Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"How did you know?" Kai asked after a while.

Shang chuckled before patting his back.

"Of course, I know," Shang said. "Yuze visited me after your game and told me about his decision."

"And what do you think about it?" Kai asked.

"I think it's alright," Shang shrugged. "I still believe that I would have nailed it this season, but you're not too bad based on what I've heard. As long as you don't bounce the basketball on a player's head again, then you might contribute well to the rebounds and steals."

Kai smirked. "Don't remind me now."

Shang sighed, a small smile appearing on his face as he finally came to terms with his diagnosis.

"It was a good run," Shang said. "I regret that this didn't happen in an official game but a practice game; however, I think it was also long overdue."

"What do you mean?" Kai asked.

"I've been thinking of quitting for a while now," Shang confessed, finally letting out his inner desires.

Kai was surprised; however, he felt relieved. Somehow, it felt reassuring that Shang wanted to quit before the injury even happened—since it meant that it was his choice and not the universe's.

"I've been having doubts for the past months about what I really want. It's true that basketball keeps my blood going. It still does, actually. That's why I'm still having a hard time coming to terms with this injury."

"However, I think it's time," he said. "I've been seeing my dad farm for all his life, and I think I want to do the same. Moreover, I want to make our lands bigger and more prosperous. I wouldn't be able to do that with all the basketball training and games that I have."

"My dad has been working too much these days, too. He doesn't have a lot of workers, and he's having a hard time conversing with suppliers. He had sacrificed so much for me and for the team. I believe it's time that I reciprocate for everything that he has done."

Kai nodded with a smile. Even with their short interaction, Kai knew that Shang's dad was a good man.

"Still," he said, looking up at the ceiling. "It hurts like hell knowing that I wouldn't be able to play now."

Kai looked at Shang and nudged his shoulder.

"You can cry if you want."

"Heck no," Shang said, furiously shaking his head. "I didn't even cry when my mom died, and you want me to cry here?" he chuckled.

"Well, you did just lose one of your dreams," Kai deadpanned.

"Wow, thank you," Shang sarcastically said. "I didn't even realize that!"

Kai chuckled to himself, now finding it less awkward to speak with Shang. In less than an hour, he felt more comfortable with him, and he could feel the start of a great friendship.

"But in all honesty, you've done a good job," Kai started off.

"I know this feels like the end of the world," he began, his mind straying to the times when he also found out he couldn't play basketball anymore.

"But trust me when I say that sometimes, the darkest moments in our lives turn out to be the very things that lead us to the brightest."

Similar to Kai's death—he did get shot, but he was also transported to a new body—one where he could play basketball.

"I'm glad that you can find something to be glad about in all of this," he continued. "Because it's not just about what's ending—it's about what's beginning. It's about the journey ahead, the lessons we'll learn, the people we'll become."

"And even though it hurts like hell right now," he whispered. "I want you to know that it's okay to feel that pain. It's okay to mourn the loss of your dream, to grieve for the future you thought you had."

Kai looked down at his hand and traced the lines that adorned it. Shang was silent all throughout Kai's monologue, so he didn't know how the older player was reacting.

"Be glad that it happened, not that it's over," he continued.

"Because, in reality, it's never really over. Your dream—it's still there, and it will always be. It might just be a memory, but I believe you'll carry it for the rest of your life."

With that, Kai finally ended his monologue.

When Kai heard a sniff, he lifted his head. He looked at Shang, whose face was now covered with his hands.

Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise as he tried to pry away Shang's arms from his face.

"Wait, you're crying?" Kai asked.

"Shut up," Shang said, sniffing as some snot fell from his nose.

Kai chuckled in amusement as he used his strength to reveal Shang's teary face.

"Goodness, you really are crying."

Shang glared at him as he pulled his arm away from Kai's grip.

"And goodness, you're so strong. What does your family even feed you to get you to look like that at such a young age?" Shang asked, wondering where Kai's muscles came from.

"A whole lot of onions," Kai seriously answered, making Shang shake his head.

He could feel the tears on his cheeks, so he quickly wiped them away.

"Seriously, I hate you, man. Why did you have to give me an inspirational speech out of nowhere?"

Kai shrugged. "I just thought you needed to hear it."

"Well, I didn't," Shang said. "Now, I'm miserable."

However, even as he said that, Shang still felt comforted. Kai's presence was actually a great help to his mind.

"You know," Shang said, breaking the silence once again. "You're really not the person I expected you to be."

"Why?" Kai chuckled. "What did you think of me?"

"A good-for-nothing troublemaker who plays with lots of girls, has bad grades, doesn't take showers, and disrespected elders," Shang seriously said.

Kai scratched the back of his head.

"Dang, am I really that bad?" he muttered.

"Well, you're not nearly as bad," Shang said.

"I still think you're a troublemaker who plays with lots of girls and has bad grades. But hey, you seem to smell nice, and you were nice to my dad, so I was mistaken."

Kai shook his head at the ridiculousness of the situation.

"But in all honesty—thank you, Kai," Shang finally smiled.

"You're really not a bad person at all."

[Another person proven wrong: the host is actually kind]

[People proven wrong: +1]

[Total: 58]