Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 361

“Hyung, aren’t I cute?” Episode 361

We got a table at the stew restaurant.

Everyone arrived one by one, and Siha and I sat at the table with the director.

“Directow-nim [Director, in a cute, childish way].”

“Yeah?”

“What do you wike in stew, Directow-nim?”

“Ah, I like sausage the most.”

“You wike sausage too, Directow-nim?”

“Yeah, I like it.”

“Siha likes evewything! Directow-nim should eat evewything evenly.”

“Oh? That’s right. I should eat evenly. Wow, you’re really good with words. I feel like I’ve been tricked?”

Siha is always like that.

He says something right, but it feels strangely like I’m being manipulated.

While he was doing that, I ordered the stew and drinks.

“Do you have Coolpis [a popular Korean juice drink]?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Then, please give me one. A big one.”

“Okay.”

Director Go Dong-soo looked at me and said.

“Coolpis? Ah! Is that for Siha?”

“Yes. I thought Coolpis would be better than soda. I’ll drink it too.”

“Wow. Actually, I wanted to drink alcohol since I came to a stew restaurant, but coming with you, I get to drink Coolpis too.”

“It’s a shame about the alcohol, but I have to drive.”

“Right? I could call a driver, but there’s a kid here, haha. Well, some people over there are drinking.”

“Did you want to have a drink with me?”

“What.”

Director Go Dong-soo shrugged.

I guess he did. But I didn’t really want to call a driver. Actually, I don’t have time to go out for a meal or a drink like this.

Usually, if I drink, it would be around dinner time, but I can’t leave Siha alone then. I have to be with him.

It’s not that I can’t come because I have a lot of work.

It’s just that I need to be with Siha a little longer.

Looking at this, company dinners seem like a distant dream.

“These days, they eat healthily like this and go to a cafe to build relationships, right?”

“I don’t know? I think they drink a lot too, but I heard there are many cases like that.”

“Right?”

At some point, the director switched between honorifics and casual speech. After talking on the phone and meeting a few times before filming, we became comfortable with each other.

Actually, I was more comfortable with that too.

How should I say it? He’s a friend of an acquaintance, but the professor speaks casually to me, and the director speaks formally, so it feels awkward.

One meeting is fine, but after two or three times, I think it’s okay to speak comfortably.

And he asked me too.

“Ah, it’s here.”

The stew arrived, and I talked with the director about this and that.

Siha was drinking Coolpis next to me, saying it was delicious.

I don’t know what’s so delicious, but he’s eating hard.

It’s good to see that.

As we were finishing our meal, Director Go Dong-soo said.

“Are you interested in translating movies?”

“Pardon?”

“The distribution company originally has a team, but if it’s okay, I’d like to entrust it to you. In English.”

“No. Why me? You should use professional translators.”

“I just think it would be good in many ways. I heard you publish English novels when I listened to your phone call before? Ah, I didn’t intentionally eavesdrop, I just heard it.”

“Pfft. I know.”

“Don’t make a fuss about it and call me a spy! Got it?”

“Hehe. Why suddenly a spy? What information is the spy going to sell?”

Sometimes these silly jokes are fun.

I thought famous directors would have a more authoritative feel, but he just feels like a neighborhood 아저씨 [ajusshi, a middle-aged man, often used in a friendly or familiar way].

Director Go Dong-soo gestured with his chin once, then picked up a chopstick and stirred the stew.

“So, are you going to do it or not? Tell me straight.”

“I’ll do it. I’d be honored if you entrust it to me.”

“But I’m telling you in advance, it can be quite annoying. You have to get my approval for each sentence and share your opinions. Is that okay?”

“Well, that’s part of the process. It’s the same as talking to an editor when writing a book.”

“That’s true.”

He puts a chopstick in his mouth.

I looked at him and tapped the table.

“Director-nim, I’ll 맞춰드릴게 well [I’ll 맞춰드릴게 well: I’ll 맞춰드릴게 is a Korean expression that means ‘I’ll 맞춰드릴게’].”

“Cough. No, I’m the one asking, but why does it sound like you’re asking me?”

“Anyway, thank you for thinking highly of me. I’ll do my best. With the English translation.”

“Okay. Got it. Then I’ll keep that in mind?”

“Yes!”

I’m not going to start translating right away anyway.

Of course, there’s a script, but movies can have ad-libs and the feeling can be different when shooting.

