Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 608: You’re Definitely Jealous

"You need to thank me for this one, Kai," Aiden muttered to himself, making Jimmy frown.

"You're not taking me seriously, are you?" Jimmy asked, running his fingers through his hair.

"Oh, but I am," Aiden chuckled. "I just don't see why you're doing this in the first place. I'm assuming you don't know Kai—I mean, me—that well to hate me."

"I don't need to know everything about you to hate you," he said with a glare.

Aiden was reminded of a young boy. It seemed like he had a lot of pent-up issues.

"Well, why don't you enlighten me?" Aiden asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I think it's long overdue. We've already reached the quarter-finals, and yet you still hate me. What really is your problem with me?"

Jimmy's jaw tightened. "You just don't get it, do you?"

"Clearly not," Aiden said with a shrug. "Is it because I'm so perfect?" he asked, even batting his lashes in the process.

That seemed to break the dam. Jimmy took a step closer, his voice rising with each word. "You don't deserve any of this. You don't work for it! You don't have to work for it! Even when I'm given all of the resources, and you were born dirt poor—"

Aiden's eyebrows raised. Well, that was one way to reveal his social status!

"Go on," Aiden said, nodding to himself.

"You have everyone wrapped around your finger," Jimmy continued, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "Coach Xu Wei keeps you in the game, but he only gives me rare chances. Marcus actually thinks you're decent now. Even my dad—" His voice broke slightly before he recovered. "Even my dad thinks you're the best player on the team."

"Ah," Aiden said, nodding sagely. "So this is about your dad."

Jimmy froze, his face flushing. "Shut up."

"Daddy loves me but doesn't love you?" Aiden pressed, leaning forward with an exaggerated look of sympathy. "Man, that's rough."

Jimmy's eyes flared with anger. "I said shut up!"

"You love Daddy, but he's not paying attention to you, is he?" Aiden continued to tease, making Jimmy's face red.

Kai pursed his lips. He was enjoying this much more than he should!

"I do not love my dad," Jimmy said, shaking his head.

Aiden nodded, not believing his words.

"Why are you trying so hard to get his attention then?" Aiden asked, unbothered by the outburst. "You clearly care what he thinks."

"It's not about that!" Jimmy snapped.

"Really?" Aiden said, tilting his head. "Because it kinda sounds like you want him to notice you. To be proud of you. To love you."

Jimmy hesitated, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "It's not about love. I just want to prove him wrong. I am good…even if I'm not the best."

Aiden nodded slowly, his expression oddly serious for once. "Okay. So, do you even enjoy basketball?"

"What?" Jimmy blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"You heard me," Aiden said. "Do you enjoy it? The game? The running, the shooting, the competition?"

Jimmy opened his mouth to respond, then hesitated. He looked away, his voice quiet. "Yeah. I do. But that's not the point."

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Aiden leaned back, crossing his arms. "Actually, I think it is."

"What are you talking about?" Jimmy asked, glaring at him.

"I think I get it now," Aiden said, tapping his temple. "Even though I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, I know how to read people. Kai probably never noticed you were envious of him because he's too humble to see it."

Jimmy stiffened. "Why are you speaking in the third person?" he asked, weirded out.

"Oh, I like to do that sometimes," Aiden said, not even fazed.

"Anyway, I see it clear as day. You're trying too hard, man. But you can't achieve the same results that I did for that very reason. In the end, it's just a cycle of envy and burning out!"

Jimmy's face darkened, his voice rising again. "I'm not envious of you!"

"You totally are," Aiden said matter-of-factly.

"I'm not!"

"You are," Aiden insisted, leaning closer. "Look, I'm perfect. I've got the talent, the charm, the whole package. I'm even handsome! The world is looking forward to my future. Heck, even your dad thinks I'm amazing."

Jimmy's hands balled into fists, his breathing uneven. "You don't even try, and you get everything handed to you!"

"That's not true," Aiden said, his tone suddenly serious. "I play because I love the game. I work hard because I want to get better. Everything else—your dad's approval, the coach's trust, the critics' praise—that just comes with it. It's not my goal."

Jimmy's eyes narrowed. "Lucky for you to say. That doesn't happen to everyone."

Aiden shrugged. "Yeah, well, you can't please everyone. And maybe, just maybe, the problem isn't you."

Jimmy froze, his expression faltering. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Aiden leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I think your dad's the problem, not you. It sounds like he's having some unresolved issues, and now he's trying to make you live out his dreams. Newsflash, if he couldn't achieve them, how is it fair for him to expect you to?"

Jimmy's face showed conflicting emotions, but he didn't respond.

"You're your own person," Aiden continued. He had researched these exact lines from an unknown author. He wouldn't get mad if Aiden used it to give advice to a poor young boy, would he?

Eh, he wouldn't even know.

"The moment you're born into this Earth, you aren't meant to walk on a path. You're meant to make one for yourself!"

He stayed silent for a moment, feeling proud of himself for being able to memorize such a long line. Yes, that was a long line for him.

"And let's be real," Aiden added, his grin returning. "Not everyone can be as perfect as me."

Jimmy let out a frustrated groan, turning on his heel and storming out of the locker room.

Aiden leaned back against the bench, a smug smile on his face. Then, he looked down at his leg and frowned.

"He won't tell the others that I'm faking the injury, won't he?"