𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐀.

❝𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆?❞

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐀.

Today, you were streaming.

Today, at midnight, the world was awake.

Midnight was when you came alive. Millions who dropped whatever they were doing to rush to their computer. Millions who locked themselves in their rooms to blast your voice. Millions who hid in the bathroom stall or the rooftop to watch during school. Millions who came at your beck and call, MEDUSA.

You never expected to blow up the way you did.

"Good morning, good afternoon, and good night." Your famous greeting as you switched on the camera, waving with a smile, Waves and waves of comments that you could barely read. "I ate, thank you for asking. I hope everyone did too. Tell me how your day went."

HYUNG SUK sighed. You were so dreamy.. He promised himself not to watch your streams during work, but how could he help himself? Your voice was so soothing and your words were so comforting. In his original body, where he was made aware of how cold the world could be, you were his source of warmth. He would never dare to type a comment... he knows he doesn't deserve to, and he knows you won't read it... just being near you was enough.

JAE YEOL smiled. You were consistent. You were dedicated. You always recognized his name. Your eyes lit up as you addressed his username in the flood of donations, pointing to him specifically, someone who supported you from the beginning. You say that without him, you wouldn't be where you are today — Jae Yeol grins into the palm of his hand, his red cheeks burning his skin. You remember him. You always have, and always will.

"My day was okay, thank you for asking. Actually, I made a big decision today!" You snapped your fingers. "I'm going to transfer to a school! I spent the majority of my school life online, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to make some friends."

HA NEUL perked up. That was a surprise. You were notoriously reclusive — you had to be. She placed her pencil on her desk, paying closer attention to your stream. You've been her role model for the longest time. You achieved her lifelong dream — of gaining 10 million followers — in just a year. And to think you were the same age as her... nobody can blame her for falling in love. As she listened intently, her eyes widened. No way.

YUI gaped at her screen. You were going to her school? In her department? This had to be fate. From the moment she became a partner of Paprika TV, she'd been trying to get closer to you. But no matter what she did, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never reach you. In the end, in your world, she was probably just a passing name in a conversation. But now... Now, instead of a colleague, she would be your classmate. This had to mean something. This was better than nothing.

You leaned closer to the camera, catching a comment. "Why Jae Won? Well, the principal said it was a place that 'welcomed unique interests in unique circumstances,' and I thought it was perfect for me." No... you'd been tricked! That's not really what Jae Won was like. You grew up sheltered and didn't think twice when believing someone's words. "It can't be that bad!"

Oh, but it can.

DUK HWA shook his head. He could only hope you weren't put through the same torture as him. His hands were shaking. To think that you were going to be in the same school as him... you were such an inspiration to him, and if he got to see your face just once, he thinks it would keep him going for a long time. If he dared to dream, he wanted your autograph to put on his wall. If you were as nice as rumors said, then maybe... maybe you would listen to his music as well.

JI HO scowled, clenching his fists. You wouldn't have to worry about a single thing, unlike him. You were attractive, after all. For the longest time, he'd tried to use you as a guideline on how to become popular. There wasn't a single girl who didn't like you; there wasn't a single boy who didn't admire you. You were loved by everyone, regardless of what you did. He'd tried to dress like you, speak like you, he'd done everything. But in the end, he's nothing, compared to you.

"I hope I can make a lot of friends," you laughed nervously. A bashful smile spread across your lips. No doubt by tomorrow, your face would be all over the internet. Screenshots, edits, fan art, all of it. "I never got to do those kinds of things as a kid. Like going to someone's house, playing after school... I was really sick, so I didn't get to go out much. But tomorrow, that will change!"

Tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

SOO JUNG's mouth fell open as she heard. Why hadn't she been informed of this? Sure, it wouldn't interfere with your streaming schedule, but you were going to attend a school, just like that. You were going to attend a school like that? Without any guards, any protection, nothing? You were the biggest asset to her company. There were so many other companies and industries that would do anything to get their hands on you. At a place like Jae Won, it was only a matter of time before you got another opportunity — an even better one than hers. She could not afford to lose you.

"Tomorrow?! I haven't even prepared an outfit!"

"Am I dreaming...? Tomorrow? With MEDUSA?!"

"I'm going to be his classmate? Are you serious?!"

The night had only just begun.

And you, the culprit of the chaos, smiled without a single care.

It would be another sleepless night with your stream.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄.

The characters mentioned in this chapter aren't the only characters that will be included in the story. I thought it would be interesting to write their reactions, but I wasn't able to write for everyone or the chapter would've become even longer.