Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 274

January 25th.

I still went to work with the Kyung Trio.

We’re currently at the top with our demo game, and now that we’ve received a launch proposal, all that’s left is the official release.

The Kyung Trio cheered internally.

“Yes! Let’s make a lot of money now!”

“The end of hardship! The beginning of happiness!”

“But we’ll only know that when we see the sales numbers.”

Ahn Kyung-ho pouted.

“Kyung-hwan, do you have to state facts with such a bright smile?”

“Yes! It’s the truth. But I’m really happy that we can officially launch it.”

“That’s true.”

Shin Kyung-hwan also spoke realistically, but he couldn’t hide his smile.

Mentor Ahn Hyun-tae watched them and said, “From now on, we need to work pretty hard to launch it quickly. You know that, right?”

“Of course.”

“You also know that we might not be able to include all the story content we initially planned, right?”

“Ah… That’s right.”

“So, I’ve been thinking, the main storyline has three parts, right? Instead of cutting it in half twice, how about dividing it into three series?”

“Hmm.”

“If we make three series, people will anticipate each one.”

In reality, the story is about the protagonist vowing revenge on the king, forming an organization, and attacking the royal capital.

By beheading the king, he obtains half of the Sacred Stone and becomes an immortal.

The title of the first series is *Usurpation*.

Ahn Hyun-tae said, “But it’s interesting that it doesn’t end with becoming king.”

In reality, the friends who were thought to be dead are alive, each possessing a Sacred Stone.

So, we added the title of the next season with [coming soon].

*Madness*

“We add the story like this.”

“How?”

“We push the voice heard when the Sacred Stone is completed to the end. We end it with a recollection.”

“Ah-ha!”

I nodded.

“Then let’s make it a recollection while playing chess. Since the king has changed, we’ll play on a new chessboard, placing the king at the end.”

[The seven Sacred Stones were one from the beginning. The light of salvation always soaked the earth.]

“And the immortal friend who helped with the usurpation says that he also heard it when the Sacred Stone was completed. Maybe all the immortals heard that voice.”

Ahn Kyung-ho nodded as if he understood.

“Ah! We’re placing the voice separately. The protagonist ends by saying this.”

“Saying it while looking at the sky.”

“Full of ashes… Keuh.”

It was a story hinting at the pile of flames to come.

Ahn Kyung-ho said, “Okay. Let’s make some quick revisions and wrap it up. No, since the launch is confirmed, should we have a celebration party just among ourselves?”

“A celebration party?”

“Why not! Launching isn’t easy. Sales will come out somehow.”

“Tch.”

I looked around.

Park Kyung-joon was already gone.

“When did he disappear?”

Bang!

“Congratulations! Congratulations! Happy birthday, Si-hyuk!”

Park Kyung-joon came in wiggling his butt, holding a cake.

Other friends suddenly followed along, singing, which surprised me.

“Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations on our launch too! Ba-ba-ba-ba-bbam!”

A faint smile appeared on my face.

I never imagined they would prepare something like this.

Come to think of it, today is my birthday?

I was so busy working and taking care of things that I didn’t realize it.

I didn’t even know my birthday was coming up.

It could have just passed by, but I was grateful that they took care of it like this.

Ahn Kyung-ho urged me to blow out the candles quickly.

“Whoo!”

“Wowww-”

I turned 24 years old.

My life had changed so much.

“Here’s a birthday present!”

“Me too! Me too!”

“I thought it would be a hassle to carry things, so I’ll send it as a gift certificate.”

“Si-hyuk, I just sent you chicken. Eat it with your sibling.”

I received the gifts and looked at the four people.

“Thank you, everyone. Thank you for the gifts and for remembering my birthday. I didn’t even know it was today, but it feels good to celebrate it with you all.”

Ahn Kyung-ho put on his coat.

“Let’s go! It’s party time today. We need to rest for a day. We’ve been working without weekends every day.”

We went outside.

To eat something delicious.

***

It was my first time drinking during the day in a long time.

It was the first time since my freshman year of college.

Everyone felt like they wanted to party hard, but I held back a bit.

They booed, but it couldn’t be helped.

I was getting calls, and gift certificates were being sent from everywhere.

And my classmates told me to come to ‘Pocha Ttego’ [a popular street food stall] near the school, saying they would celebrate with me, so I had no choice but to go.

“Oh! Si-hyuk!”

My classmates waved and called me.

I already had a cake in my hand, but there was also a cake on the table.

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older men], you came? I told you before, if there’s a drinking party, call me again.”

Seo Soo-hyun smiled.

I was dumbfounded and tapped her head lightly.