It wouldn’t be bad to get the script and check the guidelines first.

And since I’m almost done with the second book, I can take on the translation work.

Anyway, it seems like I have a lot of 복 [bok, good fortune or blessing] as work keeps coming in as I finish things.

And I’m looking forward to it.

What will it feel like to translate a movie and work with the director?

“Hyung is coming out in a movie too?”

“No. I’m translating the movie into English. It’s the job of writing English words at the bottom when the movie comes out.”

“Then Hyung and Siha are 같이 [together] with the movie. 같이.”

“Yeah, 같이.”

He doesn’t know anything about translation, he just cares that he did a movie 같이 with Hyung!

That’s what he seems to be saying.

It’s a familiar scene to me, but Director Go Dong-soo smiles as if he’s not used to it yet.

“Looking at it, he really likes you.”

“Directow-nim, evewyone wikes Hyung. But Siha wikes him more.”

“Puhaha.”

Since when have I been loved by everyone?

I don’t know.

***

The 열기 [yeolgi, enthusiasm or excitement] for the movie hadn’t 식지 [sikji, cooled down] at the kindergarten.

To be exact, everyone wanted to film a movie.

Yeon-ju sometimes didn’t come to kindergarten, and that was the day she went to film a movie.

Rather, that’s why the 열기 didn’t 식지 even more.

Seung-jun said.

“Yeon-ju is so lucky. She gets to film a movie.”

“Siha 찍어써 too [Siha also filmed].”

“Huh? Really? You 찍어써 too, Siha?”

“Siha 다 찍어써 so I’m not going anymore [Siha filmed everything, so I’m not going anymore].”

“Did you only go for one day?”

“I only 가써 for one day [I only went for one day].”

Since it was filmed on the weekend, the kindergarten kids didn’t even know that Siha had gone to film a movie.

Seung-jun was envious again.

“I want to play while filming a movie too.”

He’s focusing on playing rather than filming.

“I want to film our own movie together and do that.”

He also wanted to be with his friends.

He could only say he was envious to express his complex emotions.

Other kids started asking Yeon-ju and Siha about this and that.

They had clearly 견학 [gyeonhak, toured or visited] the filming site, but their questions were only now 터져 나왔다 [teojyeo nawatda, bursting out].

“Did the director not scold you?”

“Directow-nim is 채고 [chaego, the best]! 해져써 [haejyeosseo, became].”

“Do they 져 [jwo, give] water after 찍고 [jjikko, filming]?”

“I 머거써 [meogeosseo, ate/drank] water because it was 더어서 [deo-eosseo, hot].”

Well, the kids’ questions were just about this much.

The teacher looked at them and said.

“Everyone. We also 찍었잖아요 [jjigeotjanayo, filmed, didn’t we] a movie when we went to 구경하러 [gugyeonghareo, to see/watch] filming, right?”

“Yes!”

“Then I won’t do anything, so do you want to 찍어 볼래요 [jjigeo bollaeyo, try filming]? The content is up to you!”

The teacher took out the camcorder and handed it to Jong-soo.

He was the only one who could handle it carefully and operate it well.

She said she wouldn’t 간섭 [ganseop, interfere], but naturally, the camera director was decided.

“Huh?”

“Why? Jong-soo?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Jong-soo cleared his throat once and proceeded.

“Okay! Let’s all decide on roles. I want to be the director. Who wants to be the director!”

The people who raised their hands were Jong-soo and Seung-jun.

Their eyes met.

They didn’t want to 양보 [yangbo, yield or give way].

“I’m going to be the director?”

“No. I’m going to do it.”

“Do you want to 가위바위보 [gawi-bawi-bo, rock-paper-scissors]?”

“Yeah!”

There was a 신경전 [singyeongjeon, a battle of nerves], but they decided to peacefully decide with 가위바위보.

The winner was Jong-soo.

Seung-jun looks at his hand that made 가위 [gawi, scissors] while saying 크윽 [keuek, an onomatopoeia for frustration].

“I lost. Aaaargh! I should have 보 [bo, paper]!”

“It’s too late.”

Jong-soo makes an 의기양양한 [uigiyangyanghan, triumphant] expression.

The teacher looked at them and 꺼냈다 [kkeonaetda, took out] another camcorder.

“Seung-jun. Here.”

“Huh?”

“We need one more person to 찍을 [jjigeul, film], don’t we? Think about it. There were several cameras when filming the movie, right?”

