Free Web NovelSteve Jobs took a deep breath and clasped his hands together.
Even though he had stepped into a familiar backstage waiting room, his hands kept trembling.
‘Damn. I’m shaking like this... I really am getting old.’
A faint, bitter smile crossed his lips as he organized his thoughts. Today’s keynote would define Apple’s future. No— it would change the world.
“Jobs. It’s time.”
The door to the waiting room opened, and Tim Cook stepped in.
“...Timothy. Today’s speech will decide Apple’s future. There can’t be even the slightest mistake.”
As Jobs stood, Tim Cook answered with a grin.
“Of course. I was shocked when I saw the iPhone. How on earth were you planning something like that without telling me?”
“I do feel bad about that. Security was absolutely critical...”
It had only been a month since Tim Cook had seen the physical iPhone for the first time.
Jobs had kept the entire project secret—even from his closest inner circle. When he apologized, Cook waved it off.
“No. I’m only saying that because what you made is incredible. Don’t worry about it. Just focus on the speech, Jobs.”
Jobs smiled faintly at Cook’s words.
When he returned to Apple, Jobs had personally recruited Tim Cook.
Cook lived up to those expectations—he overhauled Apple’s operations and successfully severed the chain of accumulated losses that had dragged on for years.
That was why Jobs trusted him more than anyone.
But this project was different. Regardless of trust, security had been paramount. Even Tim Cook couldn’t be fully briefed.
“As shocked as I was, the whole world’s going to be stunned. And they’ll be chanting your name.”
Hearing the excitement in Cook’s voice, Jobs patted his shoulder.
“You worked hard, Timothy. If you hadn’t succeeded in cutting costs, we wouldn’t be standing here today. Bringing you to Apple when I came back... that was the second best decision of my life.”
Leaving that word—second—behind, Jobs headed toward the stage.
Cook blinked.
“What? I’m second? Then who’s first? Don’t tell me you mean Gary.”
Jobs stopped walking at that.
He turned around, smiling.
“Of course not. He built Apple with me, yes—but he wasn’t a better choice than you, Timothy.”
Steve Gary Wozniak was, in many ways, the man who built Apple.
Steve Jobs and Steve Gary Wozniak co-founded Apple. Jobs handled the ideas and management, while Wozniak was credited with developing nearly everything else.
That was how essential Gary had been to Apple.
And yet Jobs had just said he wasn’t the first.
Tilting his head, Cook asked again,
“If not Gary, then who?”
“The man who made the iPhone possible. You’ll know soon.”
Leaving behind that cryptic answer, Jobs disappeared from view.
Cook shook his head.
Just like always—classic Jobs. Impossible to understand, but by now, familiar.
Still, after seeing what had been created, perhaps that reaction was only natural.
When Cook saw the device called the iPhone, he ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) had been genuinely shaken.
There were already devices on the market labeled “smartphones,” but the iPhone was on an entirely different trajectory.
A revolutionary product that shattered existing assumptions.
Compared to the iPhone, everything currently called a smartphone felt like trash.
“Apple’s about to soar.”
Smiling to himself, Cook followed Jobs toward the stage.
* * *
Steve Jobs walked onto the stage.
He took a sip of water, cleared his throat, and looked around.
All eyes were on him.
Pretending to scan the hall, he searched for Kim Muhyuk.
It didn’t take long to spot him—standing at the very back, expression unreadable.
Jobs smiled inwardly.
‘If I hadn’t met that man, the iPhone would have come out years later.’
He recalled their first meeting.
A confident young Asian businessman.
The moment Jobs saw him speak boldly, without hesitation, he sensed it—another genius like himself.
This iPhone project had begun from that conversation.
As the lights dimmed, Jobs tore his gaze away from Kim Muhyuk and began walking slowly.
It was time.
Behind him, the dark Apple logo glowed faintly, a small light shining through.
Standing before the massive screen, Jobs began.
“Today is a day I’ve been looking forward to.”
That single sentence triggered applause and cheers.
“Throughout life, truly groundbreaking and revolutionary products change the way we live.”
Applause continued throughout the presentation.
The display showed Apple’s historic and symbolic products.
He spoke of the Macintosh. Then the iPod.
“Today, we’re going to introduce three revolutionary products.”
The hall exploded. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
This reaction was on an entirely different level.
Whispers spread among developers and startup founders.
