Chapter 6 Start of a Journey (2)

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[Physicals]

Speed: D (6/15KP) 

Agility: D (7/15KP) 

Strength: D (0/15KP) 

Vertical: C+ (5/20KP) 

Stamina: D (3/15KP) 

Athleticism Rating: E (0/10KP) 

Projected wingspan: 6'4 (0/100KP) 

Projected height: 6'5 (0/150KP) 

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'Dang looks like I will be able to fix my wingspan issues and maybe even move my height up by an inch,' I couldn't help but think to myself as I continued walking not wanting to look more suspicious in this neighbourhood. After all, with the many gangs in this city, it's quite easy to cause a misunderstanding.

For some reason, my body's wingspan grew in a disproportional manner to my actual height. This not only affected my game but also resulted in me having a messy shooting mechanics. At first, I couldn't sink a shot for a good while but one of my coaches back then helped me work on it allowing me to develop a shooting style that suited me.

Don't get it misconstrued I still didn't have enough range, but I became deadly in the midrange. Getting to the rim for a dunk or fading away with a quick jump shot was no big deal for me in my prime. Given enough time I probably could have been a decent role player in the NCAA.

What were you expecting me to be good enough to become a star player or something? I only wish I was that good back then, I probably felt like the second coming of Lebron but in reality, I was just OK at best. Thinking about it getting injured was probably a blessing in disguise.

If not for the fact I tore my ACL in a way that left me no hope of continuing my basketball journey I probably would have continued struggling. The allure of the NBA would have ensnared my mind until I had nothing, leaving me broken in pieces to pick myself up. I doubt that I would have stopped on the road to my basketball dreams until there was no longer a chance.

From playing in Europe to playing in China heck I would have even gone to pay in Alaska if that meant I get a chance at the NBA. You might think I'm exaggerating my passion for the game just a tad bit, but I assure you I am not. Even after my injury Basketball never left my life, well after I got done blaming it for everything that went wrong.

However, after meeting someone special who ended up changing my gloomy life bringing some colour to it. With her slightly awkward and stubborn personality, she forcefully knocked some sense into me after I almost caused her to fail a group project. You see we both studied the same Business major at Georgia State as Mom had forced me to go there after basketball was out of the question.

Anyway, being in a phase where I felt the world had wronged me started to subconsciously not take anything seriously. Well, let's just say that rubbed her the wrong way especially when I kept putting off working on our project opting to drown my sorrows at the Kappa Sigma parties. In my defence, those boys know how to throw a party.

All that didn't matter when said girl showed up to the party in her PJs just to cuss me out before proceeding to forcefully sober me up. Trust me when I tell you I've never seen someone so beautiful after sobering up. She was the second person to shock me with her beauty after Mom had died.

That night she forced me to give her a good enough reason for why I was such a mess and walking around with a giant chip on my shoulder. I tried resisting at first but one glare from her green eyes and I knew I couldn't escape without giving her an explanation. Left with no choice and perhaps wanting someone to listen to my self-pity I ended up sharing my story with her.

You might think that she would have consoled me after hearing my sad story or maybe felt a little sorry for me but her first reaction was to slap me. Yeah, you didn't hear wrong She slapped me right across the face making me fall into the pond we were sitting at the edge of. If I wasn't pissed before I was defiantly pissed now but her next words stopped any thoughts of anger.

'I'm sorry for your mother,' Is all she said before getting up from the edge of the pond to look down upon me. I could tell she was angry at me but at that point in time I couldn't tell why. Let me tell you having a beautiful girl angry at you, I mean really angry is something scary.

She went off on an emotional rant about how disappointed my mother would be with what I was doing with my life. Using her memory as an excuse for my behaviour is something unforgivable to the woman who raised me. She was like yes what happened to you was sad so what? Are you going to let that one moment define you and waste all your efforts over the years? If so, then what was the point of it all?

After her lecture, any form of drunkenness was gone as all I could do was stare at her with wide eyes. At that moment she made me realise that even with all the pain that playing basketball has brought me, I would play in a heartbeat if given the chance. That very night not only opened a new chapter in my new life but also allowed me to feel love for the first time in a long while.

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"Good you are home I was just about to start worrying," Mom called out to me after I stepped into the flat. What caught my sight was a bunch of cardboard boxes partially filled with things around the house. By the looks of it, she couldn't wait to get started with packing up some of the things.

"Yeah, got a bit carried away playing at the park, is there any food?" I answered her as I quickly kicked off my shoes before immediately heading for the fridge. There wasn't much in there as Mom hadn't gone shopping since she planned for our move.

Settling for the bottle of banana and strawberry smoothie I quickly opened it and satiated my hunger. Some might say that smoothies aren't the same as regular food, but I strongly disagree since I've survived off this stuff at some point. Plus, I find smoothies better to digest especially when I'm committed to a training schedule.

"Don't drink too much I ordered some Pizza, and you know I can't finish it on my own," Mom chided from the side whilst she started filling a box with all the plates and cutlery in the kitchen.

"Will do let me hop in the shower and I'll help you with packing," I responded before proceeding to chug the rest of the contents in the bottle. What can I say I'm a sucker for smoothies plus I'm a growing boy so I should be okay right?

"Ok hurry up though I want to finish the kitchen by tonight," She responded with a determent look on her face shooing me away. Not bothering with her anymore I slipped into my room and picked up a set of clothing for after my shower.

'Dear lord I can't believe my sense of style used to be this bad,' I couldn't help but think to myself after finally picking out a set of clothes that is barrable. For some reason, my wardrobe resembled that of Will Smith from The Fresh Prince.

My basketball clothes are perhaps the only normal clothing that I've got. Hmm seems like all I thought about was basketball back then. That's gonna have to change if I want to make the most out of my new life. Deciding to deal with my style problem later I picked up a Kobe strip and a pair of matching shorts heading for the bathroom.

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"So, when are we leaving?" I asked Mom as soon as I entered the living room curious to know what her plans were. After all her plans will inevitably end up affecting me in some way.

"I was thinking we could pack up all the necessary things this weekend and hit the road Monday morning," Her answer came with a little hesitation as she seemed to be making up the plan on the fly. She's probably trying to guess how long it will take for us to pack everything we need.

"Hmm, Okay I'm going to donate most of my clothes, I don't know what I was thinking when I got them," I told her with a wry expression on my face shuddering at the thought of having to wear one of those. It's not that they are too bad but looking at it from the perspective of someone from the future they seem a little shabby.

"Huh ok probably for the best new place new clothes," She surprisingly replied quite fast sounding more enthusiastic than I am. Looks like I'm not the only one who feels a little embarrassed by my fashion sense.

"By the way do we have a place to stay?" I asked her after realising that she hadn't told me about the place we would be living in. 

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To Be Continued...