Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 403

“Hyung, aren’t I cute?” Episode 403 (403/500)

The rest in France was truly sweet.

We brought a mat to the park and prepared a delicious lunch for a picnic. I didn’t know it would be so relaxing and healing.

Clouds floated by, and the open view refreshed my eyes.

Siha enjoyed the apple pie we bought in France.

“Hyung! This is yummy. Eat it, quick!”

“Okay. Ahh~”

“Ahh~”

Just as I was about to take a big bite, Siha’s hand twisted and went straight into Uncle’s mouth.

I stared in shock as he took a large bite.

“Uncle!”

“Mmm! Delicious!”

“Hyung was supposed to eat that!”

“I want to eat more because it’s delicious.”

He snatched the apple pie from Siha’s hand and took a big bite.

Siha patted Uncle’s leg.

“That’s for Hyung!”

“I’m sulking because you only take care of Hyung and not me! Why!”

“Uncle sulking?”

“No. Hehe. I just wanted to steal the apple pie Siha had.”

“Eung, eung!”

I looked up at the sky.

A peaceful moment.

I would be sad if this scenery, which has now become a part of my daily life, disappeared.

I took out a piece of apple pie from the picnic basket.

“Siha, here’s more.”

“Woong.”

“You can eat this.”

I put it in Siha’s hand and took a bite.

Now the apple pie has arrived in the right direction.

Siha looked at the pie in his hand and then at me, with a satisfied expression.

He must feel better now that he succeeded in feeding it to me.

Uncle, seeing this, looked around as if wondering if there was anything else.

He’s always trying to tease me whenever he gets the chance.

“Uncle, there’s nothing left.”

“I guess not.”

“But doesn’t it look like a scene from a museum painting when we come out like this?”

“Ah, it does seem like that. Nobles leisurely enjoying an outing.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m reminded of paintings that vividly depict and criticize the beast-like *moseup* [Korean for ‘appearance’ or ‘behavior’] of nobles.”

“You’re thinking of that here? Not Monet’s landscape paintings?”

“It would have been amazing if they had painted like that back then, considering how much the nobles would have hated it.”

“Whatever.”

Just then, Siha seemed to remember something and joined the conversation.

“Hyung, Siha remembers the train. The train. The light sparkles.”

“Yeah, there was a painting like that.”

“Siha gets them all right. Siha knows everything.”

“Yeah. You really knew everything.”

I didn’t expect him to be able to match all the artists’ paintings.

Of course, some were grouped together, but there were quickly other people’s paintings, so it wasn’t easy to match them.

Paints with quick brush strokes, paints with broad pastel strokes.

He didn’t mention those characteristics, but it seemed like he was distinguishing them with his eyes.

Actually, I don’t know much about paintings.

I just enjoy them simply when I go to museums.

I haven’t really felt anything more profound or emotionally touching beyond that.

I get moved when I see a good movie, but I don’t get moved when I see a famous painting.

Maybe I’m not fully enjoying paintings when I see them.

Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about them.

‘Hmm.’

To be honest, I should have gone to places like museums when I was young. In fact, I thought going to museums, art galleries, plays, movies, musicals, and various performances was a luxury.

I don’t think that way now, but I did when I was young.

When I tried to buy a workbook with my allowance, I couldn’t understand why it was so expensive.

Just buying Korean, English, and math workbooks cost over 30,000 won [approximately $25 USD], and buying science and social studies workbooks cost well over 50,000 won [approximately $40 USD].

Not wanting to act spoiled, I found it really difficult to even ask for money to buy workbooks.

I was dumbfounded to see some friends lying about needing to buy workbooks and then going out to play.

I was also a little envious.

“My dad used to drag me around a lot when I was young.”

Uncle nodded at my words.

He was the one who contributed to taking me to movies and performances here and there.

“His excuses were all forced, but you actually liked it, Si혁 [Si-hyuk, the protagonist’s name], when you went.”

“Ah, no, I didn’t.”

“Are you still embarrassed about that?”

“I think I was just being stubborn. I’m also grateful for it.”

“Right? Seriously. Jang Hyuk didn’t even change his repertoire well. He used so many excuses.”

“He did.”

