Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 18

Am I Cute, Hyung? 18

Professor Kim Ho-seop dismissed the class early, telling us to form teams on our own. He even wandered around, observing how the teams were being formed.

I was a bit conflicted.

‘Hmm. What should I do?’

A lecture with many presentations versus a lecture requiring discussions.

I needed to calculate the time investment for this major dilemma.

Professor Bong often assigns presentations, and the students’ research is extensive.

The problem is that he bases the ‘midterm’ questions on that research.

That’s right, the midterm!

Considering the time spent studying all that material, Professor Kim Ho-seop’s lecture seemed less time-consuming.

‘But…’

I wasn’t a big fan of team projects.

I believe most college students understand the deep frustration that comes from group assignments or team projects.

Because you often end up doing it all alone.

In conclusion, taking Professor Kim Ho-seop’s lecture seemed like it would save time.

As for the team…

“Soo-hyun.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“Are you really okay with being on a team with me? Won’t the others feel uncomfortable?”

“I don’t think they’ll be that uncomfortable. What do you lack, Oppa?” [Oppa is a Korean term used by a younger female to address an older male, usually a brother or close friend.]

“Hmm. Aren’t they not close to me?”

“We can become close from now on.”

“You’re thinking so positively? But are you going to form a team with people you’re close to?”

“What about it?”

Roughly, Seo Soo-hyun hangs out with two other people.

Including me, that makes four.

Up to this point, it’s okay.

But shouldn’t we choose the remaining three or four members carefully?

“Judging by how they’re forming teams, it seems like they’ll have team battles. First, we need someone with specific skills.”

“What kind of skills?”

The two people next to Seo Soo-hyun perked up their ears, curious.

These team discussions can be very difficult because if a member makes a strange argument, it becomes hard to retract it.

Because retracting it would mean admitting that your argument was weak.

So, you have to carry that burden.

It wouldn’t matter if you were debating alone, but…

“At least we need to decide on someone who can lead. And we need to decide on a supporting role. We also need to have meetings about research and direction.”

Everyone seemed to be deep in thought at those words.

“Since we don’t know everyone’s tendencies, I’ll just say what kind of people we need. First, we need someone strong in improvisation. Someone who can quickly think on their feet and speak up.”

“Why?”

“They’re the supporting role. They buy time for the leader to think and organize their thoughts.”

“Ah! Wow! That’s strategic.”

Everyone’s eyes sparkled.

Looking at these kids, it seemed like they were just planning to gather all their close friends.

“We also need someone meticulous. Someone suitable for researching data. And we need someone who can see situations from various perspectives.”

“How do you find someone who can see things from various perspectives?”

“Experience. Someone with a lot of social experience. Part-time jobs or volunteer work are good too. The more diverse experiences you have, the less likely theories will remain abstract concepts. Someone who has studied various subjects is also good.”

Seo Soo-hyun clapped her hands.

“There’s someone who combines all of that. They’re at the top of their class, have a lot of volunteer experience, and have taken various liberal arts courses to broaden their perspectives in order to graduate early.”

“Who?”

Seo Soo-hyun pointed at me.

Ah, that’s right.

I fit all those criteria.

“You’re not telling me to do everything, are you?”

“Eyy. We’re not that shameless. You’ll be the team leader, right, Oppa?”

“No. I’m busy.”

“This affects our grade, you know. A whole 30 percent.”

“That’s true.”

“Think about it. You harmonizing everyone’s diverse ideas and leading us to a splendid victory. How about it? Doesn’t it sound like it would get pretty good ratings?”

“Is this a broadcast? But you’re good at talking. You’re quick-witted. You’re perfect for the supporting role of improvisation. Buy me some time to think.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It means you’re doing the team leader. Everyone, clap.”

The friends next to her clapped their hands.

Seo Soo-hyun scratched her head, realizing this wasn’t what she intended.

“Okay. I’ll do my best.”

“I’m counting on you. I’ll take on a role with gravitas.”

“You’re telling me to do everything!”

