Backstage, Dayo leaned against the wall, listening as Miguel Alvarez's voice carried through the speakers. The boy's nerves had been obvious at first, but once he opened up, the song became something else. It was raw, trembling with emotion. Miguel wasn't technically flawless; in fact, his breathing slipped in a few places, his pitch wavered more, which screams amateur, but none of that seemed to matter. The emotion in his voice hit the arena like a wave.
Dayo rubbed his palms together, his chest tight. Damn… he really poured everything into that.
Around him, other contestants whispered. Some nodded in respect, others exchanged uneasy looks. Nobody had expected much from a raffle contestant—but Miguel had just set a bar with heart alone.
When the applause finally died down, the voice of the MC came from the stage.
"Next up… Contestant Twenty-Seven—Dayo!"
