NBA: GIANT KILLING

"My hero, you're back!" The girl stepped forward eagerly, her face alight with joy.

Oliver had a distinct impression of this girl.

She was the one who had approached him after the game against Manhattan Academy, asking for an autograph. The same girl who had stolen a kiss from him.

Her name... Jenna, if he recalled correctly.

The memory surfaced vividly in his mind—her arms wrapping around him, the swift, unexpected brush of her lips against his cheek.

And this time—

Oliver had yet to react when she suddenly leaned in.

A delicate fragrance filled the air, and the next moment, he felt the softness of her lips pressing against his.

He had been kissed.

No—he had been stolen from. Again.

This bold girl had just taken his first kiss in this world.

Jenna pulled away, her face tinged with a slight flush, yet her eyes remained unwavering, sparkling with amusement.

Oliver, on the other hand, stood frozen, entirely caught off guard, unsure of what to do or say.

"Oliver, you remember me, don't you? I'm your future girlfriend! I watched your game today—you were amazing!"

Her words snapped him back to reality.

"No, I just got lucky," he replied, shaking his head. "Georgia Tech is a strong team. I barely scraped by."

He meant it. Led by the future legend, Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech was a powerhouse. A victory against such a formidable opponent only made Oliver's own strength shine brighter.

Jenna giggled. "Let's go on a date! You must be exhausted after the game, so I'll come find you tomorrow."

Without waiting for a response, she wrapped her arms around him in a brief embrace, then placed a swift peck on his cheek before dashing off.

Oliver stood there, stunned.

This girl... was incredibly bold.

Girls these days were certainly more direct—he had heard stories about it, especially from his teammates, but experiencing it firsthand was another thing entirely.

Even as he tried to shake it off, his mind lingered on the memory of her long, slender legs, the way she had smiled, the playful glint in her eyes.

And to think—this was only their second meeting.

Oliver had spent most of his time focused on training and games. He had little room for distractions like romance.

But a tightly wound string was bound to snap eventually.

Maybe, for once, letting loose wasn't such a bad idea.

After all, a date with a beautiful girl could be a good way to unwind.

The exhaustion from the game began to settle into his limbs, and with the thought of tomorrow's plans in mind, Oliver collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, his phone rang.

"My great hero, are you awake yet?" A light, cheerful voice chimed from the other end.

Oliver recognized it instantly—it was Jenna.

"How did you get my number?" he asked, still groggy.

It was surprising enough that she knew his address. Now she had his phone number too?

She giggled. "I went through a lot of trouble to get it. But how I did is a secret! I'll be at your place in ten minutes."

Oliver shook his head but didn't press further.

As one of the more well-known players on Aina University's team, his information was probably easy to find online. If she was determined enough, tracking it down wouldn't have been difficult.

Still, the fact that she had gone through the effort meant she had been paying close attention to him.

True to her word, Jenna arrived ten minutes later.

She wore a casual outfit—a light-colored T-shirt, denim shorts, and sneakers. The simplicity of her attire only emphasized the striking contrast of her long, snow-white legs, making them all the more mesmerizing.

Oliver found himself momentarily speechless.

"You look beautiful," he admitted without thinking.

She beamed. "Thank you!"

Without hesitation, she took his arm and led him outside.

Their date was simple—just a leisurely stroll through the nearby park.

Walking side by side, Oliver noticed that they were about the same height, which seemed to attract the attention of passing strangers. He could hear murmurs from onlookers:

"That short guy is so handsome! And the girl—wow, she's stunning."

"If I ever get a girlfriend, I want one like her..."

Oliver couldn't help but smile at the compliments, feeling a strange warmth in his chest and stomach.

On the court, he was fierce and unyielding. But in daily life, he had the quiet composure. A characteristic many of his peers are surprised by.

Jenna, seemingly a little pleased with the attention, clung to his arm a little tighter.

She had been drawn to Oliver's presence ever since the Manhattan University game.

But now, walking beside him, she realized that his gentle and refined nature made him even more captivating.

She leaned into his shoulder, enjoying the moment.

As they passed by a small river and approached a street basketball court, a voice suddenly called out.

"Well, well, if it isn't Jenna."

A towering young man, easily over two meters tall, approached them. He was dressed in athletic gear, a basketball tucked under his arm.

Jenna's eyes widened in surprise. "Hank? I didn't expect to run into you here!"

"Yeah! We haven't talked since you transferred to Manhattan," Hank said, flashing a confident smile. Yet, when his gaze shifted to Oliver, a glint of hostility flickered quickly in his eyes.

Jenna smiled. "It's been a while. Oh, let me introduce you—this is Oliver, they guy I'm dating. Oliver, this is Hank, my old classmate and our former school team's best player."

Oliver extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

But Hank barely spared him a glance, ignoring the handshake. "Jenna, you rejected me for this guy? He's tiny! Talk about settling for way less."

Jenna's expression darkened. "Don't talk about Oliver that way! He's an amazing player—way better than you!"

Hank laughed. "Better than me? That's hilarious." He casually lifted the basketball high above his head. "With his height? I could hold the ball up like this, and he'd never even touch it."

Jenna fumed. "Shows what you know! Oliver is Aina University's best player!"

Hank barked out a laugh. "If that guy is a starter, then Aina's team must be trainwreck."

Oliver's expression tensed even further. He had always treated others with respect, but that didn't mean he would let himself be insulted.

His eyes narrowed. "You think you're that good? How about a one-on-one?"

Hank smirked. "You? Against me? Let me know if you want me to lower the hoop to a lower height for you.."

Jenna smirked. "You wouldn't stand a chance, Hank. You have no idea good he is! You should've seen him at his last game!"

Hank crossed his arms. "If I lose to this shrimp, I'll eat my basketball."

Oliver's lips curled into a grin. "Then start seasoning it now."

With a casual flick, Hank tossed the ball to Oliver. "Fine. I'll even let you have the first possession."

Spectators gathered, phones already out, ready to witness what seemed to be a very entertaining match.

Oliver merely cracked his knuckles, stepping onto the court.

"Hope you've got a strong jaw," he said smoothly. "Rubber's not exactly easy to chew."