Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 474

Outer Story 49: Vacation (3)

Seo Su-hyeon was enjoying a long-awaited rest on her bed.

She wanted to go on a date with Si-hyeok on days like this, but coordinating their schedules was always difficult.

Still, the thought of meeting him briefly today to chat before parting ways made her feel a little excited.

Strangely, the fewer times they met, the more longing she felt, making their connection feel more precious.

She really wanted to set a date and go on a trip with him.

‘Staying overnight….’

Seo Su-hyeon’s face turned red as she imagined what would follow, and she punched her pillow on the bed.

‘I’m an adult, so it’s okay to have these thoughts!’

Punch, punch.

She was scolding the innocent pillow, not even knowing who she was justifying herself to.

Just then, her phone rang.

It was Si-hyeok.

‘Push and pull is important, they said.’

Seo Su-hyeon had been told off by her friends for always being the one to initiate and never pushing back.

She had occasionally received advice that push and pull [a dating strategy of showing interest and then withdrawing to create attraction] was important.

This time, she would let the phone ring longer.

1 second. 2 seconds. 3 seconds.

Oh, but what if Oppa [an honorific term for an older brother or male friend] is disappointed that I’m not answering quickly? Of course, he’s not that kind of person, but… what if he thinks my love has cooled down?

4 seconds. 5 seconds.

Oh, no, I can’t!

Seo Su-hyeon hurriedly answered the phone.

“Oppa?”

「Yeah. Can you talk?」

“Totally.”

「Hahaha.」

So much for push and pull; she was answering immediately.

‘I think I really like Oppa a lot.’

Otherwise, there’s no way I would blurt out such an answer.

She was wagging her tail as if she had been waiting for the call.

‘What push and pull?’

He’s busy enough as it is; I should answer when I have the chance.

Seo Su-hyeon got out of bed and walked to her desk.

Just then, Si-hyeok said,

「Hey, do you want to go to a water park with us? There’s a hot spring and a hotel there too.」

Thump, thump.

Seo Su-hyeon was so surprised that she dropped her phone.

It fell under the desk, and she bumped her head while trying to pick it up.

“Ouch.”

「Hey, Su-hyeon. Are you okay?」

Seo Su-hyeon calmed her racing heart and put the phone back to her ear.

“I’m okay. I just dropped my phone.”

「Be careful.」

“So, um, does that mean we’re staying overnight?”

「Yeah. We should stay overnight. Soaking in the hot spring will make us relaxed.」

“Gasp.”

Seo Su-hyeon covered her mouth with her hand.

‘Si-hyeon…. Su-hyeok…. Ah. This is going too far.’

Seo Su-hyeon, who had briefly envisioned her future children, snapped back to reality.

The fantasy of wanting to go on a trip together had become a reality, and she felt incredibly disoriented.

Right. Reality. Since it’s reality, of course, Si-ha will come too. There’s no way Oppa would leave Si-ha behind.

“You mean you’re going to the water park with Si-ha during summer vacation?”

「Yeah. We’re going to hang out this time. Uncle, Si-ha, and maybe Seung-joon and Hana? Their family might come too.」

I knew it.

I had a nice dream for a moment.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t disappointed, but she thought that Si-hyeok suggesting this meant he wanted to spend at least a little time with her.

“Okay. I’ll go with you.”

「Really?」

“Yes. I want to play with Si-ha too.”

「What about me?」

“Huh?”

Seo Su-hyeon’s mind went blank for a moment at Si-hyeok’s sudden question.

「What about me?」

“Of, of course, I want to be with Oppa too.”

「Me too.」

It’s not fair to do this so suddenly!

Seo Su-hyeon sat on the chair, unable to move, and averted her eyes.

「So, how should we book the rooms?」

“Shouldn’t we just get a room for three?”

「I saw they have rooms for four too, with two singles and a king-size bed. If you’re okay with it, do you want to share? If you’re uncomfortable, we can get separate rooms. But I guess you’d be uncomfortable. Since Uncle is there too.」

“Um, I’ll get a separate room.”

「Okay. Separate it is.」

Honestly, she had dreamed of lying next to Si-hyeok on a king-size bed, but she gave up on that idea since Si-ha would obviously be sleeping with Si-hyeok.

Still, she was a little excited.

「Let’s make time to have a drink together later. There’s a bar downstairs in the hotel.」

“Okay. Sounds good.”

