Chapter 49

Jack let out a cold laugh. "As long as I shoot better than you and run faster, that's enough. Dunking? Believe it or not, I could dunk above you."

Joshua's face turned ashen with rage. Read complete version only at finḑnovel.net

Queenie immediately jumped to his defense. "What a joke! You think you're better than Joshua? Joshua's aiming to be a professional basketball player. Look at yourself in the mirror before you try to compare with him."

Queenie, well aware of the tension between Joshua and Jack, made no effort to hide her disdain.

Ronnie chimed in mockingly, "Queenie, why bother arguing with someone like him? I bet he doesn't even know how to dribble properly."

The girls in the room stifled their laughter at his comment.

Jordan's expression darkened. Jack's brazen attitude was grating on him.

He cleared his throat and asked, "So, you're pretty confident in your basketball skills, huh?"

Unbothered by the mocking tone, Jack nodded calmly. "I'd say so."

Jordan raised an eyebrow and said sternly, "Confidence is good for young people, but arrogance will break you. From what I see, you lack both Joshua's talent and his work ethic. What makes you think you're better than him? Where does your confidence come from?"

Unfazed, Jack flashed a faint smile. "Mr. Huntington, isn't it a bit hasty to judge without having seen me play?"

Jordan stared coldly at Jack. "I'm an excellent judge of character. The world is much bigger than your narrow view allows. Only humility leads to progress."

He stood, pausing briefly before adding, "Still, if you're interested, you can join the team. Perhaps fetching water or cracking jokes would suit you best."

The room erupted in laughter once more.

After Jordan and Joshua left, the girls from the shared dorm room also headed out.

From a distance, Jack overheard Joshua ask, "Coach, why let someone like him join us?"

Jordan's fading voice replied, "It's about showing him how vast the world is. Helping a frog out of the well is a worthy deed."

Ahead of them, Anya, Queenie, and Jessica walked together, with Queenie still ranting about Jack's audacious claims. Jessica and Anya chimed in occasionally, agreeing with her.

Behind them, Miranda and Amelia strolled side by side.

Amelia glanced back at the dorm where Jack remained, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

Miranda smiled. "Amelia, what do you think of Jack?"

Amelia smiled shyly. "He's not bad. His eyes are pretty sharp." She didn't voice her opinion that Jack came off as a bit arrogant.

Miranda chuckled softly. "Isaac seems to get along with him well. He's actually a pretty decent guy."

Amelia blinked, her expression curious. "Really?"

Miranda's smile widened. "Why not give it a shot, Amelia? Maybe you could get to know him better."

Amelia froze, startled. "Me... and him?"