Chapter 2: Heartlight Exposed

"Halima, winner of the first prize for the 18th 'Rainbow Cup' Composition Competition for Makurdi College of Music, congratulations!" The MC voice thunder for mic, echo just dey bounce reach back of auditorium. The whole hall smell of jollof rice and sweat, fans dey blow but e still hot, people dey wave handkerchief like say dem dey church.

"Wow, first prize o. I wan know which kind song be that." One babe for my left bend whisper, her face open like person wey see miracle.

"We go soon hear am. I hear say this year, the judges no be only the college lecturers, but Senior Musa Danjuma wey just return from UK join." Another roommate add her own, her mouth wide like akara seller wey see money.

As I dey come out from the restroom, I hear my roommates dey gist about Musa Danjuma. I pause for corridor, ear sharp like antenna wey dey find network.

Me, I sabi am well. Musa Danjuma na legend for our side—him music dey everywhere, from radio to wedding party. Even my uncle dey try play him style for Sunday church.

That time, na because Tunde like Musa Danjuma music, na im make am apply for the music college.

And because I grow up with Tunde, as childhood friend—and I like am for years—I follow am come here.

Just now, Tunde even send me message say e don see him idol.

"No wonder everywhere dey hot. Even TV people show." Another roommate bring out her phone, dey try snap Musa Danjuma for distance.

I wipe my hand, join them dey watch. The TV dey show the award ceremony, lights dey blink, everybody dey celebrate Halima.

My roommate quick use sign language tell me who win first prize, but before she fit talk which song— I beg am, dey sign fast, my hand dey shake like generator wey no get fuel.

The melody wey I know too well don already start. The song echo inside my chest, my heart dey cut like knife dey slice yam.

As the music begin, my roommates just open mouth dey look me. Silence full room. Dem dey look me like say dem see ghost.

I no even get time change shoe before I run go auditorium. My slippers dey make slap sound for corridor. One lecturer shout make I slow down, but I no answer am.

Before I know, I don already stand for stage, and the song just finish play. My chest dey rise and fall, I dey catch breath.

I dey breathe heavy, I open mouth: "Ah, ah, ah..."

I forget—I no dey talk. Na the same wahala wey dey always remind me of my difference.

As Halima see me for stage, I see fear flash for her eye small. E quick vanish, but e dey there.

But as she hear say na only "ah ah ah" dey come from my mouth, she just give me one wicked smile. The kain smile wey Naija girl dey give when she feel say she don win finish.

The lecturer for stage quick rush come push me: "Student, na award ceremony we dey do. Abeg, comot for here." He use hand push small, him face dey show confusion, like say wetin concern me and this matter?

I push back, point Halima, then point myself.

I begin sign: "Na my song be this. She thief my song."

But the man no understand. E just dey look me like say I dey act drama.

Soon, person shout from audience: "Aisha, abeg come down sharp sharp!" The voice sharp, I know say na Tunde.

My eye shine, I wave for am.

"Tunde, abeg help me!" I dey sign fast, my hand dey shake like generator wey no get fuel.

But as he waka come, face hard like stone, he just drag me comot for stage. E grip my arm tight, like say I be thief. My leg weak, but I try stand. For my mind, I dey beg—Tunde, no do me like this. Na you suppose fight for me.

I hold him hand, dey struggle go back, dey make desperate "ah ah ah" sound. Tears dey threaten for my eye, but I try hold am.

But he no send me, just drag me go one corner, push my hand commot, begin shout for me. Some students don begin look our side.

"You never do? You no tire for wahala?"

I look am, shock, pull him sleeve, my eye just dey hot, tears dey come out. My heart dey cut like knife dey slice yam.

I beg am, dey sign: "Tunde, she thief my song. Abeg, help me talk for them, I beg you."

He no even let me finish, just slap my hand away: "You no fit talk, you no fit sing am. Wetin dey wrong if Halima use the song?"

"Why you dey behave like say na big thing? If e too pain you, write another one."