Chapter 4: Glimpses of Truth

Rita's alarm beeped softly at dawn, but she was already awake. Restless thoughts had swirled in her mind all night about the pageant, the warnings online, and the silent phone message thread. A sense of determination mingled with her unease.

She headed to the kitchen, hoping the routine would steady her nerves. The first rays of sunlight warmed the tiled floor as she rummaged for breakfast. But her appetite had vanished.

"You're up early again," her mother observed, setting down a plate of toast. "Everything okay?

Rita mustered a half-smile. "Just thinking. I… might need your advice.

Her mother's brows lifted, concern softening her gaze. "Of course, dear. About the pageant?"

Rita nodded, chewing her lip. "They haven't answered my questions about fees. I found some posts online… people calling it a scam." She swallowed hard. "But it could just be rumors, right?"

Her mother set a gentle hand on Rita's arm. "Rumors or not, you have every right to ask for clarity. Have you tried calling them?"

Rita blinked. "I only have an email address and a WhatsApp line for them. I'll try sending another message, but—"

"Then do it," her mother said firmly. "And if you're still not comfortable, talk to your father and me. We'll figure this out together."

A warm rush of gratitude filled Rita. "Thanks, Mom."

A Quiet Determination

After school, Rita ducked into a secluded corner of the courtyard. She opened her WhatsApp, heart pounding as she typed:

Hello again. I'm just checking in about the fees for Sunshine Pageantry. Please let me know if there are any additional costs. Thanks!

–Rita Mensah

She tapped Send and stared at the screen. A single grey tick indicated the message was sent. Seconds passed… no second tick, no "Online" status. Nothing.

Exhaling slowly, she slid her phone back into her bag. Faith's voice called from across the courtyard.

"Rita, hey!"

Rita waved her over. Faith's eyes flickered with concern. "Any luck with the pageant folks?"

Rita shook her head. "I messaged again. I'll see if they respond."

Faith pursed her lips. "I've been asking around. A girl in my cousin's class tried the same pageant last year. She said the final stage never happened."

A chill coursed through Rita. "They canceled it?" No official cancellation," Faith clarified. "Just kept postponing until people gave up."

Rita's stomach twisted. She forced herself to speak calmly. "I guess we'll see."

An Unsettling Discovery

That evening, Rita found herself back at her desk, scrolling through more forums and social media groups. The sky outside turned indigo as night crept in. She typed in different variations—Sunshine Pageantry experiences, Sunshine Pageantry real or fake, Sunshine Pageantry victims.

A thread popped up on a lesser-known platform. Her eyes widened at the title:

"Sunshine Pageantry – A friend's story."

The post read:

"My friend entered Sunshine Pageantry, paid fees, and was promised a big platform. They kept demanding more payments for 'costumes' and 'voting packages.' She ended up losing thousands of cedis. Now they've ghosted her. Be careful!"

Rita's heart pounded. Could it be the same competition? The details sounded painfully similar. She noticed a reply beneath the post:

"Same happened to me. They blocked me when I asked too many questions."

Rita leaned back, pulse racing. She stared at her phone, half-hoping for a reassuring message from the pageant, half-dreading it might never come.

Confiding in Pamela, Unable to keep her worries to herself, Rita video-called Pamela. Her friend's face appeared on the screen, the background hum of her household audible.

"Rita, hey! You look stressed," Pamela said, adjusting her headphones.

Rita explained everything she'd read—about the extra fees, the ghosting, the canceled finals. Pamela's brow furrowed.

"That's… messed up," she said softly. "Maybe you should show your parents these posts. If it's a scam, you can't fight it alone."

Rita fiddled with a loose thread on her sleeve. "I'm scared they'll say 'I told you so.' I really believed in this.

Pamela gave a sympathetic smile. "Better to face that than lose more money. Or get in deeper."

Rita nodded, swallowing the knot in her throat. "You're right. I'll tell them. Tomorrow.

A Family Conversation

True to her word, Rita summoned her courage the next day. After dinner, she gathered her parents in the living room. The overhead light cast a warm glow over the worn sofa where they sat.

She showed them screenshots of the forum posts, the suspicious testimonies, and her unanswered messages.

Her father's expression darkened. "This doesn't look good." He glanced at the phone. "No official reply at all?"

Rita shook her head. "Not since they asked for my talent video. It's been almost a week."

Her mother sighed. "I wish we'd known sooner. But at least we know now." She touched Rita's shoulder gently. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. This must be disappointing."

Tears pricked at Rita's eyes. "It is. But I'd rather know the truth."

Her father exhaled, face set. "We should try to get your money back. If they refuse to respond, we'll take other steps. Maybe report them."

Rita nodded, relief and sorrow mingling. She had wanted so badly for Sunshine Pageantry to be real. Now it felt like a house of cards collapsing around her.