NOVEL WEB Chapter 12
The day I heard that Mr. Cosmo had received an advertisement for a game that utilized our company’s capital, I couldn’t believe it and immediately called Secretary Kim.
“Yes, Director.”
“Ah, Secretary Kim. I’m sorry to bother you during your busy time. I heard there’s a game coming out that involves our company’s investment, and I wanted to check if you know anything about it.”
“Of course, I know. I heard the people in charge are quite excited about the project.”
I vaguely remembered that I had personally approved the payment for the funds involved.
However, I hadn’t paid much attention to it since then, while Secretary Kim seemed to have more detailed news about that side of things.
“By any chance, do you know if the development team has hired streamers for advertising?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the details on that. However, I understand they’ve given ads to reliable streamers based on their own criteria. A considerable portion of the capital we provided went in that direction.”
“Is that so… Thank you, and I’m sorry for calling so late.”
Not wanting to show too much surprise at such astonishing news, I nodded and quickly finished the call.
Thud.
Lying flat on my back, I stared blankly at the phone tossed beside my pillow.
As I did so, I started to realize my facial muscles were twitching, and I couldn’t help but smile.
‘He really did it on his own.’
I was thrilled that the streamer I cared about had been recognized for his talent and landed an advertisement without any help from me.
And as my joy grew, the desire to see Mr. Cosmo became even stronger.
The face of Mr. Cosmo from the Twip Party. Just imagining him beaming with joy like a child on the other side of the screen made me feel warm and fuzzy.
Ah, I want to see him.
But of course, it wouldn’t be possible. I decided that meeting Mr. Cosmo was both a first and last for me.
Going any further would turn me from a fan into a creepy stalker. If I bumped into him twice in a row, he might feel uneasy and start suspecting me.
So this time, it just couldn’t happen. At least, not without some kind of justification…
“…Huh?”
Wait, justification?
The word suddenly flashed into my mind, and I sprang up from the bed like a spring.
Right, just like in the movies, having a justification is enough! It’s not like I’m going to see Mr. Cosmo. The original purpose is legitimate, but there’s a chance I might randomly run into him!
“…Right, I have a duty to look into a game that involves our company’s capital.”
Muttering to myself, I felt a spark of excitement in my eyes.
I was well aware that this was a ridiculous form of self-justification, but I didn’t have the luxury to acknowledge that.
Just the hope of seeing Mr. Cosmo made my determination ignite.
*
On the day of the AGP, a cold wave warning was issued in Seoul, but I dressed as if I couldn’t care less and headed to Atex.
It was freezing, but the thought that I might get to see Mr. Cosmo was enough for me to compromise on nothing with my outfit.
“Ah…!”
Shivering from the cold seeping in through my clothes, I moved my feet and suddenly spotted Mr. Cosmo in line a distance away.
Unable to call out “Mr. Cosmo!” in such a crowded place, I hurriedly moved my frozen legs and ran as fast as I could.
“Excuse me, could you please make way for a moment…!”
Thanks to those who readily yielded and let me squeeze through, I managed to get in, but it was already too late.
Between Mr. Cosmo and me was a line of spectators that must have exceeded ten people, and all I could do was look at the crowd separating us like I was staring at the Berlin Wall.
If only I could have stood in line with Mr. Cosmo…
But still, I clung to the hope that we might run into each other inside, valiantly deciding to endure this cold first.
“…Just a moment, excuse me. I’m really sorry.”
I thought I heard a familiar voice, and footsteps gradually approached.
“C… Cosmo!?”
“Oh? You’re the one I met at the Twip Party, right?”
Seeing Mr. Cosmo appear in front of me, my eyes widened as if they would pop out.
Thankfully, remembering my face, Mr. Cosmo tried to confirm it again, and I nodded more quickly than anyone else, grinning like a fool.
Even my joy didn’t stop there.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in line ahead? Why are you here…?”
“Oh, I heard a familiar voice and thought it might be you, so I came to check.”
The fact that he remembered me by just my voice from afar made me very happy, but I was even more grateful that he had given up his place in line to come see me.
But what is this guy planning to keep making me happy?
“If you’d rather not reveal your name, should I call you ‘older sister’?”
“Huh? O-older sister?”
Saying I was the chairman would surely make things awkward, and I didn’t want to reveal my Twip nickname either; revealing my real name felt daunting, so I was stuck in a dilemma, and suddenly Mr. Cosmo suggested sorting out titles.
Older sister? Did I hear that right?
When I looked at him with a disbelieving gaze, Mr. Cosmo awkwardly laughed, referencing the Twip Party.
