Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 138

The first to react was Siha.

“Mundo!”

Siha ran to Mundo Hwan.

He stopped in front of Mundo Hwan, who wore a lonely smile, and tilted his head.

“Mundo?”

“Yeah. Hi, Siha.”

“Moya?” [Korean for ‘what?’]

“Haha. Come on! Give me a hug.”

“Ah ah.”

Siha seemed to notice the lack of energy in Mundo Hwan’s voice and hugged him, patting him gently.

I was also a little puzzled.

Can a person change this quickly?

Considering he was fine just the day before yesterday, I couldn’t imagine what difficult things Mundo Hwan might be going through.

Could there be a big problem in his family?

With such worries, I took a step forward.

“Hyung [Korean for older brother or a term of endearment for a close older male friend]. Were you waiting for me?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

“Something’s definitely wrong. Your face is half its size.”

“That’s an exaggeration. It’s not that bad.”

“But something is wrong?”

“You’re a mind reader. How did you know?”

“You suddenly came to my house…….”

Mundo Hwan awkwardly hugged Siha tighter.

He looked like he was hugging a teddy bear.

It’s a bit strange to think of a grown man hugging a teddy bear.

“Let’s go inside.”

“No. Actually, I wasn’t waiting for you. I was just wandering around and ended up here.”

“You haven’t eaten, have you? Let’s have dinner together. Where should we go?”

“Then…. the 100,000 won buffet…….”

“That darn 100,000 won buffet. Let’s go, let’s go. I was planning to treat you anyway.”

“Really? I deserve that much, right?”

“Whatever.”

I unexpectedly ended up eating out.

I actually wanted to treat Mundo Hwan to this extent.

I was also curious.

I wondered how delicious a 100,000 won buffet could be.

“Where is this 100,000 won buffet?”

“Just follow me.”

“Aren’t I driving?”

“That’s… right….”

I chuckled.

Mundo Hwan pretended not to notice, hugged Siha, and got into the car.

I fastened my seatbelt in the driver’s seat and drove off.

“Siha. We’re going to a buffet. A buffet.”

“Ah? Pepe?”

“No. It would be a disaster if we ate Pepe.”

“Pepe. Eat? No!”

“Right. We don’t eat Pepe. A buffet is a place with lots of delicious food. There’s so much food.”

“Ah ah.”

I wondered if he really understood.

With that thought, I drove to the buffet.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at a luxurious restaurant.

The price was exactly 140,000 won [approximately $100 USD], and the tables and tablecloths were luxurious, befitting the price.

Seeing the wine glasses turned upside down at each seat, I guessed that many people drank wine.

Or maybe they used them for water.

“Why is it so expensive here?”

“I know. 140,000 won could buy 20 bowls of Gukbap [Korean rice soup]…….”

“Did you like Gukbap that much? Why Gukbap as a comparison?”

“Gukbap is love. Yeah… love…….”

For someone like that to suggest a 140,000 won buffet.

But today will be the last time I come here.

I don’t think I can come twice.

There’s a limit to extravagance.

“Please sit here.”

“Thank you.”

We sat down.

They even brought a comfortable chair for Siha. It was indeed a 140,000 won buffet!

They even provide this kind of service.

Mundo Hwan glanced over and nodded.

“You’re not supposed to think about breaking even in places like this [getting your money’s worth].”

“Then what are you supposed to look for?”

“I heard it’s the atmosphere.”

“Atmosphere?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope it helps Siha. I guess it’s not bad to come once.”

“Is Siha all you think about?”

“Of course. I’m nothing without Siha.”

“That’s not true.”

With that, our meal began.

Hugging Siha, I showed him the colorful food.

“Hyung! Mana! [Korean baby talk for ‘so much’]”

“Yeah. There’s so much, right?”

“Ah ah.”

“What do you want to eat first?”

Siha turned his head and looked at me.

“Hyung and gata [Korean baby talk for ‘same as’].”

“The same as Hyung?”

“Ah ah.”

“Okay, then.”

As expected, Siha wants to eat the same thing as me.

But that doesn’t mean I can only eat what I like.

I have to choose something Siha can eat well.

That’s how it is.