Seo Soo-hyun made a face like she was about to cry.

“Uh, yeah.”

Seo Soo-hyun muttered quietly.

“…Bowl cut.”

“I can hear you…”

“Eep!”

Turns out, being cool was a lie.

***

Meanwhile, Siha was being introduced to a new friend by Seung-joon.

“This is my younger sister, Hana.”

Oh Hana, Seung-joon’s twin sister, greeted him.

“Hello.”

“Ah-ah.”

“Ah-ah? Ah-ah-ah-ah!”

“!!!”

“Hehe. It’s fun to say ah-ah.”

“Ah-ah. Hyung.”

“Huh? I’m not Hyung [Older brother or male friend].”

Then Seung-joon said,

“Siha is Hyung. Siha and you have same hair.”

“Siha’s hair is cute.”

Siha, who received the love of the two children, felt good.

“Siha, let’s play ball. Soccer.”

“No. Let’s play house.”

The two had differing opinions.

Siha pondered for a moment before getting up from his seat.

Dodo-do [sound of running].

The two children followed Siha as he ran somewhere.

‘Three o’clock.’

Siha looked at the clock.

It wasn’t the shape Hyung had told him about.

Sullen.

“Siha. What’s wrong?”

“Whyyy? Whyyy?”

“Ah-ah. Hyung.”

Seung-joon nodded.

“Siha is good at fighting.”

“Really?”

“Ah-ah.”

“Sword fighting, swish, swish.”

“Wow!”

“Ah-ah!”

With that in mind, the three children agreed to play the role-playing game that he wanted to play today.

The conclusion was strange, but the children were happy.

“I’m a robot. I transform like this, transform.”

Seung-joon moved his body while making ‘shweee’ sound effects.

Hana stated her role.

“I’m a mom. Robot mom. What are you, Siha?”

“Ah-ah. Hyung.”

“Then be mom’s Hyung.”

To others, the relationship chart was quite strange.

The robot’s mom was human, and the mom had a Hyung instead of an older brother.

The teacher chuckled at the sight.

“Oh my. What kind of relationship is that?”

The teacher, who was wiping a child’s face, smiled contentedly.

The reason why the teacher was so relaxed was that not many people were needed.

Because there weren’t that many faculty and professors with young children in the school.

There were only about seven children there now.

“I should take a picture of this.”

That’s why there was plenty of time to take pictures of the children.

It was a different advantage from the busy daycare centers.

It was even more convenient when the head teacher, who was also the cook, came.

Click. Click.

“They all know how to make a V sign like ghosts.”

Starting with Siha, Seung-joon, and Hana, they all caught the camera while playing.

They were like ghosts when it came to spotting the camera, no less than idols.

“Ah-ah. Here.”

Siha brought a doll and pointed at it with his finger.

Seung-joon attacked the doll with shining eyes.

“Here I come! Punch!”

Hana shook her head at the sight.

“Tsk tsk. You’re still acting like a child.”

The teacher, who had been watching out of the corner of her eye, burst out laughing.

She could imagine Seung-joon and Hana’s mothers’ speech habits.

Siha looked at the teacher once and widened his eyes by 1mm as if he had discovered something.

A bowl cut faintly reflected in the window.

“Hyung?”

***

In the end, I became curious about how Siha was playing and came to the daycare center.

It was a break between classes, so I had to go back soon.

‘Let’s see…’

The children’s playing 모습 [appearance] through the window was lively.

The teacher’s eyes seemed to have many eyes, and her head turned frequently.

I guess it’s a skill to grasp all the children.

‘It’s Siha.’

Siha was watching Seung-joon attack the doll.

Then his head turned…

I used my quick wit to hide my eyes.

‘I hope I didn’t get caught?’

I don’t know why my heart is pounding like this.

‘Let’s go back.’

I saw that he was doing well, so I decided to go back with a heavy heart.

If I wanted to play with Siha later, I had to do some translating at this time.

***

Siha saw the bowl cut reflected in the window 떠나가는 [leaving].

