Chapter 21

Seeing these comments, Edward sighed helplessly.

This wasn't the first time such criticism had come his way; in fact, it had become quite common.

Every upload of his seemed to draw criticism from someone.

At first, he was also depressed. After all, being called 'bad' for something you've worked hard for is frustrating.

Thankfully, he knew himself well.

It's true, he had made great strides in improving his singing, guitar, and editing skills in recent months.

However, he couldn't hide the imperfections in his videos.

Flaws like not hitting perfect notes in every verse were unavoidable, especially since his musical talents had always been average.

That's why he never had high expectations for them.

When he recorded, he didn't aim for perfection but rather the best version out of thousands he could achieve.

Also, he never considered himself a true musician.

The main reason for making videos was to earn money, with music and passion taking a back seat.

He was aware that his musical talent was just average, as past experiences had shown.

Right now, he is only taking advantage of his young and developing body to hone and absorb skills as much as he can.

What would happen after these rapid developments ended?

Edward doesn't know, and he doesn't care.

For him, the most important thing is the present.

Shaking his head, Edward closed the comment section, logged out of his YouTube account, and switched to Facebook.

As soon as he opened it, he was greeted by numerous friend requests and message requests, as usual.

Ignoring the friend requests, Edward read the messages one by one and replied to some of them.

The contents of the messages were still the same as before, but he didn't feel tired of them, or so he thought.

Half an hour later, Edward let out a sigh and felt dizzy.

"Too many!?"

He seemed to recall that the last time, there were only hundreds of them, but now... he couldn't see the end of it anymore!

Shaking his head, Edward didn't know whether to feel helpless or happy.

In the end, he left the message request section and read the messages from those he had accepted.

For instance, there was a message from Andrew Salonga.

It had been quite some time since the two of them had chatted.

The topics of their conversations remained unchanged, primarily revolving around the fan group that Andrew had created for Edward.

Andrew: "Idol, I just watched your latest upload today; it's as awesome as ever."

Andrew: "Good morning! By the way, the fan group's membership has crossed a thousand today."

Andrew: "I'll send a screenshot to prove it!"

Seeing Andrew's messages that he hadn't noticed in the past few days, Edward couldn't help but smile.

He clicked through to the group page to see what was happening and sure enough, the fan group's membership had surpassed a thousand.

To be exact, it was at 1,632.

As for the activities within the group, the members were engaging in conversations, and most of the discussions revolved around him.

They praised his talent, his looks, and even asked each other for information about him.

As Edward scrolled through these posts, he felt a sense of embarrassment. He had the urge to tell them that he wasn't that extraordinary and advise them not to exaggerate.

However, when he saw how warm and enjoyable the atmosphere in the group was, he decided to hold back and let them enjoy their positive interactions.

After browsing for a while, Edward eventually closed the page and sent a reply to Andrew.

Edward: "Hello Andrew, thank you for your hard work. I've been quite busy recently, so I haven't had the chance to check the fan group. I didn't expect it to have so many members."

He clicked send and waited for a response.

After a brief moment, a new reply came from Andrew.

"It's my pleasure! It's the least I can do."

Andrew: "Also, if you have some free time, Idol, feel free to come to the group and say hello. The members would be happy."

Edward: "Sure."

The conversation didn't last long because Andrew mentioned he had something to attend to, so they bid each other farewell.

Edward checked the time and realized it was nearly noon.

He logged out of his Facebook account, powered off the computer, and rose from the chair.

After settling his bills, he left the internet cafe and then sent a text to Nina.

Edward: "How are you?"

Half a minute later, she replied.

Nina: "I'm not free; I'm at my Lola's (grandma's) house right now."

Edward: "I see."

Seeing that she wasn't free, Edward sighed in resignation, put his phone in his pocket, and started walking back home.

Upon arriving at his apartment, Edward took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes.

Then he headed to the kitchen and grabbed some apples.

Biting into the apple, Edward settled onto the couch, picked up the remote, and switched on the TV to watch today's programs.

Unlike the future, where the Internet and smartphones are widespread, mainstream entertainment in the Philippines today still revolves around TV.

In 2010, the Philippine television scene was a diverse landscape with numerous channels catering to various interests. However, the dominant players were the "Big Three" channels:

1. ABS-CBN: Known for its captivating drama and reliable news coverage, it was a household staple in the Philippines.

2. GMA Network: Equally popular, GMA offered a mix of engaging entertainment programs and trustworthy news reporting, providing a strong alternative.

3. TV5 distinguished itself by focusing on sports and entertainment, offering viewers a refreshing take on content.

Currently, Edward is watching the popular ABS-CBN Saturday noontime show "Wowowee."

A variety show known for its lively performances, games, and giveaways.

Edward watched this show as a kid, and now he's watching it again.

The host, Willie Revillame, is a well-known Filipino TV host, actor, and entertainer. .His dynamic and engaging on-screen presence, characterized by a cheerful and charismatic style, resonates with audiences.

He's also recognized for his philanthropic efforts, making him a beloved figure in Philippine entertainment.

"Speaking of philanthropy.." Edward suddenly recalls several internet celebrities who gained fame by posting various philanthropic videos.

"Perhaps I could also..."

Edward's eyes light up at the idea.

However, he quickly shakes his head.

"It's not the right time yet."

End.