Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 499

Hey, hyung, aren’t I cute? Hey, hyung, aren’t I cute? Extra – 74 Christmas Gift

[Lee Si-hyuk’s Parenting Diary]

I thought Si-ha was very confused by the fact that he had a biological father, but that wasn’t the case.

Si-ha was more concerned about his relationship with me.

To be honest, I took it for granted that Si-ha was my brother, so I didn’t pay attention to that part.

I was only thinking about the relationship between Bae Sang-hyun and Si-ha.

I was sorry for that.

To Si-ha, Bae Sang-hyun being his biological father wasn’t that important.

No. It was lower on the priority list.

He was just worried about what would happen to his relationship with me with that little head of his.

But nothing will change for us.

Now and in the future, the fact that I am Si-ha’s brother will never change.

Hugging Si-ha, who was crying at the funeral, I made a resolution.

That I will protect you.

Yes. Forever and always.

The next day, Si-ha spent more time acting spoiled.

He would hug me from behind while I was in the kitchen, and he would run up and hug me before going to school.

I felt sorry that I had made Si-ha that anxious.

And he seemed to be accepting the art teacher well.

It’s still awkward to call each other son or dad, but that’s something time will take care of.

[December 5th]

It was Si-ha’s birthday.

I struggled every year to decide what to get him, but this year was even more difficult.

It had only been about a month since that incident happened.

Si-ha seems fine, but I can’t help but worry about him.

Is this what it feels like to be a parent?

It seems like if something worries you, you keep worrying about it.

I think my father was like that too.

Reading his parenting diary, I could feel how much he cared about me, a child who was always conscious of others.

Anyway, I was thinking about a gift and decided to get him a four-wheeled bicycle.

I thought it would be fun for him to ride bikes and hang out with his friends.

Si-ha was really happy when I gave it to him.

Uncle gave him a newly released PlayStation as a gift, but Si-ha doesn’t play it much, only Uncle does.

Didn’t he actually buy it for himself?

Also, Bae Sang-hyun, after researching what kind of birthday present to give, handed Si-ha a large box with a solemn expression.

Si-ha smiled and received the box, shouting, “Thank you.”

And then, as if he was embarrassed, I heard him say in a small voice, “Dad.”

Bae Sang-hyun burst into tears at that word.

I also had a slight tear in my eye.

I thought there would never be another person that Si-ha would call Dad in his memory.

But it’s a relief.

That someone who is now called Dad has appeared in Si-ha’s memory.

Even as I write this diary, today’s events vividly come to mind.

I just hope he grows up well like this.

Really.

***

December, when the weather gets colder and people dress warmly.

Si-ha was staring blankly at the school blackboard, lost in thought.

Seung-joon saw Si-ha and poked his cheek.

“Si-ha, what are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing? What’s bothering you?”

“It’s almost Christmas.”

“Huh? Christmas is still quite a ways off, isn’t it? It’s only the 7th, so there are 18 days left. That’s a lot of time!”

“No, it’s not that much time left.”

Si-ha rested his chin on his hands.

Seung-joon put his hand on Si-ha’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m worried about what to give as a Christmas present.”

“I thought it was something serious. For Christmas presents, Santa Claus should be giving them to us.”

That was a perfectly natural thing to say.

Children only receive Christmas presents.

“I’m going to give a Christmas present to Hyung. I’m Santa.”

“Oh! That’s right. Should I give something to Mom and Dad Santa too?”

Seung-joon also started to worry.

Ha-na, who was behind them, offered an idea.

“Oppa [older brother], you can give a song as a present with me.”

“No, I don’t like song presents.”

“That’s because you don’t like it, but Mom and Dad like it.”

“Hey, a song present isn’t a real present. We should give them a soccer ball with a Christmas tree on it.”

“That’s even more useless, okay?”

The twins bickered.

Si-ha shook his head as he watched the twins.

Then, Yeon-ju tapped Si-ha’s shoulder.

“Yeon-ju, why?”

“Si-ha, you’re good at drawing, so why don’t you give a drawing as a present?”

“A drawing?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve given that before.”

“You can give it again now. How about this?”

“Huh?”

Yeon-ju showed a video on her phone.

A YouTuber comes out and greets the viewers.

Showing white shoes.

