Chapter 09

Chapter 09

The Fall And The Fightback

The next morning, Kobby walked across campus with headphones on, hoping to shut out the world. But whispers followed him everywhere. He could feel the attention burning into his skin—judgmental eyes, sly glances, smirks.

Students stood in small clusters, phones in hand, sharing the fake picture like it was breaking news.

“There he is.”
“BBB the juicer.”
“Ei, so he was using enhancers all along.”

A few people laughed openly as he passed.
Others just shook their heads in disappointment.

But some… some looked sad, almost betrayed, as if they had personally invested in his rise.

The cuts ran deep.
Deeper than the body-shaming he endured before.
Because back then, they mocked him because they didn’t care.
Now they mocked him because they cared too much—and wanted to tear him down.

Kobby kept walking, forcing himself not to react.
Every insult felt like a stone thrown at his spirit.

THE MEETING WITH COACH SAMORI

During evening practice, Coach pulled Kobby aside.
The rest of the team glanced over, pretending not to listen while absolutely listening.

Coach Samori folded his arms.
“Kobby… something has come to my attention.”

Kobby closed his eyes briefly.
“I know. The picture.”

Coach nodded slowly.
“I’ve been in this game for decades. I can spot talent. I can spot hard work. And I can spot nonsense.”

Kobby looked up sharply.

“That image is nonsense,” Coach continued. “But the school wants to investigate it formally. Until then… I need you to stay focused. Understand?”

Something hot and heavy lifted off Kobby’s chest.
“Coach, I swear—”

Samori raised a hand.
“I believe you. But belief is not enough. We’ll need to clear your name.”

The rest of the team watched from across the court.
Some curious.
Some supportive.
Some bitter.
And some—like Ranger—conflicted.

The tension was heavy.

Then Coach blew the whistle.
“Let’s practice! Kobby, run with the first team.”

Even with rumors swirling like smoke around him, Kobby stepped onto the court.
He would not shrink.

THE SABOTAGE GETS WORSE

But the ones behind the fake photo weren’t done.
They wanted him off the team.
Off campus.
Destroyed socially.

Two days later, new whispers emerged:

“Someone saw Kobby taking something in the washroom.”
“I heard he locked himself in a stall for ten minutes injecting himself.”
“His power dier, we all saw it coming.”

All lies.
All fabricated.
All spreading like a virus.

One of the jealous benchwarmers, a guy named Kobyson, made things worse by loudly telling people:
“Ei, I dey training with him—this guy’s improvement no normal. Something dey go on.”

By the third rumor wave, students didn’t even question the source.
They just swallowed everything.
Even some lecturers whispered about it during class, thinking Kobby wasn’t around to hear.

RANGER’S DECISION

Ranger watched all this from the shadows.
His jealousy warred with something else—his sense of honor.
He knew the team needed Kobby.
He knew the picture was fake.
He didn’t like how fast Kobby was rising, but he hated lies more.

After practice, he approached the three saboteurs secretly.
“I know what you did.”

They panicked instantly.
“Kai, don’t talk plenty.”
“We just wanted him off the team.”
“He’s taking our shine!”

Ranger grabbed the ringleader by the shirt.
“Listen carefully. I may not like him… but basketball isn’t about jealousy. It’s about skill and teamwork. What you guys did is stupid—and dangerous.”

The boys didn’t apologize.
But they backed down.
Still, the damage was already done.

THE LOWEST POINT

That night, Kobby sat on his bed, scrolling through endless hate comments.
His eyes blurred with exhaustion.
His heart felt heavy.

All his life, he had fought against mockery.
But he never imagined he’d be accused of cheating at the one thing he finally excelled at.

He whispered to himself:
“What if… this is too much? What if I stop? What if I drop from the team? Would it make everything easier?”

A tear slid down his cheek before he could stop it.

But as soon as the thought formed, something inside him tightened—
a voice that had been quiet since childhood.

No.
You didn’t come this far to break.
Not again.
Not because of lies.
Not because of fear.
Not because of envy.

He wiped his face and stood up.
His body shook with determination.

He grabbed his ball and headed for the court.

THE TRAINING IN THE RAIN

It was raining heavily, the court glittering like a mirror.
But Kobby didn’t care.
He stepped into the downpour, clothes soaked instantly.

He began to dribble.
Hard.
Fast.
Angry.
Focused.

Every bounce of the ball echoed his frustration.
Every sprint released another ounce of pain.
Every jump cleared another doubt from his mind.

The rain masked his tears.
But his determination burned hotter than ever.

THE PHANTOM APPEARS AGAIN

A figure stepped into the rain—quiet, steady.
It was The Phantom.

“You break… and you rebuild,” he said calmly.
“That is the path of champions.”

Kobby looked at him, eyes red but fierce.
“They’re trying to destroy me.”

“They cannot destroy what you become,” The Phantom replied.
“Only what you were.”

Kobby tightened his fists.
“Tell me what to do.”

The Phantom’s eyes glowed faintly under the rain.
“Train. Harder than ever.
Win.
Let your game speak louder than their lies.”

Kobby nodded slowly.
He would not quit.
He would not fall.
He would not break.

Tonight, in the heart of the storm, a new version of him was born.

The version that would not just reach the national team—
but fight for it.