[Music in another form]

After Moremi's visit. I was almost certain my mum would rebuke her presence in the house. Thankfully the holy spirit intervened, so that never happened.

You've got to understand. I was EXTREMELY glad it didn't, cause now? My attention was centered on one thing, and one thing only. And that was 'BTS'. Within just three more visit, and I think, a week of chatting. I'd officially proclaimed myself an 'Army'.

Finally!
something new for a change.

“When I wake up in my room, room. Nan mwotdo eopji, mwotdo eopji Haega jigo nan hu, hu, biteuldaemyeo geotji (Biteuldaemyo geotji) Da mansinchangiro chwihaesseo chwihaesseo Mak yokae gireseo gireseo Na masi gatji michinnom gatji Da eongmang jinchang livin' like ppii.

[When I wake up in my room (Room), I have nothing
After the sun sets, I sway as I walk I'm completely drunk, drunk I'm swearing on the streets I've lost it, I'm like a crazy guy, Everything's a mess, livin' like beep]”

Yeah so, I couldn't help the fact that my mouth wouldn't stop mummering the lyrics to FIRE. One of my favorite BTS songs at the time. I kinda, maybe put the song on rewind throughout the night while I slept. But hey? Which kpop fan hasn't?

Joy came to me when listening to their songs. And don't GET ME STARTED ABOUT THEIR LOOKS!!!!! Oh my goodness, I thought k-drama actors were something only to be grossly mistaken.

Also, who knew Koreans could actually sing like this? Ah, E shock me o. As in. In sight of things, I was not, but, was, becoming obsessed. Sotey, I nearly forgot about my k-dramas for some time. The spell the group had on me was actually scary.

“AUNTY ADESUA!”

“Oh no.” I groaned. Cause whenever Shewa called my name like that, it meant something was up. “Yes? What is it?” I pulled out the single earpiece I had on and dashed out my room. The only reason I even heard her, was cause the door had been open. “Ah! You no wan close ni?” I complained trying with much effort to shut my door. The thing just dey do anyhow. “Ehen, So, what happened?” I asked, walking through the corridor along with her. “Is your friend.” I almost asked; “Which friend?” When my brain reminded me of who it was.

You see? I've been friendless for so long. I don dey forget say I even get.

Widening my eyes in excitement I dashed passed the smallish girl. Omo, then again, it wasn't as if I was any different from her. Wahlai, nah only chest region wey differentiate the two of us.

“Kyong!” I yelled, Leaping unto her like an excited frog. “Oop! Say nothing, and come with me!” I'd quite literally been bouncing with glee, when I suddenly dragged the girl along without regards for her consent.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

“OkAy!” I jovially stated, trying hard to keep my elation to a minimum. While she sat patiently, brimming with smiles. “You...You've gotten me obsessed! Arghhh! I can't stop listening to them. I swear they're amazing!!!”

She crossed her legs on the bed, and folded her arms feeling good about herself. Her expression was telling me “Hehehehe, am I awesome or what?” Ugh. She was.

Before I knew it my mouth started mummering again. This time louder, and more fan girly.“When I wake up in my room, room. Nan mwotdo eopji, mwotdo eopji Haega jigo nan hu, hu, biteuldaemyeo geotji...” I stopped, noticing how her excited face turned to one of shock!

“What? What happened? Why'er you stareing like that?” She smiled. “Oh! Sorry, I was just thinking about how nice you sound. I swear whenever you sing it's like time stops for me. And you're pronunciations are on point. One would think you were a native of Korea.”

I slanted my shoulders in a bit of surprise, actively trying to hid my obvious blush. “O..Oh, I-I'm glad you think so. I...just do it without thinking about wether I sound good or not.” She immediately got up and stood on the bed, then placed her hands on her hips. “I know! How bout we duet!?”

That, was one heck of a suggestion.

A duet with me?
Little miss, 'out of water', wanted to duet with 'Ekaette on crack'. I almost laughed in Italianese. “Look. I'm happy you think I sound nice and all but, I no fit abeg.” She frowned. Ruining her cute face. “Awww why? I've been in need of a vocal partner, and I think you'd fit the bill. No one else wants to do it with me. Can't you just give it a try? Please? Even for a little while?”

