Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 16

A few days later, a reply landed in my inbox.

[To Si-hyuk,

First and foremost, thank you for your email.

I must say, you’re one of the most passionate translators I’ve encountered.

Instead of a simple notification, you meticulously detailed the Korean nuances, emotional context, and overall content of the piece.

Even through email, your insights captivated me. I suspect my being a writer makes me especially appreciative.

Though it was a brief message, your skill shone through. I agree that adding those explanations would be beneficial.

Your concern about the rhythm potentially affecting readability was also spot on. I trust your judgment completely.

I’m leaving the translation entirely in your capable hands. I already entrusted it to you, haha.

On a personal note, I’m quite intrigued and would love to stay in touch. Would that be alright with you?

I’m unsure how the publication will fare in Korea, but this book is intended to be the first in a series here.

As you know, it centers around the ten surgeries doctors regret most. I also plan to showcase successful surgeries I had initially overlooked.

The specifics of that process are a secret, even from you! The reason I mention this is because I have another favor to ask.

If the book is well-received in Korea and warrants further publication, please consider translating the subsequent installments as well. I can’t imagine entrusting it to anyone else now. Haha.

I’ve rambled on for too long. Take care, and let’s keep in touch.

Jason, eager to call you a friend.]

I hadn’t anticipated such a warm response.

A goofy grin spread across my face as I stared at the email on my laptop.

“Siha!”

“Ah.”

“The email came! The email! My praise is amazing, right? Isn’t it great?”

“Ah.”

“I feel so good. Really.”

It’s incredibly rewarding to have your skills recognized, especially by a writer.

Some writers even claim that translated works aren’t truly their own.

I scooped Siha up and twirled him around.

He instinctively raised his arms, as if playing Superman.

“Oh, you’re getting the pose down? Here we go! Swoosh!”

Tucking Siha under my arm, I dashed around the living room.

“Vroom!”

“Bubu!”

“Oh! Did you just say ‘vroom’?”

“Bubu.”

I set Siha down.

Swish.

Hair tumbled over his eyes.

“We need to cut your hair, too. Should hyung [older brother or close male friend] do it?”

“Ah.”

“Just kidding. Hyung doesn’t know how to make Siha’s hair pretty. Let’s go to the hair salon.”

“Ah.”

I headed out with Siha.

“Huh?”

As soon as I opened the door, I locked eyes with a resident from across the hall.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet.’

I bowed slightly.

“Hello. I just moved in recently.”

“Ah.”

Siha mimicked my bow, then clung to my leg, hiding.

The man before us was quite imposing.

He appeared to be around 2 meters tall and heavily built.

His muscles were undeniable, and I felt a twinge of intimidation.

‘Is he a bodybuilder?’

Even beneath his jacket, his broad shoulders and muscular frame were evident.

“Hello. Your baby is cute.”

The man’s voice didn’t match his fierce appearance.

“Yes. This is my younger brother, Siha. I’m Lee Si-hyuk.”

“Oh, he’s your younger brother? Wow! Quite the age gap. I assumed you were a young father.”

“Haha. I get that a lot.”

“I see. Anyway, nice to meet you. I’m Baek Dong-hwan, currently unemployed.”

“Ah, I’m Lee Si-hyuk. But unemployed?”

“Yes. I’m pursuing my dream of becoming a voice actor. I’m attending an academy. I’m a fresh twenty years old.”

“Ah. A voice actor? Wait… twenty years old?!”

“Haha. I get that reaction a lot, too.”

“Ah, I feel a bit bad now.”

“It’s alright. Everyone reacts similarly. It’s nice to know my face hasn’t aged, though.”

I might have been prejudiced by his intimidating appearance.

He seemed surprisingly kind.

It was unexpected that he was an aspiring voice actor. I’d pegged him as a personal trainer.

“Hyung.”

“Huh? Ah. Ah. He’s a better person than he looks.”

“Hey. It’s a little harsh to say ‘better than he looks,’ don’t you think?”

He looked genuinely sulky.

Seeing a grown man sulk was a bit much.

Siha, with a determined expression, stepped forward and opened his arms wide.

“Hyung!”

“Uh?”

What was he doing?

