Kai's eyes lit up when he spotted a small group of kids engaged in a lively game of basketball on a well-maintained court. He had been wanting to play ever since he transmigrated but didn't have a ball to play with.
Swallowing his pride, Kai approached the group of kids, who were in the midst of a heated match.
"Hey, mind if I join in?" Kai asked with what he thought was a friendly smile. However, in reality, he looked like a trashy villain from a novel.
The kids paused, their eyes assessing Kai from head to toe. The smallest one, with a mischievous grin, spoke up, "Who's this dude? Looks like trouble, if you ask me."
Kai chuckled, attempting to ease the tension. He decided to drop the gangster act in front of the kids, but it seemed like it was already embedded in his being.
"I think he's the guy my mom told me to run away from," the girl whispered to the small kid.
"I don't want to play with him," another chimed. "He looks scary and ugly."
"Yeah, and he smells like onions," the last little girl added.
Kai pursed his lips as his self-esteem continued to be obliterated by kids half his age.
"Look, I'm not looking for any trouble. I just want to try shooting," he said.
"Terrorism?" another kid asked.
"No! No!" Kai quickly denied. "Shooting the ball," he quickly clarified, placing his hand over his heart. How could these kids even know such terms?
The kids continued to scrutinize him with their grazes.
"Just one shot?" Kai tried to bargain.
"Fine," the smallest kid said, passing him the ball.
Kai caught the ball with grace, marveling at the orange rubber material. He had held these balls for a long time, but this time, it felt different. He wasn't holding them to clean them. He was actually going to shoot with his own hands.
After the accident paralyzed him from the waist down when he was in his first year of junior secondary school, Kai hadn't played since. However, he was determined to stay close to the game he loved, so he applied to become the waterboy of the Huolan Guardians.
Kai took a moment, feeling the weight of the basketball in his hands. The rubber surface, familiar yet foreign after years of merely watching from the sidelines, brought back a flood of memories. Memories of a time when he could effortlessly dribble and shoot before the accident that changed everything. But now, he stood on the court, determined to overcome his past.
As he dribbled the ball, each bounce echoed like a heartbeat. The kids watched in silence, intrigued by the serious expression on Kai's face.
With a deep breath, Kai made his move. He took a step forward to the free throw line and aimed the ball at the hoop.
The ball left his hand, soaring through the air in slow motion.
The kids followed the trajectory of the ball, their mouths agape in concentration.
It seemed like an eternity before the ball reached the rim. The kids held their breaths, their eyes locked on the impending outcome.
However, fate had a different plan.
The ball bounced off the rim with a loud thud and smacked Kai square in the face.
It was silent for a moment before the children erupted into laughter, their amusement echoing across the court.
Kai stood, momentarily stunned. This body was too unfamiliar with basketball!
"Well, that didn't go as planned," he admitted, earning more laughter from the kids.
The self-proclaimed leader of the group stuck his tongue out, mocking Kai for his idiotic performance.
"You suck, onion dude! My older brother can shoot better blindfolded," the leader taunted, his words accompanied by a chorus of giggles.
"I bet Xiaobo can shoot better than you," the little girl chimed, pertaining to the smallest boy.
"Of course," Xiaobo smirked. "I'm going to join a basketball team once I enter junior secondary school!" he boasted.
"Look here," the kid continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Xiaobo confidently strolled to the three-point line and held the ball in his hands. The other children gathered around while Kai stepped back.
Xiaobo took a deep breath, and with a swift motion, he released the ball. It sailed through the air, a perfect arc that ended with a satisfying swish as it went through the net.
The kids erupted into cheers, celebrating their leader's triumphant shot. Then, they turned to Kai with teasing smiles, ready to pound his self-esteem to the ground.
Xiaobo pointed at him with a challenging gaze.
"You better practice for a few more years if you want to beat me!"