Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 59

Am I Cute, Hyung? 59

On the way home.

I got in the car that Seung-jun’s mom was driving.

The kids were dozing off in the back seat.

“Thank you for the ride today.”

“No problem. We’re going the same way anyway, so it’s good to go together.”

“Thank you.”

Being in the car made me want to get one.

In the future, I’ll be traveling with Siha and taking him to elementary school by car often.

I couldn’t always hold his hand and walk.

‘Let’s see. How much money is in my account? And what about living expenses?’

While I was thinking that, Seung-jun’s mom said from beside me.

“Aren’t you thinking of buying a car, Si-hyuk?”

“Ah! I need to get one.”

“There’s a good place to buy used cars. Should I tell you about it?”

“I’ll think about it when I save up some money.”

“It’s easier to take the kids around when you have a car. You don’t have to rely on public transportation.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded.

First, there’s the steady income from translation and the short-term income from interpretation.

When I crunched the numbers, it didn’t seem easy.

“You should buy a good one if you’re going to buy one.”

“I was thinking it would be better to get one like that. Something that’s safe even in a car accident.”

I thought of my parents.

Maybe it wouldn’t have been easy to save my father in any car, but at least if it had been a good car, my stepmother might have lived.

Thinking about that, I wanted to buy a safe and sturdy car, even if it was expensive.

I clenched my fist slightly and looked ahead.

“I need to work hard to make money.”

“What kind of work do you do, Si-hyuk?”

“Translation and interpretation.”

“Ah! You do interpretation too? Wow. That’s amazing. It’s my first time meeting someone who does interpretation.”

“I just did it once.”

“Still, that one time is something. It all becomes experience.”

“Haha.”

Doing interpretation for Habiness Corporation must be one of my greatest experiences, right?

Maybe this one thing will lead to more work.

While we were talking, my phone rang.

Buzz buzz.

“I’ll take this call for a moment.”

“Okay.”

Looking at the screen, it was an international call.

Nicold from Habiness Corporation.

I didn’t know why he was calling, but I answered the phone.

「Yes. Nicold. What’s going on?」

「Si-hyuk. Long time no see. I just wanted to check in.」

「Yes? Haha. I’m doing well.」

「Actually, there’s a reason I called. I bragged quite a bit to my friend in the United States this time. I exaggerated my achievements.」

「Oh?! Really? You must have received a lot from Habiness Corporation.」

「Oh, it was huge. Anyway, my friend works in Germany, and it seems like he has to go to Korea this time. So he wanted an interpreter, and I recommended Si-hyuk.」

「I’m honored. But I have to go to university, so I can’t stay long?」

「You only need to do it on Friday. I heard you don’t have classes on Friday.」

「Ahem. Still…」

「Haha. You can refuse if you feel too burdened. My friend works for a company called Meltz.」

「Meltz?!」

I knew Meltz.

It was one of the most successful imported car brands in Korea.

I heard that its growth rate is high and its profits are quite good these days.

The reason for its popularity was due to a single piece of news.

「Is that the Meltz that saves many lives?」

「That’s the Meltz. Haha.」

「But I don’t speak German?」

「It’s okay. You only need to do simultaneous interpretation from English to Korean.」

「Hmm. If that’s the case, I think I can do it.」

「This time, we are planning to handle the motor show along with the appreciation event.」

「You’re participating in the Korea Motor Show?」

「Yes, that’s right. I think they’re planning to solidify their image this time.」

I know that only a few foreign companies participate in the Korea Motor Show.

If Meltz participates this time, it seems like it will be another good news story.

「Okay, I understand. Please let me know the email address, and I need to receive the materials in advance.」

「Yes. Haha, I’ll let him know. Talk to my friend later for more details.」

「I can’t do a sloppy job after being introduced like this.」

「They will probably pay the standard interpreter fee. There are no incentives this time. Well, if they like you, they might hire you as an interpreter at the motor show again.」

Usually, the interpretation fee is 600,000 to 800,000 won per day [approximately $450-$600 USD].