Maker shoes with nothing painted on them.

The shoes are quickly painted and a cool pair of shoes is completed.

Si-ha’s eyes lit up.

“What is this?”

“This? It’s called shoe customization, and an older sister I know wears them, and I thought they were really cool.”

“Wow.”

Si-ha’s eyes sparkled.

The pure white shoes were changing so beautifully.

“How do you do this?”

“Huh? I don’t know.”

“Hmm.”

Si-ha thought hard and then nodded.

“I think I can do it if I look it up.”

“Really?”

Yeon-ju’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. Really.”

“Awesome. Si-ha, can you do it for me later?”

“I’ll do it after I try it.”

“Okay.”

Si-ha opened his notebook and started writing down a plan.

[Christmas Present]

[Hyung, Uncle, Dad, Me – 4]

[Buy Shoes – Ask Alisa Nuna (older sister)]

[Paint Shoes – Ask Piano Painting Ajusshi (mister)]

[Everything is a Secret]

The plan was perfect.

But there was something bothering him.

How to make the shoes a secret from everyone.

He was always with Hyung, so he was bound to get caught no matter where he went.

“Woong.”

There was no way to not get caught.

“Can I make it without Hyung finding out?”

Seung-joon also thought about it together.

“Ah, I have a good idea. I’ll say let’s play soccer. Then, while Si-hyuk Hyung and I are playing soccer, Si-ha can quickly go and do it.”

Seung-joon’s eyes sparkled, saying it was a great idea.

Whether it would work or not.

“What about Uncle?”

“I’ll call Uncle out to play soccer too.”

“Uncle won’t play soccer. He’ll want to watch dramas. But he follows me wherever I go.”

It couldn’t be helped that Uncle would follow him to take care of Si-ha.

Ha-na said.

“Then I’ll sing a song and do a music broadcast, and Yeon-ju can act and broadcast a drama. It’ll be fun to show it in front of them.”

It was an absurd plan.

No one objected to this plan.

Except for one person.

“Hey, that’s ridiculous.”

Jong-soo shook his head when he heard that.

“Do you really think that’ll work?”

“Why? It might work.”

“That doesn’t work at all, okay?”

“Then what are you going to do, Jong-soo?”

“Me? Of course, I’d tell one person.”

“This is a secret, though?”

“That’s why if you just tell the art teacher, it’ll be easier.”

“I’m going to keep it a secret from the art teacher too.”

“Ugh. How are you going to do it if it’s all a secret? Are you going to do it at the taekwondo gym?”

“That’s not it.”

Si-ha grabbed his head and groaned.

It was definitely too difficult to keep it a secret.

Then Yoon-dong said.

“Why don’t you just ask the homeroom teacher?”

Si-ha’s eyes widened at that.

“That’s it!”

Eun-woo laughed at Si-ha’s words.

“Puhaha. That’s it. That. Puhaha.”

No one knew what was so funny, so they were puzzled.

Si-ha got up from his seat and left the classroom.

Seung-joon and Ha-na, and the other children, followed him.

Jong-soo shouted from behind.

“Hey! You don’t have to all go together!”

But everyone didn’t listen.

They were so excited that they ended up going to the faculty room together.

The homeroom teacher was flustered and nervous at the same time when she saw the children who had suddenly come to visit.

After all, it was the first time that all the children from Gangin Kindergarten had come together.

It was almost the end of the first grade, with the vacation ceremony just around the corner, and she didn’t expect them to come like this.

“Um, kids. What’s wrong?”

The homeroom teacher had a feeling that something was about to happen.

Si-ha was at the very front of the children.

“Teacher.”

“Yes. Yes, Si-ha. What do you want to say?”

“You have to kidnap me without Hyung or Uncle knowing.”

The teacher’s pupils trembled because she didn’t know what this meant.

“Kidnap?”

She was so flustered that honorifics came out automatically.

After all, wasn’t it too sudden?

Surely the teacher didn’t do anything that wrong to you?

The teacher didn’t intend to have her last year of first grade end with her going to jail, did she?

Si-ha smiled gently and nodded.

“Yes!”

Don’t say yes so brightly!

How is the teacher supposed to understand if you say that without any context?!?

The homeroom teacher was already exhausted.

