Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 214

Hyung, am I cute? (214)

I see Mom opening the door and leaving.

I stared at her retreating figure before slamming my head against the steering wheel.

‘It can’t be.’

Father isn’t that kind of person. He isn’t.

I know.

He didn’t remarry without a reason.

The reason he started a life with a stepmother who was pregnant.

I didn’t bother asking.

I didn’t say anything, assuming there must be circumstances.

That’s how it is. I knew this wasn’t a normal situation, that there was clear pain.

There was no need to dig into my stepmother’s past.

I respected my father’s choice at the time.

‘He said he’d tell me later. When everything is okay.’

But he had the accident before he could tell me.

Now, the person who could tell me the truth no longer exists in this world.

‘They knew each other from a long time ago….’

Since when? I don’t know.

The affectionate 모습 [mosup – appearance/figure] of the two of them still flickers before my eyes. Laughing and joking, acting as if they had known each other for a long time.

I couldn’t feel any sense of discomfort from that 모습 [mosup].

That one phrase, ‘they knew each other from before,’ made everything understandable. I was annoyed. Why did I have to hear this from my biological mother?

And the fact that my father, who had been so steadfast, wavered at those unnecessary words.

‘It’s annoying. No, I’m angry.’

I know that the seed of doubt grows uncontrollably, becoming a firestorm.

So, I tried to erase it.

Father is a person who sacrificed a lot for me. There’s no way such a person would force someone to sacrifice for him.

Stepmother…. Yes, there must be circumstances.

‘Yes. Sometimes it’s better not to know.’

A fact that I don’t need to know.

It was already a past that had passed, and there’s no one to tell me.

What’s important now is whether this fact torments Siha.

Let’s not tell him even when he grows up. He can live well without knowing, so there’s no need to open Pandora’s Box.

Doesn’t hope overflow even without opening it?

I have a hunch that there’s a terrible truth, a circumstance, inside. Even in history, there are facts that have disappeared and facts that are unknown, but the world is still turning.

Even if there are traces and influences, you can live without knowing the facts.

‘Yes. That’s how it should be. Good job.’

I’m glad Mom and Siha didn’t run into each other.

I’m glad they’re not here.

Even though he won’t understand the meaning, still…. Really, still. I’m glad I heard this story alone.

The thought of Siha being shaken by that absurd and nonsensical story if Mom had come to find him when he was a little older made me grind my teeth.

I’m so glad I met her now and spoke firmly.

“Huh?”

Plop. Plop.

Hot water flowed down my cheeks.

“Damn it. What is this?”

I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand.

It’s all over, I’m fine now, there’s nothing to be hurt about, it doesn’t matter what Mom says anymore, I can live well alone as an adult.

Why…. Why…….

“What is it. This.”

Why does something keep coming out of my eyes?

My head can’t keep up with this situation at all.

I’m not even sad, so why is this happening?

Maybe it was because I was relieved. Maybe it was because I was shaken for a moment. I don’t know anything.

I just couldn’t understand my own heart, so I had no choice but to bury my face in the steering wheel and wait until I calmed down.

“I miss them.”

Siha too. Father too. Stepmother too. I miss everyone. But I couldn’t go to any of them.

Because I didn’t want to show them this rough and weak 모습 [mosup – appearance/figure].

Because I can’t see them anymore.

So, I had to soothe my heart alone, unable to even attend class.

If this is what it’s like to be an adult, I’d rather be late.

If only there was someone to lean on by my side.

If that were the case, my face wouldn’t be so ugly right now.

‘Father.’

How on earth did you think of raising me alone?

Without anyone to lean on, what did you use as a support to endure?

‘Siha…….’

Ah, right. You endured by looking at me.

Father has to be strong.

Then there’s only one thing I have to do.

Hyung [older brother] has to be strong at all times. Even more solid.

But even when it’s too hard, can I lean on you just a little? Siha?

Though you have a small and delicate body, you are a great comfort to me.

I thought of Siha like that and gradually calmed myself down.

***

-Daycare.

On the way, Siha secretly picked up pretty fallen leaves without Hyung [older brother] knowing.

It was fun to put them in his pockets.

He boasted as soon as he saw the twins.

“Picked it up. Pretty.”

The fallen leaves came pouring out of his pockets.

From yellow ginkgo leaves to red maple leaves.

The twins’ eyes widened.

“Wow! Siha, did you pick these up?”