Ahhhh, why was she so convincing? Sometimes I just want to blow her. Like, arrrrgghhhhh! I can't ever seem to tell her 'NO'.

I sighed, then did some twirls till I finally plopped onto the bed, beside her. “Ugh, fine.” She was about to squeal but my finger stopped her. “But! Don't expect too much from me o. Na you get talent no be me.” Her eye lids lowered a bit. She seemed like she'd been contemplating.

“Okay!” I was about standing up when she copied me and threw out a finger.

“But!”
Omo, the girl dey whine me Sha.

“I don't want you keeping up that kind of attitude. I wouldn't have asked you to sing with me if I thought you weren't talented. I know we've only been friends for a short while, but it's time enough for me to've realized your potential. I want you to believe it for yourself too. Okay?”

Majority of what she said confused me, I miss road for; “Asked you to sing with me.”  Even so, I wanted to ease her mind so. I did what any reasonable friend would do. And responded to her saying; “Yeah, yeah whatever. Can we get on with this?” Omo, the way her hand came in contact on my head ehn. “Take this seriously!” She complained while tackling my head with hard chops. “Ahhh, okay, okay, okay! Calm down I willll!!!”

Finally, she stopped.

“Hmph! Good. Now, let's begin.” She told me, clasped her hands together then smiled that her yeye smile. Mtchewww, somebody will think she's an angel.

“So, which song will we sing?” The excitement she displayed when I asked that question was unprecedented. Yet not surprising. “I've got the perfect song! I'm sure you know it!”

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Just like my boring ass life, the holidays were drawing close to an end. Hold up, I didn't mean my life was literally coming to an end o. That was my attempt at...forget it.

Unfortunately, that meant I wouldn't have time to chat with Moremi. The new term was what peers in my school called 'waec season'. Or better yet,'Term of trials'. I'd be getting into SS3.

How I take reach there, I no know. There wasn't going to be time for slacking off. I needed to succeed! Even if It was to go back to my primary school textbooks. At least I thought that was the plan. Till I found out my parents..mtchewww, sorry my mother! Had other plans.

“Ehen, Adesua.” I handed her one set of the rubber she'd been using to knot Shewa's hair. “Ma?” I responded, turning to arrange another set. “About your resumption. You're not going back to that school o.” I turned back, then blinked at her in shock. Believing, or rather, 'knowing' that something was wrong.

“You'er going to one em..special center, in surulere. So better get prepared. Shebi the exam is in nine month's time?” I nodded. Only because I didn't know what to say. “Ehen, so once it's time, I'll personally take you there. But after that, you'll be the one going by yourself.”

I was so overcome with confusion, that my mouth nearly sped ahead of me gunning to say; “Excuse me? What are you going on about?”

I knew I wasn't that smart, but even with that, my dad would NEVER pay money for ANY of his children to go to a special center. Dad would nev...wait, ofcourse. Dad probably wasn't aware of this, was he?

“Bu..but, I don't understand. Why?” Even though it seemed I was being calm, my hands were shaking. “Mmmm, I need to ensure you get into Unilag. So, for that to happen you'll need top scores. Which...I can't trust you for.” She said that to scathe me, and it hurt my soul.

“Hehehe, Ah-ha aunty Adesua pele o. (Sorry o).” My mum's palm came in contact with that devil's face. “Will you shut up! Who put your mouth?”

Ah, seeing that sorta healed me a little. But, I needed to know. Why this? “So, did daddy say is special center I will go to?” My heart was beating so fast, predicting my mum's actions was like trying to decipher a spy code using peanut butter and gun powder.

But as I expected, she remained silent. If dad gave the go ahead, I guess there was nothing I could do but oblige. But if this was a one sided decision,..that might cause more problems for me. Ah, and nothing I hate pass being the center of argument.

“So that's what she said.” I had been gisting Moremi about my mum's ordain. “Wow, that's something. But, if your parents want you to do it then does it really matter?” She was right it shouldn't matter to me. At some point I'd begun hoping to write the exam with as much expo as I could possibly find.

I suppose dey dance alingo.

But after mostly studying through the holidays, and gaining a bit more motivation. I thought I could use the exam as a means to prove something.

Ya'know?

