(Zed spent the afternoon at the gym, hooping and increasing his strength, unaware of
what today was about. He needed to get even better at this routine if he wanted
to match Ezio's effortless skill, a talent that wasn't proper for this world, although Zed
believed this world had more to it than what they grew up with. When they hooped, Ezio made
Every basket looked easy; Zed made it look tough. Instead of building muscle, he worked on his
muscle memory, convinced that one day his body would stop failing him. He took to
the line and knocked down free throws one after another. The repetition kept going and
Soon it was a ritual, each free throw a short story of his defiance and how stubborn he was.
The rim echoes, and so do the thoughts in Zed's mind: This one is for Fox. 1/1. This one is
for Ezio, the lion. 2/2. This one is for Cyrus, the mentor. 3/3. This one is for Bird. 3/4.
This one is for Bird! 3/5.)
"Damn. Not good enough," Zed said.
(Feeling frustrated and exhausted, Zed decided to take a break and recall his middle school
memories. The gym became more and more dark, replaced by the laughter of classmates, and the
painful times when his body betrayed him. This week, he would not rest. It had been tough,
alone, friendless, and unable to catch a break. The first year of middle school, Zed tried to
be friends with the wrong people and got bullied for it. He couldn't fight back either.
Hence, he would get detention, and the insults from his teacher always stung more than those
from his fake friends. The only thing he could do was live his own middle school life, and
Try to get good grades. Yet this was easier said than done, for he lacked both academic
standing and athletic ability. During physical education, he showed no athleticism and always
got tired after running for even a short time, and his slow, agonizing life only got more
difficult from there.
He wanted physical education earlier in the morning.
The atmosphere is just so much cooler now.
Maybe it is time to reveal the true story.
When he got to school, he immediately headed to homeroom to meet his friends.
A pencil flies across the desk and hits my face.
The sharp pain stays for about ten seconds before it fades.
I look up and see a small group of friends towering over me even though they didn't throw it.
Zed: What if that pencil had hit my eyes?!
Friend: It didn't.
Zed: I asked what if it did.
They ignore the question and I get up to leave.
Just then I receive a calf kick and a sharp pain in my leg.
I grab the victims by their collar and throw them at the others.
Before the fight could escalate, the instructor walked in to start class.
Instructor: That was not okay Zed. One of your students could've gotten.
Zed: Whatever. I won't be their friends anymore. I put my head down on the table and take a nap.
Teacher: Zed! You need to pay attention in class, or you will not culminate.
Zed: Whatever.
I keep my head down ignoring everything he has to say.
Just then I wake up to the real world, and Ming continues to talk.
Ming: You said the other day that you were good at basketball, right?!
Zed: I was a great basketball player in elementary school. So yeah!
Ming: Then let's have a 1v1. But I should warn you that if I'd win, I'd brag about how much better I am.
Zed: You're on!
Ming: Three-game series on separate days! During lunch!
The next day during lunch, I go to the basketball courts to challenge Ming.
He is shorter than I am so, I feel somewhat confident I'll win.
The game we played went well, but I lost the first one.
Ming: I thought you said you were good at basketball!
I leave so as not to reveal my possible lies.
The next day, Ming brings his basketball to school again, and once again during lunch, we play.
The game was close at the beginning until I made three back-to-back top of the key each further and further away to the half-court line.
Ming starts playing aggressive defense, but I take advantage of the three-point line until I win the game.
Ming applauds me after the game, and I leave.
The next day, Ming doesn't bring his basketball.
I asked Ming why he didn't bring his basketball, and he said he forgot it, but he also asked if I wanted to forfeit because we both knew he would win.
I had stuff to do that day, so I forfeited to Ming.
He tells me that he won't brag about me that badly.
Is this what it means to have a friend?
I ended up culminating regardless of what my teacher taught me, but now it's time for me to go to high school.
I get to school early with physical education first thing in the morning.
I try to get a good exercise in but I'm not sure it was helpful.
A little while after physical education, I talk with another friend.
His name is Dan.
We talk about basketball.
He tells me about how great he is at basketball now.
I decide that we should play 1v1, but I wasn't sure where.
We decided on a public small gym reserved for different sports.
Dan didn't tell a lie.
He easily won the first two games [one indoor gym and one outdoor gym] and
had me giving up.
If this had been me in middle school, I would've lost for sure, but I am in high school now.
The next two games are my rules.
I decided to play outside again because it was much cooler.
I give my school ID to the gym security and go outside for a potential sweep.
However, the only thing standing between me winning and losing is confidence.
I was overwhelmed with confidence. I end up winning the game first game 15 to 7.
That's when I dropped to the ground wondering if I should continue.
I had one game won.
I'd risk injuring my burning leg if I played another.
Despite my protests, I decided to play our fourth game.
This time I needed luck to win.
The score was 13 up, and Dan decided that the way to win was to drive.
I try to guard but my strength fades fast.
The only stat keeping me going was stamina.
Daniel makes a clean shot, and the score is now 13 to 14, with Daniel one shot away from winning.
I endure the pain of two large splints at the bottom of my foot.
I successfully defended the court and with one final attempt, I finally made the three and won 15 to 14.
Just then, I drop to the ground and realize that my other foot also has splints.
I could barely walk home properly and of course, the worst of it all was getting scolded by
parents.
With all sorts of activities I had in mind, it came down to one final thought.
Was it worth the win?!
I wanted to play it cool by not going to school activities and decided to stay at home because spring break was next week anyway.
After recovering partially, I decide that I'm ready for school again, and what better way than to carry
textbooks.
They aren't too heavy to begin with, but they sure get heavier.
If I want to gain strength, I have to do this I keep telling myself.
Waiting at the school lunch line, my muscles are even more tired but I endured it all.
It'll all pay off.
Returning home, I drop down on my bed due to exhaustion and have a strange dream.
In this dream, I am in a village that is under attack.
I ready my giant wooden great sword that isn't heavy, but then a shroud of darkness engulfs me.
Upon waking up, a new strength lies deep within me.
I get up to go to school and as usual, would nap during classes.
Little did I know, I would eventually move schools and experience a new life.
But for now, my level 1 newbie system was nowhere to be found.