So it's the 2nd day of Ross and I was taking a break from my p-set and getting some shots up at the gym courts (I had to purchase my own membership since Ross didn't offer gym access this year to make us do math 24/7 -_-).

Since I had just lifted weights for about 45 mins (first time for almost 2 weeks) my arms were kind of strained and I was relying a lot on my lower body to shoot.

Then suddenly, she appeared.

Walking besides the perimeter of the court, the Sun traced out a beautiful silhouette onto the gravel ground, a figure I first encountered 2 days ago when I coincidentally bumped into her outside and talked to her for the first time. She had delivered a vibrance that entranced me from the outset, a kind of energy that I loved. I had pulled out a few tricks from the book and made her laugh, but I hadn't garnered up the courage to find her again after with the exception of a few awkward glances in the elevator once.

As I reminisced, I suddenly realized behind her loomed the devil in the picture - a companion, a boy. As they talked besides each other, suspiciously walking in a direction that is probably their mating spot, my mind fueled with rage. I needed to give it to 'em.

I lowered myself, set up myself with a few between-the-leg/behind-the-back dribbles. Then I spun off a quick behind-the-back dribble to my right, pivoting off my right foot for the spin and floating to the right. I raised up, shifted my body to the left in midair perfectly, and swished the midrange jay.

Filled with prowess, I turned to receive my encore.

She didn't even look, and they continued on their way. I can only watch as my palm of sand slipped through my fingertips.

---

Being the competitive and accomplishment-driven person I am, it would best make sense if there could just be a winner-gets-the-girl basketball tournament. Whoever beats all other potential mates gets the girl. Simple. Straightforward.

Instead, we live in this mating reality of infinite variables - everything from body expressions to conversation topics to the weather that mysteriously decide whether two people generate a spark for one another.

In fact, I've always come to wonder how my interests have developed (mathematics, basketball, Kpop). I've come to realize, as I was shooting today, that many of the hobbies we choose to have are a response to the complications of this world.

Many people who do sports do so because it allows them to play a game with defined rules and hierarchy of respect, an escape so-what for the world that we live in, where nothing comes as a guarantee.

I love basketball due to my fascination with how a simple put-the-ball-in-the-basket game has evolved into a global market that attracts millions of young boys and girls to not just play the game, but draw inspiration from it.

I love Kpop because of the way I'm amazed by how one performer can take the spotlight with everyone's eyes on the performer.

In fact, video games are the epitome of this idea - the reason why games are addictive is because it sets up an alternate reality that still maintains enough complexity for the gamer to lose themselves in it while removing the complications of reality. There's always a goal to achieve, and every response is associated with a feedback (i.e. leveling, getting more coins, getting more weapons) that makes the gamer believe they're improving.

Now in the 21st century, society has become so complicated that it's truly hard to accept and interpret all the different factors that govern whether you succeed or not, that sometimes it's just nice to remove all distractions and focus on one specific task at hand.

I'm not saying I don't accept reality for how it is, but I just like to think about these things.