My eyes burned when I finally dragged myself out of bed. The phone was already going off like it had a mind of its own, that same bubbly notification tone ringing in my skull. I didn't even have to unlock it, the screen lit up by itself.
AngelVesper is LIVE - Kai's Perfect Morning #48
Current Viewers: 19, 673
She reappeared, her pink hair slightly disheveled as if she had just woken up, her perpetually soft, overly sweet smile fixed on her face. Behind her, the stream feed showed my room from three goddamn angles at once.
The ceiling, the desk, and even a weird floating one outside the window that made my stomach twist. Why had he not seen all these before until episode #47.
"Good morning, my darlings." She cooed, voice all honey and ASMR whispers. "Look who finally decided to wake up. Our sweet Kai looks so grumpy and cute with that bed hair."
The chat on the side was already exploding like fireworks show on crack.
AngelFan69: Lmao his face when he sees us
PinkPrincessLover: zoom on the abs when he stands up please.
VesperObssessed: 10k likes if she makes his coffee extra sweet today
Gift received! LunaRose just dropped 400 coins. "For our star's breakfast fund. Make it a good one."
My phone vibrated hard in my hand, another banking app notification.
+$41.00 deposited - Anonymous Tip.
Forty-one bucks, Exactly the number of likes that had just rolled in while I was staring like an idiot.
My jaw clenched so tight it hurt, This was definitely not a dream nor a simple prank or obsession. It was far more than that. This was real, and it was happening right now while I stood there in yesterday's boxers like a fucking zoo exhibit.
Angel giggled that light, innocent laugh again, covering her mouth with both hands like some shy anime girl. But her eyes, Christ, her eyes..they did not match the smile. They were sharp and watchful like she already knew how my heart was hammering against my ribs..
"Kai's trying so hard to act normal," she narrated softly, tilting her head. "Don't worry, everyone. I'll take care of him today. The viewers love you so much already, Kai. Every like helps me make your day a little better. Every gift..." She leaned closer to her camera until her face filled the whole screen, voice dropping low. "Makes me want to be really good to you later."
I wanted very much to throw the phone through the wall. Instead, I just stood there, breathing hard through my nose, feeling thousands of strangers watching me scratch my stomach and shuffle to the bathroom like it was the most entertaining shit in the world.
The stream followed,Of course it did. New angle from the bathroom mirror I couldn't find no matter how hard I looked yesterday. Angel kept narrating like she was my personal morning show host.
"Morning routine time. Don't forget to brush behind those molars, Kai. I want you looking perfect for the camera today."
I slammed the bathroom door, but it did not matter. The audio kept playing through the phone speaker even when I turned the volume all the way down. The system whatever the hell that blue panel was last night, was already inside everything, was my guess because of the bizarreness of everything.
I got dressed in record time, threw o a hoodie, grabbed my backpack, and practically ran for the door. I was going to campus with normal people and a real life away from the stream, or so I thought.
The second I stepped outside the apartment building, the phone buzzed again, loud and insistent.
Live Poll Active!
What should Angel do for Kai today?
A) Surprise coffee delivery at campus (Reward)
B) Make his least favourite professor cancel class (Reward)
C) Teach that flirty classmate a lesson (Punishment)
Voting ends in 60 seconds!
The drone was there, a very small, black object almost invisible against the Gray morning sky, hovering twenty feet up like a goddamn guardian angel from hell. I could hear the faint whir of its camera.
The chat went feral.
Angelfan69: C C C let's punish the side chick
Vesper obsessed: coffee then punishment please
PinPrincessLover: 15k gifts if we get the jealous route
I kept my head down and walked faster, jaw locked, fists balled in my hoodie pockets. Mia was already at the usual bench outside the lecture hall, waving like she always did. Her long dark hair, that easy smile she always wore on her face, she was the only one who noticed when he looked like shit and actually cared enough to ask if you were okay.
"Kai! You look wrecked. Rough night?"
Before I could even open my mouth, my phone vibrated again like it was about to explode.
Poll Results: 71% chose C " Teach that flirty classmate a lesson."
Angel's voice slid into my earbuds even though I wasn't wearing any. The system was feeding it straight in now, soft and sweet and terrifying.
"Oh nooo, poor Mia. She's been talking to our star a little too much lately, hasn't she? Viewers, shall we remind her who Kai belongs to?"
Mia's phone started ringing in her bag. She pulled it out, frowned, then her face went completely white as she read whatever popped up on the screen. She looked at me, eyes wide and scared. "Kai..did you send this? It says if I don't stay away from you, the whole campus is going to see what I did last semester..."
I hadn't sent shit, i hadn't done anything at all.
The drone dipped lower, camera lens whirring as it zoomed in on both of us.
Angel's smile on the stream feed was still that perfect, gentle thing, but her voice had that edge now.
"All taken care of, Kai. She won't bother you again. The viewers are so protective of you, smile for them. They just hit 27k concurrent. That means a nice big gift is coming your way.
Another bank ping. +$280.00. That is rent covered for the month easy.
Mia was already backing away fast, muttering "sorry" and blocking my number right there Infront of me. The chat cheered like they'd just won a Super bowl.
AngelFan69: side character eliminated
VesperObsessed: Angel protecting her man like a queen.
I stood there on the sidewalk like an idiot, phone in my hand, feeling the weight of every single viewer pressing down on my chest. Part of me wanted to scream at the sky. Another part of me, the small, dark tired part that hadn't slept, felt a weird rush at how easily she could just fix things for me.
I hated that part of me, the poor and weak part. All of it.
I walked into the lecture hall without saying a word to anyone. Sat in my usual seat near the back. The stream feed zoomed in tight in my face the second I dropped into the chair. Angel leaned in close on her end, whispering like she was right next to me.
"Careful today, Kai. The more you try to ignore me, the more the viewers fall in love with you. And love makes me do all kinds of things when the cameras are rolling."
Shw finished her whisper with a kiss blown straight at the lens.
I did not smile, not did I react. How could I. The whole thing was just so absurd. I just stared straight ahead at the whiteboard and tried to pretend my entire life wasn't being broadcast to strangers who were voting on how to ruin it or elevate it.