Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 481

Extracurricular 56: Vacation (10)

The last day of vacation arrived.

Tomorrow was the first day of school. Siha would be happy to see his friends at school.

Of course, they met every day at the Taekwondo gym, but meeting at school was different.

They could talk more and be together.

He had spent a lot of time with me during the vacation, so when he went back to school, he would spend a lot of time with his friends.

Middle school, high school, and so on.

Would he grow distant from his parents depending on the time spent together? It felt like a time would come when friends would become more precious.

Of course, I only had one father, so that didn’t happen.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], today is the last day of vacation.”

Siha, in his pajamas, came to me in the morning and said this confidently.

As if it were a special day.

“Is there anything you want to do?”

“Yeah! Today, I’m not going to do anything and just play with Hyung.”

“That sounds good.”

If Siha thinks of today as a special day, I will try to think so too.

All I can do is 맞춰주는 것뿐이니까 [match myself to his mood/needs].

“But Siha, did you finish all your vacation homework?”

“No! I didn’t finish it all.”

“But you did a lot. Good job.”

I stroked Siha’s hair.

Siha’s vacation homework was self-determined, and it boasted a considerable amount.

Because he wrote that he would do it all.

But the vacation wasn’t long enough to do it all.

Well, the homework was just a record of what happened.

From the start, it was easy to solve by 풀고 학습지도 [solving practice problems and learning guides].

I could see other mothers struggling to make time for studying.

I saw it in the group chat.

A lament that they wanted to increase the number of pages to solve, but they couldn’t because the child might lose interest.

A boast that they were proud to have read a lot of English books.

Worry that their child was only interested in playing and not studying.

A mind of watching while saying, “They’ll just do it on their own.”

Seeing so many diverse talks 올라오는 것을 보니 [coming up] even though it was just a vacation, I thought that education was really 가지각색 [various/diverse].

Of course, I left Siha alone because he was really 알아서 하는 애 [a kid who does things on his own].

Maybe it was because he 인식해서 숙제가 아니라 하나의 놀이라고 [recognized it not as homework but as a game].

“Hyung. Next time, I’ll do as much as I can.”

“Hmm. Next time, let’s do everything Siha wants to do during vacation.”

“What I want to do?”

“Yeah. Things that Siha can have fun with. Things that you can enjoy. Things like that.”

“Umm. I have the most fun playing with Hyung?”

“Pfft. Then Hyung will have to think of something that Siha will enjoy.”

“I have fun even when I’m lying down with Hyung!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

I was a little touched.

He said he had fun just lying down.

I don’t really play with him well, but I don’t know what to do because he likes me so much.

“Then shall we just lie down today?”

“No.”

You said you have fun just lying down!

Apparently, he didn’t really mean just lying down.

Actually, I knew that.

“Then how about this?”

“What?”

“Let’s play the 10,000 won [approximately $8 USD] happiness game today.”

“10,000 won happiness?”

“When Hyung was young, there was a program like that. Living with 10,000 won.”

“10,000 won! Then if we just stay home, we won’t use 10,000 won and it will be left over.”

“No. We’ll calculate the food costs even for eating at home.”

“!!!”

“That’s the game.”

“10,000 won is so precious.”

“Yeah. 10,000 won is precious. Then let’s start now.”

“Okay.”

Siha ran out of the room in his pajamas.

I followed him wherever he went, and he went straight into Uncle’s room.

He climbed onto the bed and 깨웠다 삼촌을 두들겨 [woke up uncle by tapping/knocking].

“Uncle. Uncle. Wake up.”

“Haaam. What is it?”

“Uncle. Uncle. Let’s play the 10,000 won happiness game today.”

“Huh? What’s that?”

“Today, we’re living with only 10,000 won.”

“Why would we do that.”

Uncle 머리 위로 뒤집어썼다 이불을 [pulled the blanket over his head] as if it didn’t make sense.

Siha didn’t give up and 들췄다 이불을 [pulled the blanket off].

“Uncle. Wake up quickly.”

“It’s 7 o’clock now?”

“It’s time to wake up.”

“Haaam. You’re really not letting me sleep.”

“Hurry up, Uncle, let’s do it too.”

“Why would we do that.”

“Because today is my last day of vacation.”

“What does that have to do with playing a game.”

“Because it’s the last day, you have to play with me.”

“…….”

Uncle lost his words.

I joined in on Siha’s words.

“Uncle. Let’s play together today. Since there are three of us, let’s spend 10,000 won each to 때우는 거예요 아침, 점심, 저녁을 [cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner].”

“Why would we do this…….”

“It’s good to develop a sense of money.”

“That would be good for Siha!”

That’s true. But what if we put up a prize?

“What if the person who saves the most money wins a prize?”

“What is it?”

It seemed like Uncle was interested here.

“Buy whatever you want. Without complaining while buying it!”

“Oho.”

Uncle has quite a few items that I 저지당한 [prevented/stopped] by me.

One of them is to be bought.

“Okay. I didn’t really want to do it. Okay. Call [deal].”

