In less than five minutes, the group filled up with 50,000 students.
This time, no more entries were allowed.
Not even by the admins.
There would never be a ZETACIRCLE 2.
This was the one and only.
Students began gathering again.
Not just physically.
The lights were still blinding 💡
The speakers still shook the ground 🔊
The crowd still screamed every lyric like their lives depended on it 🎶
But the energy?
Different.
Sharper.
Charged ⚡
Lolade felt it the moment she stepped back into the open air arena behind MideFlex. It was the kind of tension that crawled into your skin and refused to leave. The kind that made smiles feel forced and laughter sound too loud.
Around them, students from different schools regrouped fast.
BigDave spotted the ASF crew first.
AraBaddie followed.
Gift screamed Lolade's name like she had just won a Grammy 🎤🔥
"You people disappeared!" ZaraBliss said breathlessly. "What was that dramatic walk away for?"
Lolade barely smiled.
Her phone vibrated.
Then again.
Then again.
Bing. Bing. Bing 📲
She looked down.
ZETACIRCLE notifications flooded her screen.
Admin announcements.
Pinned messages.
Welcome notes.
Her eyes widened.
She raised her head and locked eyes with Gift.
"You're seeing it too, abi?" Gift asked slowly.
BigDave stepped closer. "Seeing what?"
Gift swallowed. "We're inside."
Silence😶🌫️.
"What do you mean inside?" Oscar asked.
Lolade lifted her phone.
The ZETACIRCLE logo glowed boldly at the top of her screen ✨
AraBaddie gasped. "No way."
Khadijat grabbed her phone. "Check yours!"
ZaraBliss froze. "I'm in too."
Jayden laughed under his breath. "This is crazy or unbelievable."
BigDave's jaw dropped. "Wait. All of us?"
Gift nodded slowly. "Most of us."
A wave of whispers rolled through the ASF senior group.
"How?"
"Who added us?"
"Is this even real?"
"Are we dreaming?"
Lolade turned to MideFlex.
He had gone quiet again, his face unreadable.
Gift leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "There's more."
Lolade raised a brow. "Go on."
"I saw Peace," Gift said. "Not long ago. She was holding Zad's hand. And she was so rude, I felt belittled."
The words landed like a slap.
Lolade stiffened while BigDave frowned. "Holding hands like… holding hands?"
"Yes," Gift replied. "Like they weren't even hiding it."
Murmurs spread instantly.
"That's Zad."
"ZETACIRCLE Zad?"
"The cold spider?"
"That Zad?"
MideFlex's jaw tightened visibly.
Lolade turned slowly to him. "Your cousin and Zad?"
"I don't know too?" he said quietly.
"And she sounded uninterested when you asked her about admin access," Lolade added.
Gift folded her arms. "Uninterested, but suddenly powerful enough to talk to Cold Zad and get decisions made fast."
AraBaddie scoffed. "That's suspicious."
Suddenly, the music dipped.
Not faded.
Cut ❌
The crowd screamed in confusion.
The lights dimmed, then refocused on the main stage.
A tall lady stepped forward confidently, dressed in sleek black. Silver rings glinted under the lights, her presence commanding instant attention.
NancyPie.
The female admin.
ZETACIRCLE royalty 👑
The crowd erupted.
"That's her!"
"Admin NancyPie!"
"She's live!"
NancyPie raised one hand.
Instant silence.
She smiled.
Cool.
Controlled.
Dangerous 😌🔥
"Good evening everyone, and sorry for the short decision," she said smoothly. "Now that 50,000 students are officially in ZETACIRCLE, we will be dropping a nomination link."
The crowd leaned in.
"You can nominate one or two students from your school for the Studlist 3.0 Award. Tonight was meant to be Festival Night, but tonight is also about legacy."
A pause.
"No judges tonight," she added calmly.
"We are the judges."
Lolade felt her heart rate spike.
"This year...," NancyPie continued, "Studlist 3.0 is not just a name. It is a responsibility."
She paced slowly.
"We are looking for someone capable."
Pause.
"Someone reliable."
