The days were starting to blur together in the worst possible way. Waking up, the stream already running. Angel's too sweet voice narrating my morning like a deranged radio host. The fake interactions at campus that were boosted by polls. More numbers in my phone from girls I barely knew. Then back to the same endless loop of being watched.
I was exhausted, not just physically but mentally worn down as well by the constant feeling of eyes on me. Even when the drone was not hovering, I knew the cameras were there.
It was day six, maybe seven. I'd stopped counting.
I was standing in my tiny kitchen heating up the cheapest instant ramen I could find when it happened.
My phone exploded.
Notifications stacked on top of each other so fast the screen couldn't keep up. The chat must have gone nuclear because vibrations nearly shook the device off the counter. Then the TV, which had not been turned on in weeks flickered to life by itself.
AngelVesper's face filled the entire screen in high defination. She was in what looked like a private bedroom setup now. Soft pink lighting, some plysh pillows behind herc, wearing a loose camisole that showed just enough to make the chat lose their minds. That same gentle, unsettling smile curved her lips as she looked directly forward.
"Everyone, ous star has been so patient these past few days. All the likes...and all the wonderful gifts you have been sending, they've made me feel incredibly generous tonight."
Her voice was breathy, excited in that bubbly way that always hid something sharper underneath.
I froze with the ramen packet still in my hand. The water om the stove started boiling over, but I could not move.
Major Engagement Event Detected Combined Spike: 12,000+Likes+47 Big Gifts
Viewer Count: 58,742 and rising fast.
Angel Leaned closer to her camera, eyes sparkling with that too-knowing glint. "Kai deserves something really special tonight. Something to show him how much we all care. Let's spoil our perfect star, okay?"
A knoch sounded at my door. It was heavy and insistent. Not anything like a delivery man's knocks.
I set the ramen down slowly and walked over like I was approaching a bomb. Through the peephole I saw a man in a clean uniform holding several large paper bags and a drink carrier. He looked completely normal, bored even.
I opened the door a crack.
"Kai Thompson?" he asked, reading off a tablet.
"Order for you. Already paid in full."
"I did not order anything."
He shrugged like he heard that everyday. "Says here it's from a big fan. Enjoy."
He handed over the bags and left without another word. The smell hit me immediately, it was real food. Good food infact. Sushi, grilled salmon, miso soup, poerfectly cooked steak, fresh spring rolls, and a couple of fancy desserts. Way beyond anything I could afford on my broke college budget.
My phone buzzed again. It was the banking app.
+$874.00 deposited by an Anonymous Suppoter Group.
I stared at the number. It was enough to cover my rent, groceries, maybe even enough to fix my piece-of-shit laptop. All in one go.
Back inside, the TV screen showed Angel clapping her hands together happily, that soft smile never leaving her face. "Did you like it, Kai? I picked everything myself using the viewer suggestions. They told me exactly what you'd love the most. See? We know you better than you know yourself already."
I sat down at my tiny table and opened the bags. The food was still hot and perfectly prepared. It smelled incredible and my stomach growled loudly enough that I was sure the mics picked it up.
Angel giggled on the TV. "He's hungry