For the Camera

16. I Have a Fanclub.

RUBY.

I got off the car while the driver quickly got in her front and stopped her from getting to me. I waved him away.

"Yes, dear." I moved closer to her.

"Happy birthday! I didn't think you'd want to talk to me. I'm Nanah, I love you so much and you're my role model. Can I have a picture with you?" The girl who looked seventeen or sixteen rushed on.

"Sure! Why not?" I replied as I struck a pose with her as she took selfies of us. She also gave my driver her phone as he took more pictures of us.

"Thank you so much. You're very friendly. You're also more beautiful and awesome in person. Pictures and rumours don't do you justice." Nanah said before I hugged her and she leapt away happily. I got back into the car and the driver zoomed off.

"I am someone's role model. Pictures and rumours don't do me justice. I am more beautiful and awesome in person."

That alone was enough to make my day, so I made those statements an affirmation as I kept repeating them while I stepped out of the car when we reached the venue. Toby and Sapphire ran to my side. I smiled, genuinely. I was happy, I would be lying if I said I wasn't.

"Happy birthday, sis." Sapphire squealed as she gave me a big hug and balanced a diamond-filled tiara on my head.

"Oh! I'm a princess now?" I joked.

"No, you're a Queen." She replied. I'm a queen and I'm going to act like a QUEEN.

And so, I stepped queenly into the beautiful hall full of dignitaries, families, politicians, celebrities and cameras. Thunderous clapping and whistling welcomed me.

I was ecstatic. I was happy. Can every day of my life be full of joy and happiness like this? 'Nah.' My inner voice answered yet again.

~•~

"You are glowing, Ruby. I can see love and care all over you, Toby is doing such a good job." My dad said.

We were all seated around a long table and I tried to ignore my dad as he bestowed praises on Toby more and more.

"Money makes everything shine, even the dullest shit." Clara, Toby's mom shaded. I rolled my eyes.

Yet it couldn't make your bad attitudes good, wicked hearts nice and proud selves humble.

"You have been transferred to Daniels Private University, Ruby. You can resume there whenever you want, and you can decide not to even go at all, you'd still pass." Mr Bankole Daniels said while others around the table laughed. They were all family.

Money.

"Take this. One of my assistants drafted out something for you to say when you're called upon." Toby said as he passed a paper to me under the table. I looked at him and collected it. I didn't bother to even open it.

"... due to this, we have decided to make Mrs Ruby Daniels our newest brand ambassador!" Was the only part I heard as clapping started. I looked up to see a man dressed in a T-shirt that said Maryline.

I struggled to keep my mouth closed.

Fuck me! The same Maryline that owns the biggest fashion house in the fashion industry?

That Maryline?

"Uhm, you're supposed to go up there to them," Sapphire said to me.

"Or they can bring it to her." Mr. Daniels countered as he waved at the representatives to come down with the contract and all and they did.

"Money stops nonsense," Sapphire said again.

It also starts nonsense.

After I signed the contract and took pictures with my smiling face, a group of people climbed the steps onto the podium as I watched, wondering who the f**k these were.

"Hy, Mrs Ruby Daniels! We love you so much! We are representatives of your fans and we call ourselves the RubyGems. We recently hit fifty thousand followers on i********: today, you can check us out. We defend, love and stan you all day, every day. The RubyGems came together to get you a birthday gift too, a Rangerover." The lady concluded enthusiastically as she dangled the car key decorated with ribbon.

My mouth was wide open this time.

I was speechless. I had fans? Do I have a fan club? RubyGems? Fifty thousand followers on i********:? They stand and defend me? Slap me!

People kept clapping and cameras kept clicking.

I walked into the stage and gave each one of them a long hug. I was so dumbfounded and speechless yet blown. Was I in some sort of fairytale? Today had got to be the best day of my entire life, I was totally on cloud nine.

"Thank you so much, RubyGems. I love and cherish you all. Thank you! We must have a meet and greet one of these days. I can't wait to meet every single one of you!" I said with excitement as I collected the car key. I stepped off the podium and sat on my seat still on cloud nine.

Best birthday ever! Or not!

"You are hyperventilating right now. You're so happy thinking you do have fans." Toby whispered to me as silently as he could, he was seated on my right with Sapphire on my left.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't be foolish, they are paid fans. They get paid to stan and defend you. The car they bought? They didn't buy s**t, my mom did in their name. Do you think you have fans? Ruby is a foolish girl, E, I, E, I, O." Toby silently sang with mockery. My bubbles burst as I dropped the car keys dejectedly.

"Why... why would you guys do such a thing?" I stuttered as tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.

"This is the celebrity world! We do a lot of things that people do not know, Fans who don't even have money to fend for themselves get a billionaire wife a range rover? Seriously? We stage fans, we pay people to be our fans, to defend us. We pay social media influencers to love us. We are celebrities, it's normal in the celebrity world. How can you not know that? Being born on April Fool's Day may have made you the most foolish person on earth." Toby buttressed as I just stared at nothing in particular.

"Meanwhile, it's time for the birthday girl's speech," Toby announced yet again. I stood up, my defences and happiness now subsided as I walked through the numerous people and cameras onto the stage.

'So what if they are paid fans? Your day was perfect before fans' bullshit and gifts. Chin up, Girl! Adjust your crown and walk like you own the damn place cos it's your birthday and You're a Queen. They are all your subjects, for today!' I hyped myself up mentally as I took the stage.

I had forgotten to take the paper Toby had given me along so I proceeded to talk from my heart. In all sincerity.

"Thank you everyone for all that you have done for making my day the best among all other days of my life. Isn’t it that our birthdays are one of the most important events of the year for us, of course, it has to be. The day on which we were bought on this planet and our existence turned into a reality. We surely wish for the best of the celebrations this day and I am glad that you all not only make my celebration nice but an outstanding occasion that I cherish throughout the year and even beyond. You, people, strive for the motivation within me and encourage me to move forward with all the special memories that you all give me on my special day.

It feels so great to see that my birthday has such importance in your lives that you people spare your time and celebrate this day of mine. This makes me just so happy. I cannot thank you people enough for each small deed from creating the cards to decorating the rooms to preparing the audio message video and everything my besties. I am overwhelmed with all the surprises that I have witnessed because of you people. You, people, are lifelines and are beyond my love limit for me. My birthday has been an unforgettable evening and the most awesome one.

Today has been full of surprises and joy for me. I had been gifted left and right, wished front and back. It's so overwhelming. I'm not one for so many words so I'll keep it very short. Thank you for your wishes and awesome gifts! Thank you for your presence, love and prayers. Thank you for the best birthday ever. Thank you." I concluded as I proceeded to go down the stairs amidst the thunderous claps.

And then I tripped and fell flat on my face.