Anyway, even if he refused, it was 강제 참가 [forced participation] so there was no choice.

I naturally gave 10,000 won to both of them.

“This is the money you can use today. Water is free, but the food at home has a price. We’ll calculate it at market price.”

Uncle grumbled.

“No. How much have prices gone up now? 10,000 won is not enough. You have to give me 20,000 won.”

“There’s no such thing.”

Siha was happy that he had 10,000 won.

He even 팔랑팔랑 흔들기 [fluttered/waved] it.

“I have 10,000 won!”

That’s the problem with people who don’t have a sense of money.

Eating three meals with 10,000 won.

Of course, you can solve 3 meals with ramen, but you can’t eat delicious food.

That’s the problem.

This is where spending habits will be revealed.

First, I calculated three meals.

I’ll solve breakfast and lunch for about 2,000 won, and eat a 푸짐하게 [hearty/generous] dinner for at least 8,000 won.

I’m the type to save delicious things.

But I don’t want to save too much because I want to win.

“Then let’s all have breakfast. Order whatever you want to eat.”

Uncle is 어이없어한다 [speechless/dumbfounded] hearing those words.

“You can’t even buy chicken with 10,000 won!”

“Market chicken is possible.”

“Not that! Hmm. I’m skipping breakfast! I’m going to sleep now.”

Uncle.

He chose to skip breakfast and 버티기를 자면서 [endure by sleeping].

Then how will Lee Siha come out?

“I’ll eat the same thing as Hyung!”

Did he choose to copy?

As expected, Lee Siha. Not a bad choice.

“Then shall we have breakfast?”

“Yeah!”

First, I 퍼 밥을 [scooped rice].

Uncle was 바라보고 있었다 의심스러운 눈으로 [looking with suspicious eyes].

“Why?”

“No. I’m seeing how much the price will be.”

“Today is 계란프라이에 밥이에요 [rice with fried egg]. And a few pieces of kimchi. The price is 1,000 won.”

“You’re measuring it so cheaply?”

“햇반 하나에 600원 정도 하니까요 [because one ‘햇반’ (pre-packaged rice) costs about 600 won]. This is made of rice, so it’s even cheaper. So if you combine one egg and kimchi, it’s roughly 1,000 won.”

“Hmm. That makes sense? Should I eat too?”

Uncle 고민하더니 심각하게 저었다 고개를 [thought about it and shook his head seriously].

“No. I’m skipping breakfast!”

Uncle said that and went into the room.

The door closed.

Well, I could imagine the inside.

He’ll be lying on the bed and 잠을 청하겠지 부스럭대며 이불을 [trying to sleep while rustling the blanket].

“Hyung. Is it egg on rice?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

The meal was quickly 차렸다 [prepared].

It wasn’t 자린고비 [miserly] and breakfast was 부실하기 그지없었다 [extremely poor].

“잘 먹겠습니다! [I will eat well!]”

Siha 부숴서 계란을 밥 위에 밥이랑 비벼 먹었다 [crushed the egg on top of the rice and mixed it with the rice].

The yolk 터져서 맛있게 보이기는 했다 [burst and looked delicious].

Rice, kimchi, and eggs.

It’s not a bad meal, but it was clear that it wouldn’t be filling.

“I ate it all.”

“I see.”

Before I knew it, one bowl was 싹싹 비어 있었다 [completely empty].

“Hyung. I only have 9,000 won left.”

“Yeah.”

“If I go to a cafe, I’ll have 4,000 won left. No. I’ll have 3,000 won left.”

“I see.”

“Cafe is expensive.”

Siha realized that cafes are expensive.

Yeah. Originally, drinks and desserts are more expensive. Haha.

“If you earn a lot of money, it’s not that expensive.”

“That’s right. It’s because I only have 10,000 won now.”

“That’s right.”

It’s inevitable that spending patterns change as much as you earn.

Of course, there are people who don’t bother to buy it depending on their preference.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“If I earn money with this, I can use it for that.”

“???”

He’s a genius?

How did he think of that?

Is it the power of investor Uncle’s education?

Come to think of it, old programs also used this method.

Or 캐오거나 식재료를 스스로 [dig up or get the ingredients themselves].

I 넣으며 설거지통에 그릇을 물었다 시하에게 [asked Siha while putting the dishes in the dishwashing tub].

“What are you going to earn with?”

“I’m going to buy paper and crayons and draw pictures. 연필같이 생긴 색연필 [pencil-like crayons].”

“Ah. Caricature?”

“Yeah!”

But it was still hot weather to say that summer was over.

Who would ask for a caricature outside?

I was a little negative about that answer.

“Hyung. Let’s go buy it quickly.”

“Huh? Okay. Okay.”

First, I took Siha and bought crayons and paper.

4,000 won 빠져나갔다 [went out/was spent].

Siha had 5,000 won left.

But it was good to buy it, but I came back home again.

“Weren’t you going to 장사하는 거 밖에서 [do business outside]?”

“No. I’m going to draw a picture and ask them to buy it.”

“Huh? Weren’t you going to do a caricature?”

