Uptown Dunk!

I woke up to a start on a Saturday morning, as the blindingly bright light flooded into the ominous room through the thick velvet curtains. Humungous posters of basketball legends, to be precise LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry, were plastered on the milky white walls. The alarm blared blatantly as I darted towards the bathroom to get ready to crush team WMB in the interschool basketball finals. Carrying my withered face, I ambled down the twisted spiral staircase.

We eventually drove through the same old city: the soaring buildings galloped up to the clouds, the welcoming bridge that arched classily consisted of golden bricks amid the looming skyscrapers, and the constant buzzing of the busy city citizens. After riding for 30 minutes, we arrived at our destination: the magnificent basketball court. As my teammates bolted in my direction with uplifted spirits, all the weariness swiftly swept out of every muscle in my entire body.

Our huddled team enunciated our cheer with our head held high. Then, we broke out into our respective positions assigned by me. With the countdown starting, I sucked in deep breaths to calm my nerves. Every single tissue in my body synchronized with the heat of the game as I clutched onto the basketball the instant the whistle blew. With a direct vision on the hoop, I dribbled the ball in an advanced manner swiping past players. Twirling 180 degrees from the hoop, I captured the ball with both my palms and with a rather hefty release, I threw the ball away from me.

The confidence overflowed till the other captain intersected the basketball. When our eyes crossed, I could feel the coldness within the oppositions captain’s eyes surging into my hammering heart, until it turned icy cold. The truth hit me like the thundering lightning: WMB was in fact GOOD. Sizing up the efforts and determination, I continued the game. Time slipped past the half time mark and we were nearly neck to neck with us 1 point ahead.

WMB’s captain dribbled the ball front and back, trying to escape past me. I positioned myself a few inches behind the 3-pointer line as he bounced the ball forward. Without any other options, he swung his hand as he launched the ball into the hoop in an unfortunate turn of events. Rage seethed in my ruby red blood that flowed throughout my body.

The thumping beats of my heart shrieked in pain as I darted ferociously across the basketball court. Beads of sweat trickled down my neck. As I turned my body towards my right, cheers of the crowd boomed towards me. I dribbled the ball between my legs, as though showing off. The claps amplified even more till my ear drums wailed in agony. I felt a thug on my left shoulder and out of the blue, doppelgängers of each figure formed as my vision turned hazy, my legs turned into jelly as I rotated in circles looking like a wacky witch, and the people rushed towards me hastily.

“AHHHHHHHHH” came a grating gutter voice inside my head. I rubbed my weary eyes only to absorb the sniggering faces pointed directly at me. I could feel the red pain searing around my knees, the blood oozing out like the lava inside a volcano, and the bones of my right elbow throbbing. A determined willpower arose from inside.

The next instant, I was back on my feet striving to lead my team to victory and glory. The sniggering faces suddenly transformed into supportive ones. The whimpering whistle blew hung hastily in the air. With the ball in my hand, I dribbled it between players in a zigzag motion. All we needed was a three-pointer to win the interschool championship, but time was ticking away.

Upon reaching the three-pointer line, blazing fire ignited in my eyes as I steadily gazed at the hoop that loomed high above, laying 6.75 meters within my reach. I was so focused. I raised my left elbow while clutching the basketball in the tips of my fingers. With an elegant wrist movement, I swiftly released the ball out of my possession. It effortlessly travelled in the direction of the hoop. The crowd bit their nails looking like horrified banshees about to have a heart attack from the anticipation. “Ting” came a shrilly metallic noise… It hadn’t gone into the hoop, rather bounced on the rim.

Wearing a badge of shame, I experienced the droplets of salty tears clouding on the brim of my eyes. I hid my grief-stricken face within my sweaty palms. Suddenly the deafening silence shattered, and the thundering cheers broke out. With a bewildered expression on my face, I raised my face to witness a stampede before me. “The ball bounced off the metal rim into the hoop,” howled my teammates at once in an inaudible screech. Bursting with pride, I felt an ineffable aura twirling around me. Delighted by the occurrences of the day, I went home with a satisfactory pride of fulfilling my job as the captain of my team.