Pause.
"Someone captivating."
The crowd leaned forward.
"Someone good."
ASF students exchanged looks.
"Your nominated person," NancyPie said firmly, "will officially represent their school."
Gasps rippled through the arena.
"And...," she added, eyes sharp, "they will become an official admin of ZETACIRCLE."
The venue exploded 💥🔥
Students screamed.
Schools chanted names.
Phones flew into the air 📱
MideFlex's breath caught.
Admin.
Power.
Voice.
Visibility.
This was bigger than any award.
He slowly turned to Lolade.
Their eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between them.
NancyPie raised her hand again. "It's a Studlist, so there will be three winners. Nominations are officially open now."
The screen behind her flashed.
STUDLIST 3.0 NOMINATION PORTAL LIVE
Before she could continue, movement rippled through the crowd.
Peace stepped forward near the VIP section.
Beside her…
Zad.
His arm rested comfortably around her waist.
Perfect timing.
Perfect lighting.
Intentional.
MideFlex's anger began to bubble.
"So that's it," Gift muttered.
"She wants power without noise," AraBaddie said.
"Using romance as strategy, that's unrighteous," Gift added.
MideFlex's fists clenched.
NancyPie's gaze flicked briefly toward Peace and Zad. A knowing smile curved her lips.
Interesting 😏
Very interesting.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the ASF section.
"Let's nominate MideFlex!"
Silence followed.
Then smiles.
Lolade turned to him.
He wanted it, but something inside him hesitated.
AraBaddie stood tall. "Lolade is more capable."
Their eyes met.
"I'm sorry about earlier," AraBaddie added softly. "Just mood nonsense."
"No problem but MideFlex was nominated first," Lolade replied.
Another voice followed.
"Jayden's reliable too!"
Gift stepped forward. "Lolade's captivating though."
BigDave added loudly, "MideFlex's good!"
The chant started.
"Jayden! Jayden! Jayden!"
"Lo la de! Lo la de! Lo la de!"
"MideFlex! MideFlex! MideFlex!" 🔥
Lolade's heart slammed against her chest.
"No, wait…"
NancyPie's voice cut through.
"Lolade of AllStars Foundation College," she said calmly. "Step forward."
The crowd parted slowly.
Every step felt heavy.
Every light burned hotter.
Lolade stepped into the open.
"I didn't ask for this," she said.
NancyPie nodded. "Good. That usually means you deserve it."
She leaned forward slightly. "If chosen, would you choose power or people?"
"People," Lolade answered instantly.
A hush fell.
"Power without people is empty," she continued. "And people without a voice remain invisible."
NancyPie's smile deepened.
From the VIP section, Peace stiffened.
Zad whispered something to her.
MideFlex's chest tightened.
NancyPie straightened. "Interesting answer."
She tapped her tablet.
The screen updated.
ASF NOMINEE CONFIRMED
The ASF crew erupted 💥🔥
"Just like that?" Jayden said out of anger.
"We didn't choose ourselves before she was called" BigDave said after seeing MideFlex not happy about it.
Cheers.
Screams.
Tears.
Lolade exhaled shakily.
"This is only the beginning," NancyPie announced. "The final decision will be made tonight."
Her gaze slid toward Peace.
"And trust me… connections alone will not decide this."
Peace's smile faltered.
Lolade stepped back.
"You did that," Gift said, hugging her tightly.
"Congratulations," BigDave grinned.
"Admin material," AraBaddie laughed.
Lolade turned to MideFlex.
Their eyes locked again.
"Make us proud if we can't," he said quietly.
"What's that supposed to mean? In fact, You left me earlier," she replied.
"I needed to, after you dropped a stupid bomb on me," he said. "Just step into your own light and let us shine."
She searched his face. "Excuse me? This is your answer?"
His lips curved faintly. "I'll answer you with it's time."
The music returned louder than before 🎶🔥
Above them, the nomination link began to count down.
Below them, alliances shifted.
And somewhere between power, love, and loyalty, the night promised one thing clearly…
Nothing would ever be the same again 🔥✨