Ah…! That’s right.
At that time, I had been so flustered that I didn’t think it would be inappropriate to just say whatever was on my mind, but that casual moment had turned into this incredibly precious opportunity now.
Past me, you did great!
Stroking the past self’s head in my mind, I struggled to calm my fluttering heart every time Mr. Cosmo called me ‘older sister’ while trying to keep my face as casual as possible during our chat.
“ACHOO!”
During our conversation about my light outfit, my body betrayed me and sneezed like it was complaining about the cold.
In the suddenly awkward silence, Mr. Cosmo, with a wry smile, pulled a hot pack from his pocket and handed it to me.
Despite my repeated refusals, he insisted on forcing it into my hands to the extent that I forgot he was younger than me, feeling an odd level of assertiveness.
“Why are you so lightly dressed? It’s not like anyone is going to see you.”
“Just, you know. It’s nice to dress pretty.”
I couldn’t answer that I hadn’t been able to say “I might meet Mr. Cosmo.” Instead, I shook the innocent hot pack and placed it against my cheek.
It was warm. Perhaps it represented my feelings perfectly.
*
Finally, we entered the Atex building, but contrary to my expectations, it was anything but peaceful.
I spent time finding a lost child’s parents and had to wait in line for the Last Destiny booth twice because of it, leaving us both worn out.
But due to that, we managed to achieve a lot.
Someone might find it a little shady, but I was satisfied with the time spent waiting in line while sharing glances and chatting with Mr. Cosmo.
Yet, the most significant achievement was that I had learned more about the person known as “Human Kang Woo-joo,” rather than just “Streamer Cosmo.”
Especially when I asked him about why he had come to the AGP despite the trouble, I became a little dumbfounded by his reply.
“We’re in a win-win situation, aren’t we? I get paid, and advertisers get to showcase their games to more people. So I pondered what I could do for this game.”
He spoke as if it was no big deal, but I had never heard such words from anyone around me.
In the business world, it was always about one party trying to squeeze a bit more profit out of the deal, and the moment even a small loss occurred, they would be ready to pounce like vultures.
In that sense, I realized this man was someone who gives his all in everything, pursuing mutual benefit rather than his selfish gain.
Perhaps it started from that moment.
Not as a fan but as a person, and not as a person but as a woman, I began to feel the urge to get to know him better.
“Waaaaah…!”
Then suddenly, a commotion broke out. A little kid was crying, having gotten separated from their parents.
Honestly, I was prepared to stay silent in that situation. I thought someone else would help, considering passing staff would take care of the kid.
“Older sister, I’m sorry, but please keep watching. I’ll look around later.”
“…Huh?”
“That kid can’t be left alone. I’ll find their parents and come back.”
But he was different.
Without a hint of hesitation, he lightly forfeited his long-awaited turn to go find the crying child, comforting them with chocolate before finally returning them to their parents.
And then he said,
“I couldn’t just leave a child who reminded me of my own trauma.”
It was intriguing and somewhat enviable how he could describe his weaknesses so casually. For me, weaknesses were things I always had to hide.
With every layer of his hidden self revealed, I found myself increasingly captivated by him.
I’d never been disappointed when someone’s inner self was revealed; on the contrary, my expectations soared higher. I finally understood that there are people who truly possess a “layered onion charm.”
What will you show this time? What words will you speak next? What other inner depths hide within you?
As I dwelled in these thoughts, the moment of parting finally crept upon us.
Unlike at the party, where I was satisfied with just seeing his face and chatting, now only feelings of regret remained.
Realizing this was no mere fan admiration, I resolved to find a way to connect with him.
“Of course, feel free to ask for anything.”
Amid our conversation, he approached me, looking to repay me for the coffee and asked me to request anything I want.
Unaware that this was akin to tossing raw meat into the cage of a hungry beast for a week, he made his request with an innocent, naive expression.
At the same time, that expression irked me a little.
He was most likely waiting for me to ask something that a fan would want, thinking I saw him as a man. If he had thought otherwise, he would never have asked such a thing.
So if I insisted on this, I’d quickly bridge the gap.
I was determined to show him that there are cunning women in this world waiting to prey on innocent, good-hearted men like him.
“So… could you perhaps give me your contact information?”
“…Huh?”
As I asked with the spirit of daring him, I delighted in watching his expression change by the second.
I once read in a book that when a man starts to look cute instead of handsome, it means you’re already trapped, and that seemed spot on.
With a gaze like I was looking at the most adorable thing in the world, I realized I had been propping my chin while staring at the man sitting across from me.