Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 432

Hyung, am I cute? Hyung, am I cute? Extra Story – Episode 7

Extra Story 7: Do I Qualify?

Usually, admission to private elementary schools is determined by a lottery system.

The lottery starts in November to select the children who will be admitted.

What’s important in private schools is the educational philosophy. It’s crucial for parents to understand the type of education their children will receive during their elementary school years.

Usually, mothers make this decision, driven by a desire to provide the best possible education for their children.

So, there’s an admissions briefing in October.

If you make a reservation in advance, you’ll receive a call to attend. There, mothers diligently gather information to inform their decisions, often relying on the school’s reputation and word-of-mouth.

Gangin Kindergarten children receive special consideration, unlike other children.

They have an almost guaranteed path to the elementary school.

Only if the parents and children want it.

Because they receive a special quota instead of going through the lottery, they can enter Gangin Private Elementary School if they choose.

The problem is that the tuition is expensive.

It’s about 1.5 million won [approximately $1,200 USD] per quarter.

There are special admissions, but there are no special provisions for admission costs.

After entering, talented children receive scholarships.

“Hmm.”

I am currently at the admissions briefing.

I heard about the various educational approaches of Gangin Elementary, including providing opportunities for various activities and building a practical foundation.

And there are also English classes, which seem to focus on conversation skills, aimed at developing global talent.

So, it’s beneficial for children who have already studied English.

That’s not a problem for our Siha.

He’s already having conversation classes with his uncle.

“Is he a very young dad?”

“I know. He looks like a college student, but he’s here at a thing like this.”

What I noticed while listening to the admissions briefing is that there are many mothers, and I am the object of curiosity.

In fact, the average age for marriage is quite late these days, around the early to mid-30s.

It can’t be helped. After serving in the military and graduating from college, you typically enter the workforce around 26 or 27.

Of course, if you take the civil service exam, you might be 28 or 29 in an instant.

Given that reality, it’s understandable that my presence at an elementary school admissions briefing at 27 seems unusual.

Considering Siha’s age, you’d have to become a father at 20 to be here.

Even I find it a bit strange.

“Oh? I think I’ve seen that person before?”

“He looks really familiar, doesn’t he?”

“Ah! Ah! Worker ant! Worker ant! The translator.”

Since there were many people, some recognized me.

Well, it’s not surprising, given how much buzz I’ve generated recently.

Still, it seems like more people don’t know me.

If you’re not interested in movies, you wouldn’t know. And I avoid public exposure as much as possible, so even fewer people would recognize me.

‘Gangin Elementary must be quite famous.’

I didn’t realize it because I went to Gangin University after taking the college entrance exam, but Gangin Elementary seems to be well-regarded, even among private schools.

I went to public school and didn’t pay attention to private schools, so I wasn’t aware.

Otherwise, there’s no way there would be so many people.

Fortunately, people are just curious and don’t approach me.

Of course, I need to focus on the admissions briefing now.

‘It seems like a really good school for Siha.’

It’s great because of the diverse programs.

It offers experiences you can’t get at private academies [after-school learning centers].

It definitely feels worth the expensive price.

‘I don’t regret spending money on Siha at all. Of course!’

Next to me, Seungjun’s mother is listening with shining eyes.

In fact, I’m listening to the admissions briefing with the mothers of Gangin Kindergarten, and everyone seems to be considering sending their children to Gangin Elementary.

‘Actually, more than the program, it seems good to let them go together because the kids are so close.’

Friends are really important.

Of course, making new friends is also important.

I’ve considered going to a place where he doesn’t know anyone and making new friends! But since he’s only entering the first grade, I’m worried he’ll be too anxious. That’s also true.

Even if they go to the same school, they won’t necessarily be in the same class.

In my experience, the more classes are mixed, the more time they spend playing with other friends.

So, it didn’t seem bad to go to the same elementary school with friends at first.

The program is also good.

‘Hmm.’

If I ask Siha, he will definitely want to go to the same elementary school with his friends.

The children are that close.

I wonder if they won’t get tired of seeing each other for another 6 years, but I don’t think they will.

They’re like family friends. They’ve slept and played together.

Moreover, Gangin Kindergarten doesn’t often have new children joining, so they tend to stick together even more.

We’ve had a few joint kindergarten events, and it was even more apparent when we faced an external enemy(?).

‘What’s more worrying is…….’

Siha’s father, Bae Sanghyun.

***

I hope Siha’s father will come to the upcoming kindergarten graduation ceremony.

That’s just what I think.

He hasn’t run into us since the day he met Siha. He hasn’t come to visit either.

He sometimes calls me and asks if Siha is doing well, but when I tell him to come, he says he doesn’t have the confidence to meet.

Well, Siha came to meet him that day, not Bae Sanghyun.

I wonder how this person will ever find the courage.

His guilt is too severe.

I thought he felt forgiven by Siha’s words, but it was only for that moment.

“Excuse me. Siha’s biological father.”

“Yes. Yes.”

“You’re coming to Siha’s kindergarten graduation ceremony, right? And the entrance ceremony.”

“That’s…….”

“When are you going to get closer?”

“I don’t have the qualifications.”

“I think I told you before that Siha is the one who gives you those qualifications, right?”

“…….”

When I say this, only silence returns.

This person probably thinks he doesn’t have the qualifications, as I said earlier.

But Siha is the one who decides that. Not you.

