Fading Shadows

CHAPTER NINE

Three days had passed since their video blew up on t****k, and the world still hadn’t calmed down.

Grace had woken up to another flurry of tags and mentions. There was now a full-on dance trend, complete with hashtags like #HostelShuffle, #GenzNaijaGroove, and #DanceWithGrace. There were even kids in SS2 and SS3 doing it in their school uniforms, sneaking around classrooms like they were on a secret mission just to film it.

But that wasn't even the craziest part.

Influencers, dance coaches, lifestyle vloggers, and even a few comedians had DMed them. Some offered to feature them. Some asked for collabs. One famous t****k teacher-s***h-content creator with over 600k followers had even reposted their dance with the caption: "Na who teach me this one? I must meet these girls o!"

And now, she had invited them over to her place to create content together.

---

"I think we should go," Maddie said, sipping on her Milo with bread. "This might never come again."

Grace sighed, leaning against the bunk. "We have lectures today. Dr. Saka will definitely mark attendance."

"Come on," Maddie rolled her eyes. "Since when did Dr. Saka start caring about us personally? He doesn't even know our names."

"Still..."

"Look," Maddie said, lowering her voice, "she said today is the only day she's free. If we don't go, it's over. Do you know what a collab with her can do for our accounts?"

Grace hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. Her mind drifted to her GPA, her scholarship conditions, her mum's last phone call telling her to "just try and do well, my daughter. This semester is important."

But she also thought about how good it felt when people clapped for them. When strangers called them talented. When her old crush sent her a laughing emoji and wrote, "You girls burst my head."

Grace sighed again, heavier this time. "Alright. Let's go."

---

The trip from the mainland to the island felt like an odyssey.

They squeezed into a danfo that smelled like engine oil and roasted groundnuts, then took another bus after trekking in the sun for nearly 30 minutes. The sun hit different that day, like it was trying to test their decision.

By the time they arrived, Grace's wig had shifted slightly, and Maddie was already fanning herself with her phone. Her face looked like she’d just fought a battle.

But when the door opened, the influencer—a tall, light-skinned woman named Miss Teni—stepped out with a big smile.

"My stars! You girls are even prettier in person. Come in, jor!"

Her apartment smelled like cinnamon and vanilla. The AC was on full blast. There were indoor plants, a ring light taller than Grace, a mirror with LED lights, and a couch that looked like it cost her semester's school fees.

They sat, drank chilled zobo, and talked.

Miss Teni gave them pointers about content creation, posture, and how to use trending audios.

"Consistency is key o. One viral video is not enough. Keep it coming," she said, tapping her long nails against her glass.

Grace asked questions like a student at WAEC tutorial. Maddie soaked it all in, already imagining the kind of aesthetics she’d start using. For a second, they felt like they belonged in that world. Like maybe, just maybe, they could be more than just LASU girls with hostel wahala.

Then they filmed.

Three outfit changes, four videos, and too many takes later, they collapsed back on the couch, laughing.

At one point, Grace tripped over the ring light cord and nearly took down a whole backdrop. Miss Teni burst into laughter, grabbing her phone to record a "blooper" reel.

Another time, Maddie did the dance with a twist, shouting, "This one na Mainland Version!" and even Miss Teni joined in.

When they were done, she clapped for them. "You girls are naturals. You’ll go far."

The affirmation settled like balm on Grace's chest. For the first time in a while, she believed it too.

---

They left just before sunset, grateful, exhausted, and glowing with pride.

On the way back, just outside the estate gate, they ran into a group of guys playing ball.

"Ah! Are you not the t****k babes?"

Maddie smiled politely. Grace nodded. One of the guys walked over.

"Can I get your number? For... networking."

They exchanged numbers, made small talk, and the guys promised to visit soon. Maddie rolled her eyes the moment they turned around.

"They're not serious. Watch them text 'You up?' by 2 a.m."

Grace chuckled, but her eyes were on the clouds darkening above. There was something strange about the wind. Like the kind of wind that blew before something went wrong.

---

Back in the hostel, the laughter died.

Someone had sent a broadcast message to the class group chat:

> "Dr. Saka came today. Gave us impromptu test. 20 marks o. Said no makeup test."

Grace's heart dropped.

"Wait... what?"

Maddie was already scrolling. Her face fell.

"It's true. People are even posting their scores. He’s already marked it."

Grace sank onto the bed. Her body was still buzzing from earlier, but now her stomach twisted in knots.

"Twenty marks... Maddie, that’s like a whole CA."

Maddie stood by the window, staring into the night like it could offer answers. "I didn't think he would come today."

Grace sat up, suddenly angry. "We skipped class for a t****k collab. A test, Maddie. We missed a test."

"You agreed too," Maddie snapped back, then sighed. "Sorry. I just... I thought we had time."

Grace looked away. She wanted to cry but her tears were stuck somewhere between shame and disbelief.

They stared at their phones. Notifications still poured in. More collab requests. More DMs. Comments with laughing emojis and "You girls are my spirit animal!" and "Drop more content!"

But the joy had dimmed.

The laughter from earlier now felt like an echo. The dance felt distant. Like a dream they were no longer sure they should have chased.

Grace laid back, eyes on the ceiling.

"Did we just mess up?"

Maddie didn’t reply.

The room was quiet.

And for the first time in days, their hearts felt heavier than their notifications.