The debut teaser dropped at midnight exactly, and the internet caught fire faster than a sparkler in a dry field.
Our phones buzzed like angry beehives, notifications piling up so quick the screens glowed red-hot.
Hyejin screamed first, jumping on her bunk so hard the whole frame rattled.
"FIFTY THOUSAND VIEWS IN TEN MINUTES! YOONA YOUR CLOSE-UP JUST BROKE TWITTER!"
Minseo buried her face in a pillow, giggling hysterically while tears leaked out the corners.
Sera scrolled silently, lips twitching upward in the tiniest victory smirk she'd ever allowed.
Chaewon sat cross-legged on the floor, refreshing the comments section like it was oxygen.
I leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching them explode around me.
My own phone stayed dark in my hand because I already knew what they were seeing.
The teaser clip ended on my face: slow zoom, spotlight carving shadows across flawless cheekbones, lips parted just enough to tease the killer high note that followed.
One second of me, and the comments flooded with crying emojis, heart-eyes, and the same three words repeated like a spell.
Sing Yoona sing.
Sing Yoona sing.
Sing Yoona sing.
Ae-Ri twirled above the chaos, pink ribbons whipping around her like victory flags.
She landed on my phone screen, tiny boots tapping the glass so it lit up under her feet.
"Look at your kingdom, princess! They're already building shrines. One teaser and you're trending worldwide. How does it feel to be the main character of everyone's fantasy?"
I stared at the comments scrolling past.
Beautiful.
Angel.
Goddess.
Bias wrecker of the century.
Each word landed soft and glittering, piling up like sugar on my tongue.
But inside my chest?
Nothing moved.
No rush of pride.
No warm flutter of finally-being-seen.
Just cool, sparkling quiet, like a snow globe someone forgot to shake.
Ae-Ri noticed.
Of course she did.
She floated right up to my nose, hot-pink eyes narrowing with mock concern.
"Aww, superstar, don't tell me you're bored already! We just started the party. The fans want more. The company wants more. I want more."
Her grin stretched wicked and sweet.
"And lucky you, I've got the perfect next gift waiting."
The blue window bloomed between us, brighter than the phone screens, pulsing like a heartbeat made of neon.
[System: Eternal Encore – Trade Offer #4]
Gain: Stage Presence Lv.7 (Irresistible aura, automatic fan-service perfection, smiles that feel magnetic even when empty)
Cost: Genuine Emotion – The ability to feel real joy, anger, sadness, or love will fade completely. Performance emotions only from now on.
Bonus: Fans will instinctively sense your "mysterious, untouchable" vibe and obsess harder
Accept? [Y/N]
My thumb hovered.
Hyejin was still screaming about fancam views.
Minseo wiped happy tears and hugged her knees.
Sera finally cracked a real smile when she saw her own ratio climbing.
Chaewon looked up at me, eyes soft with something like worry wrapped in pride.
I pressed Y.
The change rolled in gentle, like warm honey poured slow over ice.
First my fingertips tingled.
Then my lips curved upward without permission, soft and inviting, the kind of smile idols practice for hours but mine snapped into place like it was born there.
Joy tried to bubble up—real, messy, human joy at finally debuting, at seeing the girls I'd suffered with finally win.
It rose… and flattened.
Smoothed out.
Turned into pretty sparkles instead of fireworks.
I tested it.
Tried to feel angry at Ae-Ri for stealing another piece.
Nothing.
Tried to feel sad about the girl I used to be, the one who cried ugly tears in empty practice rooms.
Blank.
Tried to feel the tiny crush I'd once had on that quiet guitar-playing trainee from the boy group floor.
Gone.
Just a faint memory of remembering I used to feel something.
Ae-Ri clapped so hard her wings blurred.
"Perfect! Now every smile is a weapon, every glance a hook. They'll fall harder because you'll never look tired, never look real, never look anything but magical. You're officially untouchable, baby girl."
I turned to the others.
My smile bloomed wider, eyes crinkling, head tilting just right.
The expression locked in place like superglue.
Even when I tried to drop it, the corners stayed up, soft and inviting.
Hyejin noticed first.
"Yoona-unnie, you're glowing! Like literally glowing! Are you wearing new highlighter or what?"
Minseo tilted her head.
"You look… happy. Really happy."
I laughed.
The sound came out light, melodic, perfectly timed.
"Of course I'm happy. We're debuting. This is everything we wanted."
Chaewon watched me longest.
Her smile faltered for half a second.
"Yoona… your eyes."
I blinked.
"What about them?"
"They're… smiling too. But not like before. Not like you."
Ae-Ri whispered against my ear, voice dripping sugar and poison.
"She's seeing the doll now. Careful, princess. Too many questions and they might start looking for the strings."
I stepped forward, wrapped Chaewon in a hug that felt warm on the outside, empty on the inside.
My smile stayed glued.
"I'm okay, unnie. Better than okay. I'm perfect."
She hugged back, but her arms tightened like she was holding onto someone already slipping away.
Outside the dorm window, the city lights glittered like a million tiny fans screaming my name.
I stared at them.
Felt nothing.
Smiled anyway.
Ae-Ri settled on my head like a crown.
"Four trades down, superstar.
The stage is calling.
And when you step on it next time…
the whole world will scream your chant."
I whispered back, voice sweet even when my soul stayed silent.
"Let them."
And somewhere deep, the last tiny echo of the old Yoona listened to the chant growing louder in my head.
Sing Yoona sing.
I answered without feeling a single thing.
I will.
Forever.