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His favorite basketball team has just drafted rookie Zhou Anxin. It was difficult for him to get some playing time, as he was at the bottom of the bench. Not only was he below the pecking order, but he was also playing with veteran superstars. Hence, the only way he can get playing time is during garbage time. However, that all changed in the last game of the regular season.
Anxin will get to suit up and start today since the vets are out to rest for the playoffs. He was ecstatic about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate to the world that what he had accomplished in college was not a fluke and would translate to the big leagues.
He was lacing up his gear when he looked up to see his beloved Leo Hyung entering the locker room.
Leo Hyung is the reigning MVP of the league, who was always high on Anxin’s potential even as a rookie. During practices, he would always instruct Anxin to get his shot up. He even gave him his personal phone number in case Anxin ever needed some advice. To think that Leo Hyung, whom he idolized, was this nice to him was something every player would be envious of.
“Hey, how’s my rook?” Leo said while approaching him to ruffle his hair.
“Good, a little nervous but excited,” Anxin whispered as he stood up. “Any last-minute advice, Hyung?”
Leo grabbed both his shoulders to face him. “Where’s that confident rookie gone, huh? Have faith in yourself, Xin. The team believes in you.”
Just like that, the nerves are gone. Leo Hyung is right. He was not highly recruited and at the top of his draft class for nothing. It is time to show out and end the season on a high note before the playoffs.
“Thank you, Hyung. It means a lot.” Anxin finally cracked his first smile of the day.
A loud ring was heard throughout the locker room. It was coming from Leo’s phone. As soon as Leo looked to see the caller, a smile bloomed on his face. That lovesick smile is only reserved for his boyfriend, Zhang Jiahao.
“Hey, babe, yeah. I’ve already saved two seats for you. I’m gonna come out in a while. Love you.” Leo ends the call while still smiling.
Zhou Anxin could only wish to have his own person who can cheer him up before, during, and after the games.
Focus, Zhou Anxin.
He can’t believe he was feeling jealous of Leo Hyung's relationship right before this big game.
“I have to go now,” Leo said while pocketing his phone. “Win the game, Zhou. Oh, I also need you to drop a 40-point triple-double.” He jokingly said and immediately fled from the locker room to find his beloved Jiahao.
Anxin was just shaking his head while holding his laughter.
—
It was now game time.
The stadium was buzzing. This was the last game of the season, and all seats were packed to the brim.
“The rookie from BP College wearing jersey number 25, Zhouuu Anxinnn.” The crowd’s cheers drowned out the announcer’s player introduction.
Anxin waved to the crowd and dapped up his teammates. He noticed Leo Hyung was nowhere to be seen, even though he should be sitting on the bench to watch and cheer for the team.
He turned his head from his team’s bench and found Leo courtside chatting animatedly with Jiahao. He was about to jog towards his hyung since the game was about to start, but stopped midway.
Sitting courtside with Jiahao was a baddie. Is it normal to crush on someone at first sight? Anxin could feel his heart stuttering, not from nerves, but from the beauty of this boy.
With his bleached brows, piercings adorning his ears, red leather choker, and that fitted, cropped shirt, he looks like a devil in disguise.
Damn. Why didn’t Jiahao bring out his friend sooner?
He was quietly scrolling through his phone as if he was bored out of his mind and forced to watch a basketball game.
Feeling as though someone’s gaze was on him, he looked up from his phone and squinted. Cute.
Anxin shifts his gaze back to his teammates before he gets caught staring. Right, there was still a game to play. More than ever, Anxin wants to do well to impress the baddie who’s sitting courtside.
—
It is now the last quarter, and his team is leading by double digits. He looked up at the scoreboard during the opponent's shooting free throws and felt immensely proud of his stats for the night. He achieved a 30-point triple-double in his rookie year. Guess he was not far off from Leo Hyung’s wish.
He was now bringing the ball up to their side of the court when a player from the opposing team swatted the ball out of his hands.
It was as if everything slowed down to a crawl. The ball was quickly travelling out of bounds and was heading in the baddie’s direction. In a desperate effort to prevent the ball from hitting the beauty, he rushed forward and blocked the baddie from the ball.
However, that didn’t end well as he lost his balance and bumped into the beauty, causing him to spill his drink.
What a great first impression, Zhou.
“I’m so sorry,” Anxin remorsefully said while blushing and feeling how some of the drink also spilled onto him. “I just wanted to save the ball.” I also wanted to prevent you from getting hit. He wanted to say more, but held himself back to avoid embarrassing himself further.
Jiahao, who was sitting beside him, was stifling his giggles behind his hand. Great, he not only humiliated himself in front of this beauty but also the whole stadium.
“It’s okay,” came his soft reply. “Are you good?”
It was wrong on Anxin’s part to assume that just because he was wearing an all black ensemble, he was a devil in disguise. Because this is definitely an angel sent to Earth.
“I have some tissues. Here, Sangwon.” Jiahao said as he brought out some for his friend.
Sangwon. What a pretty name.
Sangwon shyly excused himself to go to the washroom to freshen up.
“You’re not slick, Zhou Anxin.” Jiahao tsked after Sangwon left them.
He was woken up from his daze after that interaction with Sangwon as the referee came to assess what had happened. Right, he still needs to get back to the game. His coach was signalling for a timeout to be called as he was about to respond.
Anxin headed to the bench and was handed a towel to wipe the sticky remnants of Sangwon’s drink.
“My bro is not a baby anymore. You grew up so well, Zhou.” Leo said while playfully wiping fake tears from his eyes.
“Hyunggg,” Anxin whined and felt his face heating up again because of Leo’s teasing. “Please tell Jiahao hyung that I’m incredibly sorry for the mishap. I’ll give my signed jersey after the game as an apology.”
“You’re not slick, Anxinie,” Leo echoed what Jiahao said to him earlier. “You definitely got the hots for him. You’re having a career night for your last game. A signed jersey? Fans will kill to own your signed jersey as they know you are a future all-star.”
“The spilled drink was not planned,” Anxin groaned and hid his face on the towel as a result of his embarrassment. “What other ways can I make it up to him?”
“Hmm, maybe the signed jersey is not a bad idea. You can even add your number on it and take him out for dinner as a bonus,” Leo snickered. “In all seriousness, the reason Jiahao dragged Sangwon to this game was that he’s a huge fan of yours.”
Sangwon is his fan? Is he dreaming? There’s no way…
“But how is he a fan of me? I only play for so few minutes.” Anxin felt small during this moment. He wants to prove his worth to the team, but was just not trusted enough to be in rotation.
“Hey, I still believe that you’re ascending to be a superstar in the league. These things take time, you know? You’ll see an up in your usage in the year after this and the year after that,” Leo put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. “Sangwon has been keeping an eye on you during college days. Jiahao and I were so sick of him always watching you from afar and not making a move. If I were you, don’t hesitate to shoot your shot.”
Shoot his shot? Oh, Zhou Anxin definitely will. But only after winning this game for his pretty boy.