Blessing in Disguise

Chapter Two

12/15/2016

The gym was packed, the buzz of excitement thick in the air as Niskayuna High's basketball team prepared to face their biggest rivals. Y/N stood at the center of the court, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished wood floor echoing in his ears. The smell of freshly applied wax filled the room, mixing with the distant scent of popcorn from the snack stand.

Y/N glanced up at the bleachers, spotting Yunjin among the crowd. She was sitting near the front, her eyes fixed on him, a small smile playing on her lips. He felt a rush of confidence, knowing she was there to watch. But there was no time to linger on it—this game was important. Countless scouts and college coaches were there to watch, and he couldn't afford to slip up in a time like this.

The referee blew the whistle, and the ball went up for the tip-off, and Niskayuna's center leaped into the air, his hand just barely grazing the ball as he tapped it toward his teammate. The pace of the game started fast, the thud of the basketball against the hardwood floor creating a steady rhythm. Niskayuna's players moved in sync, passing and weaving between defenders, but their rivals were just as sharp, their defense unyielding.

Y/N dribbled past a defender, his eyes scanning the court for an opening. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was clear, focused. He fakes a left, before cutting right, slipping past his defender and pulling up for a mid-range jumper right by the foul line. The ball left his hand, spinning in the air before it swished cleanly through the net.

The crowd roared, but Y/N barely heard it, his focus already shifting back to defense. He could feel the pressure of the game building, every possession carrying weight. Niskayuna was up by a few points, but La Selle Institute's team was relentless, and Y/N knew they couldn't let up. Not now.

As the game wore on, sweat dripped down Y/N's forehead, his muscles aching from the intensity of the match. Every drive, every shot, felt like a battle, and each time, he glanced at Yunjin, as if her presence was a reminder of why he pushed himself so hard. She was chasing her dream, just like him. And he wasn't going to stop until he reached it.

The game intensified as the minutes ticked down. Y/N caught a pass, and as he squared up to shoot, a defender from La Salle snarled, "You're not making that, rookie."

Y/N smirked, ignoring the comment, driving past him with a crossover. "We'll see about that," he muttered, pulling up for another jumper. It swished through the net cleanly.

On defense, the rivalry became sharper. Elbows and shoulders jostled for position, and one of La Salle's forwards glared at Y/N after a missed layup. "Lucky block, freshman, shit like this won't happen again lil bro."

But Y/N stayed cool, anticipating their moves. He cut off a fast break with a clean steal, charging down the court. Niskayuna's offense synced like clockwork—passes zipped, screens were set, and Y/N found his moment. He drove to the basket, taking the contact from La Selle's center, a 6'7 5-star committed to Kentucky, and made the lay, earning an and-one.

"Guess that was luck, huh?" Y/N called back with a grin as the crowd roared.

Back on defense, Y/N could feel the tension. With only a few minutes left, La Salle's point guard trash-talked at every possession, trying to throw him off. "You'll choke when it counts," the towering guard hissed, but Y/N didn't bite.

Instead, he locked in, reading their offense like a book, staying in front of his man. La Salle tried to push into the paint, but Y/N's defense held, forcing a tough contested shot. Niskayuna grabbed the rebound, and the fast break was on.

Y/N found himself open at the top of the key again. The crowd was electric. He faked a pass, the defender biting hard, giving him just enough space to put up a shot. It was perfect, arcing smoothly through the air and into the net.

The game continued at this frenetic pace, both teams trading buckets, each possession feeling heavier than the last. With less than a minute left and the score tied, the energy in the gym hit its peak. Y/N called for the ball, knowing he had to make this moment count.

This was it—the pressure, the scouts, the noise. It all faded as Y/N launched toward the rim, time slowing as his final shot soared through the air.

Swish.

The buzzer sounded through the gym, signaling the end of the game. Niskayuna had pulled off a three-point win over La Selle Institute.

As Y/N caught his breath, La Salle's towering center approached, his expression unreadable. "Great game, kid," the senior said with a firm nod. "I'll see you at the next level. I'll be waiting."

Y/N nodded, still stunned that a five-star recruit would acknowledge him—an unranked freshman. The praise felt unreal, but there was no time to dwell on it; his thoughts immediately shifted to Yunjin.

Y/N's heart pounded with the rush of victory, sweat still fresh on his face, but his focus was on one thing—Yunjin. As the crowd surged onto the court, celebrating, he weaved through them, his eyes scanning the stands.

Yunjin was there, surrounded by her friends, but her gaze was locked on him, smiling wide. Without thinking, Y/N jogged up to her, breathless from both the game and the moment.

"You were amazing out there," Yunjin said, her voice rising just enough to cut through the buzz of celebration. There was pride in her eyes, a flicker of something deeper—like she knew exactly what this moment meant to him.

Y/N grinned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I had to make sure you saw that last shot." He teased, still riding the high of the win, but there was truth in his words. Yunjin was one of the reasons he pushed himself so hard.

One of Yunjin's friends piped up, "We were all on the edge of our seats. You should've seen how loud she was cheering."

Y/N chuckled, glancing at Yunjin, who rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "So," he said, shifting a bit, "maybe I'll win all the games if you're around."

Yunjin laughed. "Deal—but only if you come to one of my singing practices sometimes. You might need some extra inspiration."

The teasing laced between them was familiar, comfortable. But as the crowd continued to celebrate and the gym hummed with energy, Y/N could feel it—the shift in the air, in their friendship. Their dreams were growing, pulling them forward, and somehow, they were keeping each other grounded along the way.

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Author's note: Tomorrow is the first day of my school quarter, I should've really thought about it before trying to start a story lmao. But nonetheless, I'll try to update this story as much as possible!