The whispers started small — just passing comments in the hallway. "Did you hear about that Nigerian guy? He's everywhere now. Winning awards, getting noticed…"
But soon, the whispers grew louder. It wasn't just my classmates anymore. Students from different departments began to talk, sometimes right in front of me. It felt like everyone had something to say about my success, and most of it wasn't good.
"I bet he's just lucky," one person said. "There's no way someone like him could be that smart."
Another voice added, "He thinks he's all that now. It won't last."
I tried to ignore it, but the tension was growing. Every glance, every comment, felt like a weight on my chest. And then, one afternoon, things took a turn.
I was walking down the corridor when a group of students blocked my path. Their faces were hard, their eyes full of anger.
"You think you're special?" one of them sneered. "We don't like how you've been showing off lately."
I tried to back away, but they closed in on me.
And that's when Tope appeared.
She stepped in front of me, her eyes fierce. "Leave him alone."
They looked at her, surprised. "What are you gonna do, Tope?" one of them mocked. "This guy's not your business."
But Tope didn't back down. "It's not just about him. It's about all of us. The magic is in each of us. Don't let envy control you."
I took a deep breath, finding courage in her words. "We've both come a long way," I said, looking at the group. "We've struggled, we've fallen, but we're still here. We don't need to tear each other down. The magic is in you all too — if you choose to believe it."
For a moment, the group was silent. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the shift in their stance. And then, slowly, one by one, they backed off.
It wasn't a victory in the traditional sense. But it was a victory for peace, for understanding, and for unity.
As we walked away, Tope smiled at me. "See? The magic's been in you all along."