CHAPTER 119: REACTION TO ALBUM (2)

When the track ended, the room was silent.

Michael exhaled slowly and rubbed his chin.

"Two weeks," he whispered. "He made this in two weeks. How is this even possible?"

Clara looked nervous. "Sir?"

Michael shook his head, a gesture that indicated that he wasn’t talking to her.

He stood up and walked to the window. The city lights glowed against his reflection; his thoughts were in shambles, and he couldn’t understand how Dayo was able to make such a quality album in two weeks if it were a single. Throughout, it would have been believable, but there were four featured artists; he felt that even if he made these songs, they would be crap. This was why he was lax on the issue when Clara brought it to him, who knew that it would later come to bite him in the ass.

"Damn," he muttered.

He wasn’t just angry — he was impressed, confused, and even a little shaken.

He had underestimated Dayo again.

His plan had been simple — give the boy some space, just enough time for Senator Reeves to forget him after Marcus’s burial. A clean month, then move in. But instead of resting, Dayo had used that space to create something that sounded like it could challenge the global charts.

Michael let out a low, sharp laugh — half disbelief, half frustration.

"This boy," he said softly, "he always knows where to strike."

He remembered the last time he tried to play smart — the Vivian scandal.

He had spent money on PR firms, blogs, and online campaigns to bury Dayo’s name, hoping the pressure would force him into signing with MM Records.

But Dayo had been one step ahead.

He dropped one piece of evidence that flipped the entire situation.

The hate turned into sympathy, and the sympathy turned into fame.

That was the most expensive mistake Michael had ever made.

Now, looking at the dashboard that tracked streams, he knew this was mistake number two.

He turned back to Clara, his voice calm but cold.

"When the first-week numbers drop, I want them on my desk before anyone else sees them."

"Yes, sir," she said quietly.

She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, Michael muttered, "Senator Reeves..."

Clara paused. "Sir?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. You can go."

When the door closed, he stood there staring at the city lights again.

He hated this feeling — not fear, not anger, but something heavier.

A boy barely in his twenties was making him feel powerless.

Michael’s jaw tightened.

He was done playing games.

---

While Michael was already planning his next move to slow Dayo down, across the country, there were people doing the exact opposite — pushing the album higher.

---

Live Reaction – "The Other Side"

The stream went live on Twitch an hour after the album dropped.

At the top of the screen sat Ace Parker, one of the biggest streamers in the U.S. Known for his chaotic humor and honest reactions, Ace had built a massive following for his music breakdowns and live listening parties.

Over 420,000 people were watching live.

"Alright," Ace said, spinning slightly in his gaming chair, "you all know why we’re here. Dayo just dropped The Other Side. We’re doing a full listen."

The chat was moving too fast to read.

’This better not flop.’

’I lost $500 betting it won’t hit Top 50 😭.’

’Bro’s about to silence everybody.’

’I heard that he made this in two weeks?? No way, right?’

’Bro above you are right — two weeks for an album and they expect it to work?’

’Lol, a lot of people are gonna be shocked by the first song hehe.’

Ace chuckled. "Okay, okay — let’s hear what the hype’s about."

He pressed play.

The first track — Say Something (with Luna) — started.

The moment the vocals came in, Ace froze. The sound was clean, emotional, and heavy.

He stared at the screen for a few seconds before saying, "Oh... nah. This is serious — he even featured LUNA, the goddess."

"THIS IS CRAZY, MAN!" Ace shouted, grinning widely.

The chat exploded again.

’Chills. Literal chills.’

’That harmony is insane.’

’LUNA is here! Haha, I saw this coming!’

’I can’t believe Luna sang this — I’ve got goosebumps.’

’This song is going No.1, there’s nothing you can tell me.’

’Agreed, bro above — No.1 or nothing.’

’Who mixed this?! This doesn’t sound like a two-week project.’

’You can say that again.’

Ace moved on to the next track, All of Me (with Rex), and then Someone You Loved (with Elara). Each one pulled a stronger reaction than the last.

’I bet against Dayo. I feel so stupid right now 😭.’

’Haha, I don’t feel sorry for y’all betting against Dayo — bro’s basically a movie character.’

’Bro above, you can say that again. Everyone who’s gone against him ends up losing.’

’Yup — just like Vivian and the Global Competition.’

’This album is too clean. Who’s Elara?! She killed that verse!’

’Yeah, and who is this Rex guy?’

’He’s HIM. This is not luck anymore.’

’I’m going out to get the vinyl right now!’

’OMG, I just reached the store nearby — it’s sold out! HOW?!’

’You’re not alone; same thing here!’

’WHYYYYY 😭’

Ace leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.

"You know what," he said, smiling, "Dayo didn’t just drop an album — he dropped art. Let’s do well to stream."

The chat started spamming new hashtags:

#TheOtherSide, #DayoSeason, #RiseOfJD, #GlobalTakeover.

Ace wasn’t the only influencer streaming Dayo’s album. The others Dayo had worked with during his promo week joined in too — not just because of the hype, but because of Dayo himself.

He hadn’t only pushed his album — he had pushed them.

He told his followers to follow the creators he collaborated with, always giving them credit and respect.

That earned him not just admiration but friendships.

There were a few artists who treated them as equals, the way Dayo did, and that made them go all out for him.

Even other streamers who had gone live that night joined in.

Clips of reactions, people crying, fans screaming, influencers dancing — the whole internet was flooded with it.

By the end of the night, #TheOtherSide was the number-one trending topic across X, YouTube, and TikTok.

Dayo didn’t make a statement. The album spoke for him.

And those who doubted him found it hard to say anything bad.

The whole internet was taken over by Dayo.

In one word —

This was the perfect debut of an artist.