It’s not a certificate that someone gives you, so I wish he would stop talking about qualifications. Of course, I understand that he feels ashamed.

“I’m scared.”

“???”

“I think people’s emotions are transmitted. They are affected.”

“So?”

“When you look at the works of various artists, you get inspiration. People say, ‘This artist was influenced by this artist.'”

“Hmm.”

“The reason Siha is so bright is definitely because he’s been positively influenced by you. But I’m not. As you can see, I’m full of depression. So are my works. I’m so afraid that it will have a bad influence on the child.”

Was the qualification to meet not something someone gives, but something you give yourself?

He’s worried that he’ll have a bad influence on Siha, as if he’s a virus.

He’s worried that just being next to him will make things worse.

In the end, it’s a heart that worries about Siha. I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration, but that’s why I think there’s exaggeration and emphasis in art. He’s a delicate person. It feels somewhat extreme.

“If you think about Siha, you should meet him even more at such important times.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t have my mom at every graduation or entrance ceremony, but my dad came instead. Other friends were envious. Wow! I’m glad your dad came. Of course, I was envious of friends who had their moms.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But Siha doesn’t have a mom or dad right now. Of course, my uncle and I will go and congratulate him. But it’s always better to have more, so it would be nice to have a dad too. Even if he finds out later.”

“Ah…….”

“I know that people’s moods and emotions affect the people around them. But if it’s a congratulatory occasion full of joy, wouldn’t it remain a good memory? There, there will be more joy than gloomy feelings.”

“Sad feelings from parting with friends…….”

He’s sharp in these areas. No, why is he so good at catching only those feelings?

“Don’t worry. Everyone’s going to the same school.”

“Ah…….”

I don’t know if they’ll be in the same class, but the children have all but decided to go to Gangin Elementary.

Of course, I have to ask Siha.

After listening to the admissions briefing today, I don’t know what I’m doing.

“Do you still need excuses? Qualifications? When are you going to make them and come? As you know, no one will wait forever. When you miss the timing, it’s already too late.”

“That’s right…. I understand. If you let me know, I’ll 맞춰서 [match my schedule and] go too.”

“It’s okay before that. It’s okay to come as an art teacher.”

“I’ll think about that. But I’m a little worried that my sad colors will have a bad influence.”

“Oh, geez! Just try to create an opportunity! What if you suddenly say, ‘This person is your real dad!’! Would it be easy to accept?!”

“I’m sorry.”

I understand his heart, but this person is really frustrating.

But I can’t hate him because he shows that he’s worried and trying.

Because that worry is Siha’s worry.

“Anyway, think about it. No, just come as I tell you. Don’t worry. You’re the type who can’t make a choice if you worry. Art teacher, okay?”

“I, I’ll think about it…. G, give me just one day…. I’ll do anything…….”

No, when you say it like that, it sounds like I’m a loan shark trying to extort money!

It’s like saying, ‘Pay me back by tomorrow!’!

“I’ll think positively.”

“Okay.”

Well, it’ll be okay since he said he’ll be positive.

Well, it’ll work out somehow.

***

“Hyung~”

Siha hugs me tightly.

He’s 7 years old, but nothing has changed.

“Did you have fun today too?”

“Yeah! It was fun!”

If there’s anything that’s changed, it’s that his pronunciation has become more accurate. He’s also gotten better at talking.

Most of all, he doesn’t talk in the third person anymore.

Siha knows everything~ Siha likes this~ He doesn’t say things like that.

“I have something to tell you! I played a game today and I won? Are you curious what game it is? Hyung. Are you curious?”

“Yeah.”

Still, he still says ‘hyung-ah’ instead of ‘hyung’, so he’s definitely still a kid.

Talking about what happened today is something that hasn’t changed at all.

“But Siha. Hyung went to the Gangin Elementary School admissions briefing today. All the moms of Siha’s friends are trying to send them to Gangin Elementary, but what do you want to do? Do you want to go to another school?”

“No! I want to go to Gangin Elementary too!”

“Ah, I knew it.”

“I want to go with Seungjun, Hana, and Yeonju!”

I knew he wouldn’t want to be separated from his friends.

“But what is a private elementary school?”

“Ah. It’s a school that teaches various things and you have to pay money? An expensive school that you pay to attend?”

“Expensive? Should I pay?”

“No. Hyung can afford that much.”

“Hyung. I have a lot of money. I’m the richest in our house.”

“That’s true.”

Siha is the richest in our house.

Of course, my uncle is the richest, but I don’t know how much he has, so pass.

It’s not like the money earned from emoticons has just been left alone.

Of course, I left it alone, but when my uncle came, he asked why I wasn’t investing the money now, so he invested it in stocks.

I didn’t invest, but my uncle got information from somewhere and invested here and there, and the profits are pretty good now.

I don’t know how much profit Siha will make when he becomes an adult.

The money being circulated is quite large.

Well, I also have a certain amount of cash.

“Ah. Then let’s do that for Gangin Elementary. Would you like to learn something like art?”

“Huh? No. I’m really good at drawing? I don’t need to learn.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

What should I do? I told him to come without thinking when I was frustrated on the phone.

Our Siha. He’s good at drawing. Right.

Still, there must be endless things to learn, right?

I feel like sweat is dripping down my back for no reason. Oh, what should I do?! I didn’t expect him to refuse!

Siha has a lot of money to use the phrase, ‘It was too much money to refuse!’

I’m in big trouble.