Rebound: A 2nd Chance

Chapter 10 - Watching The Game

Jason expanded the windows

[Iron will: Push your body well beyond your limits! No pain no gain! Requirements: Damage your body to a critical level and persevere to win in a competitive game. Rewards: Skill badge, Ironman.

Ironman(Bronze): Gives you a tougher body. You will be less likely to experience an injury as well as recover from injuries at an improved rate. Effectiveness decided by badge rank.

Go getter: The early bird gets the worm! Early to bed early to rise! Requirements: Play a competitive game on your first day after unlocking the system.

Rewards: 10 body configuration points , 1 skill unlock]

Jason chewed the cereal in his mouth as he thought 'hmmm according to the system for every 100 points I put into height I can increase my height by an inch.'

Jason activated the system 'Estimated height'

[Estimated height a year from now: 5 foot 6 inches tall'

That was tall for a 13 year old but this growth trajectory was the same one from his last life 'I need to put more points into height' Jason dropped all the points towards his height. 20 out of 80 for the extra inch of growth.

Jason shoveled another spoonful of soggy cereal to his mouth as he switched topics 'Ironman seems like a pretty good skill. I wonder what the skill unlock is?'

He focused on the skill unlock.

[Skill unlock: Let's you choose a one skill to remove its limiting factors. Allowing you to use the skill to your current highest capability.]

Jason chugged the milk that was left in his bowl "Ahhh". He licked his lips and smiled 'The skill unlock is really good too. Who knew Trell's bullshit would actually turn out useful'

Jason continued to watch the game as he thought 'But Go getter's requirements are time-based. If I didn't play that 2 on 2 today I would have missed out on it forever. I wonder if there are any more missions like it?'

Thirty minutes passed by as Jason continued watching the game. Jason was laying on the couch, digging in nostril with his pinky when the door suddenly opened "Jaya!"

Jason almost fell off the couch. At first he thought it was his mom but then he realized that his mom never barges into the apartment like this.

Jason was about to turn to see who it was but before he could he felt something fall on top of him. Jason turned his head and saw a familiar face sitting on top of his back.

She seemed just a few years older than Jason. She had a medium length black hair cut into a bobcut and a huge grin on her cute face.

Her bronze skin and fit physique gave off the aura of youth and energy. She was dressed in grey joggers and a plain black T-shirt.

The familiar face caused a torrent of emotions inside of Jason. The young lady didn't seem to notice the change in Jason "So how was your first day Jaya? How's the school?"

It was only after he heard her voice that he was pulled back to the present "It was okay Tory. Now could you please get off me?" Jason's nostrils flared as he caught a whiff of something "Did you just get out of practice? You stink!"

She smiled "You're not getting off that easy. You need to cough up the detai-" she stopped as she noticed the bruises on Jason's arms.

She jumped to her feet and pulled Jason up by his arm "Who did this to you? I told Aunty that I should have dropped you off instead of letting you take the bus. We're going to your school and you're going to point out all the people who need to get their skulls cracked"

Jason pulled his arm "Jeez Tory. You'll never find a guy if you keep talking like that. To answer your question no one did this to me. I was trying out for the basketball team and I got these bruises from diving for loose balls"

Jason had gotten pretty good at hiding bruises and marks in his past life. But he didn't want to do that this time around. This time he wanted to do things differently.

During the car ride home he had discussed with Coach Swendel in order to come up with an alibi. Jason had originally prepared this lie for his parents. He never expected Tory to just pop up out of nowhere.

Tory Kim was the daughter of his mom's coworker/friend who also happened to live in the same apartment complex as them. Tory was pretty much like an older sister to Jason.

Tory frowned "Hmmm. Alright. You better not be lying to me or those bruises are gonna get a whole lot worse"

Her frown lightened up as she ruffled Jason's hair "So how was your first day? And you tried out for the basketball team? Never thought you were the type"

Jason "Today was pretty cool. I think I hit it off pretty well with a couple people. Classes were boring, nothing much to talk about there."

Jason started fixing his hair even though it didn't change all that much "I just thought I would try playing in a team after watching for so long.I think a new school makes for a perfect opportunity to reinvent myself"

Tory smiled as she then put her arm over Jason's shoulder and pulled him into a side hug "New school new you huh? That's good. Sports are definitely a great way to enjoy school"

Jason rolled his eyes but then he returned the hug "If you're not doing anything do you want to watch the rest of the game? I can go fix you a bowl of cereal if you're hungry"

Tory couldn't help but squeal as she pulled Jason into an even tighter embrace "Awww! My little Jaya wants to spend time with me. And he's even worried about me being hungry. All the time this noona spent taking care of you didn't go to waste"

Jason complained in protest but he didn't try to pull away from her hug "Whatever Tory. I was just offering to be polite. Can you please let go of me so that I can get back to watching the game?"

After a few more minutes of hugging Tory let go of Jason. He then went back into the kitchen and got another bowl out. He filled it with Tory's favorite peanut butter flavored cereal and some milk.

Tory and Jason spent the next few hours watching different basketball games and other TV shows. Every once in a while Jason would sneak in a glance at Tory that would linger for just a second. As though he were afraid that she would be gone the next time he wanted to look.

Tory had been a part of Jason's life as early on as he could remember. The first Halloween in his memories included him trick-or-treating as a little salt shaker while Tory dressed up as pepper. She spent the entire night shaking her head trying to make the adults who were passing out the candies sneeze.

On his third birthday his parents threw him a party at the park. He was so excited and hopped up on sugar that he climbed to the top of the monkey bars. The only problem was that after he made it to the top he couldn't get down because he was afraid of heights.

All the adults tried to carry him or pull him down but he hugged the bars for dear life while he screamed his lungs out. It wasn't until little Tory climbed up and sat down next to him to pat his back and reassure him that he was able to climb down albeit with tears and snot running down his face.

Tory and her dad are practically family to Jason. And that's why no matter what Jason will make sure that they live long and happy lives this time around.

During Tory's senior year of high school she was a top athlete with good grades. She had sport's scholarship offers from multiple schools. She had a bright future ahead of her. Unfortunately that future would never come into existence.

That year Tory's father found out that from his doctor that abnormalities were detected during his colonoscopy. He already lived a fairly healthy lifestyle but he did as much as he could to lower his risk for colon cancer.

But some things just happen no matter what. Tory's father began chemo. He was okay at first but the chemo eventually started taking it's toll. He eventually lost the ability to work so Tory dropped out of school in order to work and support her father.

Their financial burdens forced her to work two full time jobs and any small part-time gigs she could fit into her schedule. One day she fell asleep at the wheel and got involved in a lethal collision that would end up claiming her life.

Tory's father was already barely hanging on to life. His rail thin body shook after he heard the news. Jason and his family spent the whole day with him afraid to leave him alone. They invited him to spend the night at their apartment multiple times but he refused.

They unwillingly left his home after being reassured that he would be alright. The next morning Jason woke up early in the morning to deliver a warm homemade breakfast. After more than ten minutes of knocking and getting no response Jason's heart dropped to his stomach.

It wasn't until the police showed up and forcefully entered that they found uncle Kim's body lifelessly laying in bed with a picture of Tory gripped tightly in his hands. Dried tear stains still visible on his cold sunken face.