The comment section exploded like a firework show gone wrong.
@Spidergwen: Om my god bless you so much Sean, you asked the best question, I love you!!!
@Jfiyfiyf: Did you hear that?! Plus, the videos? It's obvious who it was. Are you playing?
@Lilitha_Siko: And for what they were doing... it's not that much of a brainer, is it?
@Tomastoto: OMG, Billie and Ethan are legit my fav artists, please let this be true!!
@Darkness_Light: Are you guys serious? I reject it. Ethan is so fine, why should he be with Billie? This is just a one-night stand, I'm sure.
@xerxes33311: Sean is so nasty today. What's wrong? He never asks questions like this. Someone please save Ethan, he looks like he wants to die.
@WraithsDomain: Wait, is it only me that's still baffled by what he said? Is it true that lemons aren't really real and they're man-made? That has to be a lie.
@Amyri_Daliet: Sean, you're evil for this.
The live chat kept moving at light speed, fans losing their minds, the internet practically combusting. Even Ethan himself couldn't help but cough—an abrupt, violent reaction as if he'd just inhaled a ghost pepper whole. The worst part? He hadn't even touched a single mystery hot wing yet.
He blinked, still sputtering, before snapping his head toward the interviewer. "What?"
Sean, the ever-unbothered interrogator, simply grinned like a cat that had cornered a particularly clueless mouse. "You heard what I said. The lady in the video, and what was the play you guys did?"
Hearing it again, Ethan felt his throat dry up. His entire memory of last night? Fuzzy. Distorted. It was like trying to watch a movie through a shattered screen. A part of him wanted to take the easy way out—grab a mystery box, pretend none of this was happening—but he knew better. If he skipped answering, it would basically be an admission of guilt. And guilt for what? He was sure it wasn't what they were thinking.
No way. Not possible.
Because every time he recalled being around Billie at that party, he could also remember her brother lurking somewhere nearby. And there was no way—absolutely no way—he would have sex a second time and forget about it again. The first time a threesome happened, he'd already had enough emotional damage for a lifetime. Having what most men would literally sell their souls for, and yet not remembering a single second of it? It haunted him.
And now, this? Sleeping with a superstar and completely blanking out on it? Not in a million years.
Besides, he knew himself. He had a crush. No, not just a crush—something deeper, something that made his chest tighten in ways he didn't want to admit. And even if he hadn't been fully in control of himself that night, he wouldn't have done anything to betray his own feelings.
As he racked his brain for an answer, a flash of memory finally hit him.
Meanwhile, Sean sat across from him, watching. For a split second, he wondered if maybe—just maybe—he'd pushed too far. This wasn't his usual line of questioning, but the producers had practically begged him to go for it. And judging by Ethan's reaction, he'd landed a direct hit. Seeing the singer shaking his head, Sean thought, 'Yeah, I've gone too far.'
Wanting to cut the tension before Ethan actually choked to death, Sean cleared his throat and tried to backtrack. "Okay, Ethan, about the first one, we all know it was a certain 'Happier Than Ever' superstar. As for—"
"UNO!!!"
A loud, almost ecstatic shout cut through the air, making Sean jump in his seat like someone had just smacked him with a frying pan.
"Ehn?" he managed, his confusion palpable.
Ethan, now grinning like a kid who had just cracked the cheat code to life, smacked the table. "UNO! Yeah, Uno! That's what the two of us were playing!" He looked up, triumphant, as if he had just delivered the greatest revelation known to mankind.
Sean stared at him. Blinked. Processed. "...Huh?"
Ethan nodded enthusiastically, his confidence restored. "Uno! That's what we were playing. Just Uno. Nothing else. You know, the card game? Wild Draw Four? Reverse? Skip? Just good, clean, wholesome fun."
Sean still looked skeptical. The internet? Not so much
@Darkness_Light: LMAOOOOO HE REALLY SAID UNO
@Lilitha_Siko: Nahhh, he's deflecting.
@Almotazbllah Ahmed: THIS IS SO FUNNY I CANT BREATHE
@WraithsDomain: Uno is a wild game though. I once lost my house over a Draw Four.
@xerxes33311: ETHAN THINKS HE'S SLICK UNO I HAVE TO USE THAT
@Spidergwen: NO BUT WHAT IF HE'S ACTUALLY TELLING THE TRUTH???
Sean exhaled, rubbing his temples. "So you're saying you and Billie... were just playing Uno."
Ethan, straight-faced, nodded. "Yup."
Sean squinted. "And that explains the video?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."
Sean sighed. "You're lucky I actually believe in second chances."
Ethan grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Uno's a serious game, man. You wouldn't understand."
The moment Ethan said "Uno," thinking he was off the hook, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. But while Sean might believe in second chances, the internet certainly did not.
The comment section went nuclear.
