I suck at basketball—which means, I'd rather suck a dick somewhere than be in the middle of a basketball court, standing on the three-point shooter line and holding a ball in both hands as my classmates stand behind me in line waiting for their turn.
Not that I've sucked a dick before, but that is the point of desperation I'm in right now.
The ball's rough surface clung to my sweating palms. And although it only took about two seconds to dribble the ball, it felt like I've been standing here for hours. I could practically feel the eyes of our PE instructor burning holes through the back of my neck, his signature scowl probably etched deeper than usual. "Just shoot the damn ball!" his voice boomed, cutting through the murmuring crowd like an old chainsaw.
I sigh, raising the ball over my head. I was just about to throw it, but then something weird happened.
The lights above me flickered, not just once, but in a rapid, erratic motion. The next moment, everything was pitch-black. Followed by silence. I looked behind, only to find out there is nobody else in the court besides me now.
Okay... have I been living off on too much coffee and spending too much time locked in my room reading transmigration stories? Because what the fuck is happening?
Suddenly, the lights burst opened, and my ears were abruptly welcomed by a wave of deafening cheers and celebratory trumpets. The benches, which were empty just moments, now packed with a roaring, unfamiliar crowd. I spun around, utterly lost, as a surge of men in basketball jerseys raced towards me.
Before I could even process what was happening, they surrounded me, their energy boisterous as they lifted me onto their shoulders and kept cheering. My hands, which moments ago felt clammy and pathetic around a basketball, now gripped a golden trophy. It gleamed under the lights, and for a brief moment, it reflected my face. But instead of the cropped hair with blonde highlights that I took upon myself to color impulsively last week, I saw a retro-style shaggy curtain hair.
Maybe I fainted in the middle of shooting that ball during PE class and everything happening right now is just a dream.
[SYSTEM LOADING...]
Or maybe not.
[SYSTEM DOWNLOADING DATA... Absorbing contents of the drama novel "Lost"]
Did I just transmigrated into one of those novels I read online and now I have one of those systems talking inside my head?
I looked at the people who are now acting familiar with me. I don't recognize anyone at all. And thinking back to what the system spoke in my head, I don't remember any novel named Lost. Realistically speaking, I've read too many.
"That's our captain! MVP again!" One of the men shouted below. I was getting pretty uncomfortable up here, so I jumped down, smiled and patted their backs. I tried to look relaxed, but my legs are tensed. Hoping they don't notice, I just smiled and nod at their congratulatory remarks.
"That's my man!" My ears caught the attention of a cheerleader who shouted from the benches. I looked at her, trying to check if I could recognize her character.
Just then, one of the guys slung their heavy arm over my shoulder. "Thinking of getting back together with Jane?" I paused. Hopefully it wasn't that long. I just gave him a forced smile and shrugged. "We all know you only date cheerleaders, and you've pretty much gone through each of them already!" He laughed. I kept my forced smile, which seemed genuine enough that he didn't notice anything weird.
"Hey!" The guy puts his arms down from my shoulders and clapped his hands, calling the attention of the other basketball players. "Party tonight at my house!"
A fresh wave of cheers erupted among the basketball players. When their attention shifted away from me for a bit, I looked around for any clues of wherever I might be. I focused on the benches. A small group of women were holding a sign that says 'FIGHT, EAGLES! GO WESTMONT HIGH'
Westmont High... wait.
Captain of the basketball team, popular and a certified jock, only dates cheerleaders, goes to Westmont High.
Oh. I am fucked.
"Come on, Shawn! What are you standing there for? Let's go!" One of guys called me as the team started to walk away, still enthusiastically talking over each other.
Shawn Carter, king of Westmont High, a villainous character from the novel Lost. A typical jock. A bully. And someone who will die along the rest of the students here in school due to arson committed by the main protagonist.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]