The blue verification mark stared back at me from the screen.
RISE OF THE IDOLS — OFFICIAL
How long had they been watching? Had they seen the beginning, or only the part where I admitted I had lied?
The viewer count hovered at seventeen thousand, but that verified account made my stomach twist.
I'd wanted to speak to the fans, not perform for production's evaluation. Yet there they were, observing me the same way they'd observed every rehearsal, every meal, every private conversation.
"Oppa," Soojin whispered. "You've said what you wanted to say."
I looked back at the camera. The lens reflected nothing—just a black circle that somehow felt like thousands of eyes.
"Thank you for listening. That's all I wanted to say tonight."
I pressed the button.
LIVE ENDED.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then my hands started trembling so badly I couldn't grip the phone. It clattered against the table as I tried to set it down.