“Hyung. Ditect [Protect].”

“Huh?”

Siha patted his chest.

“Hyung. Ditect.”

Baek Dong-hwan seemed to understand.

“He says he’ll protect hyung?”

“Huh? Really? You’ll protect hyung?”

“Ah.”

Baek Dong-hwan scratched his head, looking slightly flustered.

“I’ve become the villain, huh? Hmm. Then I’ll show you.”

“Yes?”

Baek Dong-hwan cleared his throat and made a high-pitched, mosquito-like sound.

“Hehehe. Can you protect hyung? I have a secret transformation!”

It was the voice of a villain from some sentai [Japanese superhero team] show I’d heard before.

This guy was serious about becoming a voice actor.

Siha’s eyes widened at Baek Dong-hwan’s altered voice.

Of course, only I could recognize the reference.

“Hyung. Ditect.”

“Siha, running away is the best course of action in this situation.”

“No, then the story won’t continue…….”

Tucking Siha under my arm, I bolted.

I turned back to Baek Dong-hwan.

“Let’s talk again next time!”

“Yes. Goodbye!”

We headed to the hair salon, seemingly escorted by a mosquito-sounding villain.

***

SKY Hair Salon.

The sign reminded me of a university, but it turned out the director’s name was ‘Sky’.

“What kind of hairstyle are you looking for today?”

“I’m fine. I’d like you to cut this baby’s hair.”

“Do you have a particular style in mind?”

“Yes. That. A cute bowl cut is popular these days.”

“Haha. Everyone gets a bowl cut at this age.”

“Yes. It’s probably a style you can only pull off at this age.”

“But I think the father should get one too?”

“Ah, is that so? Actually, I’m his older brother.”

“Ah, then the brothers can sit side by side and get it done together.”

“Shall we? Siha, we’re getting a bowl cut today. How about it?”

“Ah.”

Hmm. Maybe I should ask Siha for his opinion directly?

“Are you okay with this hairstyle?”

“Ah.”

Nod nod.

Siha seemed to approve.

“Hyung.”

“Huh?”

Siha pointed at the picture, then at my hair.

Hey. No way. It can’t be.

Our Siha wouldn’t do that.

“Don’t tell me you want hyung to get this hairstyle too?”

“Ah.”

Nod nod.

“Pfft!”

I heard the hairdressers stifling their laughter behind me.

‘What should I do?’

To be honest, I really don’t want to.

I wore this hairstyle a lot when I was younger.

Even though I’m a college student who doesn’t care much about fashion, I still don’t want it.

“Hyung~”

But a cute creature was tugging on my leg.

My heart wavered.

I think I’m going to give in.

I looked at the hairdresser and said.

“Please cut my hair nicely, too.”

“Pfft! Yes. I understand. We’ll cut it like twins.”

So we sat down and got our hair cut.

Snip snip.

It stung to see my hair being chopped off.

Okay. I have to do everything Siha wants.

‘Next time, I should show Siha other styles to choose from.’

We watched as our two brothers got matching haircuts, filled with late regrets.

“Oh my. The baby is so calm. Is his name Siha?”

“Yes. Siha.”

“Wow. Siha is so calm. He doesn’t turn his head and looks straight at the mirror. Can you bend down a little bit? That’s right.”

There’s no child as calm as our Siha.

Feeling proud for no reason, I glanced at Siha.

“Hyung, don’t turn your head.”

“Yes.”

I should record this. It’s a waste not to.

That’s how we got our hair cut.

“Hyung!”

“Wow. Siha. You’re so cute.”

The hairdressers and people waiting behind me were all gushing about how cute he was.

“The baby is so cute.”

“It looks like he has two candies in his cheeks.”

“Ack! So cute.”

“Expressionless. Chic.”

Chic.

Siha was wearing a very satisfied expression.

“It’s even cuter with the two brothers together.”

I wish you would leave me out of it.

I look in the mirror and I look like a fool.

“Hyung.”

Siha looked at my hair and his hair alternately, as if he liked it.

Okay. Everything is good if you like it.

I’ll be a laughing stock to others later.

That wouldn’t be a bad memory either.

“Siha. You’re the same as hyung.”

“Ah.”

