It was half past eight when Boreal got up. He took his bath and prepared for class. While preparing a knock startled him
"Brian, you ready for class?"
"Sasha?" he called out.
"Yeah, and Oliver's with me."
"Just a minute" he replied as he put on his pair of black air Jordan one. The door swung open and Boreal stepped out.
"You okay?" Asked Oliver
"Yeah, I am" he replied awkwardly
"Okay. Considering the rankings and all,"added Sasha as she pulled her phone out from her bag.
"Is that your phone? Like, phone phone?" puzzled Brian
"Yeah students were given back their phones after a student nearly sued management, " Oliver replied
" That's aside, what rankings?"
"Well,
- Miami Heatwaves vs Gold City Emperors — 48 : 19
- Vancouver Grizzlies vs Celtic Verdes
- — 40 : 21
-Chicago's Fury vs Washington Vizoreds
— 52 : 10
"52 – 10? How?"
"That's the thing, the match was a one-sided massacre."
"But these are match results, not rankings."
"It's better you see the rankings for yourself," said Sasha as they walked into the hallway.
The hallway was busier than usual.
The trio split ways and Boreal walked down alone, his bag slung over his shoulder. Phones were out everywhere, people stood by their lockers chatting and scrolling.
Boreal reached his locker and opened it. His phone's buzzing caught his attention and he picked it up.
An Instagram notification popped up and he opened it.
RANKINGS
1. Isaac – Small Forward
Vancouver Grizzlies
2. Gerald – Point Guard
Chicago's Fury
3. Pius – Small Forward
Miami Heatwaves
4. Paul A. Marner – Shooting Guard
Minnesota Reapers
5. John. Small Foward
Chicago's Fury
6. Abednego. Point Guard
Vancouver Grizzlies
7. Joseph. Centre.
Miami Heatwaves
8. E. Christopher. Power Foward.
Chicago's Fury
9. E. Kingsley. Power Foward
Gold City Emperos
10. PatRick. Power Foward.
Miami Heatwaves
11. Mark-Joseph. Centre.
Minnesota Reapers
12. Victor. Small Foward
Minnesota Reapers
13. Jo-Achim. Small Foward
Vancouver Grizzlies
14. Benjamin. Point Guard
Miami Heatwaves
15. Solomon. Shooting Guard
Gold City Emperos
16. James B. - Power Forward
Miami Heatwaves
17. Tobby - Centre
Gold City Emperors
18. Benaiah- Small Foward
Gold City Emperors
19. Mic Hael N. - Shooting Guard
Vancouver Grizzlies
20. Brian B. - Point Guard
Gold City Emperors
21. Caleb Mensah - Centre
Chicago's Fury
22. Noah Brooks - Power Foward
Minnesota Reapers
23. Aaron Knox - Power Foward
Celtic Verdes
24. Daniel Cruz - Point Guard
Rochester Royals
25. Leo Grant - Small Foward
Washington Vizorels
...
The rankings isn't complete thought Boreal but the...
fact that he was "21st" horrified him
People began to comment:
"Brian Boreal's shit!"
"But the first match against the final years?"
"Fluke"
"Beginner's luck"
"Don't let it get to you" said Kingsley drawing Boreal's attention away from the screen
Boreal smiled at him "Tenth Place is low for you"
"It isn't. I didn't do much in that match though, I think."
It's high for a first one" he replied
"You did a lot actually"
"Nah, I didn't. Training tommorow by 3pm"
"Sure. I'll be there"
. . .
The gym was quiet when Brian walked in by 1pm.
He walked up to where the balls were kept and picked out two.
He walked up to the three-point line and threw.
It hit the rim and rebounded
He let out an exasperated sigh, then picked up the second ball.
The sound of Pius's taunts invaded his thoughts.
He bounced the ball, took two steps back, and threw.
Again, it hit the rim and bounced away.
A yawn startled him
"Man, this isn't the Boreal I played against,"
said a familiar voice in hoodie
"Jake?" said Boreal
"You suck"
He replied with a thumbs down.
"I don't know what happened in that last match"
"Yeah, you saw"
"What?"
"You know why we lost?" Jake asked
Brian hesitated.
"Defensive rotations were late. Rebounding and fast breaks were—"
"Wrong",
Jake shook his head and took a few steps toward Boreal
"We lost because our point guard refused to be dangerous"
Brian frowned "I made the right play"
"The safe ones you mean"
Brian stared at him and crossed his arms
"Isn't that my job, to create plays?"