“Wow! Pretty. I was going to pick them up too, but Mom stopped me. Did Si혁 [Si-hyeok] oppa [older brother/term of endearment for older male] say it was okay?”

“Ah ah.”

Si혁 [Si-hyeok] never said that, Siha just picked them up.

But he accepted it as permission because Hyung [older brother] knows everything.

“Stick it like this.”

Siha brought the teacher’s sketchbook and placed the fallen leaves on the white background.

The teacher smiled at the sight.

Because a good idea came to mind.

“Everyone. Autumn is coming to an end. It’s been coming late these days, but there are still fallen leaves, right?”

“Yes!”

“Then shall we go pick up fallen leaves? Actually, 아저씨s [ajeossi – middle-aged men] who wake up very early clean up the fallen leaves.”

The children’s eyes widened as if they didn’t know.

That’s because there are people who work hard without being noticed.

“But we don’t see that 모습 [mosup – appearance/figure] very well. Because we’re sleeping. Instead, let’s pick up pretty fallen leaves with the 마음 [maeum – heart/mind/feeling] of helping a little.”

“Yes!”

“And one more thing! Let’s make something fun with these fallen leaves.”

The teacher tapped the sketchbook.

“I’ll give a special snack to the person who makes something well with just fallen leaves!”

“???”

Seungjun raised his hand.

“Teacher! What’s the snack?”

“That’s a secret.”

“Hana wants to eat chocolate!”

“Hana, it’s more delicious than chocolate!”

“!!!”

The children’s eyes lit up.

What could be more delicious than chocolate?

They were burning with motivation.

“Then shall we go outside? Don’t be too 움츠러들어 [umcheureodeureo – shrinking/huddling] because it’s cold. But don’t stay out too long either. Okay, everyone, put on your clothes and pick up fallen leaves.”

Everyone ran to put on their coats.

Siha also prepared to go out with his penguin bag on his shoulder.

“Siha, let’s leave the bag behind.”

“Why?”

“Hmm? We’re just going right outside, so do you really need to carry a bag?”

“Here. Here. Put fallen leaves in. Fallen leaves.”

“Ah ha. Is that so?”

“Ah ah. Put a lot in.”

“It’s okay. We’ll put them in a small bag here.”

“Ah?”

Siha became sulky.

Because he really wanted to take his Pepe bag.

The teacher had no choice but to say let’s take it.

Because Siha was like that, the twins also carried their bags.

They went outside with the unstoppable children.

There were many fallen leaves rolling around.

A cleaning car had already passed by, but it wasn’t enough to sweep up every corner.

And they don’t clean up what’s fallen on this grass.

“Okay. Then everyone, start!”

The twins and Siha gathered.

Seungjun said.

“Siha, let’s bring something amazing. Let’s pick up fallen leaves the size of a soccer ball.”

“Ah?”

Siha looked at Seungjun as if asking if there was such a thing.

“Is there a big one?”

“Of course, there is. I saw a huge leaf before.”

“Siha pick up red leaves. Red leaves.”

“Then Siha, let’s pick up red ones.”

Hana gave a pretty smile.

“Hana will pick up ginkgo leaves. Hana has a good idea.”

“Oh! As expected of my sister!”

“Hana didn’t finish talking yet?”

“I know even if you don’t finish.”

“How?”

“We’re twins.”

“Hana doesn’t know?”

“That’s because you haven’t been playing soccer lately.”

The teacher looked at Seungjun as if she was dumbfounded.

What’s the correlation between knowing without speaking and soccer?

While the three of them were having a meeting that wasn’t really a meeting, Jongsu cut in.

“Hey. I’m going to win. Lee Siha. This time it’s fallen leaves, not a drawing, so I won’t lose.”

“Ah?”

“Ah? Is not it! Do it properly and diligently. Seungjun, don’t just look for big ones and lose to me.”

“I won’t lose to you~”

Seungjun stuck out his tongue and teased him, and Jongsu frowned.

He was always an annoying friend.

Jongsu looked at Jaehui.

“Jaehui, let’s win.”

“No, I don’t really want to?”

“What?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Eunwoo and Yundong, work hard too.”

Yundong wasn’t interested but just nodded.

Hanging the bag on his wrist, he put his hands in his pockets and poked Eunwoo’s arm.

“Huh? Ah! Oh, I have to work hard. Hahaha! The special snack will be used for my rap!”

I don’t know how he’s going to use the snack for rap, but picking up fallen leaves began.

