Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 297

Professor Oh Sang-hwan arrived home.

“I’m home.” Saying those words is a blessing and a joy, made even better by having the children.

The twins came running to him.

“You’re home!”

“You’re home!”

Hugging and kissing him is their daily routine.

Most people only have one child to hold, but with twins, he gets to hold one in each arm.

He knows that later on, they’ll grow up and might not even want to hug him.

Of course, they’re hugging him now because their mom tells them to.

Still, this moment is precious.

He feels like he’s always working hard because of these twins.

He just feels bad that he can’t give them everything they want and play with them as much as he’d like.

“Dad!”

“Yes!”

“Dad!”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Dad!”

“Okay, seriously, what is it?”

Actually, he knows they don’t need a reason to call him.

The twins just like calling their dad, as if it’s a game.

But for Professor Oh Sang-hwan, isn’t this a time to let them call him ‘Dad’ as much as they want, since they couldn’t call him all day?

“Dad.”

“So, what is it~”

“Siha is going camping today, and I want to go too!”

“Huh? Camping?”

Hana chimed in from the side.

“They’re going to see flowers. And they’re going to eat lots of yummy things.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Hana wants to see flowers too.”

“Camping, huh.”

Oh Sang-hwan enjoys mountain climbing.

Which basically means he secretly wants to go camping.

Of course, he’d love to have all the camping gear, but Seung-joon’s mom doesn’t approve of this hobby, so he can’t do anything about it.

She tells him to spend that money on the children instead.

And, realistically, once you start buying camping equipment, there’s no end to it, and he’s too busy with work anyway.

But he still longs for it. There’s something about it that makes his heart flutter.

“Dad. Can’t we go too?”

“Can’t Hana go too?”

“Hehehe.”

Oh Sang-hwan glanced at his wife.

She had greeted him when he came in and then went back to the kitchen, but he knew she must be listening intently.

He wasn’t sure how she’d react if he suggested they go.

‘I want to go.’

He wanted to experience that fluttering feeling, just once.

Driving a car, pitching a tent, and grilling meat on the barbecue!

“But Si-hyuk [older brother/male friend] and Siha don’t have camping equipment, do they? How are they planning to go? Are they renting a camper van?”

“Huh? I don’t know.”

“Okay. You don’t know, right?”

“Let’s go with Siha. Siha said we should all go together.”

“Haha. Wouldn’t he rather go with just his hyung?”

Oh Sang-hwan was subtly trying to dissuade his wife, making it seem like he was against the idea.

He was using a clever tactic.

Lee Si-hyuk is a student who prepares everything meticulously. He wouldn’t go empty-handed.

He should call and subtly express his reluctance. But the twins won’t give up and will want to go along.

He’d ride on their enthusiasm.

Isn’t information warfare the most powerful weapon in modern times?

“Then should we check if Si-hyuk hyung is okay with it?”

“Si-hyuk hyung will definitely say yes.”

“Hana thinks so too.”

He had no idea where their confidence came from.

Professor Oh Sang-hwan called Lee Si-hyuk.

He deliberately put the call on speaker mode and adjusted the volume so that his wife could hear.

「Yes, Professor.」

“Yes. How are you?”

「Ah, thanks to the twins, Siha and I are having a good time.」

“Hehehe. Okay.”

The twins grabbed their cheeks and rejoiced.

You cunning fellow! How can you be so good at sweet-talking! That’s why our pretty Hana is so fond of you!

Thump, thump!

Was he imagining things, or were his wife’s knife skills getting more aggressive?

You rascal!

“Ahem. I heard you’re going camping. Is that true?”

「Yes? Ah…. Maybe? There’s a younger brother named Baek Dong-hwan who lives upstairs, and he said he has all the camping equipment. He said it’s enough for almost six people?」

“Ah, really? But the twins seem to want to go too. You can’t all go together, right? Right? You can’t go together?”

He emphasized it twice.

Say you can’t go together! That was the feeling he was trying to convey.

Of course, this was just a show for his wife.

「Yes? Together? Did Siha suggest it again?」

「Hyung. Siha said it. It’s fun to eat delicious things together! We picked flowers together in the countryside before.」

「That’s right.」

Professor Oh Sang-hwan thought he was right.

