Chapter 56: Check Up

Wilt PoV

I sighed as I sat down on the bench, feeling the adrenaline from the game slowly fade. The gym was still buzzing with energy, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying moments from the match.

"Take off your shoe," Natasha said, her tone all business as she moved closer. "I need to see your ankle."

I chuckled. "Don't tell me you got an odd fetish."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Wilt, this is serious. No time for jokes."

With a mock sigh of defeat, I bent down and untied my shoelaces, slipping off my sneaker. I propped my foot up on the bench, revealing my ankle, which was only partially covered by my sock. Earlier, it had been red and slightly swollen, which was why Natasha had insisted on pulling me from the two-on-two match.

"Okay, okay! Here it is," I said, gesturing to my ankle. "Behold, the injury that will haunt my basketball dreams!"

Natasha rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a hint of a smile. "You're such a drama queen. Let's see how bad it really is." She gently examined my ankle, her fingers deft and careful.

As she touched my skin, I felt heat rush to my cheeks. I tried to keep my composure, but there was something about the way she was focused on me that made my heart race.

"It looks fine, right?" I asked, trying to gauge her reaction and keep my voice steady.

"It's looking better than I expected," she said, her brow furrowing in concentration. "It was pretty red earlier, but the swelling seems to have gone down a lot. Just a little bruising, but nothing serious."

"See? I told you I'd be fine!" I said, feeling a mix of relief and pride. "I knew it was just a minor setback."

Natasha finished her examination and pulled my sock back up. "Just remember, it's important to listen to your body. You were pushing it out there. If you feel any pain, you need to let me know." 

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the blush that lingered on my cheeks. "But I hate sitting on the sidelines. I want to play."

She looked up at me and stood up. "I understand, but you have to keep monitoring this. Your ankle is delicate."

I crossed my arms. "There ain't nothing delicate about me!"

She chuckled and patted my knee. "Says the guy who yelped earlier when I tapped your ankle with my foot."

I grumbled, crossing my arms tighter as I tried to mask my embarrassment. "That was just a surprise, okay? I wasn't expecting it!"

Natasha chuckled again, clearly amused. "Sure, let's go with that. Just remember, even the toughest players need to take care of themselves. You can't help the team if you're sidelined."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I said, rolling my eyes, but I appreciated her concern. I glanced back at the court, where the practice continued in full swing. It was hard to sit and watch, especially when I wanted to be out there with my teammates, contributing to their success.

"Look," Natasha said, her voice softer now. "You've been a huge support for Sylvester, and that matters. You don't always have to be the one on the court to make an impact. Sometimes, being in the background is just as important."

I sighed. "I just wish I could do more for him. I want him to know I'm there for him, that he's not alone in this."

Natasha gave me an encouraging smile. "And you've done that. You've helped him find his confidence. He has gotten better over these past few days. He used to get tired easily during these practice sessions, but he is gradually gaining stamina."

"True, he didn't fall over and become a wheezing mess," Loxus said as he walked over. His raven hair was dripping with sweat.

I grinned. "True. And he even gave you a run for your money!"

He chuckled. "As if! I was just pushing him to improve."

"Loxus, I appreciate you trying to motivate Sylvester, but the way you did so is risky," Natasha said. "You could've broken his will to keep playing."

"If he did, then that just would show how weak it was to begin with," Drew said as he joined us.

I narrowed my eyes at him. He was so cold. "You know, not everyone can handle being pushed like you can, Drew. Some people need a gentler approach."

"Gentler? This is basketball, not a tea party," Drew replied, crossing his arms. "If you want to improve, you've got to be ready to face some pressure. It's how you toughen up."

"Yeah, but there's a difference between pressure and bullying," Natasha interjected, her voice firm. "You can challenge someone without breaking them down. Sylvester's been making progress, but he's still fragile in some ways."

He shrugged, unfazed by the tension in the air. "Look, I get that. But if he can't handle the heat, then maybe he's not cut out for this sport. That's just how it is."

I felt my fists clench at my sides. "That's a pretty harsh way to look at it, Drew. Just because we thrive under pressure doesn't mean everyone does. Sylvester is learning, and he deserves to have a supportive environment while he does."

Drew's gaze hardened, and I could see he was ready to argue. "I thought we were all on the same page about wanting to win. If Sylvester can't keep up, then maybe he should reconsider being on the team."

"Or maybe you should reconsider how you treat your teammates," I shot back, my voice rising. I could feel the heat in my cheeks, not just from my earlier embarrassment but from the frustration boiling within me. 

"Guys, come on," Natasha said, stepping in between us. "This isn't helping anyone. We're here to support each other, not tear each other down."

"Yeah, well, maybe some people need to hear the hard truth," Drew replied, his tone dismissive. "I'm just saying, if you can't handle competition, then maybe you shouldn't be in this sport."

"Drew, you're missing the point," Natasha said, her voice steady but firm. "It's not about handling competition; it's about building each other up. Sylvester is improving, but he needs encouragement, not more pressure."

Loxus sighed. "Let's just focus on improving ourselves. The coach hasn't even determined the line up, or if Sylvester will officially join the tram for that matter."

Drew nodded and turned around. "You're right, we each need to become stronger on our own."

"Yes, but a team is more than one person," Natasha said.

"Yeah!" I said, standing up.

"Hmph, a team is but a vessel for a star player to use, nothing more."

Loxus narrowed his eyes at Drew too. "My, aren't you all high and mighty. Here I thought Wilt would be the more annoying former high school super star, but somehow, you got him beat with that ego of yours."

 "Whatever," he muttered, striding away from the group, his footsteps echoing in the now-quieting gym.

I watched him go, frustration swirling in my chest. "Drew, wait—" I started, but he didn't look back.

"Let him go, he isn't worth it," Loxus said, walking off.

I sighed. Why did Drew have such a negative view about teammates? Did something happen at his high school to make him this cynical?