Pixelated Confessions

If the company sent an email, there’s only one reason.

Definitely a request to take down the video.

Gripping the phone tightly, I paced circles in the narrow room.

Still, thanks to that video, I got to know Seo Injun—so satisfied.

Letting out a bitter sigh alone, I sat on the blanket and clicked the email.

From the first line, the tone was polite—tension rose.

Hello. This is the marketing department of Cheonhwa Entertainment. We’re contacting you regarding the video you recently uploaded. The video has become a big topic among fans and has helped create a positive image for Injun.

Skimming the content once, it flowed differently from expected.

Tilting head, scrolled down.

Reading the last line, shot up again.

“If convenient, how about Seo Injun joining your broadcast together… what?”

Almost yelled.

Covered mouth, trembling eyes slowly reread.

Collab proposal—him appearing on my live stream.

Not a dream.

Just pinched cheek—pain vivid.

Not misread either.

Third read now.

“Crazy, right?”

What do they call this.

Successful fan?

First calmed, placed phone on blanket.

Felt like struck by lightning in the wee hours.

Pressed reply, stared blank screen, deep thought.

Really Seo Injun coming here, broadcasting together.

If comes, what game.

“No, that means cam stream…!”

Him coming, voice only too wasteful.

Of course voice amazing, but must film that handsome face too—watch forever.

Immediately ordered cam for streaming.

Then about to write reply—another worry hit.

Cam on, us together— who protects my pathetic face.

Never revealed face, no plans to.

Mind jumbled, broke.

Ended ordering half-face mask too.

All sorts worries, wide awake all night.

Watching distant sunrise, replied email.

Anytime fine, contact when schedule allows—attached personal number.

Morning cicadas crying, hugged pillow.

Pounded innocent blanket fists, joyful sigh.

“…Can’t sleep.”

Really Seo Injun coming here.

Hope no mistakes.

🎮

All day pondered stream structure.

But no good ideas.

Finally asked guild hyung who suggested streaming—spare time.

Office worker hyung readily said dinner.

Quickly posted one day stream break, went meet at barbecue place.

First outing in days.

Cap pulled low, entered restaurant—hyung waved.

Fine leading crowds on stream, but real crowded places endlessly uncomfortable.

Weakly approached table—hyung familiarly pulled chair.

“Nagi here. Sit. Pork belly okay.”

“Yeah, hyung. But just call Jangma…”

“Why, name pretty. Sonagi~”

Met in game middle school, so comfortable like real brother.

Better without teasing.

Still, only offline acquaintance—precious to me.

Sat, he poured soju—accepted glass.

“You no go out ’cause streaming.”

“Huh? How know?”

“Skin pale. Thought grim reaper when door opened.”

“Exaggeration same as ever.”

Small sigh, clinked glasses.

Downed shot, set glass— he tapped my arm.

“Hey, hey. Wrist like twig? Exercise. Die young like that.”

“Won’t die. And went army too.”

“That’s biggest mystery. You army.”

Hyung placed meat on grill, chattered.

Actually no wrong—couldn’t retort.

Enlistment had some muscle, but post-discharge housebound—fat and muscle evaporated.

Felt only survival muscle left.

Today arm looked thinner—stroked, muttered small.

“Didn’t meet hyung for nagging…”

“Ah right. Watched your stream! That, idol met in game.”

Hyung set tongs, clapped.

From nagging to that—smile automatic.

Poured his glass, nodded slow.

“Yeah, Tran leader Seo Injun.”

“This guy expression suddenly brightens. Fan before?”

“No, after that searched. Super handsome? Hyung know?”

“Wife loves him tons.”

Of course.

Empathized hard, flipped meat.

Right then, restaurant TV started Tran new song MV.

Tongs in hand, blankly watched.

High-def TV Seo Injun face thrilling as expected.

About say that’s him—hyung snatched tongs, meat burn.

MV ended, turned eyes.

Meat nicely browned already.

Really, as hyung said, distracted by Seo Injun almost burned meat.

Quietly emptied glass—hyung smiling said.

“You somehow fall for idol. You only dug games.”

“Didn’t think I’d like idol either. Fans told yesterday, bought album.”

“Wow, proper fan. But thanks views subscribers up lots.”

“Luck.”

Quick empty glass, picked well-done meat.

Wrapped veggies meat rice, mouth.

Chewing small—familiar voice flowed again.

Owner Tran fan probably.

This time rural reality seen before.

Unconsciously turned head, focused.

Hyung nagged meat cooling.

No choice, moved chopsticks.

“So any contact.”

“Actually, …last night agency collab offer.”

“What? Collab?”

Hyung dropped tongs, shot up.

Instant quiet barbecue.

Eyes all on us.

Panicked, shrugged shoulders, pulled hyung arm.

He quick shut mouth, sat.

Cap deeper, checked surroundings.

Luckily people resumed talking eating.

Calmed pounding heart, emptied glass.

Set empty—hyung refilled instant.

“Knew you’d cause scene.”

“No, why my fault…”

“So said yes.”

“Obviously.”

“Wow, Sonagi success.”

Hyung laughed hearty, patted back hard.

Still unaware hand spicy.

Awkward smile, subtly dodged arm.

Few more pats—hyung picked tongs, placed good meat my plate.

Poked side dishes chopsticks, got to point.

“So don’t know what do, asked hyung advice.”

“What do, just game. But you used cam?”

“No. So ordered cam last night dawn. And mask.”

“Why mask.”

Is that question.

Eyes wide, stared him.

But hyung ate wrap hard, looked puzzled.

Finally set chopsticks, serious face said.

“Hyung, think. Super handsome guy right next, same screen me—how embarrassing. So mask stream.”

“Your face fine. Pale so kids say pretty these days.”

“No, only hyung eyes. Plus Seo Injun idol… Didn’t see earlier? That face?”

“To me all same.”

Gasped at words.

Hyung shrugged, ordered another soju.

What saying, really.

Gulped glass, wiped face.

No way same face.

Fan short time, but praise looks—ten mouths not enough.

Shoulders slumped, sigh.

“Tell wife get glasses hyung. Eyesight age maybe.”

“This kid no filter. My eyes good.”

Hyung riled—calm meaning poured his glass.

Casual cheers, downed.

Ate few meats, ordered stew, asked hyung again.

“Anyway what good? Game yes, but only game wasteful.”

“Then questions or something. You curious lots right. Fans too.”

Questions.

As said, curious much.

But most questions heard during activities probably.

Above all, special collab—want do streamer-only something together.

Want see side Seo Injun never showed.

Like smiling face, or smiling face, or smiling face, or.