Baek Dong-hwan, who was also nearby, added.

「The campsite we’re going to has a shared sink, so there’s not much to bring. They even rent out camper vans to sleep in nearby.」

「Ah, really?」

「Yes. There’s even a space where you can park a camper van.」

「That’s amazing.」

「Of course, I’m going to pitch a tent. That’s what camping is all about. Hahaha!」

「Wouldn’t it be cold to sleep outside yet?」

「Then you can rent a camper van to sleep in. It’s not that expensive.」

Lee Si-hyuk spoke to the professor again.

「I think it would be fun if the professor came along too? The kids would like it too. Wouldn’t it be easier to take turns taking care of them? We could put the kids to sleep at night and then have a drink.」

“Huh?”

Oh Sang-hwan cheered inwardly but continued to act.

Yes. Take turns taking care of them together! What could be more appealing and persuasive than that?

And it sounds like they even rent out camper vans.

That means there’s practically no work to do at all.

The twins started chanting.

“Dad. Let’s go. Let’s go.”

“Dada~”

The twins grabbed Oh Sang-hwan’s arms.

Dad wants to go too! He wants to help that friend Baek Dong-hwan pitch a tent!

But a husband has no choice.

So now he has to wrap things up smoothly.

“Hmm. Let’s talk about it after discussing it a bit. I have a schedule to check too.”

「Ah, yes! I’m trying to schedule it from Friday to Sunday.」

“Ah, really? Okay, I understand.”

「Okay, Professor. Please tell Seung-joon’s mother that I am always grateful.」

“Huh? Ah, okay.”

「Thank you. Goodbye then.」

The call ended.

He even made sure to say polite things to Seung-joon’s mom until the very end.

You can’t let your guard down around that rascal.

“Hey, Seung-joon’s mom. What do you think about camping? If you say we’re going, I’ll adjust my schedule. Or should we just take the kids for a drive to see the flowers?”

He made it seem like he wasn’t interested in camping, but that he was definitely willing to play with the kids.

Seung-joon’s mom, who had been listening to everything while cooking, finally spoke.

“Honey, do you have time?”

He knew that permission had been granted with those words.

Professor Oh Sang-hwan broke into a wide smile.

“You can always make time if you want to. Hahaha. I’ve been feeling bad that I haven’t been playing with the kids enough lately, so how can I not make time for that?”

The phone call strategy had been a success.

The children’s happy faces were the victory report of the war.

Operation complete. Declare the end of the war. Everyone, raise a glass.

He lay down on the sofa.

It’s been a while since he came home and could finally relax.

***

In the end, they decided to go camping.

He wanted to show Siha the flowers and enjoy a leisurely 2 nights and 3 days.

Because he didn’t know when they’d have another chance to talk about it and go on a trip like this again.

“Siha, the beginning of camping starts with preparation.”

“Huh?”

For some reason, Baek Dong-hwan started giving Siha a lecture on camping.

Baek Dong-hwan said he had prepared most of the things.

Still, there were several mouths to feed, so he decided to bring some extra cookware.

He wasn’t sure what Seung-joon and Hana would do, but he thought they needed some chairs too.

He decided to bring chairs for Siha and himself.

A folding sunbed.

“Siha prepared this.”

“Isn’t that what hyung bought?”

“No. Siha took money out of his piggy bank too.”

In reality, he had only pretended to take money out of the piggy bank and hadn’t actually used it.

He couldn’t use Siha’s money for this.

“Like this. Sit like this. Comfortable~!”

Siha seemed to be enjoying camping already, even at home.

“Is it that comfortable? Should I sit down too?”

“No! It’ll break if Baekdong hyung sits down.”

“No. I’m not that heavy.”

“No. No!”

“That’s unfair. Really.”

Baek Dong-hwan carefully tried to sit down, raising his butt slightly.

He was sitting so cautiously that it seemed unfair? Tell me the truth. Have you broken one before? Right?

“There’s a lot more to pack besides this. It’s 2 nights and 3 days, so you have to bring clothes and a toothbrush. Got it?”

“What is 2 nights and 3 days?”

Baek Dong-hwan hesitated, unable to explain, so he answered instead.

“It’s sleeping for two nights.”