“What? Three? Even for Jobs, that doesn’t make sense. Do you buy that?”
A developer shook his head.
“No way. Revolutionary products don’t just pop out like that. One, maybe...”
“Right? I’m not the only one thinking that, am I? How’s he going to back that up?”
Jobs ignored the murmurs.
The dark logo split, revealing the first technology.
“First: a widescreen iPod with touch controls.”
Applause filled the room again.
“Touch pad iPod, huh? That was somewhat expected.”
Whistles, clapping, journalists typing frantically.
After a pause, Jobs continued.
“Second: a revolutionary mobile phone.”
The reaction was even louder.
Someone leapt to their feet, raising both arms.
“What? Apple’s making a phone?”
The mobile phone market was already saturated.
Nokia. Motorola. Ilseong Electronics. And countless others worldwide.
“What’s revolutionary about a phone?”
Developers remained skeptical.
“Just slap the word ‘revolutionary’ on it and call it innovation? Is Jobs finished?”
Ignoring the varied reactions, Jobs pressed the remote.
“And the third: a breakthrough Internet communications device.”
This time, the reaction was noticeably weaker.
“A new Macintosh?”
Most assumed it would be a new Mac.
“These three. A touch iPod. A revolutionary phone. An Internet communicator. An iPod... a phone... an Internet communicator...”
As he repeated them, laughter and applause rippled through the crowd.
Developers, however, had stiffened.
“These are not three separate devices. They are one device. And we are calling it... iPhone.”
The crowd erupted.
“What? A touchscreen smartphone?”
“iPod, phone, Internet—all in one?”
Though referred to as “general audience,” most attendees were early adopters.
People who bought new electronics faster than anyone else.
“Here it is.”
Jobs gestured.
On screen appeared an absurdly ugly mock-up.
Laughter.
“No. Just kidding. The real one is in my pocket.”
He briefly pulled it out, then launched into a critique of existing smartphones.
He attacked physical keyboards.
Emphasized that the iPhone eliminated the clunky hardware keys entirely.
When he held up the real device, the crowd roared.
“We kept the iPhone development completely secret. Even my friend Timothy didn’t know. I could only show it to him after it was finished.”
Everyone knew Jobs and Cook’s relationship.
“Tim had never seen it. When I finally let him touch it, the first thing he said was, ‘I felt joy when I scrolled.’”
Laughter and cheers.
The smoothness was unlike anything before.
After demonstrating iPod functions, Jobs made a call.
* * *
I smiled as the iPhone was revealed.
It was far more evolved than I remembered.
In my previous life, I’d heard that even up until presentation day, they’d prepared separate devices with individual functions because integration wasn’t complete.
This version was clearly more refined.
Then Jobs placed a call.
At the exact same moment, my phone rang.
‘What?’
The number wasn’t saved.
As I hesitated, our eyes met.
Jobs was looking directly at me.
On the screen behind him, I saw the contact name.
Charlie.
‘Ha. His prankster side kicked in again.’
If I didn’t answer now, this would become a disaster.
In my previous life, he had called one of the developers.
I sighed and answered.
“Hey, Charlie.”
“Hello, Jobs. This kind of prank isn’t nice.”
“Hahaha! How does it feel? Being the first person I ever called on the iPhone?”
“Good. It has to feel good.”
“I wanted you to know first. The iPhone project started with you and me.”
Murmurs spread through the audience.
“I’ve never met a more innovative man than you.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“So I’d like to introduce you. What do you say?”
I shook my head.
“No. I may have offered ideas, but this is entirely your creation.”
“Are you trying to turn me into a thief who steals ideas?”
“Of course not. I said it first, but you were thinking it too. I just helped bring it forward.”
“That’s called an idea.”
Stubborn bastard.
Still—this was Steve Jobs.
“I appreciate it. But I don’t intend to make my name public.”
“Hahaha. Always the same. Fine. But everyone should know this started with you and me. Goodbye.”
He ended the call and continued the presentation.
Two men in front of me stared.
“W-Were you just on the phone with Jobs?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“...I’m pretty sure you were.”
“You’re mistaken.”
The looks of admiration—and envy—followed anyway.
Annoying.
I changed seats.
“Even if you’re excited, there should be a limit.”
It felt like he was getting revenge because I’d once forgotten about Macworld Expo. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Despite my complaint, the corners of my mouth kept rising.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