And it hurt me to think my mum didn't believe enough in me that I could pass on my own accord. Was I that much of a disappointment? I was at least average.

Wait sef, what of Jamb?

“Don't worry. I'll be coming over later in the afternoon.” That sounded nice to me. Such that school things weren't bothering me anymore. My attitude was like 'Whatever'.

Then came 15:25.

“Ohhh, when is this girl coming na?”

The last call we made had been by 10:24. It was beginning to seem like I wasn't gonna to be seeing Moremi at all that day. Cause we were about leaving for church!

“Ughhhhh, I'd hate for her to waste time coming only for us not to be AT HOME!!!” I was more than frustrated. And the yeye network was bitching worse than any other day.  Groaning in annoyance. I began pacing aimlessly round the room. Until I heard Jungkook's voice vibrate through my rumpled bedsheet. 

It was my ringtone.

“KYONG! ARE YOU STILL COMING? CAUSE I'M ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH!!!” I blasted at her, expecting something like; “Oh, I'm sorry, something came up so I won't make it.” As an exact reply. Instead I got; “Where Is your church located? Send me the address and I'll be there!”

Hearing that made me think. “Okay, I'm no expert, but, are friends supposed to be this persistent? Ah, she's always willing to find a way to meet me.”

Well, I was happy Sha. So I just told her where the church was located. “It's not like she can get there easily.” I thought.

Soon after our call ended though, Shewa came knocking. “Aunty Adesua, is time to go.” The cock had crowed. Time for 'soul finding'. Or whatever the theme for the 4:30 service was.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

“Ade!” Moremi called from out of nowhere. How she take reach there so fast?—As usual, I no know.

“Ah-an you're already here? How come? Why did you even bother coming?”

She grumbled, and rolled her eyes at me. I'd probably done something stupid again...hadn't I?

“I've told you to always calm down. Look, I came here with my dad! Since you said you were headed to church. I asked If he didn't mind bringing me. He said he didn't have anything planned for the day so why not? Besides, today's a special program, right?”

After all her explanation, my brain function went wonky.  Although, soaking in the fact she said her 'Dad' was in my church? I'd officially become curious. “What did he look like?” Was the one question roaming my mind. Okay, perhaps I also wondered why he was even in Nigeria.

“Adesua!”

Oop! There she went again.

Hearing Moremi shout my name like that, caused me to blink out of my semi trance. “Huh? Oh uh, well...I'm even going to be ministering later.” She took a step back and placed a hand on her chest in pleasant surprise. “Omg are you serious?”

Well why wouldn't I be?

“Yes na. Didn't I tell you that I'm part of the choir?”

Wait!
Did I though?

She joyously hopped on the spot she'd been standing. Her arms pummeled the air up and down. Like how they'd do in cartoons.

Later on, the church service started for real. And I was stiff to the leg. That happened whenever I was about to start. It surprised me that I still couldn't shake off that bad habit.

Olurun o. E s'anu mi (Oh God have mercy on me). I prayed in my head.

Then?

The music begun.

The keyboardist was ploughing the rhythm. While the 'lead bass' guitarist, tilled what I called 'the melody-scape'.

The drummer was setting up the ridge to imbed our songs of worship.

Following suit, the head of choir begun reciting her soulful extemporasions, which came splashing in like sprinkles of fresh water.

Then all that was left...was the holy spirit to take control. The light of the lord.

I took in deep breaths. Then counted myself in before joining the whole choir. Granting strength to our blooming bud of harmony.

Our timbre was on par with one another. Allowing for proper cadence, whenever the maestro swayed the baton.

My heart!
Wahlai, E suppose don blow in that moment. Singing was actually exhilarating.

Moremi was sitting at the middle row. I knew that, cause I could see her sitting beside her Dad. Of whom I called 'Mr Jin'. The only asian in the crowd.

Even from the podium, I could tell she was smiling. Probably fizzing with elation and collimating like a crystal prism. She was about to hear me perform for real this time. It would be music in another form for her.

My voice scaled higher. Matching pitch with the rest singing along side me.

There it was. I was finally getting more comfortable.
Yet...It still felt 'that' particular way. The way it felt whenever I sang in church.

Like...I'd been holding back.