Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 146

Hyung, Am I Cute? 146

September.

A month where the hot air still lingers, yet a subtle chill begins to stir in the air.

Regardless of the weather, it’s a month that feels like a fresh start, filled with new resolutions and intentions.

Because it’s the start of the semester for university students.

Before you know it, the first semester is over, the second one begins, and you naturally settle back into the familiar routine.

The season is approaching when people start wearing long sleeves.

“Hyung!”

“Siha, it’s not quite penguin suit weather yet. It’s still hot.”

I can’t exactly dress him in a long-sleeved penguin suit when it’s still warm out.

Proper autumn hasn’t arrived yet.

It was still that transitional month where summer and autumn were battling it out.

“No. Pepe!”

“Siha, you know how it is? The main character’s ultimate move always appears last.”

“Ah.”

Siha nodded, understanding.

As expected, all those cartoons he’s watched haven’t been for nothing.

Look at him understanding so quickly.

He’s a genius among geniuses.

Well, maybe not quite…

“The Pepe [penguin] suit will appear later too. So, not yet.”

“Ah.”

He looked gloomy.

He understands the logic, but his heart doesn’t accept it.

I also want to dress him in the penguin suit because he looks so cute, but it’s just not the right weather for it yet.

Still, seeing that look makes my heart ache a little, so I compromise.

“Then how about we wear it at night? It would be perfect to wear to bed!”

“Ah? Ah!”

Siha perked up again.

He lifted the penguin suit he was holding and spun around happily.

Does he really like it that much?

Anyway, even though the heat is gradually fading, Siha’s love for penguins remains as strong as ever.

“Then let’s put it away for now.”

“No.”

Siha hides the clothes behind his back.

I smiled softly and turned towards the clothes rack.

He immediately ran away, still clutching the suit.

I gently pointed to the clothes rack.

“Shall we hang it there?”

“Ah.”

“Wow. This way, we won’t forget about it.”

“Ah.”

I had no choice but to take the penguin suit and hang it on the clothes rack attached to the wall.

Only the face was dangling, making the penguin look a little misshapen.

But Siha seems satisfied, tapping the wall.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah. All hung up. Shall we go now? Hyung has the first day of school today.”

“First day?”

“Yeah. Uh… It’s a day to go to school!”

“Ah?”

Siha tilted his head, confused.

It makes sense since he always goes to school with me.

I don’t know how to explain this simply.

“From today, Hyung is also going to study with a teacher. You study with your teacher too, right?”

“No. Nola [his teacher’s name].”

“Ah. Right. Hyung is also starting to learn with a teacher.”

“Hyung too? Siha too! Siha too! Together!”

“I’m sorry, but it won’t be much fun for Siha.”

I’m taking a textbook that could double as a weapon to class.

Maybe Siha would just slump in his chair and fall asleep while listening to the lecture?

Imagining that is kind of cute in its own way.

I stroked Siha’s head while having such whimsical thoughts.

“Actually, I’m not going to play, but to study. You know? Hyung will be scribbling on paper with a pen and stuff.”

“Ah.”

Siha turned his head away, finding it uninteresting, and sat down on the shoe rack with a thud.

“Hyung!”

“Yeah. I’ll put on your shoes.”

“Ah!”

I put on his shoes and opened the door.

“Okay. Let’s go have a good day today too!”

“Ah!”

***

After dropping Siha off at daycare, I sat in the lecture hall for the first time in a while.

In my heart, I was hoping that I could just attend and not actually have to listen to the lecture today.

But our professors are the type to argue that students shouldn’t waste the money they paid to the university, so that never happens.

Honestly, they have a point.

Creak.

I thought it was the professor and looked up, but it was Seo Su-hyeon.

“Oppa [older brother, term of endearment used by younger women to older men]. Hello. Hello, everyone.”

As expected of the 3rd-year class representative, she exchanges greetings with everyone.

I can clearly feel the difference between her and me.

My life as a voluntary outsider and the life of an insider must be worlds apart.

“Hello. You have dark circles under your eyes today?”

“Pardon? Really?”

“Yeah. You know how it is. When you wear black pants, your legs look thinner. With dark circles under your eyes, they look sunken.”

“This oppa, really! I put on makeup so you can’t see the dark circles!”

“Ah! Is that smoky makeup or something?”

“Should I do it for you too, oppa? I can give you panda eyes.”

“I’ll pass. I like penguins.”

“You want your whole body to be blue?”

“Wow. Your songwriting must be going well these days? The words are just flowing out of your mouth.”

“I’m not the Su-hyeon of the past.”

Seo Su-hyeon flipped her hair dramatically.

I chuckled at the sight.

“As expected, insiders are different.”

“What are you talking about? Oppa is an insider too.”

“Me?”

“Don’t you know? I think the others over there want to say hello to you.”

I turned my head, and everyone was indeed talking amongst themselves, glancing in my direction.

“What? Was I tricked?”

“Who said you were tricked? It’s true. Oppa, you don’t know? You’ve been popular since you were on ‘Guns’ [likely a TV show] once. Especially with the guys.”

“Ah, really.”

I answered awkwardly.

Let’s just assume that my recognition has increased a little.

“They’re probably also curious about how you work as an interpreter. It’s that kind of time in our lives.”

“That’s true.”

3rd year, 2nd semester.

It’s the time to decide on a career path and focus on one thing.

Some people are starting to submit applications to companies, and some are preparing for the civil service exam.

Everyone is going their own way.

In that sense, I was a bit of an outlier.

You can often see Korean literature students working as translators, but interpreting is a bit different.

In the first place, more people work after graduating from graduate school, so it can’t help but stand out even more.

‘It could just be interest in that sense.’

A time when you want to gather information and listen to the advice of seniors who have real-world experience.

