Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Kai's heart raced as he felt Lina's presence.

'Am I dreaming?'

he thought.

However, she felt way too real for this to be a dream.

She drew them closer to each other; her lips brushed against his in a simple, innocent touch that made them feel they were on top of the world.

There was no movement.

Just a light touch that captured everything unsaid.

However, for the two of them, it was perfect—as simple as it was.

Though this wasn't their first kiss, somehow, it felt as if it was. Well, technically, it was since they've only ever had cheek kisses before. Their first 'real' kiss wasn't even real since it came out from a dark accident. Then, their attempt to kiss after the game with the Knights during the Interhigh Preliminaries was annoyingly interrupted by his teammates.

So, this felt like a kiss they had been waiting for.

They stayed there, their lips just barely touching, with their hearts beating inside their chests. The sound was so loud that Lina wondered if it was only her heart she was hearing but also Kai's.

Lina's hand rested on his arm, and it burned him—in a good way.

Kai could feel his heart racing even faster, but at the same time, he also felt calm.

He felt that this moment was exactly where he was supposed to be.

The two of them had held it inside them for so long. Now, they were ready to pour out their feelings for each other.
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Then, slowly, Lina was the first to pull away. Her cheeks were tinged with a soft pink, her gaze warm but filled with something shy. Kai, too, appeared to be out of it. However, he tried his hardest not to feel too giddy especially when it looked like Lina was going to say something serious.

Her fingers lingered, resting gently on his arm, reluctant to completely let go. A quiet, thoughtful silence fell between them.

Then, she began to feel embarrassed.

'Gosh,'

she thought.

'Why did I have to jump on him like that?'

However, as she gazed up at Kai, it seemed like he didn't hate it at all.

So, she took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts before speaking to Kai once and for all.

"I heard everything," she began.

Kai listened intently, still breathless from the kiss.

"You're just so…perfect, aren't you?" she exclaimed, making Kai's eyebrows raise in surprise. He didn't expect it to go this route.

"You're the best at basketball. You're great at leading the team. You don't overstep your boundaries. You're a nice friend. You're so freaking popular that so many girls want to be with you!" she continued to rant.

Each statement made Kai surprised. Why was she saying all of these things when they just shared a cute kiss?

"And you're so freaking good," she continued. "You're good at giving advice. You always know what to say. Heck, you beat three of the Elites, and yet they don't even hate you! Not only that, but you managed to make Zheng Zhang feel better! THE Zheng Zhang!"

Kai scratched the back of his head. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing," he skeptically said.

She looked down for a moment, seemingly caught up in her thoughts, then she looked up at him again.

Kai's breath got caught in the back of his throat when he saw the determination in her eyes.

"And I just can't watch you from afar and act like I don't feel anything," she continued.

Kai's eyes widened, and his heart filled with warmth that he hadn't been able to name until now.

She was voicing everything he had been feeling but hadn't dared to say out loud. That was supposed to be his line!

"I know I said we should just be friends. We both agreed to it before coming here. However, I don't think I can act anymore."

"I think I've always felt it. Even before we became close, I felt that you were going to be a special person in my life. Isn't it crazy? With your basketball-crazed personality and messy beard, I knew right away."

"And I'm not mad about it," she smiled, looking at her shoes.

"My dad," she continued, her voice fading slightly. "He said he can't accept this—us."

Kai's eyebrows furrowed. He already had a hunch that Lina's decision to remain friends was highly influenced by her dad, but he didn't say anything about it. He knew that the right time would come.

"He had done everything for me since I was a kid," she continued, letting out a small smile. "I'm eternally grateful for what he has done. He's a good dad."

"However, for you, I am willing to take the risk."

Kai's eyes softened. "Are you?"

Without missing a second, Lina gave a single, resolute nod. "I am."

"Now, let me ask you the question, too," Lina said, biting her lip out of nervousness.

"Take a chance with me?" she asked, finally looking up to his eyes.

A small smile made its way to Kai's lips.

Before he knew it, they were wrapped in each other's arms. Lina's head rested against his chest, her breaths slow and even, mirroring the steadiness that Kai felt in his heart. He held her close, his own arms wrapped securely around her, wanting to shield this particular moment from anything that might try to break it.

In that embrace, everything else faded—the noise, the pressures, the expectations—and there was only the two of them, standing together in a world that suddenly felt much brighter and lighter. For the first time in a long time, Kai felt completed by something that wasn't basketball.

They stayed that way, wrapped in each other's arms, for what felt like both a second and an eternity.

After staying that way for a few minutes, Kai realized he hadn't responded to her question. So, with that, he broke the hug for a brief second and looked into Lina's eyes.

Pretty

.

She was so pretty.

Then, his smile widened.

"Gladly," he said.