Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 230

I feel the chill deepening as December arrives.

But I’m not unhappy.

I’ve grown quite close to Tyrone, and we now share dinner regularly. Siha and Luna also play together often, which has significantly improved their Korean.

It’s beneficial that they sometimes mix Korean and English, and it doesn’t sound jarring.

Pronunciation.

I really need to consciously repeat the correction work and follow-up speaking.

But what if you can listen to and imitate the pronunciation of people around you when you are young?

You will naturally learn it without having to try hard or be conscious.

The problem is that Siha is still young.

‘It’s a little dangerous.’

Language is more sensitive than you think.

When you are young—specifically, before the age of four—children easily distinguish between ‘r’ and ‘l’ pronunciations.

It’s an amazing ability, but bilingual education is another matter.

If approached incorrectly, a child’s pronunciation may become slurred, or they might develop a ‘neither-nor’ pronunciation as they grow up.

It’s that risky.

That’s why I intentionally limited my English usage with Siha.

As you know, Siha’s language development was somewhat delayed.

Therefore, I had to be extra cautious about introducing English.

‘Well, it seems okay now.’

Yes, his language development has improved considerably.

In fact, learning two languages is also a matter of timing, so you have to tailor the education to your child’s specific situation.

Hanging out with Tyrone’s family is beneficial, but the things you have to pay attention to have increased as much.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”

Siha poked a sausage with his fork and popped it into his mouth.

Munching.

His chubby cheeks are so cute.

“Sausage. English. English.”

“Oh! How did you know?”

“Luna noona [older sister in Korean]. Understands well~”

“Pfft. Ah, you understood that part well, so you knew ‘sausage’ was English?”

“Ah ah. Hyung. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious.”

“Wow. Siha is good at English!”

“Ah ah! Siha pababak haesseo [Korean gibberish, imitating sounds]. Hyung gata [like hyung]. Later hyung gachi pababak haesseo tdadak sseureotteuryeo [more Korean gibberish, imitating sounds of fighting].”

When did I pababak and knock people down tdadak?

Can you add a subject?

If someone only heard this part, they would think that I worked hard in a foreign language, but rather knocked everyone down with my fists.

A person passing by might say, ‘Tsk tsk, what will the children learn from watching? Being so violent.’

Then I would make excuses, saying, ‘I’m not such a violent person.’

As I was having such absurd thoughts, I moved on to the part that bothered me the most.

“Siha. Is there anything you want? Like a toy, or somewhere you want to go?”

“Ah? Why?”

Siha took a spoonful and ate rice.

“Hmm. Hyung wants to do something for you.”

“Siha is.”

I stared at Siha’s mouth.

His lips are shiny with oil. I want to wipe them for some reason.

First, he ate everything in his mouth.

As expected. Lee Siha. He knows etiquette.

“Gulp. Siha is. Hyung and gachi [together in Korean].”

“Huh? You want to go somewhere with hyung?”

“Just hyung and gachi.”

“Siha…….”

Even if the world ends, you want to be with hyung wherever it is.

The imaginary Moon Do-hwan makes a sound, ‘I didn’t say the world ended, but you’re doing all sorts of things. Really.’

Where are these absurd thoughts coming from…. Shoo shoo, fly away.

“Don’t you need any toys?”

Siha starts to worry again while putting rice in his mouth.

He’ll tell me when he’s done eating, right?

Honestly, even I, who am quick-witted, don’t know what he wants unless he tells me.

Siha isn’t the type of kid who shows it.

He tells me what he needs from time to time.

The reason I’m asking this is because it’s Siha’s birthday soon.

December 5th. The day Siha was born.

Now, I’m the only family member who can bless Siha’s birthday, so I want to do anything for him.

I’m planning not to work on this day after asking Tyrone for his understanding.

In other words, Siha really wants to be with me all day.

‘Still, I have to give him a present.’

With that expectation, I looked at Siha.

Gulp. His mouth opens as if he has swallowed all the rice.

“Pepe.”

“Huh?”

“Giant Pepe doll!”

“Oh…….”

They don’t sell that anywhere?

I almost used honorifics without realizing it.

It was almost business-like. I held it in well.

***

I came to Parang Mall with sweet macarons.

The scenery in front of me was no different from when I came before.

Alisa was frowning and staring at the computer screen, as if she couldn’t think of anything.

She didn’t even notice I was there and focused with earphones in her ears.

I gently close my eyes.

“Hello. What is Alisa doing right now?”

“She’s concentrating right now. She says she can’t think of anything. She’s often like that when she’s creating. Sometimes she can’t make anything.”

Creation doesn’t seem easy.

Well, they might be the same clothes when you actually wear them, but someone must have desperately come up with them.

Design.

I don’t know much about the field, but Alisa wants to be the best in this field.

I heard from a semiconductor company that to be the best, you have to be at least one or two steps ahead of others.

Clothes that anyone can make. Design. But something that can be branded and special.

Parang Mall’s strength is aiming for number one in children’s clothing.

‘There must be an easy way.’

Parang Mall is not yet number one.

You can chase after number one, but Alisa doesn’t.

She runs it with the mindset that I am number one now.

Although it is different from reality.

I’m curious to see how this difference will turn out.

‘In terms of sales, it’s gone beyond being a new company.’

The foreign currency coming in from the United States is substantial. Steve Baek invested a lot, and it happened because he was on the road to success.

I think I connected that part really well.

I approached Alisa and poked her between the eyebrows.

She was surprised and opened her eyes wide.

“Huh?”

“When you can’t think of anything, how about taking a break while eating sweet macarons?”

“Si-hyuk. What’s going on?”

“When Alisa was closing her eyes, I heard, ‘I want to eat something sweet.’?”