A time when the harsh realities of the working world are starting to sink in.

Just like this September when autumn is approaching.

When you become a 4th year, a period like the fiercely blowing winter will begin.

“Hmm. By the way, how’s the song production going?”

“I’m working hard on it. I’m also trying to write lyrics.”

“I hope it goes well.”

“In that sense, I’m looking forward to today’s lecture. Won’t it be a little helpful?”

“Maybe?”

This lecture will be conducted using the book [Singing Sijo] [Sijo is a traditional Korean poetic form].

It seems like it would be good to study poetry.

It seemed like it would be helpful for understanding implication, metaphor, and euphemism in lyrics.

Maybe it won’t be helpful at all.

Creak.

The professor came in.

“Hello. It’s been a while. Today is the first lecture, and it’s the course correction period [period where students can change their course selection], so I won’t call attendance separately. If anyone wants to change after listening to today’s lecture, you’re welcome to do so.”

The professor looked around and nodded.

Because the lecture hall was filled to the brim.

“I know that about half of you went to field practice, but it seems like it was a waste to skip my lecture. Well, I’m better than the other professors, right?”

Everyone burst into laughter at those words.

In fact, they’re probably thinking of saving it and taking one major elective in their 4th year.

I’m the same.

“Unfortunately, I’m going to have a simple class today. Don’t sigh, everyone. It’s all written in the lecture plan. Well, you probably didn’t read it though.”

The professor first picked up the book and introduced it.

A familiar routine of telling you to buy and bring your own book.

Why do they all like promoting their own books so much?

It seems like they take great pride in their work.

“Of course, you’ll all just make copies. Haha!”

As expected, the professor knew us too well.

“Then let’s start the class. First of all, if I say something boring, no one will be interested, right? Poetry has become very boring in modern times. I think it’s because the rhythm has disappeared.”

I thought about the rhythm.

Isn’t it the same with poetry as it is with novels, which have a kind of common plot?

This lost rhythm.

“Poetry is boring, so let’s take another example. You all know rap. In the past, Korean rap wasn’t very good or popular. But strangely enough, rap has recently gained popularity. Why is that? Is it because they mix in English? No. You’ve heard of the words rhyme or flow, right?”

We nodded.

This is why I like this professor.

He explains things really easily.

Instead of using old-fashioned or difficult language, he references genres that students are familiar with.

That’s not to say that everyone here knows a lot about rap.

But it’s not like they don’t know anything about it either.

“Song and poetry have a lot in common in some ways. Rap is the same. Lyrical delivery and empathy. In terms of matching the length, it’s similar to the form of poetry in some ways.”

The professor cleared his throat.

And then, the scholar on the starting beat.

“Since when am I giving advice.

My words have been avoided.

A boomer melted in a hot latte.

Since when did I give meaning to negative words.

Dropping unsolicited advice. Talking nonsense. Showing no tact.

I say it’s for you.

I saw you not listening.

Only the moon behind me became my friend.”

A short and simple rap.

I exclaimed internally at the professor’s word choice.

The students also looked at the professor, who was suddenly rapping, with faces that said, ‘What is going on?’

The professor was slightly embarrassed and wrote the lyrics on the blackboard.

“Anyway, even the spacing of the lines of poetry like this is meaningful. The next lyrics must come out to savor the words in the previous lines.”

You have to listen to the next one to savor the previous lyrics….

No, was it the lines of poetry?

I was surprised that the professor suddenly rapped.

Seo Su-hyeon, who was next to me, was also listening intently and taking notes.

“I put the moon in these lyrics, which often appears in Sijo. Bamboo, chrysanthemum, plum blossom, orchid, and the moon. They’re really frequently used.”

I can’t believe he’s naturally transitioning to the topic of Sijo here.

Is this the professor’s teaching method?

It’s sinking in surprisingly well.

“In that sense, I’m going to give you an assignment to create a poem while taking this class. You know? This is also included in the grade. But if you write a rap mixed with English, I’ll scold you.”

Some people flinched.

They must not have been able to suppress their inner rapper when they saw the professor.

“Hmm. Shall we stop here today? Everyone’s excitement is heightened, and their eyes are sparkling. Haha. Then let’s see you next time.”

He finished 10 minutes early with a sense of timing.

I don’t think many people will drop this class during the correction period this week.

I know I won’t.

I think there’s something to learn here.

Rhythm is the rhythm of writing.

I suddenly think of Siha, who is always moving around with his own rhythm.

***

-A few days ago.

Si-hyeok and Siha are sleeping side by side.

Si-hyeok always kept one arm open so that Siha could climb onto him, but Siha was clinging to Si-hyeok’s side without doing so.

He wriggles and targets Si-hyeok’s side.

Tickle tickle.

Si-hyeok flinches and moves his body.

Even while sleeping, he feels ticklish and raises his hand to scratch his side.

“Ah?”

The touch reached Siha’s stomach, and his eyes opened.

“Hyung?”

“Mumble.”

He rubbed his eyes and sat up.

Dazed-.

He sat down and stared blankly into the air.

In the room where not a single ray of light came in, only a soft pink light was blooming.

The light stole Siha’s gaze here and there and then focused on the tablet.

Letters appear on the screen.

[Updating. 1%… 2%… 3%…… 100%]

[Update complete.]

Siha put his hand on the tablet.

Softly, pink energy rose to his fingertips and wrapped around his body.

Snugly. Just snugly.

As if someone was hugging him warmly.

“Ah?”

Siha was getting more and more tired.

Feeling the warmth, he snuggled into his brother’s side.

Si-hyeok turned his body to match and hugged Siha.

Snugly. Just snugly.

Bathed in pink light.

“Ah.”

Siha smiled softly and closed his eyes.

A warm sensation moves from his arms.

Like a rhythm.