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𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙤
The Chase Center was loud and crowded with mostly Warriors' fans on the night before Halloween. Angelo only planned to attend Rasheed's gathering because he was aware that he had a game in California on October 30. After the fight with his brother, Gelo wasn't in the partying mood anyway. He healed the minor wounds that Mercedes left on the outside. His insides were still suffering from guilt and shame.
Multiple options were in the audience, cheering him on as he faced the greatest shooter to ever play the game. Steph Curry played the same position as him. Gelo played both shooting and point guard, depending on how the coach lined them up. Arguably, he was better. Angelo would never admit to it aloud. However, he transformed into a show-off and a ball hog whenever he faced Steph Curry.
The Pelicans were down by more than ten points with only a few minutes left in the fourth. He hustled down the court, dribbling the ball and running at full speed. He made it up in his mind that somehow, he would defeat the Warriors all by himself. Angelo scored the most points on his team because he had more shot attempts than everyone else.
Crossing up Steph, his ankle turned too sharply. A pop in his knee made him drop the ball instantly and fall to the floor, clutching his injured knee. The game kept going on with Steph stealing the ball and running the opposite direction. It didn't stop until the Pelicans' team of paramedics raced over to him. "Where's the pain?" A woman asked. Gelo pointed to his knee repeatedly. She attempted to grab it only for him to grunt in agony.
"You don't think you can stand up?" A male paramedic asked, offering a hand to help him stand. The crowd had quieted down, players from both teams surrounding him. They wore their concern inside of their eyes. "I can try" Angelo slid his palms into his hands. Carefully, he lifted him up off the floor. As soon as Angelo tried to step down on his leg, he felt a shooting pain inside of his knee. "I'm a have to hop"
"Okay. I'm right here to help you. Put all your weight on me if you have to" Angelo lifted his leg off the floor and hopped towards the tunnel with the aid of paramedics. Fans and players from both sides cheered for him as he walked through the tunnel. They were just happy that he was able to walk.
Being escorted to a back room for examination, they laid him on the examine table and massaged his knee. The pain nearly brought him to tears. "No, something's wrong" He told them. They locked eyes with each other, speaking a language only they knew. The paramedics suspected that he may have been suffering from a career-ending injury. "We're going to have to take X-Rays"
"No! Get off of me! I'm his assistant!" Ana's voice bounced off the walls of the hallway, announcing her presence before she even burst into the room. The petite woman was hysterical, mascara streaks running down her face. She had been crying like he was dying. "Oh my God, Angel" The nickname he hated with a burning passion made everything ten times worse. "Are you okay?" She stroked his hair, glancing between him and his knee. "What's wrong?"
"They don't know yet. They have to do X-Rays" He responded dryly. "Can you wait for me out there? I don't need to see you crying and shit right now. I appreciate the tears and concern, but now is not the time for all this" She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I understand. I'll be right outside if you need me" She left out.
"We're going to have to get you to a hospital for an X Ray and an MRI" The woman opened the door. A cart awaited him with Ana right by it. He banged his head into the slight softness of the leather, then stood up and sat on the cart with their assistance.
The ride to the hospital was brief. Ana wanted to ride in the ambulance with him, but he suggested that she'd go to the hotel for the day. He received supportive texts from Brandi, Gucci, and Parris, who were hoping for the best. The latter was in attendance because he flew her out. Telling her that they'll meet up after the tests, Angelo received calls from his mother and father just before the MRI.
Once finished, they had him wait for the results in a room by himself. The doctor who took a look at his knee wouldn't tell him what he thought may have been wrong. He stayed quiet until the test told him for sure. His reaction was odd and similar to the paramedics.
Replying to texts from Cashmir, the door finally opened and revealed the fifty-five year old doctor. He came in with a tight-lipped smile on his face. It looked forced. Locking his phone, Angelo sat up and waited to hear his diagnosis.
"Angelo, there's no easy way to say this because this is a very serious injury for someone who plays basketball" His heart started racing inside his chest, beating so hard that he could hear it in his ear. He knew....before the doctor even uttered it. The male took a long pause, gathering his thoughts together. "Angelo, you have torn your ACL..."
His heart fell to the pit of his stomach, tears accumulating in his eyes. All he could think about was one of his idols, Kobe Bryant. He had the pleasure of playing with him during his rookie season. Kobe was never the same after he tore his ACL. Still great, but one could tell the difference in his game.
"It's not the end of the world. I assure you" The doctor tried to comfort him, but Gelo was still processing that his career would be put on a countdown. He dedicated his life to the game. Just like that, Angelo had to think about retirement. "We can repair it, but I would be lying if I said you'll be the same player you were before the injury. You won't, but you can still play"
Putting his face in his palms, Angelo couldn't hold back a large sob from coming out. He hated crying. With his career almost over, he had no other choice but to shed tears. "Angelo..." The doctor spoke softly and awkwardly. "We'll have to set up your surge-"
"Can you just give me a fucking minute?" He shot his head up, glaring at him angrily. The baller projected his anger onto him. "My career is fucking over and you sitting here talking about a gotdamn surgery!" He screamed. The doctor slid on that infamous closed lip smile and nodded. "I'll give you a moment to yourself" He stood and headed for the door.
"Thank you. Shit" He cut his eyes, swiping his hand down his face. Out of nowhere, the premonition came back to him. In five years, he would be dead if he didn't get married. It all came together in his mind. Angelo would become addicted to pain meds that they gave him for his injury, leading to an overdose that would ultimately take his life. Angelo was living inside the first phase of the premonition. It shook him to his core.
Panic quickened his pulse, hand clutching his forehead. "I gotta pick one, I gotta pick one, I gotta-" His mother interrupted his chanting with a call. He answered on the third ring. "Hey, baby. I know you're going through a lot right now"
"You have no fucking idea" He thought, clenching his jaw. "But tomorrow's Halloween. Your father and I were thinking about our Christmas trip this year. We've settled on Aspen and we're trying to go ahead, and rent the cabin now while it's still early. Are you going? I'm doing a head count so I can find a cabin that'll fit everyone"
An exasperated sigh blew from his lips. "Yes, I'll go" She replied excitedly. "Great! So, how the X-Rays g-" He hung up on his mother, turning his phone off before she could call back. He didn't want to talk to her or anyone else. "I don't love Ana, but she would be a good choice" His mind told him. "She's my assistant. As far as I know, she's single. Her pussy is good. She's down with threesomes. Ooh Brandi..." He bit his lip, analyzing both inside his intricate brain. "Five years with both of them, though? I don't think so. There's always Parris. She's beautiful and classy. Gucci is a definite no. Ain't no way I'm a be married to her for five whole fucking years-"
A nurse came into the room, interrupting his thoughts. "We really need to finalize your surgery. We have a bunch of papers for you to sign before the surgery in the morning. Can I go over them with you?"
Nodding, she smiled graciously and took her seat by his side. "Let's get started" She clicked her pen. "Are you married? Do you have a sign-"
