Chapter 26

Time flew by and it was already the end of May. The NBA playoffs were in full swing. After a grueling seven games, the Lakers barely advanced, while the Rockets missed their chance to compete for a championship, losing heartbreakingly. At that time, no one realized that it would be the last moment for a top player to shine in the NBA. After defeating the Rockets, another star player regained his form and dominated the Western Conference Finals. This was when the NBA was truly exciting, marking the youth of many born in the late 80s and early 90s. Meanwhile, the seniors at Linden High had entered the final review phase before their SAT. The weather was becoming increasingly hot and stifling. Even the usually noisy insects in the trees outside the classroom seemed lethargic. When the sun was out, the weather wasn't too bad, but the worst days were the cloudy ones— it would be hot and humid. It turned the classroom into a sauna. On Saturday, May 30, 2009, it was one of those dread