain distance.

He plays well with Siha, but he was keeping his distance from me.

‘I don’t know.’

I really don’t know.

I shook my head and moved on to another thought.

‘I need to have a meeting with Liam…’

I was planning to take Siha to daycare tomorrow and set aside time to meet separately.

I want to do this translation job well.

I don’t know how much I can do, but if possible, I would like to have the opportunity to participate in the motor show as an interpreter.

This kind of opportunity is rare.

‘To do that, I need to show some ability…’

I wonder if this ability also includes knowledge about cars?

I should go into my father’s laptop today and look at the folder.

‘Um. What if it’s not there?’

If it was there, it would pop up in my head, but strangely, my brain was quiet.

‘I can’t help it. I have to go home and find all the information about cars.’

Perhaps I should look for papers in German because of the professional language.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“There~”

“What’s there?”

I saw a person walking from that way.

A woman who looked to be in her 50s.

She was holding a luxury bag tightly in one hand and was approaching us.

‘The lady who caused the accident…’

Could it be that she’s going to Kangin University Hospital?

I frowned and glared at the woman.

I knew what was going to happen in the future, but I couldn’t forgive the fact that Siha was almost hurt because of that person.

“Hello.”

The lady recognized us first and greeted us.

“……”

I didn’t answer and just passed by with Siha.

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”

Looking back, the lady was bowing her head.

“I didn’t see you. You weren’t in my sight. Really.”

“It’s okay.”

I turned my head.

At that time, Siha looked at the lady and reacted belatedly.

He raised his hand and said, “Coup d’etat!”

The German he learned today.

Goo-ten Tag- (Hello).

But strangely, “Coup d’etat” seemed right.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or not.

Siha’s words almost made me laugh.

“He says that it’s really like a coup d’etat for us. Goodbye.”

That’s how we headed home.