‘It’s Hyung!’

Siha turned his head and looked at the clock.

The small hand had not yet pointed to three o’clock.

There was no shape of 3 on the digital clock either.

‘No?’

Siha tilted his head.

Still, seeing the hair that resembled Hyung’s made him feel more at ease than before.

“Okay. Everyone, let’s eat. Everyone, go wash your hands!”

Seung-joon took Siha’s hand and went to the sink.

It was a low sink where children could wash their hands.

“Line up here. We’re washing our hands.”

“Ah-ah.”

Seung-joon first climbed onto the footstool and showed him how to wash his hands.

Seeing that, Siha remembered washing with Hyung.

“Okay. Do it.”

“Ah-ah.”

Siha climbed onto the footstool and washed his hands as Seung-joon did.

Plunge. Dab.

[Siha’s Method of Washing Hands Like a Real Man.

Wets hands with water.

Dabs soap with hands.

Wets with water again.

Dabs hands on the towel next to him.]

“Oh my. Siha, let’s wash a little more. You’ll wash less that way. It’s dirty. It’s dirty.”

The teacher showed Siha how to wash his hands again from the side.

Siha also washed his hands.

Rubbing. Rubbing.

The teacher praised Siha for doing a good job after he 열심히 [diligently] moved his small hands to wash properly.

“You did a really good job. Wash like that from now on.”

“Ah-ah.”

Siha, Seung-joon, and Hana held their 식판 [meal trays] and ate their food 오물오물 [munching].

They ate peacefully at the daycare center, played again, and then it was nap time.

“Okay. Everyone, sleep on your blankets.”

Siha fell asleep with Seung-joon and Hana on either side of him.

‘Hyung.’

Maybe it was because he saw the bowl cut earlier, but Siha had a dream.

A dream of floating in the sky on a large bowl cut.

Siha was having fun there too.

***

2:45 PM.

Exactly at the time the lecture ended, I packed my things and got up from my seat.

I was about to go pick up Siha when I received a call on my phone.

[Moon Do-hwan Hyung]

“Hello.”

“Oh, Si-hyuk.”

“Yes. Did you call to give me some amazing information again?”

“No. More than that, why didn’t you come during lunch? Did you eat alone?”

“I just ate cup noodles and did some translation work.”

“I knew it! That’s why I told you to come find me.”

“Wasn’t that just lip service?”

“I’m still waiting for you, and my back is sticking to my stomach [I’m very hungry].”

“You should have called.”

“I’m kidding. Ah, I should have called if I knew you wouldn’t take care of yourself like that.”

“I’ll eat at the cafeteria next time. Anyone would think you’re my mom.”

Moon Do-hwan has to do his social life, but we can’t eat lunch together every day.

“The cafeteria is cheap and good. I like the cafeteria too.”

“Where’s the person who always says they’re tired of eating it every day?”

“I’m here. You brat. You’re going to pick up Siha, right? Let’s go together.”

“Why are you going, Hyung?”

“It’s not like we’re strangers, and I’m worried about whether Siha is doing well.”

“Actually, I 잠깐 [briefly] saw him during my break after my morning lecture. He seemed fine.”

“……..”

A heavy silence flowed over the phone.

“You couldn’t stand that time and went there?”

“Ahem. Try raising a child, Hyung. See if you’re worried or not.”

“Tsk. You got me there. Anyway, you’re in a state where you’re very 떨어져 [isolated]. I’m curious, so I’ll take a look too.”

“Aren’t you working?”

“It’s a break. A break!”

“Should I aim for a faculty position too?”

“Wait right there.”

Moon Do-hwan came quickly, and we moved our steps to the daycare center.

It was at the end of the school, so we arrived quickly.

I opened the door and carefully entered.

The teacher greeted me.

“They’re still taking a nap, so they’re sleeping.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s almost time for everyone to wake up though.”

I looked at Siha in the room.

His slightly open mouth was so cute.

As I was looking at him, Siha muttered something.

“Bowl. Hair.”

Bowl hair?

What is that?