“It’s the same with coming on picnics like this. When I said let’s go out to relax, you said we had to pack a lunch because eating out would cost money.”

“Ahem.”

“You scolded Jang Hyuk for not telling you in advance and telling you on the day of.”

“I didn’t scold him that much, did I?”

“You said it would be great to pack *kimbap* [Korean seaweed rice rolls]. And if there’s rice left over, we can use it for other meals at home later. There’s no one as stingy as you.”

“Ah. It’s cheaper to make it ourselves.”

“It’s cheaper if you exclude the labor.”

I can’t deny that.

So, what was Dad’s excuse? It’s been so long that I can’t remember.

“I carried you out.”

“Ah, right. Dad followed me, holding my shoes.”

Normally, Dad is on my side, but only at times like this did he become one with Uncle and drag me out.

“Hyung, Uncle carried you?!”

“Yeah. When I was young.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But it’s a story Siha doesn’t know, so it’s not fun, right?”

“No. It’s fun!”

“Really?”

“All of Hyung’s stories are fun. Even Hyung’s stories about eating are fun.”

I didn’t tell you a story about eating?

So, even if I told you a story about eating rice one grain at a time, it would sound fun?

There’s an incredible Hyung filter on you.

Should I see if it’s really fun?

“So, Hyung ate expensive food outside, but I thought I should save it, so I ate each grain diligently. That way, I can eat for a long time, right?”

“Right!”

“But it was too precious. So, I left some rice grains on the corner of my mouth to eat later.”

“Amazing! Hyung is a genius!”

“Is this kind of story fun too?”

“Fun. Hyung is the most fun!”

Then Uncle said.

“Uncle also ate expensive food with Si혁, but he cut the side dishes little by little to eat slowly to save it.”

“Yeah.”

“But it disappeared too quickly, so it was a waste. So, I put some seasoning on the corner of my mouth to eat later.”

“Yeah.”

“How is it? Is Uncle’s story fun too?”

“No. Not fun.”

“Hey! What’s the difference between the story Si혁 and I told? It’s a similar story!”

Siha shook his head and said this.

“Uncle. Teacher said.”

“What?”

“Who says it is important.”

“People call that discrimination.”

“No. It’s fun when Seung-joon says it, but it’s not fun when Jong-soo says it.”

Suddenly, Jong-soo is summoned.

Jong-soo. You’re suffering even here.

Well, it’s funny or not depending on who says it.

The unique humor can only be uniquely expressed by that person.

But I wasn’t telling the story that fun, was I? To the point where it’s being compared like that?

“I’m speechless.”

“Uncle. Do something else.”

“I actually ate three bowls of rice. Are you happy now!”

“Fun!”

“???”

“Fun!”

“Why?”

“You ate three bowls.”

“???”

Is it fun because I ate three bowls?

What is it about the number 3…….

“I also put the seasoning on my face three times to eat later.”

“Uncle. Not fun.”

“Why not this!”

I followed Uncle and said.

“Hyung wiped the seasoning that was put on three times.”

“Really?! Hyung is amazing! Fun!”

“???”

Uncle looked at Siha with eyes that said, ‘What kind of kid is this?’

Hmm. Siha won this time. The grudge of the apple pie returns like this.

“I can’t take it anymore!”

“???”

Uncle picked up the picnic bag and ran far away.

“I’m going to eat all of this by myself over there!”

“No!”

“Ehehehe.”

“Eung, eung!”

Siha couldn’t follow Uncle, who had gone too far, and stomped his feet in place.

I stretched and said to Uncle.

“Uncle! Bring it back quickly. Otherwise, I won’t let you into the hotel room!”

“Hey! That’s not fair!”

Saying that, Uncle trudged back with the picnic bag.

Seeing that, Siha put his hands on his hips and stuck out his stomach.

“That’s our Hyung!”

“Why are you so proud?”

Uncle had a dumbfounded expression.

It was a peaceful picnic.

***

I’m thinking about not going out today.

It’s drizzling outside.

I don’t want to go anywhere, but Siha seems to think differently.

“Hyung. It’s raining.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go out!”

We went out with an umbrella before when it rained.

I remember seeing Seo Soo-hyun’s frog umbrella then.

