Hi!

Idara Starr's pov...

Shine like the stars
Glow like the sun
Don't let them see...the shadows that lurk around.
__________Idara.

☘☘☘☘🍁☘☘☘☘🍁☘☘☘☘🍁☘☘☘☘🍁☘☘

I'm tired!

That was the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning. For the past three years, it has been the first thing I think of when I wake up from sleep.

Weird right? That I'll be tired the very moment I awake but it's my normalcy, I'll probably freak out the day I wake up without feeling exhausted.

The second thing I think of is I'm hungry, now this one depresses me way more than the former.

My stomach grumbles loudly, I'll be embarrassed if I had company but it's just me so I ignore the noise and the pain that comes after.

Today, I had a party to organize, and I'll be damned if I don't give them one they'll babble about for the rest of their existence.

I make my way to my three-way standing mirror and admire my million-dollar face and perfect body through my Victoria's secret night dress. The dress was sleeveless and transparent. The tiny straps to my waist was made of lace while the waist to my mid-thigh was made with silk.

According to my mom and manager, I had to dress to please even when I was in the comfort of my ridiculous princess-themed bedroom, after all, sexy nightgowns improve sleep.

In the eyes of the world, I was living 'the life' almost every girl my age dreamed of. As a well-recognized actress and international model with fame and an extravagant lifestyle, I was the envy of many girls.

The truth is that the grass isn't always greener on the other side and all that glitters isn't always gold.

I wonder if I would have given up pursuing this dream if I had known that it took just as much as it gave.

I glance at the wall clock hanging in the corner and it read 5:15 am, in less than an hour my mum will be here to remind me of my very busy schedule, so I drag my tired body to the bathroom, hopefully, I'll feel a bit more awake after a shower.

I make my way to the breakfast table before my mum has the opportunity to lecture me. My dad's twinkling eyes meet mine and he mirrors my smile.

"My princess is up early this morning, have pigs started flying?" He glances at his wristwatch again with surprise.

"Good morning to you too daddy," I kiss his cheeks as I greet him sweetly. My dad is by far the best father in the world.

"Good morning baby. I'm curious though, your mum usually has to scold you out of bed but you are up and about so early, I'm confused, what is going on?" He narrows his eyes at me with a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"I have my back-to-school party scheduled today among other things, so I decided to have an early start. You know what they say, wake late and win late, and I love to win early." I wink at him as I take my place at the table.

"Nicely said, darling! Let's just hope you stick to this resolution and your mum wouldn't be back to dragging you out of bed." He teased.

"Daddy! Actually, you are right, let's just take it one day at a time." I honestly don't know if I'll be able to get off the bed without the pills tomorrow.

"Atta girl!." He high-fives me and I smile brightly at him. These little moments with my dad always make my day.

"Great! You are up early, have your breakfast, and get dressed. Your first appointment is in two hours, you have that shoot with sunshine boots." My mum comes in, have I mentioned that my mum is also my manager? Sometimes I feel she's more of my manager than she is my mum.

"Let the girl breathe, Mayowa. She'll be ready on time, let's just have our breakfast in peace." Mum purses her lips but surprisingly stays quiet.

The kitchen staff serve us posted bread, eggs, and juice. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so I dig in even though I don't want to.

"Lay off the bread today Idara, I've requested vegan salad on your behalf, you are putting on weight, especially around your tummy." She lets out smoothly as she continues eating. My fingers immediately let go of the bread and it falls back to my plate.

I knew it! I really should have skipped breakfast today.

Someone brings in my salad and places it in front of me and I mutter a small thank you and continue staring at the delicious toast.

"Princess you can eat whatever you decide to, I don't see the weight your mum was talking about." Nice try dad but I can see the way my stomach bulges out now. I shouldn't even be eating because of my shoot.

"Honestly, I don't have an appetite this morning, I guess I'll just grab something after my shoot." From my peripheral vision, I see mum nod her head in support the exact opposite of what my dad does.

"No no no, I know how this works with you. First, you skip breakfast then lunch and before you know it you are too tired to even have dinner. You shouldn't skip any meal, whether you have the appetite or not." Mum rolls her eyes at dads speech.

"Fine dad, I'll eat a little." My dad gives me a look and I wink at him. He just shakes his head and drops the matter but I know this isn't the end, he'll bring it up later.

I quickly shove half of the tasteless salad down my throat much to the approval of my mum, kiss my dad goodbye and dash for my comfort zone which is my bathroom.

I quickly pop two different pills and swallow them. My reflection stares knowingly at me, this is the only way to keep everyone happy. I must keep everyone happy.

I smile at my reflection in the mirror, there you go, beautiful as always.

My mum had already prepared an outfit for me, so I put on the leafy green assemble she had laid out.

It was a tiny strap silk bralette with a frizzy flay silk trouser and silk kimono. I adore this look especially because it is in my favourite colour which is green by the way and not pink.

My mum rambles on about God knows what for the duration of the ride, I make sure to nod when she focuses her icy eyes on me.

"Starrgirl! See fine girl na! Starrgirl ma pa mi na!" Nifemi begins singing the moment I step foot in the Chic & Cute fashion and co's headquarters in Abuja. This was where I got my first modelling gig and I am very grateful to them for believing in me.

"Nife, leave me alone with this your hyping this morning but girl what's with this glow? You just dey shine anyhow." My smile was wide as I said this.

