Chapter 10: The Price of Cute

Ten days of school flew by, and spring break had arrived.

As usual, I ate breakfast at Ji-eun’s and returned home.

Lately, Ji-eun had been spending time at my place.

She was lying on the floor, drawing in her sketchbook.

“Why are you so comfortably at home in my place?”
“Because I thought you’d be bored, Oppa~ I’ll keep you company!”
“I’m about to go to the bookstore to buy some workbooks.”

Ji-eun stopped drawing at my words.

“I want to go too-!”
“Why? Is there something you want to buy?”
“I need to buy school supplies! I was going to go with Grandpa, but he has to sleep after work, so I want to go with you!”
“Hmm, should we? What about your school bag and things?”
“Grandpa said we’ll go together for those later.”
“Okay. Then get dressed, and we’ll go to the bookstore.”
“Yay~ I’ll be right back~”

Ji-eun jumped up and ran back home.

I put on my jumper from the hanger and grabbed my wallet.

Ji-eun and Grandpa were waiting for me in front of their door when I put on my shoes.

“Grandpa, I’m going to the bookstore with Oppa!”
“Okay. But don’t bother Oppa too much. I’m so grateful, I should be going with you.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m going to buy things for myself anyway.”
“Alright. Be careful. I gave Ji-eun some money, so buy some food on your way back.”
“We will if we have time. We’ll see you later. Hey, let’s go.”
“Okay! Hold my hand so I don’t get lost!”

Ji-eun smiled brightly and held out her hand.

I reluctantly took her hand and we went down the stairs.

“Grandpa, we’ll be back~”
“Okay, have fun~”

Ji-eun followed me with a very excited expression.

“What are you so happy about?”
“I’m happy because I’m going to the bookstore with Oppa!”
“Why is that so great?”
“Mmm-! I don’t know!”

She answered confidently, but she definitely seemed happy.

Matching Ji-eun’s pace as we walked to the bookstore made us a bit late.

I found myself double-checking for cars even when crossing at a green light.

“Be careful crossing the street when you go to school, okay?”
“I know! I just have to raise my hand like this.”
“Still, always look both ways before crossing. Okay? Some people cross even when the light is red.”
“Okay. You’re so thoughtful.”
“Hehe.”

I brought Ji-eun, who was smiling brightly, to the large bookstore in our neighborhood.

As soon as we entered the quiet bookstore, Ji-eun whispered,

“Oppa… it’s so quiet here.”
“It’s a bookstore. Let’s get my books first and then go look at school supplies.”
“Okay…!”

I went to the high school section and looked at some workbooks.

I first checked the price tags on the back and chose a few inexpensive ones.

As I was deciding which one to buy, Ji-eun spoke.

“Oppa, what are you doing?”
“Trying to decide what to buy.”
“Should I pick one for you…?!”

Well… it didn’t really matter.

“Then choose one of these three.”
“Hmm… I think this one is good!”

Ji-eun chose the one on the far right.

“Why?”
“I like the color.”
“Okay. Let’s go with this one.”

In the end, I bought the workbook Ji-eun chose.

We went straight to the stationery store next to the bookstore and looked at school supplies for Ji-eun.

“What did your teacher tell you to buy for school?”
“Pens, a notebook, and a journal.”
“Then should we look at pencils first?”
“Yes!”

Ji-eun and I stared at the pencils on display.

There were various kinds, including character pencils and plain yellow pencils.

“Is there anything you want? Choose one yourself.”
“I want this one! The yellow pencil!”
“You can get a cute one. Isn’t that one too plain?”
“Hmm… no. I like this one. I want this.”
“Why? There’s this cute chick pencil too.”

Ji-eun examined the chick pencil carefully and then put it back.

“No. I want this one~”

I wondered what was bothering her when I saw the price tags on the display.

A dozen plain pencils cost 1,000 won, but half a dozen character pencils also cost 1,000 won.

It bothered me that an eight-year-old was worried about money. It was heartwarming but also heartbreaking.

I wasn’t sure what to do. Praising her for it felt wrong…

“Oppa, let’s go look at erasers-!”
“Oh, okay.”

We went to the eraser section. Ji-eun picked up a plain, inexpensive eraser again.

I knelt down to be at her eye level.

“Ji-eun.”
“Yes, Oppa?”
“Don’t you want a cute pencil?”
“This one is fine.”
“Just be honest.”

After a moment of hesitation, Ji-eun spoke.

“But that one is expensive.”

I didn’t know what to say.