“Two nights with flowers?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Pretty.”

It seemed like he was having some lovely thoughts.

It’s not just two nights, but the idea of two nights with flowers. Isn’t Siha a genius?

“Let’s go buy something delicious.”

“Why?”

“Hmm. You have to eat something delicious while looking at the flowers.”

“What to buy?”

“Siha’s favorite meat.”

“Meat!”

“Let’s take the leftover marshmallows too.”

“Roast and eat!”

“Ding dong daeng! [sound effect for correct answer] That’s correct.”

Baek Dong-hwan jumped up.

He had a determined look on his face.

“Leave the alcohol for drinking at night to me. I’ll buy it.”

“Wouldn’t beer be enough?”

“It has to be various kinds to be delicious.”

“Well, I’ll leave that part to you.”

The twins said they would bring some food too, so they should buy some as well.

He got up from his seat and went straight to the mart with Baek Dong-hwan.

He bought Siha’s favorite meat, ham, and fresh eggs.

When he came home and packed his bags, it seemed like a lot of stuff.

Baek Dong-hwan had definitely prepared most of the camping equipment, but he didn’t know why there was so much.

“Can we eat all of this?”

“Of course, hyung! It’s 2 nights and 3 days! 2 nights and 3 days! It’s enough!”

Was it really?

He wasn’t sure. He should have prepared food for 2 or 3 days. No, wait a minute. Weren’t the twins bringing food too?

He didn’t know. Anyway, the eventful camping preparation was over.

***

Friday, the day of the trip.

They woke up in the morning and carried their luggage.

He saw Baek Dong-hwan’s used Starex [Korean minivan] that he had bought as his first car.

“Hey, Dong-hwan.”

“Yes?”

Just as he was about to say something, Siha spoke up first.

He really thought they had telepathy.

“Baekdong hyung. Are you moving?”

“Huh? Haha! Camping is originally about preparing this much.”

“Really? Too much. It won’t all fit.”

“No. It all fits. You can put it on top too.”

“!!!”

Siha tilted his head up.

There really was a space to put it on top. He could see the rope too.

“We’re going for 2 nights and 3 days, right?”

“That’s right. Just trust me.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to rent and eat the barbecue provided there? They said they’ll give you a grill too?”

“Hey. Hyung. Such unorthodox ways are not allowed. This is all about the vibe [atmosphere/feeling].”

“If you protect the vibe too much, it’ll be hell instead of healing, right?”

“Hey. Really, just trust me.”

“Can I really trust you? But isn’t camping originally about carrying less?”

“Only great masters do that, and we’re beginners.”

“You too?”

“It’s been over half a year for me.”

“I’m worried. Really.”

You’re telling me to trust you as if you’re a veteran with over half a year of experience!

You have to be at least 3 years old!

You go to middle and high school for 3 years!

“Okay. Okay. Let’s get going.”

There was a lot of luggage, so he decided to drive his own car.

First, Baek Dong-hwan’s Starex started off in front, swaying under the weight.

Siha was fascinated by it and pointed at it with his finger from the side.

“Hyung. The car is slow.”

“It’s because there’s a lot of luggage.”

“Siha’s car isn’t pitiful, but Baekdong’s car is pitiful.”

“I know. He’s having a hard time.”

“Have a hard time. Baekdong car. Cheer up! Cheer up!”

He started cheering hard from the side.

“It’s okay. Because the super strong Baekdong hyung is riding.”

“Baekdong hyung is heavy too. You have to cheer up.”

That’s incredibly persuasive!

It’s already heavy, but it might be even heavier because Baek Dong-hwan is riding.

The driver’s seat looked narrow, but he must be mistaken?

It should look wider if it was remodeled into a camper van, but it looked narrow even though it wasn’t even a small car.

In many ways, the car is having a hard time.

“Can you see the cherry blossoms over there?”

“Pretty! It’s pink.”

The flowers blooming along the way were beautiful.

“We’re going to a place with a lot of cherry blossoms. It’s going to be really, really pretty.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Shall I play a song? You need a song for a trip.”

“Number song!”

“Okay. Number song.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pop song sometimes?

He was tired of the number song now. But he couldn’t help it. Siha never got tired of it.

They listened to music and headed to the campsite.