But since it’s Meltz, they might give me 800,000 won, right?

「Then I should work hard? Haha.」

If I work hard and help with the contract, they will add a little more.

I should specify this in the contract later.

You can’t rely on generous goodwill without a contract.

You’ll get a big surprise later.

「I should tell my friend to prepare to have his money taken away.」

「Tell him to prepare himself. He’s going to bring back a really good contract.」

We joked like that and ended the call.

Silence returned to the car.

The car stopped at a red light.

Seung-jun’s mom glanced at me.

“The saying that a working man is the most handsome seems like a lie. A man who is good at foreign languages is really cool, right?”

I gave an awkward smile and thanked her.

“I know why Hana likes Si-hyuk.”

“It’s just admiration.”

“That’s what kids that age are like.”

Seung-jun’s mom looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Is it that amazing?

“Um, the light is green?”

“Oh my! Look at my mind.”

Seung-jun’s mother. Are you okay?

The car slowly started moving again on the wide road.

I thought to myself.

‘Please drive safely.’

***

-The next day.

Siha and I took a walk for the first time in a while.

There’s no special reason.

Siha wanted to go outside.

If Siha wants something, I want to stop what I’m doing and listen to him.

As long as it’s not a crime.

“Huh? Siha. What are you looking at?”

“Ah, there.”

“Huh? Ah! A playground?”

Siha was staring at the playground, wanting to play there.

He played a lot yesterday, but he wants to play a lot today too.

There’s a playground in front of the daycare center, so he plays there every day, but it’s amazing that he doesn’t get tired of it.

“Hyung~”

“Okay. Let’s play at the playground. But this is all sand.”

It seems like it used to be all sand in the old days, but it’s hard to see these days.

Maybe it’s because I only go to places that aren’t like that.

“Siha. I need to teach you how to play with sand again.”

“Ah?”

“This requires preparation. Just a moment.”

I took Siha to a convenience store and bought a plastic bottle and wooden chopsticks.

“Ta-da!”

Siha had a look of not knowing what it was.

“First, I’ll teach you an easy game to play.”

“Ah.”

I took Siha and sat on the sand.

I gathered sand to make a mountain and stuck a wooden chopstick on top.

“Okay. This is a game where you scoop the sand up.”

I gently scooped up the sand.

The sand mountain was slightly broken by my hand.

Swish.

“The one who makes this chopstick fall loses.”

“Ah.”

“Got it? Now it’s Siha’s turn!”

“Ah.”

Siha dug out the sand with his small hands.

Swish.

He boldly dug into the inside where the chopstick was and took the sand.

“You’re better than I thought?”

“Ah. Hyung.”

“Okay. It’s Hyung’s turn.”

Why am I being so careful about this?

I gently grabbed a handful of sand with one hand and placed it next to it.

“Ah? Hyung. Two hands~”

“Ahem. This is also a technique.”

The world of competition is cold.

I need to show Siha a great technique today.

But Siha also used one hand.

He seems to be learning quickly.

Then I have no choice but to use an even more amazing technique.

I put my index finger on the sand mountain.

A high-level technique of dropping sand while gently scratching it.

I secretly stole a small amount of sand like that.

“Ah? Hyung. Hand.”

“Siha. This is also a technique.”

I felt a little guilty for being sneaky against my younger brother.

Ahem. I’m going to let you win, so don’t blame me.

I desperately made excuses in my mind to the surroundings where no one was watching.

“Ah.”

Siha also gently scratched the sand with his finger.

Siha’s hand stopped when the chopstick shook slightly.

Other people might not notice, but Siha had a very nervous expression right now.

There was a slight force in his eyes.

“Siha. Fighting!”

“Ah.”

Siha gently dug around and brought the sand to his side.

No, he’s already using that skill.

