The Girl They Ignored Returned as the Woman Seven Men Would Die For novel Chapter 175

The boy's eyes went wide. "Do... do you know how to play?"

"I used to," Julian smiled. "But in a wheelchair... I'm not so sure."

"I'll go ask the teacher!" The boy cheered, spinning his wheels and darting onto the court.

The teacher quickly halted the game and reorganized the teams.

Julian and the eager boy were placed on opposing sides.

At first, Julian struggled entirely.

The speed, steering, and braking of a wheelchair operated on a completely different logic than running.

He tried to drive to the hoop like he used to, only to nearly tip his wheelchair over.

He went for a pull-up jumper, only to remember he couldn't jump.

A sloppy pass bounced right off his knee, drawing good-natured laughter from the sidelines.

But Julian didn't stop.

Slowly, he found his rhythm.

Controlling the wheels with both hands, he leaned his weight forward, feeling the friction between the tires and the concrete.

He started reading his teammates' movements, learning to use his wheelchair to box out and set screens.

When he successfully blocked an opponent's drive for the first time, a long-lost thrill surged through his chest.

The ball was passed to him.

He took a deep breath, shoved the rims hard, and sent his wheelchair flying forward.

Two defenders closed in to trap him. He hit the brakes, carving a sharp arc and slipping right between them.

The hoop was right in front of him. He stopped, brought the ball up with both hands, aimed—

The basketball spun through the air.

Clang, it bounced off the rim and dropped into the net.

It went in!

Julian sat frozen, his heart pounding against his ribs.

He had almost forgotten this feeling—

Sweat dripping down his forehead, breath ragged, muscles aching, but something scorching hot awakening in his very bones.

It was the feeling of being alive.

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