“Yeah. I’m going to do a caricature.”

“???”

I wondered if it was different from the caricature I was thinking of.

Siha didn’t care about my reaction and 들고 색연필을 그림을 그렸다 [held the crayons and drew a picture].

선이 완성돼 간다 순식간에 [the lines were being completed in an instant].

You couldn’t erase it like drawing on a tablet.

Face shape. Long hair, so it’s a woman.

Pretty eyes and lips were drawn.

I knew who it was at once seeing that.

It was Seo Su-hyeon. Siha was drawing Seo Su-hyeon.

‘미리 그려두고 사달라고 하려는 거구나 [He’s planning to draw it in advance and ask her to buy it].’

Isn’t this 강매 [forced sale]?

I thought so, but Seo Su-hyeon, who likes Siha, had no choice but to buy it.

흑 [sob]. 지인 찬스라니 [It’s a friend perk].

He 잘 잡았다 판매 타겟팅을 [caught the sales targeting well].

Siha also drew the body and clothes.

Seo Su-hyeon’s 개구리가 트레이드 마크인 머리에 핀으로 그려져 있었다 [frog, which is her trademark, was drawn as a pin on her head].

The clothes worn at the cafe are 순식간에 색감이 더해진다 [the colors are added in an instant].

The lips are red and the cheeks are pink.

The picture was being completed cutely as the color was added.

“I’m done!”

“Wow. 대박 [amazing/jackpot].”

“I have to draw one more.”

“Who?”

“It’s a secret!”

Siha showed a pose of 쉿 들어서 검지를 [shush, raising his index finger].

There’s no point in keeping it a secret when you’re showing me how to draw it like this, right?

That’s what I thought.

***

Siha and I appeared at the cafe.

Seo Su-hyeon 미소를 보냈다 싱긋 [sent a bright smile] seeing us.

She 흔들며 손을 반갑게 Siha를 보았다 [waved her hand and looked at Siha happily].

“Siha. What do you want to drink?”

“혀니 누나 [Hyeon-ie Nuna – term of endearment for an older sister-like figure]. I can’t drink because I don’t have money.”

“Huh? Siha doesn’t have money? Should I buy it for you?”

“No. Then it’s cheating in today’s game. Siha’s money 빠져나가 [will be spent].”

“Game?”

Seo Su-hyeon 바라보았다 나를 [looked at me].

It was a look that demanded an explanation.

“We’re playing the 10,000 won happiness game today. I have to live with 10,000 won.”

“Ah. That. I haven’t heard that in a long time. Then why did you come to the cafe today when you can’t even buy it?”

“Siha said he has something to sell to you.”

“Oh!”

Seo Su-hyeon looked at Siha.

Siha 꺼냈다 짜잔 하고 그림을 품에서 [took out the picture from his chest with a flourish].

“Wow. Is this me?”

“Yeah. I drew this, and I’m going to sell it to you.”

“Oh. 대박 [amazing/jackpot]. How much is it?”

“Give me the price that Nuna likes.”

“Oh.”

Seo Su-hyeon 고민을 했다 whether she didn’t expect to hear these words [was troubled, as if she didn’t expect to hear these words].

Siha didn’t intend it, but it’s quite 고단수 [high-level/advanced].

I had no choice but to worry about how much to give.

If you give too little, it seems like you’re 평가 절하 something [devaluing something], and if you give too much, you’re worried that it’s too much.

Even the quality of the picture Siha drew was good.

“Okay. It’s 10,000 won happiness, so I’ll give you 10,000 won.”

“Wow!”

Siha 지었다 미소를 가진 것만 같은 다 [wore a smile as if he had everything].

Seo Su-hyeon 웃으며 그림을 받고 꺼내 시하에게 넘겨주었다 만 원을 지갑에서 [smiled, took the picture, and took out 10,000 won from her wallet and handed it to Siha].

Lee Siha. Current holdings: 15,000 won.

Currently number one.

“Oppa [older brother or close male friend], don’t you have anything to sell?”

Seo Su-hyeon’s 표정이었다 뭔가 기대하는 [expression was expecting something].

I was a little embarrassed.

No. Should I have prepared something with my current holdings of 9,000 won?

Seo Su-hyeon 내밀었다 지갑을 [held out her wallet].

“I’ll buy it for you!”

“Hmm.”

I 긁적였다 볼을 [scratched my cheek].

Even if I said that, I didn’t have anything prepared.

살며시 주머니를 뒤적거리다가 꺼냈다 손가락 하트를 [I gently rummaged through my pocket and took out a finger heart].

“Wouldn’t this work?”

I 괜히 쑥스러워서 귓가가 뜨거워졌다 [was embarrassed for no reason, and my ears became hot].

“Oppa…….”

Was this a bit 아니었나 역시 [not it after all]?

“Can I give it to you with a card?”

Seo Su-hyeon 꺼냈다 카드를 지갑에서 [took out a card from her wallet].

I 웃었다 듯이 황당하다는 [smiled as if dumbfounded].

된다고 이걸로?! [That works with this?!]