“Ah! Then I’m the person who 찍는 [jjikneun, filming] with the camera!”

Seung-jun cheered up.

Jong-soo, just in case, warned him that he had to listen to him because he was the director.

He nods his head, but Jong-soo is 영 못 미덥다 [yeong mot mideopda, not at all trustworthy].

“Then everyone is an 배우 [bae-u, actor].”

“Jong-soo.”

“Huh? Why?”

“But what do we 찍어 [jjigeo, film]?”

Jong-soo’s mouth closed at Siha’s words.

It was good to do it first, but he had no idea what to 찍어야 [jjigeoya, to film].

Until now, the teacher or someone else had 정해 줬지만 [jeonghae jwotjiman, decided for them], the topic or something, but now he was 들이밀어졌다 [deurimireojyeotda, presented] with a 백지 [baekji, blank page] of 자유주제 [jayujuje, free topic].

This was the first time for Jong-soo.

Even when studying, he could just do as the 학습지 [hakseupji, workbook] or 스티커 [seutikeo, sticker] told him to do.

Even if he did 창의력 학습지 [chang-uireok hakseupji, creativity workbook], it was the first time he had ever 창작 [changjak, created] a complete 백지.

“Umm. What would you like to 찍었으면 [jjigeosseumyeon, to film]?”

So the conclusion he came to was to ask the kids.

It was a 현명하다면 현명한 판단 [hyeonmyeonghadamyeon hyeonmyeonghan pandan, a wise decision if it’s wise].

Because 브레인스토밍 [beureinseutoming, brainstorming] always 예상치 못한 의견 [yesangchi motan uigyeon, unexpected opinions].

Seung-jun says.

“사커 [sakeo, soccer]! A movie about 사커!”

“You’re always 사커?! And you’re 찍고 [jjikgo, filming] the camera!”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Hana also said.

“Hana is an 아이돌 [aidol, idol]! Let’s 찍자 [jjikja, film] about becoming an 아이돌! Hana knows. 직캠 [jikcam, fancam]! 직캠!”

“This is a movie?”

Yeon-ju said, ‘I like anything.’

It’s the hardest answer to decide.

Jae-hwi trembled, saying, ‘Let’s do everything except scary things. Jong-soo.’

He hadn’t forgotten the story about ghosts before.

Eun-woo is.

“I’m a 래퍼 [raepeo, rapper]. I’ll come out as a 래퍼 in the movie. Puhaha.”

He just 정해 버린다 [jeonghae beorinda, decides] his 배역 [baeyeok, role].

Yoon-dong looked at Eun-woo and 고민했다 살며시 [gominhaetda salmyeosi, pondered softly].

“Wouldn’t a 춤추는 [chumchuneun, dancing] movie be good?”

“Suddenly 춤 [chum, dance]?!”

“It actually exists. I saw it with my 삼촌 [samchon, uncle].”

“It really existed?!”

Lastly, Siha says.

“Jong-soo. Let’s 찍자 [jjikja, film] Hyung. Hyung.”

“You’re always Si-hyeok Hyung!”

“No. Should we 찍그까 [jjikkeukka, film] Hyung 페페 [Pepe]?”

“We 찍었잖아 [jjigeotjana, filmed] that before!”

“We can 찍그면 [jjikkeumyeon, film] again.”

That was right.

Jong-soo 머리를 짚으며 절레절레 [meorireul jipeumyeo jeollejeolle, shook his head while holding his head].

Well, 브레인스토밍 is also easy to 산으로 [san-euro, go to the mountains, meaning to go off-topic].

Jong-soo’s 고민이 더 깊어졌다 [gomini deo gipeojyeotda, worries deepened] how to do this.

Originally, if you get opinions, you can also 혼란스러워지기도 더더욱 [hollanseureowojigido deodeouk, become even more confused].

“Then let’s make it a 춤 movie like Yoon-dong said! But is it a movie that keeps 춤추는 [chumchuneun, dancing]?”

In the end, they decided to make a 춤 movie that actually existed.

Yoon-dong’s 입꼬리가 씰룩였다 살짝 [ipkkoriga ssillukyeotda saljjak, corner of his mouth twitched slightly].

You could tell he was in a good mood.

“A movie that keeps 춤추는 is not. Just talk and 춤추고 [chumchugo, dance] with people who are 마음 맞는 [maeum matneun, like-minded]. Love too.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But we don’t have to do it exactly the same. We can call it a 춤추는 movie and tell another story.”

