Chapter 1

TITLE: I Made It Again Raptor Basketball School, Lagos Nigeria Aliyah POV Stepping out of the dressing room in my sport uniform, I walked my way to the basketball court, along with my teammates, maintaining a straight face as usual. Fans kept chanting my name, and cheering for me, as we all walked into the court, and split ourselves according to our usual formation, and soon, the whistle was blown, and the match began. I played excellently as usual, and I just couldn't ask for much, hearing my name, dancing on the crowds lips, like I was some god. My name is Aliyah Khan, a Nigerian by nationality. I'm just a nineteen years old talented basketball player, and a student of the famous basketball academy in Lagos, known to be Raptor academy. I'm dark skinned, skinny, and an average height. I have a pair of big round eyes, a v-shaped face, and my curves, they're what boys always gush over, not that I give them attention though. Being the only child of my poor widowed mom, who lost her husband when I was just twelve, we've been living in the hands of the cruel world. No family to look out for us, no friends, just the two of us, doing all our best, to make ends meet. I don't make friends, it's the attitude I grew up with, and for that reason, many of my class and school mates, always complains and conclude that I'm being proud, not that I ever cared though, neither have I tried, explaining myself to them, because I owe them none. They'll understand my pains, if they ever get to go through the pains I've been through. However, for the years I've spent in Raptor academy, I've won many matches. Wondering how I got to become a student of such expensive academy? Well, it was through scholarship.Right now, I'm representing my school on a match, and if I eventually win, I'll be sponsored by the government, to attend one of the most popular basketball academy in Korea, and not just that, my school will also get into the list of the top five best academy in Nigeria. Enough of the talk, now let's get back to business. One of the players passed the ball to me, and I caught it, without wasting any time. I kept bouncing the ball on the ground, trying to look for a way to escape my opponent, who was standing rigidly in front of me, looking for a way to snatch the ball from me. I stopped bouncing the ball, as I caught it in my hand, then turned swiftly getting him distracted, and the next thing, I turned swiftly, and threw the ball, as it entered the net. That was the last point I needed to win the match, I made it! I made it again! Aliyah you made it again! Cheers and excitement screams, erupted from the crowd. Looking around, my heart melted, as the crowd kept chanting my name. Tears of joy welled up my eyes, as I stared around, with a smile, plastered on my face. I just can't believe that I'm getting so much love from people, just what I've done, to deserve all these love they're giving me. "You made it again!" I heard someone screamed from the crowd, and snapping my head to see where the voice came from, a smile formed on my lips, as my eyes met with my only friend, Zohara. Raising my hand in the air, I raised my index and middle fingers, signifying 'yeah'Zohara, is the only friend I ever had. She's loving, caring, and the sister I never had. Even when I pushed her away, she understood my pains, and still stood by my side, she always tried as much as to put a smile on my face. Unlike me, we're from two different worlds, her parents are wealthy, but not withstanding, she still chose to be my friend. She is always there for me. "Aliyah! Aliyah!! Aliyah!!!" The crowd kept chanting my name. "You are a heroine Aliyah!" Someone yelled from the crowd. I looked around again, as more tears of joy came streaming down my cheeks, at the massive love, which I'm receiving from everyone. Some of them have my name, printed on their jerseys, while some have my face imprinted on the back of their shirts. My eyes flew over the small billboards on their hands, which had so many write-ups. 'I love you Aliyah', 'you're my role model Aliyah', 'I can't wait to see you take Nigeria name to Korea', 'I trust you girl, I know you'll do more than those Korean players', 'I love you Aliyah, you're the best', so many write-ups were on the boards, and I just couldn't control the tears of joy, that kept gushing out of my eyes. In my whole years of existence, I've never imagined a day like this. After the match, I was led out of the court by the security men, who kept making way for me, preventing the people, who were struggling to touch me, from pouncing on me. They took me to what seemed like a conference hall, where many people were sitting confidently, with so many reporters present, with their cameras. I was lead to the podium, as I felt my heart, thumping heavily against my chest, like it was going to pop out anytime soon. "How do you feel about the match?""What do you have to say to your fans out there?""How do you feel about traveling out of the country?""Who do you owe this match to?" They kept asking me different questions, as the security led me to stand on the podium, their cameras never stopped stuttering and flashing lights, as they continued taking pictures of me. "Please talk to us." They demanded. "I feel so happy, and I'm really grateful to God, for making this possible for me. I'm not a person of too many words, but I want to tell my fans, a very big thanks, for their love and support. Never give up, no matter what happens, always try to make an opportunity, from everything, life throws at you. Once again, I want to say a big thank you, to everyone, for the love and support, I wouldn't have been here, if it weren't for the massive love and hearty support from you all, I love you all." I said with a smile on my face. "How do you feel about traveling out of the country?" One of them asked again. "Traveling out of the country, have always been one of my dreams, and Korea, have always been my dream country, so I'm really happy." I replied. "Who do you owe this match to?" One of them repeated the question again....