It’s natural for parents to make side dishes that their children like.

Of course, you can’t only make their favorite side dishes for health reasons.

Still, the food on the table will inevitably be a menu that suits the children’s tastes.

“Then let’s try some mushroom soup first.”

“Ah?”

“It’ll be really delicious if you eat it with Hyung.”

I was planning to share a bowl of soup.

If he eats too much, he’ll get full quickly and won’t be able to eat a variety of foods.

“Tada.”

“Ah ah!”

Siha was amazed by the puffed-up bread on top of the mushroom soup.

I feel proud for no reason, even though I didn’t cook it.

“It’s hot, so let’s cool it down before we eat it. Okay?”

“Ah ah.”

I blew on the bread and soup together and put it in Siha’s mouth.

Chew chew.

It makes me happy to see him eating so deliciously.

Mundo Hwan muttered as he watched.

“Hot things always cool down.”

“Hyung. Please tell me what’s wrong.”

“No. Let’s talk after we finish eating. You’ll get indigestion if you hear it now.”

“Ah, come on. How serious can it be to make you like this?”

“Eat. Eat.”

Siha held out a spoon to Mundo.

“Mundo! Ah!”

“Huh! Are you giving this to me?”

“Ah ah.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much. You two are all I have.”

“Why is this hyung like this today?”

Watching Mundo Hwan being so touched, we ate the soup deliciously.

After that, we ate various dishes and then brought steak.

Mundo Hwan said again, watching me diligently cutting the steak.

“I should have tried cutting it like that once.”

“What is it?”

“No. Eat a lot. You’ll get indigestion if you hear it.”

I haven’t heard it yet, but I already feel like I’m getting indigestion.

Something must really be wrong.

Siha looked at Mundo Hwan while chewing.

“Mundo.”

“Why?”

“Shh. Bap [Korean for ‘rice’ or ‘meal’]. Meogeo [Korean for ‘eat’].”

“Uh uh.”

That’s right.

You should quietly savor your food when you eat.

He’s so well-mannered, I wonder who taught him.

It’s also good table manners to speak after you’ve finished the food in your mouth, but he hasn’t learned that yet.

Only after getting an earful from Siha did the sound of cutlery remain at the table.

“Shall we have dessert now?”

“Ah ah.”

“There’s ice cream here too. How about it? Sounds good, right? What do you want, Siha? Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla.”

“Chocolate!”

“Okay.”

I scooped up chocolate and came back.

Mundo Hwan is drinking coffee.

“Sweet.”

“Hyung. Isn’t that black coffee? Anyone would think you’re drinking soju [Korean distilled beverage].”

“Office workers consume a lot of coffee. I guess they’re looking for something sweet to relieve their fatigue. As a palate cleanser.”

“Uh…. right.”

“Strangely, once you get used to it, you feel empty if you don’t drink it, and you keep reaching for it, and it seeps into your daily life.”

“Th… that’s right.”

“My daily life used to be as sweet as this coffee. But now I drink this black coffee.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? Because it’s not sweet anymore.”

“What are you talking about? Right, Siha?”

Siha, who had an ice cream spoon in his mouth, raised his head.

He tilted his head with a confused expression.

I stroked Siha’s head because he was so cute.

“No. Enjoy your meal.”

Mundo Hwan continued.

“Do you remember when we met in the library lounge?”

“Yeah. I was really grateful then. Really. That’s why I’m treating you like this.”

“Right. That’s right. I said I stopped by for a while because I had something to do.”

“What was it?”

“A love affair.”

“Pardon?”

“I went to have coffee for a while. There was a girl there during the vacation, and she was really pretty. And smart. I started going there often and got close to her.”

“Ah…….”

Why do I feel like I know the ending of this love affair?

I could already tell the ending.

All of Mundo Hwan’s actions and words so far were hints.

“Before I knew it, she had a boyfriend. Damn it.”

“Cheer up, Hyung.”

“Thanks. Still, is it a relief that I didn’t confess?”

“You didn’t even confess?”

“I was just a good friend-like senior. Haa.”

“Ah, I see…….”

“Wait a minute. Let me wipe away my tears.”