“Ouch! What was that for? Does this *oppa* think I’m a kid like Si-ha?”

“I don’t hit Si-ha though?”

“Why did you hit me then?”

“Frogs need to be caught and smacked to taste good.”

“This *oppa*, really!”

I joked like that and sat down.

I looked around.

Alisa was also waving her hand, so it seemed like she had invited everyone who would congratulate me.

“Ugh. Aren’t you all just gathering on my birthday as an excuse to have a drinking party before the semester starts?”

“Hey, hey! You got caught. Si-hyuk, bring your glass.”

“Ah, why are we drinking from the afternoon?”

“Sniff, sniff. *Oppa*, I smell alcohol?”

“Was it a dog instead of a frog?”

I got caught right away for drinking a few beers?

“Actually, it smells like pork belly. Isn’t a shot of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] perfect with pork belly?”

“Yeah. No. I drank beer.”

“Tch!”

Everyone booed, saying I was being a hypocrite for saying I only drank beer.

“Hey! Hey! What’s with the *somaek* [mixture of soju and beer]? Is there no seaweed soup? Why are we drinking unhealthily?”

“Bullshit. We all know you drink well.”

I did back in freshman and sophomore year.

Everyone nodded, knowing it well.

“Hey, hey. Light the candles. Light the candles.”

I said I already did it and told them not to, but my friends insisted on lighting the candles because they said they didn’t celebrate with us.

I received congratulations again and got another cake.

What should I do? This cake? I don’t know if I can eat it all with Si-ha.

“Hey. Can’t we just eat this cake with you guys now? I can’t eat all of this.”

“What’s with the cake with alcohol? Can I smash it on your face?”

“Don’t do it unless you want to be retaliated against.”

Slap.

Seo Soo-hyun took only the cream with her hand and smeared it on my face.

I was caught off guard and became dazed.

“Puhaha. It’s properly smeared on your face.”

“You can’t even retaliate?”

“Hahaha.”

A friend next to me pulled out a few tissues and gave them to me.

I didn’t take them and took a shot of soju.

Seo Soo-hyun slipped out from next to me and sat across from me.

“Hey! Catch Seo Soo-hyun!”

“Agh! *Oppa*! Wait a minute! No, why does everyone listen to Si-hyuk *oppa* so well! Hey! Let me go!”

“Uh-huh. It’s Si-hyuk *hyung’s* [term used by younger men to address older men] word, so we have to listen well. How much did I owe him from soccer before.”

I wiped the whipped cream on my face with my hand.

“Eek! Ah! *Oppa*. Are you recycling the whipped cream on your face!”

“Uh-huh! Recycling? I’m just trying to fix your makeup because I thought it looked bad today.”

“What kind of makeup is that!”

“Let’s start with basic makeup. Got it?”

“Ah, *oppa*. Sorry! Sorry! I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay. Trust *oppa*, right?”

With a playful heart, I applied the cream all over Seo Soo-hyun’s face.

“Hey! Refill!”

“Okay!”

“Agh! How did this happen! You should be on my side! Everyone!”

Seo Soo-hyun’s end was failed makeup.

Because her face turned pale.

In the end, she wiped it off a bit with a tissue and went straight to the bathroom.

I just took care of it with a wet wipe and sat down.

The friend next to me was cutting and sharing the cake, revealing the part he played with a knife.

Alisa took one and came next to me.

“Si-hyuk. This is a gift.”

“Oh? Alisa. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. It’s clothes.”

“…….”

I looked at Alisa with suspicious eyes.

“It’s not weird, right?”

“Ahaha. It’s normal clothes. I chose it carefully.”

“Thank you. I’ll wear it well.”

“Spring is coming, so I chose spring clothes.”

“I’ll definitely wear it in the spring.”

“It’s an S/S [Spring/Summer] product from Blue Mall. You know the mini-me fashion? Mom and daughter. Son and dad.”

“You’re giving me a Blue Mall product here?”

“Why! It costs money to buy this!”

“That’s true. Well, I’ll wear it well. Then Si-ha’s clothes must be included too?”

“Si-ha’s spring clothes are free too. How is it? Isn’t it good?”

“Yes. It’s good. But this didn’t cost you a penny, did it?”

“Oh my. What are you talking about? Strictly speaking, I bought it with my own money. I’m the CEO, but.”

“Cheaper than the selling price?”

“I designed this, so isn’t it weird if I pay for labor costs too?”

“Puhup. That’s true.”

I had to pick up Si-ha today, but I wondered if it was okay to drink like this.

I think my clothes will smell like alcohol.

The friend next to me said, “Hey, hey. Drink moderately a lot.”