“Uh-huh. That’s not allowed. You have to touch this much.”

“No.”

“Yes, it is. It’s here.”

“No.”

He’s pretending not to know.

Hyung let you off the hook.

“Okay. I’ll pretend I didn’t see it this time. Then it’s Hyung’s turn, right?”

“Ah.”

I moved my hand boldly.

But the result ended with the chopstick falling.

“Ah, I lost!”

“Ah!”

Siha was happy that he won.

Siha is cute as always.

I didn’t regret losing.

Rather, it felt like I lost but won?

I’m happy if Siha is happy.

“Shall we do something else?”

“Ah?”

“Ta-da. I’m going to make a ball with this water.”

“Ball?”

“Yeah. I’m going to make a small egg [mud ball].”

“Egg?”

Making mud balls that I always made with my girlfriend in the first grade of elementary school.

I wonder if she’s doing well now?

It was so much fun even though we made it every day.

Once you fall for it, there’s no escaping its charm.

“Okay. You pour water on the sand here.”

The sand soaked in water became sticky.

“And you clench it tightly with your hands like this.”

“Ah.”

He clenched the sand with his small hands.

Then a child came up next to him.

“Huh?”

“Ah?”

He glanced at us and sat down and clenched the sand with his hands.

‘What is it? Does he want to play with us?’

I looked around to see if there were any parents around, and I could see some adults.

“Hey kid. Where’s your mom?”

The child glanced at me and shook his head.

So I asked where his dad was, and he shook his head again.

“Then what’s your name?”

“Jiho.”

A very small voice.

I thought he must be a timid child.

“Aren’t your parents worried?”

“I’m alone at this time.”

Is he a child who plays alone like this?

What are his parents doing to leave him alone like this?

Judging by his appearance, he looks about 6 or 7 years old.

But it’s still very young.

“Then do you want to play with us?”

“Yes.”

“Siha, is it okay with you too?”

“Ah. Hyung. This.”

Siha seems to want to make a mud ball quickly.

“Okay. Then make a ball like this.”

“Yes.”

“Ah.”

So the three of them worked hard to knead the sand.

After making the size of the ball fit in their hands, they covered it with sand that had not been watered on top.

As if coating it with frying powder.

“Okay. Then press it down again.”

“Ah.”

“Yes.”

It was fun to see them working hard as I told them to.

“Then let’s go to the place with soil under that tree.”

We went a little away from the playground to a place with soil.

“You mix the soil in here again.”

After doing that, I picked up a big stone and dug the floor.

“Finally, cover it with soil like this and find it later, and the ball will be made.”

Jiho asked me.

“Really?”

“Of course, really.”

“That’s amazing.”

In fact, I was just following the games I played when I was young.

I don’t know how the principle works.

But one thing is for sure, you don’t have to wait a day.

It was just so exciting and fun to wait a day and dig it up again back then.

‘Above all, this game doesn’t cost any money.’

I got up from my seat.

“Oh, my hands are so dirty.”

“Ah. Hyung.”

Siha shook his penguin bag.

He probably meant to use the tissue and wet wipes inside.

“Siha is smart.”

I opened Siha’s bag and wiped my hands with wet wipes.

“Okay. Throw the trash in this black bag.”

“Ah.”

“Yes.”

Siha worked hard to wipe his hands and threw them in the black bag.

Now that the weather is warm and I’m sweating, I wiped my face with wet wipes.

Jiho, who saw that, also wiped his face following Siha.

Looking at it like this, the two of them felt like young brothers.

If other people saw them, they would see them as brothers, right?

When they see Siha and me, everyone thinks we’re a young dad and a baby.

“Hyung.”

“Huh? Ahahaha. Why are you wiping your stomach?”

Siha raised his T-shirt and wiped his stomach.

Jiho, who saw that, also slightly raised his stomach and wiped it.

I hardened my face when I saw that.

Because I thought I saw a slight blue color on Jiho’s stomach.