“Oh, what is it.”

Alisa smiled as if she didn’t dislike it.

I shook the macaron in my hand.

“I bought it for everyone to eat together. And coffee. I brought Americano, is that okay?”

“That’s great.”

Everyone seems to like being able to eat snacks.

I find this free space a bit strange.

It’s like everyone is a family?

Maybe it’s because everyone jumped into the startup as friends.

However, it’s not like there’s no discipline at all.

I feel like Alisa’s performance is what keeps the discipline in place.

“Everyone, enjoy your meal.”

“Aren’t you eating, Si-hyuk?”

“I’m just going to drink coffee. I don’t really feel like eating macarons.”

Alisa put a macaron in her mouth and said.

“It’s delicious.”

“Haha. I know it’s delicious. But I don’t feel like it. Actually, I’m planning to eat something sweeter today.”

“Something sweeter than macarons? You really like sweet things?”

“I wish Alisa would buy me that.”

Everyone had a look on their faces that said, ‘What is he talking about?’

Hmm. I’m embarrassed to say it.

“Do you know what day December 5th is?”

“What day is it?”

“Wow. It’s like locking the stable after losing the cow [Korean proverb, similar to ‘closing the barn door after the horse has bolted’]. How can you forget that?”

“!!!”

I gave Alisa back the words she said last time.

“Should I give you a hint?”

“Wait a minute, I’ll guess. What is it? I’ve already been localized and I feel like I know most things!”

“You’re not localized enough yet.”

“Tsk. Just a moment. Internet chance.”

Everyone is searching for December 5th on their phones.

I should have just said it quickly. It won’t come up even if you search for it anyway.

“I know! It’s Trade Day! You brought a good deal?! You’re just like our employee.”

“Huh?”

Am I being counterattacked like this?

Why are you all looking at me with such expectant eyes? No, I can’t just come here out of the blue, give you macarons and coffee, and say, ‘I brought a deal.’!

Am I supposed to say it’s Siha’s birthday here? Why did you have to make December 5th Trade Day…….

I was sweating for no reason.

In times like this, you have to maintain a poker face without panicking.

“December 5th…….”

“Gulp.”

Come on. I told you not to expect anything.

“Trade Day was originally Export Day, but as the trade volume exceeded 1 trillion, December 5th became the day to commemorate that event since 2012.”

“Oooo!”

“In that sense, I think we should be grateful for someone’s hard work and achievements.”

“Ooo… Oh?”

“The reason we were able to achieve this result is thanks to Siha.”

“Uh, uh… Uh?”

What’s with the reaction?

“In that sense, this coming December 5th, I’m going to order something amazing as a birthday present for Lee Siha. A giant Pepe doll! Alisa, can I ask you for a favor?”

“…….”

Silence followed.

Was it about 5 seconds? 10 seconds? Alisa burst out laughing, holding her stomach.

“Ahahaha. Really. What’s with saying that so seriously. Ah, it’s funny.”

“Ahem.”

“But we’re a clothing company, what’s with the handmade doll order.”

“I don’t know who to ask.”

“Okay. I’ll make it very cool. I haven’t been able to think of anything these days anyway.”

“Really? Thank you! I’ll definitely pay for it.”

“I’ll just take the cost price. The labor cost is a special gift I’m giving to Siha. December 5th was Siha’s birthday.”

“That’s right. Whew. I’m alive.”

“Anyway, Si-hyuk is good with words. This macaron is also sensible.”

“Haha. Thank you.”

With this, the birthday present is solved.

Then, shall we start preparing for the birthday party in earnest?

I have a plan.

***

Gangin Kindergarten holds birthday parties separately.

Of course, there are no thank-you gifts or birthday presents.

The intention was to avoid burdening the mothers as much as possible.

If you receive a gift, you can’t help but know the price, and conflicts may arise from it, so they prepare it themselves to prevent that.

Of course, they write it in the notification in advance that it’s a birthday, so everyone is told to go full at that time.

In other words, the children also know whose birthday it is.

“Mom! It’s Siha’s birthday. December 5th!”

Seung-joon spoke to his mother.

“Really?”

“Yeah. What should I give Siha as a present?”

“I don’t know. What should I give him? For reference, Mom won’t buy it for you. It’s meaningless if Mom buys Siha a present. Right?”

“Yeah.”

It was unavoidable because it was forbidden for mothers to prepare gifts separately at the kindergarten.

But it’s an exception for children to prepare.

That’s because it’s really heartfelt. In reality, the kids don’t have any money.

Hana said.

“Hana has prepared a gift.”

“Huh? When did our Hana prepare that? What is it?”

“Hana learned a birthday song!”

“Didn’t you already know that?”

“Not that. Something else! Something else!”

“Oh! There’s another song?”

“Yeah! The song class teacher told me to call out the friend who has a birthday!”

“I’m glad I went to song class.”

Seung-joon made a ‘gasp’ expression.

“I, I haven’t prepared yet!”

“Oppa [older brother in Korean] is the best friend, but you still haven’t prepared?”

“Keuheuk.”

Seung-joon rummaged through his pocket and took out a yellow card.

“It’s a warning to me today too.”

Seung-joon’s mother burst out laughing.

Anyway, I think my child is the most unique. His actions were strangely cute.

“Ah! I can give him that!”

He went into the room, rustled around, and came out with his bag, looking satisfied.

“Seung-joon? What did you prepare?”

“Huh? Ah, this!”

Seung-joon opened his bag and showed it.

Seung-joon’s mother couldn’t help but burst out laughing once again as she looked at what was inside.

“Are you really going to give him this?”

“Yeah!”

That’s how they prepared the gifts.