She was quite excited.

Seo Su-hyeon’s heart was swayed back and forth by a single phone call.

「Then I’ll see you later.」

“Yes. See you.”

The call ended.

Seo Su-hyeon went back to her bed and hugged her pillow.

She tossed and turned, then looked at the ceiling, thinking about the call she had just had.

“But Oppa… I think he’s good at push and pull….”

He makes my heart go up and down.

Though it probably wasn’t intentional.

There was also the issue that her emotions were easily swayed by Si-hyeok’s words.

“Ah, whatever.”

Seo Su-hyeon just buried her face in the pillow.

***

Time passed, and summer vacation arrived.

The teachers gave the children instructions, telling them to have a good vacation.

Of course, there were also children who came to school during vacation.

In any case, summer vacation had begun, and the day to go on a trip with Si-ha had arrived.

It was the day to go to the water park.

The hot sun was blazing. The heat announced that it was summer, making everyone sweat.

Honestly, I don’t really like summer. It makes my body sluggish and makes it hard to concentrate on work.

Even if I work in a cool place like a cafe, I still feel drained in the summer.

Korea is humid and hot, so it feels even more sticky and uncomfortable.

“Si-ha, you need to put on sunscreen.”

“Okay.”

You need to apply sunscreen well, especially in the summer.

“You didn’t forget we’re going to the water park today, did you?”

“Nope! I already packed all my stuff.”

“You probably don’t need that much stuff, do you?”

At most, you’d pack a swimsuit, pajamas, and underwear.

“I need to bring my tablet too.”

“Are you going to draw there?”

“Yeah. I have to do my vacation homework. I’m going to draw something good.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. Our Si-ha.”

She’s doing her vacation homework even when she’s going to play.

But I felt like she would just fall asleep after playing all day. I wonder if she’ll be able to draw.

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who thought that; Uncle seemed to think so too.

“Hey. Why are you doing your vacation homework even when you go there? Just leave it behind. You’re going to play all night, what homework?”

“Uncle. Even if I draw a little, I’ve done it.”

“If that’s the case, just leave it behind. It’ll just make your bag heavier.”

“No, it’s light.”

“Carrying that around in your bag will make it heavy.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Si-ha shook the bag on her back up and down, saying it was okay.

“It’s okay now. Ugh.”

“Uncle, you’re going by car anyway. We’ll put the bag in the hotel.”

“That’s true. Do whatever you want.”

Well, it’s easier to carry less luggage.

It’s also easier to clean up when you get home.

Still, Si-ha always brought her tablet when she traveled, so I didn’t say anything.

She actually drew pictures too.

I don’t know if she will this time.

“Let’s go now. We have to pick up Su-hyeon on the way.”

“Is Hyeong-ie Nuna [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend] riding with us too?”

“Yeah. She’s riding with us. Oh, right. And the art teacher is coming today too.”

“Wow. That’ll be fun.”

Si-ha might be a little uncomfortable, but I’m planning on having her sleep in a 4-person room today.

I asked Seo Su-hyeon first, but she refused because she was uncomfortable because of Uncle. I thought this was right too.

I refused to let Bae Sang-hyeon share a room, but I pushed it through.

It takes effort to get close anyway, but if we’re even closer, we can become closer.

I wanted Si-ha to have fun, and I also wanted to have some time to get closer to Bae Sang-hyeon.

Getting close isn’t something that happens in one day, but if we build up like this, we’ll get much closer someday.

“Then let’s go.”

We got in the car and left.

We picked up Seo Su-hyeon in the middle and headed to the water park.

Was it because it was a long-awaited trip?

The ride was strangely exciting.

“Hyeong-ie Nuna. Should I play a song?”

“Huh? A song?”

Seo Su-hyeon and Si-ha sat in the back seat and talked.

“What songs do you like these days, Si-ha?”

“I like everything Hyeong listens to. These days, Hyeong listens to all the songs Hyeong-ie Nuna sang.”

“Oh? Oh? Really?”

I could hear Seo Su-hyeon’s flustered voice.

I was also a little surprised inside.

I didn’t think Si-ha would bring up that story so casually.

I couldn’t help but glance at the back seat.

A strange shyness spread from my heart to the fingertips holding the steering wheel.

Seo Su-hyeon said.