Everyone diligently put pretty fallen leaves in their bags.

The teacher also participated while watching the children.

To show them how to make something cool.

“Siha, you’re really only picking up red ones?”

“Ah ah. Like red.”

“But there were yellow and green ones in your pocket earlier? I think there was orange too.”

“Picked up earlier. Now. Now red.”

“Ah, you picked them up earlier and now you’re only picking up red ones?”

“No. Now red. Next yellow.”

“Ah. You’re only picking up red ones now and you’re going to pick up yellow ones later?”

“Ah ah.”

I see. Our Siha always has a plan. He doesn’t put them all in at once, there’s an order. The teacher didn’t know.

As time passed and everyone had picked up a lot, they went back inside the daycare.

“Okay! I’ll give everyone paper, so shall we stick the fallen leaves on?”

“Yes!”

The children poured the fallen leaves onto the vinyl floor that the director had laid out in advance.

Holding the scotch tape that the teacher had cut out in advance, they each began to make something diligently.

It seems like it would be quite quiet, but the process is always noisy.

“Hey! Why are you taking mine!”

“Hahaha! This is mine now.”

Jongsu and Seungjun run around like they’re playing tag.

In the meantime, the fallen leaves fluttered and caused the children to complain.

Hana said.

“Oppa [older brother/term of endearment for older male], you’re stupid! Stay still! I’m going to tell Mom everything!”

“What did I do!”

“Oppa [older brother/term of endearment for older male] kicked all of Hana’s fallen leaves! Hana worked hard to collect them. You should only kick balls. Mom said you shouldn’t kick anything else.”

“No…. Um. Sorry. I’ll collect them again.”

Again, he diligently collects them in front of Hana, calling her oppa [older brother/term of endearment for older male].

“Siha too.”

Siha also helped and diligently looked for Hana’s fallen leaves.

Jongsu helped the other children and apologized.

It was a chaotic process, but before they knew it, the children’s works were completed.

First, Jaehui.

“I made pretty shoes. If you wear these, the leaves will stick to them, so you don’t have to pick them up by hand. I think the fashion will be good too.”

The teacher clapped, saying oh oh, and the children nodded as if they thought it was good too.

Jaehui proudly straightened his shoulders.

Next is Seungjun.

“I…….”

Jongsu cut in.

“It’s another soccer ball, right?! I know everything!”

“It’s not!”

Seungjun turned the sketchbook around.

Several ordinary leaves were attached, and the shape looked like a hand.

“This is a huge leaf. Ahahaha! I couldn’t find it, so I made it.”

“Oh my. Seungjun, you made it because it wasn’t there. That’s a really good idea.”

Seungjun raised the tip of his nose at the compliment.

Jongsu, who didn’t expect to be praised, widened his eyes.

That…. That…. Is that a work to be praised?!

That’s what he was thinking.

Next is Hana.

“Hana made a bank with ginkgo leaves. If you work here, you get a ginkgo leaf bankbook.”

A square made of ginkgo leaves with only one door.

That was the bank where money was traded.

Jongsu was looking at it, convinced of his victory.

Next is Yundong.

He came out chicly and turned the sketchbook with one hand.

The fallen leaves he had picked up were all densely attached.

“Road.”

End of explanation.

Jongsu smiled.

“Oh my! You did a really good job. It’s a road full of fallen leaves!”

Jongsu had a shocked expression.

They’re praising this too?! He couldn’t believe it because he saw Yundong just sticking everything on because he was annoyed.

As for the teacher, she was just praising everyone, but Jongsu didn’t know that.

Next is Eunwoo.

“I put the leaves in a straight line. And I only put a ginkgo leaf on one.”

“What does it mean?”

“The ginkgo leaf is a golden necklace. Haha! Rapper wins!”

A golden necklace given to you.

He expressed that only one person can receive it.

Everyone drew out their interests one by one. So, the teacher fired off a storm of praise again.

Finally, the next person is Jongsu.

“I made a lion!”

The red mane made of maple leaves was expressed in a circle.

Just two ordinary leaves were the eyes. One ginkgo leaf was attached upside down and became a leaf.

It was plausible, so the children clapped enthusiastically.

Jongsu’s nose and shoulders were raised.

He was full of confidence that he would get a special snack if it was this.

The last person left is Lee Siha.

“Siha. Made red.”

Whirr.

When he turned the sketchbook around, what came out was…….