"I'm just following in your footsteps na, that your skincare routine works magic. Your glow oil is the bomb." Oh yeah, did I mention that I have a skincare line? Star's secrets is one of my baby projects and so far, I've gotten great reviews.

"You are magic, the products are just a bonus, you already had beautiful skin." I flatter her even though it is the truth.

"Oshe! Avery and that her fine brother Aaron will be attending your school this year." She fills me in on the latest gossip as we walk into the building.

"Why am I always the last to hear all the juicy gist? Avery didn't even tell me and my school resumed today." This is good news though, I liked the twins and their energy.

"I'm sure someone posted it on the C & C group chat." This was a group chat created for all ambassadors and models of Chic & Cute fashion, a group chat I scarcely visit.

"Then I better invite them to my party, do I trust you to grace us with your delightful presence?"

"I'll see what I can do," she begins. "OK, I'll be there, don't annihilate me with your eyes." She smacks her red-coated lips, which was her signature look. You'll never find Nife at any function without her lips painted red.

The shoot was eventful and I was exhausted. My cheek hurt from smiling too much and my intestines were obviously at war with me, everything was hurting.

"You'll need to leave for Lagos around noon tomorrow, your presence is needed at an award ceremony for the just completed most beautiful girl in Nigeria pageant. You'll be handing the award to the first runner-up at the award ceremony." My mum kept squinting at her phone, scowling or smiling when necessary, her fingers typing aggressively.

"Hmm." Mum shifted her attention to me for a second, scowl intact.

"What do you mean by 'hmm'? This is good, we are getting the recognition that we deserve and all you can say is 'hmm'?" She scolded and I wished I had just given her the reaction she wanted.

"Sorry ma, I meant it in an excited way but I'm just too tired to be excited right now." I hoped this was going to placate her but deep down I knew, that whenever my mum started it was really hard to get her to stop.

"You are tired? I work my butt off for you while all you have to do is smile and look pretty and you claim to be tired. What exactly are you tired of? Eh, Idara tell me oh? Is it the more than comfortable life you are living or the fame? Do you know how many of your mates wish to be in your shoes?" If I had a penny for all the times she's said this to me, I'll probably be able to buy the moon by now.

"I don't blame you, I've been spoonfeeding you for so long and now you've become lazy. Your father and I have laboured enough for you, the least you can do is suck it up and work hard. This is the only way you can pay us back and please, try to look happy while doing it." I hate that she's right.

"I'm sorry mum, I don't know why I get really tired these days but I'll work harder, I promise." This is my duty as a child, to make a better life for myself and my parents. God didn't give me this beauty for nothing, it was I gift that I had to use.

"Good. I hope for your sake that we do not have this conversation again and as for the tiredness, take one of those energy drinks you kids are taking these days and you'll feel better." She heaves a tired smile and goes back to her phone.

Don't worry mother, I've got it under control.

While she's busy with her phone, I discreetly take the pills again. For my family.

It's a series of meetings and shoots before I'm back home. Thank God I had someone plan the entire back-to-school party else it would be a total flop.

When I speak with Grace, I'm glad to find I'm not the only one having a terrible day. So when Grace and Beauty make plans to meet before the party, I pretend to argue even though I'm glad. I could do with a little solitude.

I'm dressed in my red chick outfit courtesy of Chic & Cute fashion which I love with Avery filling my ears with so much positivity, I'm sure I'm radiating the same energy.

"I swear Aaron has a crush on Grace, it's not even funny. She looks at him like he doesn't even matter and that pisses him off." I'll never understand why Grace has a problem with the male population among a billion other things. Like how could she find fault in Aaron, the dude is a sweetheart.

"Yeah, and from what I've heard, he made quite an impression. She was pissed today."

"Does she like someone?" She asked this so casually as she sips her drink.

"No way! Grace doesn't like anyone but she seems to despise the male gender." I can tell she's confused because she scrunches her brows.

"Why are you confused? It's not a secret that Grace can hardly stand boys, so don't be surprised." Her expression was so funny, that I couldn't help the bout of laughter that escaped me. Something about my laughter must have set Avery off because she started laughing too.

We were just recovering from that round of laughter when Grace walked in alone, looking as beautiful as ever.

I could tell something was different about Grace like she was already in a foul mood but Avery didn't know.

Poor Avery got a cold shoulder when she tried to hype her.

"You are here! Late but here nonetheless, don't tell me Beauty ghosted me!" I tried to diffuse the tension in the room. I couldn't understand what had changed, few hours ago, she said she liked Avery and now, she seemed irritated by the innocent girl's presence.

The worst was that I couldn't even take sides right now, while Avery and I got along really well, I couldn't go against Grace. I didn't want to have that cold gaze directed at me. Thankfully, Grace excused herself under the guise of finding Beauty who was still nowhere to be seen.

"Is it just me or did Grace seem a bit off just now? I thought we got along really well earlier." So Avery was attentive.

"That's just Grace, occasionally, she tends to act this way but it is nothing serious, you'll get used to her mood swings." I didn't lie, everyone had no choice but to adapt to Grace's behaviour and she'll have to do the same.

As I stared at Avery's believing face, I couldn't help but shudder at the drama that was going to unfold this year.

A/N:
Hello! That was a little intro into our Stargirl's life. What do you think?
That's all for now, till next time💕.