“You’re not crying?”

“Hey. Just pretend you don’t know at times like this. What is it? Am I emotionally dry? I can’t even cry.”

“Did Siha’s cuteness make my sad feelings fly away?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

I feel a little guilty when you’re so serious.

No. Seriously. Siha has been so good to Do-hwan hyung.

Tears are bound to come out.

Yeah. That’s right.

Siha’s cuteness has a magic that heals even the wounds of unrequited love.

Mundo Hwan chuckled in disbelief, as if he noticed my silly thoughts.

“Anyway, you two have to play with me until the end because I’ve had a big thing happen today.”

“Hyung. I’m busy today…….”

As if hearing my answer, Siha followed suit.

“Siha busy.”

“You guys are too much…….”

I shrugged as if I was joking.

“I’m busy, but I’ll still make time for Hyung. Go wherever you want, as long as it’s not a place that sells alcohol.”

“Then let’s go to Kono [coin karaoke]. Kono. Siha can enjoy it too, and I can…….”

“Ah. Kono with someone who’s been dumped is a little…….”

“Hey!”

“I’m kidding. Siha. Let’s go to Kono. Kono.”

“Kono?”

Siha tilted his head, not knowing what Kono was.

“It’s a place called a coin karaoke. You can put in coins and sing as much as you want.”

“Sing?”

“Yeah. Sing.”

“Siha. Sing. Baeksu Song [Likely a children’s song].”

“Yeah. Let’s sing Baeksu Song.”

“Ah ah.”

With that, we finished our meal and headed to Kono.

***

Even though it was dinner time, there were many people at Kono.

I guess there are a lot of people playing since it’s that time.

We bought two bottles of water and went into a room.

“Siha. You put bills in here to sing.”

“Ah ah.”

I put the bill in Siha’s hand and had him put the money inside.

Weeing.

A 5,000 won bill was sucked in.

Siha narrowed his eyes and watched the inside of the hole, as if he was amazed by it.

He even put his finger in it.

“Gasp. My hand will get sucked in!”

“Ah?!”

Siha was startled and took his finger off.

I chuckled because he was so cute.

“Hyung. Who wants to sing first?”

“Siha. Sing first.”

“Okay.”

Siha sang Baeksu Song enthusiastically.

I sang along from the side.

It’s more fun to sing together.

Unlike that fun atmosphere, Mundo Hwan is carefully choosing a song in the back.

I steeled my heart at the sight.

[Ten! Even if ten years pass, I’m going to play!]

With that, the song ended, and I handed the microphone to Mundo Hwan.

Mundo Hwan probably wants to do a mic drop, but his tightly gripped hand looked pitiful.

It felt like he would never let go of this microphone.

The long-awaited song title came out.

[Title: I Had a Crush~]

[Singer: My Q]

[Lyricist: One-Way Traffic]

[Composer: oxytocin, noradrenaline]

Why such a sad song…….

The song comes on right away.

Mundo Hwan was already immersed in his emotions.

He looked at the microphone and opened his mouth.

[I had a crush~ We met~

There’s no chance to even break up~

The second male lead who will break up~

A supporting role ending.

That’s enough. I loved you~

A hurdle scenario that becomes the background~

Now there are no lights on me either~

When you turn the last page~

My name~ isn’t even there~

Hey, it’s not okay that I’m not the main character.

I’m the same tomorrow as yesterday, when I was only fooling around with friendship.

It hurts, but I’m happy to be by your side~ ye ye.

I loved you, and I’m happy that you’re happy~

I sometimes make unspoken confessions while looking at you.

If you’re happy, my voice will be hoarse.

I had a crush~ We met~

There’s no chance to even break up~

The second male lead who will break up~

A supporting role ending.

That’s enough. I loved you~

A hurdle scenario that becomes the background~

Now there are no lights on me either~

When you turn the last page~

My name~ isn’t even there~]

“Sob.”

Then Siha shook the tambourine.

Jingle jingle. Tang tang.

Jingle jingle. Tang tang.

Unlike Mundo Hwan’s emotions, Siha shook it cheerfully to the exciting beat.

It’s truly ironic that different emotions coexist in one space.