I hugged Siha.

Siha was fiddling with my hair.

Does he like it that much?

***

Kangin University. Career Center Lounge.

“Puhahahaha!”

Moon Do-hwan doubled over with laughter, clutching his stomach as he looked at me.

“Why is your hair! The same as Siha’s! Puhahaha!”

“Don’t laugh so much. It suits me pretty well? Right, Siha?”

“Ah.”

“No. Keup. Ah, it’s funny. Is our Si-hyuk three years old?”

“Don’t make fun of me. Siha chose this style.”

I knew it.

Now that the daycare center is open and school is in session.

I’m going to give the kids a big laugh in my quiet and loner-like life.

If a close hyung like this is laughing, how much more will they?

“Ah, yeah. Siha has a sense of style. Isn’t he going to be a hair designer later?”

“There’s a possibility.”

“Anyway, it’s funny.”

“So when does it end? I came here because you said you’d buy me something delicious. Right, Siha?”

“Ah.”

“I’ve finished organizing everything. Is there any reason to work overtime here? Wait a little longer. I’ll just grab my bag.”

“Should I become a faculty member too? It looks easy.”

“Don’t do it. It’s less paid than it looks. Siha, play with this jelly toy here.”

Squish. Squish.

Siha played with the jelly toy for the first time in a while.

Stretch.

It stretched like cheese and had great elasticity.

Hyung still had that toy?

I can’t believe he washed it and kept it.

“I packed everything. Let’s go.”

“Siha. Shall we go then?”

“Ah.”

We went to the restaurant.

“Hyung. You said you’d buy me something delicious?”

“Why! How good is this auntie’s cooking! Are you ignoring auntie?!”

Then the auntie came out and playfully hit his back.

“Tsk. Sona [term of endearment for a younger person]. Why are you here again? You should buy something expensive since you’re buying it.”

“Ah. Auntie. I’m boosting sales. I have to promote it to my juniors like this so they come often. And I’m underpaid.”

“It’s a boast! Come on in. It’s been a while since the baby came? I can’t give you anything expensive, but I can make it delicious.”

I bowed my head.

“Haha. It was really delicious back then. It was honey-flavored.”

“Thank you for saying that. Take a seat.”

We sat down and ordered steamed eggs and stir-fried pork.

I asked them to make the stir-fried pork as mild as possible.

Because Siha will eat it too.

“Why did you suddenly want to meet?”

“If I don’t call you like this, you won’t come out. You say you’re translating and taking care of Siha.”

“Hyung. I’m a busy man.”

“I know. But it’s good to get some fresh air like this sometimes.”

I looked around.

“Like this near school?”

“Hey. Meeting people is getting fresh air. Did you only know that? I brought good information because you’re not interested in school.”

“What is it?”

“There’s one suddenly changed guideline this year. The graduation certification system. One more requirement has been added.”

“Yes? Why does that change every year?”

“I don’t know either. Why does this always change?”

My head hurt.

Do I have to study for another certificate to graduate?

“You have to do it unconditionally. They also recognize it as credit.”

“What is it?”

“Field training. That thing you do during vacation.”

“Ah, field training…. How can I do it during vacation? I have to take care of Siha.”

“You can place it in a place where you can see Siha. Honestly, field training is just handling miscellaneous tasks.”

It was actually a field training program formed due to the semi-compulsory cooperation of several companies.

It was related to the policies that the market had implemented due to the employment rate.

“But do you know what?”

“What?”

“I asked if students can decide where they can do their field training.”

“So?”

“They said yes. You just have to find a company and get the documents.”

“Where do I know a company…….”

Something flashed through my mind at that moment.

[I want you. Lee Si-hyuk.]

No. This is not it.

“I’ll think about it later.”

“Okay. There’s still a long way to go until vacation. It’ll be easier when Siha starts daycare.”

“I don’t know if it’ll be easier, but I’ll have more time to translate.”

“Take a break too.”

Then the auntie brought out the food and playfully slapped Moon Do-hwan on the back.

“You do well. You. You’re so carefree.”

“Ah. It hurts.”

Then Siha said.

“Nona jarae [Noona is good].”

“Oh my.”

The auntie covered her mouth with her hand.