Jake picked up a ball
"Your job is to decide"
He stood and bounced the ball once hard.
"Tell me – how many times did the lane open for you?"
Brian opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Exactly" he said and took a shot.
– Swish!
A clean basket
"You see everything.... except yourself. Wanna train?"
"Um..." Boreal stuttered, "Sure"
Jake walked to the free-throw line and pointed.
"Stand there. Don't move"
Brian obeyed
"What do you see?"
"The rim" Brian said
"And?"
"The wings, the corners, the top –"
"Stop, stop" Jake snapped. "That's basic basketball, I don't care about that
Jake circled him slowly.
"What do you feel when the defense leaves you?"
Brian thought,
"I dunno... I think I feel relieved."
Jake nodded, "That's the problem."
He tossed Brian the ball.
"Now drive."
Brian hesitated, "You said"
"Drive."
Brian took two steps toward the rim.
"Stop, you slowed down, Why?"
"I was looking for—"
"No,"
Jake cut in, "You were looking for permission."
Jake stepped back, "Again."
Boreal thought for "A split second" and drove.
This time he went harder. Jumped and laced it in.
"Progress," said Jake.
...
Sweat dripped onto the hardwood.
Brian's legs burned.
"Again," Jake said.
Brian attached a cone, pulled up and shot.
Miss—
"Again"
Drive, side step and finish
"Again"
Brian gasped "What are you trying to—"
The coach tossed him the ball mid-sentence.
"Make you uncomfortable."
Brian was beginning to understand
"In games" Jake continued
"everyone else is already uncomfortable. You're the only one who feels safe. That's backwards for you. It's why you can see lanes. You're hiding behind those correct plays. You're using your intelligence to avoid mistakes.
If you are the smartest player, shouldn't you be the bravest?"
Brian stood there expressionless
"What if I mess up?" he asked quietly
Jake stepped close
"Then they'll live with it. But if you don't take it?"
He tapped Brian's forehead.
"You'll never forgive yourself." Jake said,
" Meeting with the team, tomorrow" and walked out of the facility.
Brian continued training, it was past 3 when he left the gym. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his body ached. Behind him, two unfamiliar figures slipped into the facility.
"Brian!!" someone called out.
It was Jane.
"You're all… sweaty," she said.
"Yeah, I just finished training."
"You're all over Instagram — 'Beginner's luck'?" she teased.
"You're rubbing salt, Jane," Brian replied dully.
"Relax, your debut doesn't win the trophy."
"I know, but everyone thinks it's my fault… that I'm scared of making dangerous plays," he sighed.
Jane let out an exasperated sigh.
"Come on. I'll walk you to your room."
"You don't have too Jane."
"Let's go!" she said and pulled him out of the facility
. . .
"So, which sports are you playing?"
:WNBA-" she replied nonchalantly.
"Are you serious?" Brian replied. He was visibly shocked.
"Duh! I play basketball."
"Wow , I thought you only stargaze"
Jane turned to him.
"Ouch, you know that it's rude to judge books by their cover"
"I'm not judging;— it's just you don't seem like a sport person"
"That's judging!" she pointed out "And unlike a certain someone, we won our debut"
Brian sighed "Yes, you did."
By the time they reached the dorms, Jane had narrated everything she knew about her teammates.
"See you later, Judge." he waved.
Brian walked into his room and sat on his bed then pulled off his shoes.
"Katie!" he called out.
"Yes Brian" she replied, sizzling out of nowhere.
"I'd like to see my stats."
His holoscreen began to materialize and morph
I-Q - 10 E-Q - 9
S-Q - 12 A- Q - 10
PTS: 0
"I'm not following, Katie," he replied while staring at the screen
"You haven't been assigned any tasks lately"
Brian sighed."That explains the point, but the other stats—"
He paused
"Wait, so being infamous raises S.Q. too?"
"Yes, so far as you're known for something"
"but it won't increase the S.Q as well as being normally famous or popular"
"Exactly"
"And my I-Q?"
"Increases with the level of intelligence displayed"
"I know, but the match rankings show— show proof that I didn't do much in that match"
"Match rankings — doesn't affect the level of intelligence you displayed on the court during the match."
"It doesn't?!" Quizzled Borèal as he picked up his phone
"It doesn't Brian" Katie replied