The Case of the Varnished Trainee

not to ask ab

had snapped with finality, eyes cold beneath

ike someone as perfect as

st disappear from V

hout wh

thout

ithout someone tryin

lack, and I wasn't

this

this

pop-inspired idol academy in Nigeria, where Afrobeat rhy

ed in the signature VAERA girl uniform: crisp black pleated skirt, white-trimmed collar shirt, matte knee socks,

idols in the making-beauti

didn't have time to be desirable.

dio wall looks like someone else. She looks confiden

do

t

told anyone that

I wasn't s

of the tinted VAERA shu

ial. Like the whole campus had its own at

ng out of a futuristic music video. Chrome-lined edges. Holographic lights. The

videos. Inter

in p

fel bag tighter as the doo

was almos

me, it felt like I was the only one breathing loud. The only one sweating

I saw

a On

nd white, but the cut was tailored, and her silver pin was shaped like a star instead of the standard triangle. Her honey-blonde wig curled just enough to look effortl

omeone who could

ond she saw

aid, her voice too sweet. "Kim

if she was complimenti

That's what Coach Tae called it, right? You're the

breathe thr

rk on that," I sai

r head. "Yeah

respond, a do

e a storm wrapped in

en painted on. His presence sucked the oxygen from the room. Every

nt, pacing in front of us. "You are products. Works in progr

ont of Sasha. Sh

turned

e Kimor

s,

edges. Audition submitted at the last minute. Zero

. "That

of potential. Don't

d. "Yes

he continued. "You will train like you

id it made my

on didn't

up with Mei, a soft-spoken girl from Abuja who danced like she was weightless, and

bed belonge

cou

ed tones, speaking rapid Yoruba and gig

staring at

when I

5A earlier during orientation. I hadn't noticed until I bent to

ipped out of bed and tip

Only red exit lights

was thicker than I expected. The cover

ened

ri

f pages

orean, with sketches and notes an

aw the s

.

n P

st wen

moment we arrived. Not once. No explanati

pped

und the f

I could still read the

howcase night, know i

rong. The blackm

s more than

le

w tha

Lee-

ike he stepped out of a perfume commercial. Jawline carved by the gods. Vocal

ppare

li

allo

ir in the stud

nder my hoodie and back

I noticed so

flection-

igu

tch

tely still by t

urn

e was

it light, p

heart pounding. My breat

idn't

anis

ng the first pi