“What’s drinking moderately a lot?”

Still, I wanted to drink a little for the first time in a while, intoxicated by this atmosphere.

It felt like I was wetting my lips for the first time in a long time.

It was sweet. Maybe because of the atmosphere or because of the happy feeling.

Everything.

***

I couldn’t drive because I drank alcohol.

I drank a hangover cure and sat on a bench outside for a while, hoping the smell of alcohol would dissipate.

Next to me were cakes and paper bags.

There are so many gifts.

Still, I’m glad there are gift certificates these days.

Otherwise, I might have had a handful of luggage.

The wind sweeps my cheeks and awakens my mind.

The tipsy feeling seems to be swept away.

I have to pick up Si-ha, but I can’t bring myself to go because I think I smell too much alcohol.

Still, I should go in around the time when mothers pick up their children.

“Sniff, sniff. Does it smell a lot? Hoo. Sniff, sniff.”

My nose was numb, and I couldn’t smell anything.

Honestly, I don’t know.

Maybe it smells like food too.

“I have to go now.”

The time has come.

I shook my clothes to get rid of any possible smell.

I packed my things and entered the daycare center.

“Hyung!”

“Si-hyuk hyung!”

“Si-hyuk oppa!”

“Huh?”

The twins weren’t leaving.

I wondered if their mom hadn’t come, but that wasn’t the case either.

From behind, Seung-joon’s mom slightly bowed her head and greeted me.

With a flustered heart, I accepted it too.

Ah, maybe my clothes smell? This seems like nothing, but I’m very nervous.

Seung-joon ran over and handed me a gift.

“Si-hyuk hyung. This is a gift. A soccer ball I made.”

“Wow.”

“Si-hyuk hyung made it for me before. I made it this time too. This is special. I drew it with Brazuca [official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup].”

“Really. It’s exactly the same.”

Actually, I didn’t know it was that shape until he told me.

What is it? Did he draw a king earthworm jelly on the soccer ball?

That’s what I thought.

“Si-hyuk oppa.”

“Yeah. Hana.”

“Hana prepared a gift too. A song gift.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! I prepared it really fun!”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Hana sang a song.

“Even if I use all ten fingers, I can’t count. That fact is, I think it’s a blessing.”

“Oh!”

“I really want to celebrate your birthday starting with B.”

B must be referring to Birth.

When did she learn such a song?

“Before it becomes D! They say it’s C! Not Choice! It’s a celebrity.”

D must be referring to Death.

“You are always a celebrity to us. Thank you for being our lovely you. Thank you again. Thank you~”

Hana’s song ended.

I clapped my hands. The way she sang was so cute.

Hana suddenly felt embarrassed and stuck to her mom, burying her face.

“Wow. Hana. Thank you so much.”

“Uh-huh.”

The twins must have waited for me to give me these gifts.

I looked at Si-ha.

Maybe Si-ha remembered my birthday. So the twins know too.

“Si-ha. Aren’t you running over today?”

“Hyung.”

Si-ha was carrying the Pepe bag in front of him.

I can kind of guess.

There must be a gift in that bag.

“Si-ha prepared a gift.”

“Really? I’m really looking forward to it?”

“Right away. This!”

Si-ha opened the Pepe bag and took out a wrapped gift.

I received it and looked at Si-ha.

“Can I open this?”

“Uh-huh.”

I unwrapped the gift.

Inside was a tumbler box.

Where did he get the money to buy this?

“Did Si-ha buy this?”

“Uh-huh. Si-ha took out 10,000 won [approximately $8 USD] from the piggy bank and bought it.”

“Wow. Thank you so much. I’ll really use it well.”

“Inside. Inside.”

“What is it? Is there a letter inside?”

I opened the box and took out the tumbler.

There was a picture inside.

[ㅇㅅㅎ]

The initials of me and Si-ha were drawn three-dimensionally, and there were three Pepes there.

In ‘o’, Pepe’s face was peeking out sideways, in ‘ㅅ’, he was going down like a slide, and in ‘ㅎ’, Pepe was pushing the ‘ㅇ’ part.

I received many gifts, but the one and only tumbler in the world became so precious.

How did he think of this?

More than anything, Si-ha’s heart for me was so pretty… so good… it was touching.

“Thank you so much.”

I hugged Si-ha.

“Really. Really. Thank you.”

“Hyung!”

“Huh?”

Si-ha made 1, 2, and 5 with his fingers.

“What kind of 125 is this~!”

“?”

I was blank, not knowing what it was.

“Gata with Hyung!”

I burst out laughing at that.

December 5th. January 25th.

It’s a really happy birthday.