Was that when she started being called Frog Noona [older sister or female friend]?

“We don’t have an umbrella.”

“It’s okay! I like water!”

You don’t actually like the rain, you just like water, right?

I don’t know why kids like water so much.

Uncle is lying in bed, not wanting to go out either.

“Uncle. Get up. Get up. Let’s go out.”

“Ah. Why go out when it’s raining? You’ll catch a cold if you go out?”

“No. It’s okay. It’s raining a little.”

Uncle slightly raised his head and looked outside.

“Eh. It’s raining a lot.”

“No, it’s not?”

“That’s a lot.”

“Then what if it’s one drop?”

“That’s a lot!”

“Uncle! Get up! Get up!”

It’s a bit much to say it’s raining a lot when only one drop is falling.

Siha probably knew that Uncle was making excuses.

“Ah. If I take a firearm when it rains, it’ll be a pain to clean later.”

You were definitely planning on taking a firearm.

Uncle. Anyone would think we’re celebrities and someone is after us.

Real celebrities are walking around just fine, you’re overdoing it.

No, you’re just making excuses because you don’t want to go out, right?

“I hate rain. Why do you like rain?”

“Siha likes rain. The sound is fun.”

“Huh?”

“And it’s pretty.”

“Pretty?”

“Pretty.”

“Ugh.”

Uncle reluctantly got up.

He says let’s go out.

“We don’t have an umbrella.”

“In France, you don’t use an umbrella! You wear a raincoat.”

When I went outside, people were just getting rained on.

No. Is it okay to just get rained on with this amount of rain? It’s amazing because it’s a scene I can’t see in Korea.

There were some people wearing raincoats. But not many.

“Hyung. Rain.”

“Yeah. It is.”

People sometimes do things they haven’t done before when they come on vacation. Well, everyone here is getting rained on, so it doesn’t look that strange.

And I put on the slippers I brought.

Slippers can get wet. My clothes will get a little wet, though.

“Shall we go?”

“Yeah!”

Drizzling.

It’s quite nice to get rained on. Let’s not think about whether my hair will be okay.

Siha is also making splashing sounds as he walks, enjoying himself.

“Everyone is wearing hoodies.”

Quite a few people are wearing hoodies, knowing that the rain will only last for a short time.

They just put them on and walk without a care.

I’ve heard that people in Europe don’t use umbrellas often, but this is the first time I’ve come and seen it in person.

Has Dad seen this kind of scenery a lot?

“But why is Uncle using an umbrella?”

“Firearm protection. Firearm.”

“That darn firearm.”

Rather, Uncle, who is using an umbrella, looks out of place in this scenery.

It’s even a brand new black umbrella.

Did you come from some organization?

“Hyung. Look at this!”

“Yeah. What?”

Siha held out his wet hand.

What am I supposed to look at?

“Rain is playing the tambourine on Siha’s hand.”

“Pfft. It is.”

It’s playing the tambourine, tok tok.

Uncle held up the umbrella in front and said.

“My umbrella is playing the drums.”

“Drum what?”

“Haven’t you seen a band? They hit the drum here, doo doo doo, and clang! And hit it again.”

“Siha saw!”

Siha must have remembered the drums.

He repeats the word ‘drum’ and tries hard to memorize it.

“There are other people using umbrellas over there. There are a lot of drums.”

There were quite a few people using umbrellas when we came to a crowded space.

But there were also many who weren’t.

Siha sings a children’s song when he sees a lot of umbrellas.

“Drizzling~ Such an old lady~”

Siha. It’s ‘early in the morning’…….

“Three umbrellas, dear~ walking along~”

Three umbrellas side by side.

“Blue umbrella, black umbrella, torn umbrella~”

That was accurate this time.

“Chop! Ta-da! On the way to school~ Three umbrellas go~”

It’s ‘narrow’, but suddenly Siha is feeding me ‘chop’ with a ‘ta-da’.

“Foreheads, ouch! And walk along!”

You’re the only one who says ‘foreheads, ouch’…….

Uncle listened to Siha’s song and said.

“What kind of song is that?”

Uncle seems to be pondering the song with confused eyes.

Uncle. Those aren’t the real lyrics…….