@Spidergwen: HE'S LYING. I CAN FEEL IT IN MY SOUL.
@Jfiyfiyf: Bro really just said UNO like that explains anything 💀
@Lilitha_Siko: This is FAKE. I refuse to believe a superstar plays UNO at an afterparty. NEXT.
@Darkness_Light: Sean, why are you even doing this if Ethan's just gonna lie?? L SHOW.
@Tomastoto: Dude, who tf plays Uno at a party with BILLIE? You expect me to believe that?? 😂😂😂
@xerxes33311: This is actually the worst excuse I've ever heard. My disappointment is immeasurable.
@WraithsDomain: Nah, Ethan's stuttering. He's guilty. Case closed. 🚪💨
@Amyri_Daliet: This is like watching someone try to gaslight the entire internet in real-time.
The flood of comments was overwhelming. Even one of the producers, watching from the back, started sweating bullets. This was their first time attempting such a risky, interactive format, and they did not want it to backfire. The audience looked angry. Like, "grab your pitchforks and cancel him" angry. The producer quickly spoke into Sean's earpiece.
Sean, sitting comfortably across from Ethan, nodded slightly as he received the message. Then he turned back to Ethan with an apologetic smile.
"Oops. Uh… sorry, Ethan, but it looks like the audience doesn't believe you."
Ethan blinked. "Wait, what?" He sat up straighter. "But I am serious! We played Uno!"
Sean gave him a look—one of those pitying, "Sure, buddy" looks. "Hey, Ethan, I believe you believe that."
Ethan nodded. "Exactly! See? Thank y—"
"But the audience doesn't." Sean finished with a shrug.
Ethan sighed dramatically. "Okay, and what do we do about that, then?"
Sean rubbed his chin, pretending to think hard. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he snapped his fingers. "Alright, let's settle this the only way that makes sense. We'll let the audience decide."
Ethan's whole body tensed. "Wait, what? No. No, no, no, no—"
"Yes, Ethan.Yes." Sean grinned. "We'll take the most common response in the comments and let them decide if you're telling the truth."
Ethan's eyes darted to the screen behind them, which was flooding with messages.
@Darkness_Light: Ethan's so guilty it hurts.
@Lilitha_Siko: JUST OPEN A MYSTERY BOX AND SUFFER.
@Tomastoto: If he gets out of this, I'm eating my own sock.
@WraithsDomain: BOOOOOOO. NO MERCY. PICK THE BOX.
Sean chuckled as he read the reactions. "Welp, I think that settles it. Ethan, grab a mystery box."
Ethan groaned. "Oh, come on!" But he knew there was no escaping this. With exaggerated reluctance, he reached for one of the black-and-red mystery boxes on the table.
Sean rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Ah, let's see what fate has in store for you!"
Ethan slowly lifted the lid and peeked inside. His eyes brightened. "HA! Take that, internet! It's one of the mild ones!" He stuck his tongue out at the camera, looking downright smug.
Sean laughed. "See? Not so bad!"
Ethan held up the wing like a trophy. "This shouldn't be hard at all. Watch and learn, everyone."
Then, in one confident motion, he took a huge bite.
And that's when he instantly regretted every decision he had ever made.
The heat slammed into his senses like a freight train. His entire face caught fire. His throat felt like it had been set ablaze. His eyes widened in terror.
"MMMPH—" He choked, flapping his hands like a dying fish. He scrambled for the glass of milk on the table, gulping it down as if his life depended on it. But the fire only intensified.
Sean was dying laughing. "Oh my god, Ethan, are you okay?!"
Ethan, tears forming in his eyes, just lifted a shaky thumbs-up while wheezing like an asthmatic grandpa.
Meanwhile, the comment section had lost its mind.
@Spidergwen: LMAOOOOOO I KNEW HE COULDN'T HANDLE IT. 💀💀💀
@Jfiyfiyf: Internet 1 - Ethan 0.
@Lilitha_Siko: Ethan out here fighting for his life over a MILD WING. 😭😭
@Darkness_Light: Thought his mom's chili was spicy? HA! This is way worse! White Boy L
@Tomastoto: THIS MAN TOOK ONE BITE AND STARTED BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE.
@WraithsDomain: HELP ME I CAN'T BREATHE THIS IS TOO FUNNY.
@Amyri_Daliet: "Take that, audience!" he said. "Watch and learn!" he said. 😂😂😂😂
Ethan finally managed to stop gasping long enough to speak. "I—I hate all of you." He sniffled, still fanning his tongue. "Every single one of you."
Sean wiped away a tear from laughing too hard. "Welp, that was only question one, buddy. We still have nine more to go."
Ethan, looking like a man on the verge of an existential crisis, slowly turned to stare at him. "...You're joking."
Sean smirked. "Oh, no. This is just the beginning."