blessed • stephen curry [sequel]

iv. roaracle

Stephen

"Will you wait for me?"

I looked down at Zay, pleading and hoping for her to say yes. It was all I needed. I had to have a reassurance that even if this LDR thing might get in the way, it won't affect us, because out of all the things we'd gone through, distance can't separate us.

"I'll always be waiting, Wardell," she said to me honestly—eyes gleaming like they shine for me.

I cupped her cheek and let my thumb graze on her soft skin. "I'll be coming back to you, I promise."

And I don't break promises.

I would use her as a motivation to strive hard in college knowing I had a special someone to come home to. When I said I was hers, I meant it. She was going to have all of me. I'd come back and fulfill my dream and she's going to be at my side throughout, I trust that. We're on this together and I couldn't find a reason not to give her my all while I still could.

I would keep my word that when I come back after college, I would marry her as soon as I do. There was no point of waiting when you've found the right one. And she was that person.

---

I shot my 7th ball from beyond the arc, watching it fall straight inside the ring for the 5th consecutive time.

We were warming up today on our first game and it was at home. It felt nice to be back, to see the seats that were still quite empty for now but will later be filled by thousands of screaming fans who wore our jerseys.

Games at Oracle were something different. We always sell out most regular season games and our fans were the most passionate I had ever seen in my life.

Although I did remember during my rookie years where I still played with Monta Ellis back then. We can barely fill up the arena and we weren't given much recognition after that.

That became my motivation, not just to myself but also for my hometown. I wanted Bay Area to stand proudly like they did during the days of Wilt Chamberlain. I wanted the people from my town to support us and be proud of us every single game.

I wanted to change the game.

It was going to be the Stephen Curry era. I had it planned. I was prepared.

So when we made it to the playoffs that 2014-2015 season, I knew more fans were starting to hype us up. Especially when we made it to the Finals and got a ring.

I fulfilled my promise to come home with a ring for the City. And I could have brought back another one last year, but maybe we just weren't fated to have a back-to-back win.

It was different this year. We had KD and I knew the man was just as hungry as we all were.

"Man, I forgot the play we're gonna use today," Klay told me as he shot the ball next to me. He still was having a hard-time at our adjustments as a team now that we have two mvps in the same team.

I dribbled the ball once and took the shot. "We changed plays one and two, remember? One for PnR. Two is for Iso on KD."

"Right." Klay knocked his head in remembrance. "Anyway, listen. Arzaya's going to debut today. I think you should try and stay professional when the cameras are rolling. I don't care what you do outside the court, but on court, she has a job to do. You have to respect that."

I made a face at the mere utterance of her name. "Can we not talk about this? I don't wanna ruin my first game."

If she didn't want to ruin her job, she shouldn't have worked for us in the first place. She was giving me the ultimate insult by having the audacity to show up and be our reporter. I can't respect that shīt.