***

The homeroom teacher finally heard the whole story.

It would have been nice if you had just said from the beginning that you wanted to do something secretly for a Christmas present!

She grabbed her throbbing head.

“So you’re saying I have to help you hide the secret?”

“Yes!”

“Um. That’s what you’re saying. Um. Then, would it work if we made an excuse with after-school classes?”

“Yes!”

“Can you do everything with that?”

“Um. I don’t know.”

“I think it’ll be difficult because there’s a limit to what the teacher can do.”

“Woom.”

“Ah! Then how about a field trip? Our class is all going together. Did the teacher say he was a painter? I’ll talk to him. How about it?”

“!!!”

“I have to talk to the school too, so I have to prepare this and that. I’ll try it first and tell Si-ha. It’ll probably work if you talk to each other well.”

“Yes!”

The homeroom teacher stroked Si-ha’s head because he was so cute.

“But Si-ha, you’re amazing. You’re even preparing Christmas presents yourself. Shoes must be expensive. Oh, right. Do you know the shoe sizes?”

“I know everything.”

“Oh, really?”

The homeroom teacher tilted her head.

She thought it was usually difficult to know even the shoe sizes.

“Teacher. Then I’ll ask you to do it.”

The other children said the same thing.

“We’ll ask you to do it!”

The homeroom teacher waved her hand at the children who opened the door and returned to the classroom.

But why did the friends come along?

Did they all come together to put pressure on her?

Eh. Surely not.

They probably just followed their friend because they were going.

It’s common for childhood friends to hang out together.

However, it couldn’t be helped that it was exhausting for the person welcoming them.

“Oh, right! Teacher will be going soon too, so tell them to prepare well!”

“Yes!”

Si-ha took out his phone from his pocket while answering.

He called Alisa Nuna, who was saved in his contacts.

The signal went.

“Hello.”

「Oh, Si-ha.」

“Alisa Nuna [older sister]. I have a favor to ask.”

「Huh? What is it?」

“I’m going to give presents to Hyung, Uncle, and the art teacher for Christmas, and I need white shoes. Nothing painted on them. I’m going to customize them.”

「Wow. Really? Si-ha, you know how to do that too?」

“No. It just looks similar to painting a piano, so I’m trying it.”

「Oh? Really? Well, it is similar to painting a piano.」

“Yeah. There’s also an airbrush there.”

Alisa was silent for a moment before opening her mouth.

「But do you have money?」

“Yeah! I have money. I have my wallet too.”

「Hahaha. Okay, Si-ha. Do I just need to get the shoes for you?」

“Yeah. If Nuna tells me the price later, I’ll give it to you.”

「Okay. Then when should I deliver them after I buy them?」

“I have to do it secretly from Hyung, so deliver them when school is over. I’ll put them in the locker here.”

「Oh. That’s really serious?」

“Yeah. I’m going to be Santa Claus and give presents.”

「But Si-ha isn’t a grandfather?」

“Then an elementary school Santa?”

「Puhup.」

Alisa burst out laughing.

Si-ha just tilted his head, not knowing why she was laughing.

「Hahaha. Okay. I’ll get them quickly and bring them to school.」

“Then I’ll give you the money when you come to school.”

「Okay.」

“Yeah. Thank you, Alisa Nuna.”

「Okay. Si-hyuk must be happy. Getting a present from Si-ha.」

“Hehe. Oh, right. I need one for myself too, so I need four pairs of shoes.”

「Okay. Don’t you do one for Nuna?」

“I’ll do one for Nuna next time. It’s hard to do four.”

「That can’t be helped. Okay. I’ll look forward to my birthday?」

“Yeah!”

Si-ha nodded, holding the phone that no one was watching.

He ended the call and put the phone in his pocket.

“Awesome. Everything is going smoothly now.”

Seung-joon said.

“Si-ha, if we go to the painting experience store, draw a picture on my shoes.”

Ha-na also raised her hand.

“Me too! Me too!”

Si-ha put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and stuck out his stomach.

A dignified pose.

“If I have time left, I’ll do it for you.”

Then Jong-soo said slyly.

“Me too.”

“Jong-soo, you’re too late.”

“Why?! Why only me!”

“First come, first served.”

Jong-soo’s face crumpled.