I thought carefully and then spoke cautiously, trying not to hurt her feelings.

“Ji-eun, it’s very thoughtful of you to want to buy the cheaper pencil. Being careful with money is a good thing. But it’s also a very happy thing to buy something you really want. You can’t always do it, but sometimes it’s okay to get what you want. So—”

I wasn’t sure if I’d conveyed my message properly.

I looked into Ji-eun’s eyes and asked slowly,

“Do you want the chick pencil?”

Ji-eun thought for a moment and then nodded shyly.

“Yes…!”
“Then let’s go back and choose a pencil.”

I patted her head gently and we returned to the pencil section.

Ji-eun put down the plain pencil and picked up the chick pencil.

Seeing the corners of her mouth turn up made me smile unconsciously.

“If you were going to be this happy, you should have just bought it in the first place.”
“Hehe… it’s cute!”
“Let’s get an eraser and a pencil case too.”

We bought a slightly cheaper eraser and pencil case.

Ji-eun was all smiles as we left the stationery store.

We’d bought books and school supplies, and it was time for lunch.

I was thinking about what to eat when I remembered the pizza place where I worked.

With the takeout discount and my employee discount, it would be very affordable.

“Should we get a pizza from where I work?”
“Where Oppa works?! Can I see it?”
“No, we’ll just get the pizza to go. We’ll eat it at home with Grandpa.”
“Okay-!”
“You have to be well-behaved, okay?”
“Okay! Don’t worry!”

<2>

We left the bookstore and arrived at the pizza place.

I opened the door and entered, and the manager greeted me.

“Welcome– Oh? What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I’m getting a pizza to go for lunch. I’d like a large Bulgogi pizza and a cheese oven spaghetti to go.”
“The guy who said he was sick of pizza… Huh?”

The manager turned his gaze to Ji-eun, who had come in holding my hand.

“Who is this? Your little sister?”
“Yes… well, something like that. Ji-eun, this is the manager of the pizza place where I work.”
“Hello. I’m Lee Ji-eun!”

The manager’s face lit up when he saw Ji-eun, and he knelt down to her level.

“Oh my~ You’re so adorable. Did you come with your Oppa?”
“Yes! I wanted to see where Oppa works!”
“I see~ Would you like something to drink while you wait?”
“It’s okay! I’ll wait quietly with Oppa!”
“You’re even cute when you talk~”
“Thank you~!”

The manager stood up and said to me,

“Have a seat. I’ll get your order ready quickly.”
“Thank you. Ji-eun, let’s sit and wait.”
“Okay!”

As we sat at the table waiting for the pizza, the other employees all glanced at Ji-eun.

“Jihoon has a younger sister?”
“They don’t look alike at all. His sister is so cute.”
“She is. I’ve never seen such a cute kid. Is she really Jihoon’s sister?”
“She has this… this… loveliness that Jihoon doesn’t have.”

I could hear everything…

Ji-eun, seemingly having heard the employees’ conversation, smiled bashfully and said,

“Hehe… I feel good.”
“What are you so happy about?”
“I’m happy they said I’m cute-! Does Oppa think I’m cute too?”
“Hmm, a little?”
“Che- You should say I’m very cute…”

Ji-eun looked at me with a pout.

I looked at her expression silently when the manager joined our conversation.

“Hey, you should tell your sister she’s cute.”

He placed the boxed pizza on the table.

“If I had such a cute little sister, I’d tell her she was cute every day. Right~?”
“Hehe. Thank you. Unni, you’re pretty too-!”

She’s good at socializing.

“Oh really~? I’m so flattered I’ll give you a free drink~ What do you like, cola or cider?”
“Cider, please-! Thank you, pretty Unni!”
“Okay~ Jihoon, take a large cider with you when you leave.”
“Thank you. We’ll enjoy it. Ji-eun, let’s go.”
“Okay!”

I picked up the pizza and stood up.

“I’ll be back for my evening shift.”
“Okay, be careful. And bye-bye, little miss~”
“Goodbye~”
“Come again~”
“Yes~”

We said goodbye to everyone and left the store.

As we were waiting for the elevator, Ji-eun took the bag of books from my hand.

“You want to carry it? Are you sure it’s not too heavy?”
“Yes! It’s okay. But let’s hold hands! It’s dangerous because of the cars! Here, hand!”

Ji-eun raised her left hand.

“Cute.”
“Hehe. Right?!”
“Yeah. You’re the cutest.”

I said that and carefully took Ji-eun’s hand.

“Really?”
“No.”