“That’s right.”

“What should we do for 춤 [chum, dance]? Freely? 비보잉 [biboing, b-boying]? 팝핀 [pappin, popping]? 락킹 [rakking, locking]? But the kids can’t 춤 well, so something a little easier? I can 가르쳐줄는데 [gareucheojulnde, teach you].”

“Uh, uh, uh…….”

Jong-soo was a little 당황했다 [danghwanghaetda, flustered] because Yoon-dong said a lot.

It was the first time he had 피력한 의견 [piryeokhan uigyeon, expressed an opinion] so 강하게 [ganghage, strongly].

He 물러선다 잠시 뒤로 [mulleoseonda jamsi dwiro, steps back for a moment].

Yoon-dong also 느꼈는지 [neukkyeonneunji, felt it] 멈춘다 말을 하며 기색 머쓱한 [meomchunda mareul hamyeo gisaek meosseukhan, stops talking with an awkward look].

Originally, when talking about a 좋아하는 분야 [johahaneun bunya, favorite field], even a 묵묵한 [mungmukan, quiet] person becomes 말이 많아지는 [mari manajineun, talkative].

Yoon-dong did.

“Hmm. I know what Yoon-dong is saying. 으음 [eueum, hmm]. Then let’s make all the 주인공 [juingong, main characters]. Everyone 춤도 추고 열심히 [chumdo chugo yeolsimhi, dance hard too].”

Siha 톡톡 Jong-soo’s 어깨를 두드렸다 [eokkaereul dudeurida, tapped Jong-soo’s shoulder].

“Why? What?”

“Jong-soo. Siha 추고 시퍼 페페 춤 [chugo sipeo Pepe chum, wants to dance the Pepe dance].”

“What is 페페 춤 [Pepe chum, Pepe dance]?”

“Jong-soo doesn’t know either?!”

“There’s no way I’d know! 페페 is a character Siha made!”

“There’s 이써 종수도 모르는 [isseo Jong-sudo moreuneun, something Jong-soo doesn’t know]?!”

“No! How would I know what you made!”

“Jong-soo 아라야 구래도 [araya guraedo, should know anyway]!”

“대체 왜 [daeche wae, why on earth]!”

Siha 바라보았다 종수를 표정으로 심각한 [baraboatda Jong-sureul pyojeongeuro simgakan, looked at Jong-soo with a serious expression].

Jong-soo became a face that said, is this 정도야 지을 표정을 그런 [jeongdoya jieul pyojeongeul geureon, is this the kind of expression to make]?

“Siha will 알려주께 [allyeojukke, tell you]. It’s 페페 춤.”

“No. You don’t have to 알려줘도 [allyeojwodo, tell me]!”

“잘 바 [jal bwa, look closely].”

“I said you don’t have to 알려줘도!”

Siha is preparing to 추다 페페 춤 [chuda Pepe chum, dance the Pepe dance].

He puts his two 손바닥 together and 합장한다 [sonbadak together and hapjanghanda, puts his palms together in a prayer position]. And 이동한다 좌우로 맞춰서 리듬에 [idonghanda jwauro matchwoseo rideume, moves left and right to the rhythm].

“페페. 페페. 페페. 페페.”

발도 좌우로 뒤꿈치가 한 띄웠다 발씩 붙였다 한다 [baldo jwauro dwikkumchiga han ttiwotta balsik butyeotda handa, also lifts and lowers each heel left and right].

좌우 [jwau, left and right]. 좌우.

In some ways, it’s like a 코브라 춤 [kobeura chum, cobra dance].

Yoon-dong says.

“It’s also like 쏘리쏘리 춤 [ssorissorichum, Sorry Sorry dance, a famous K-pop dance]?”

Jong-soo 머리를 긁적였다 [meorireul geuljeogyeotda, scratched his head].

I don’t even know why that’s 페페 춤.

“So when are we 대체 찍는데 the movie [daeche jjigneunde, actually filming]! Is 페페 춤 중요해 [Pepe chum jungyohae, Pepe dance important]?!”

“Jong-soo. We’re 찍짜나 a 춤 movie [jjikjjana chum movie, filming a dance movie]. It’s 중요하지 [jungyohaji, important].”

“Huh? That’s true. But it doesn’t have to be 페페 춤.”

“No. It has to be 페페 춤.”