“How often do you listen to it?”

“Every day. I listen to it a lot in the car. I listen to it when I go to school in the morning and when I go somewhere in the car later.”

Si-ha. Stop it. Let Hyeong drive.

I felt like my fingers were curling up.

Uncle, who was in the passenger seat, whistled.

“Si-hyeok. It’s so hot because it’s summer.”

“Yeah, it is. Should I turn up the air conditioner?”

“This, this. I don’t think the air conditioner will solve it?”

Uncle smirked and teased me.

Well, I would have taken it like that in the old days, but now I’m too old to just let it go.

I looked around.

“Let’s see. Where can I park the car?”

“Why the car?”

“Uncle, you can walk to the water park, right?”

“Hey. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

“Call a taxi and come.”

“I said I was wrong.”

“I’ll forgive you just this once.”

“Let’s listen to music. Music. I have an amazing song these days.”

Uncle took out his phone and changed the subject.

Music flowed from the phone.

Seo Su-hyeon reacted to the music.

“Oh? Isn’t that a drama OST [Original Soundtrack]?”

“Hahaha. I started to like it after listening to it.”

“Really? I like it too. I think there are a lot of really good songs in drama OSTs. It’s easy to get immersed.”

“That’s right. That’s right.”

But there was someone who didn’t like it.

It was Lee Si-ha.

“Uncle. Another drama?”

“Why? The song is good.”

“The song is good, but I’m a little tired of Uncle watching dramas so much.”

“You’ve been singing the same song over and over again, so what are you tired of listening to this much?”

“Uncle. At this point, shouldn’t you stop watching dramas and just film one? Should I tell Director Go?”

“No. That person is a movie director.”

“Uncle. Originally, the director is friends with other directors.”

“Smart, aren’t you?”

Seo Su-hyeon burst out laughing at such a noisy story.

The ride wasn’t boring.

Well, after having such a flower of a story, we arrived at the water park before we knew it.

“Okay. We’re here.”

We got out of the car and unloaded our luggage at the hotel we had booked in advance.

I sent a text to Bae Sang-hyeon to ask when he would arrive, and it seemed like he would arrive soon.

I thought it would be better to wait a little and go together.

Seung-joon and Hana said they had arrived now, so we’ll see them at the water park.

I just took a quick look around, but I didn’t see any young people.

Since it’s a children’s water park, it’s not really a place for young people to play.

Still, it’s not like there aren’t any facilities for adults, so it seemed pretty good.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes. Am I too late?”

“No. We just checked in and came now.”

Bae Sang-hyeon arrived.

“Si-ha. Hello.”

“Art Teacher. Hello.”

“Haha. Yeah.”

“Let’s have fun today. I also brought my tablet. I’m going to draw too.”

“Really? You’re going to draw too?”

“Yes!”

I don’t know why her eyes are sparkling more at the story of drawing than playing at the water park.

Is that Si-ha’s biological father over there? Now is the time to focus on playing with her at the water park?!

I was secretly worried.

I sneaked up and whispered in his ear.

“You can play with her well today, right?”

“Of course. I’ve done all the research.”

“Research?”

Why do you even need to research to play with her?

I’m a little uneasy.

Bae Sang-hyeon scratched his neck and said.

“Actually, I came here once in advance and observed.”

“Yes?”

“How the children play. How the other parents play with them. I watched that all day.”

“That much?”

“Since I’m an artist, I can’t help but observe well, so it was okay even if I stayed for a long time.”

“No. I wasn’t talking about staying for a long time, but I didn’t know you would even do a preliminary field trip.”

“I have to try too.”

I didn’t know he would try this hard.

Even though he was clumsy, it was nice to see him trying to get close to Si-ha.

So I end up cheering him on.

“I’m looking forward to today.”

“Yes. I don’t know if I can throw the kids in the water.”

“Yes? Why are you throwing them in the water?”

“Well. Other fathers were doing that?”

“That’s dangerous.”

“Oh. I see. My wife did slap me on the shoulder. Was it because of that?”

“Just play with them normally with water splashes.”

I’m glad I asked.

I need to block the chance of getting slapped on the back in advance.

Well, he said he watched it all day, so there must have been fathers like that.

“The kids liked it…….”

“It’s dangerous, so no.”

Of course, kids who enjoy thrills like it…….

Anyway, dangerous things are blocked.