Walking to school i was calm and collected, for the first time in a while i went to school with no fear.
I entered the school building and walked through the hallways, I was the most confident I had ever been in my school year. Arriving in my classroom, I looked at the clock and noticed that I was a little late, and as expected, my bullies were already present, waiting to mess with me like they did every day. I caught a quick glimpse of them, brimming with excitement to cause me harm.
But despite their presence, I managed to compose myself and turn to my teacher with a polite greeting. "Good morning, teacher. I apologize for the wait,"
To my surprise, my teacher looked concerned and responded, "I had marked you as absent, Dionis. Is everything okay? You're never late to class."
"Everything is okay, I was just feeling a little sleepy," I explained
"Okay sit down please and open your notebook, oh, and please copy everything that is written on the blackboard into your notebook," she said, pointing to the board.
"Alright" i replied taking my seat.
I began copying the information onto my notebook, but suddenly, I felt a sharp slap on the back of my head. The impact was so strong that my forehead hit the table, causing me to wince in pain. I knew instantly that it was one of my bullies.
Suppressing the urge to cry out, I clinched my teeth and took it like a man.
"Hahahaha, look at this pussy. He doesn't even fight back anymore," Muhammed whispered to his friends, causing them to erupt in silent laughter.
I was fighting back the urge to kill everyone there "Dionis, calm down. You're still too weak," I reminded myself, my fists clenching under the desk. "After I get strong, these fuckers will pay. The wait will be worth it."
Taking a deep breath, I slowly turned my attention back to my notebook and tried to focus on my studies, despite the distraction caused by the bullies. As the lesson finally ended, the worst part of my day began: school break. The teacher left the classroom, and the bullies immediately started harassing me.
They forcefully yanked me from my chair, and with a swift blow to my stomach, Muhammed sent me sprawling to the ground, gasping for air. Surprisingly This time I let it happen without any protest.
Muhammed confused, crouched down and slapped me lightly in my face, Then he looked at his friends and said. "Hmmm, why isn't this fucker fighting back anymore? He became our bitch, hahaha."
After beating me up for what seemed like an eternity, they eventually grew bored and left me alone. I sat there, bruised and humiliated, as everyone in the class silently laughed at me - even my crush.
Ignoring their laughter, I counted down the minutes until the end of the school day. Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of another day of torture. I had survived. However, this day was different. Instead of coming home and collapsing on the couch to watch TV, I went to my room sat down on my chair and started researching the best books for self-improvement and emotional intelligence.
After an hour I selected the books I wanted to read. They were: The art of war, 48 laws of power, The art of seduction, The laws of human nature, Emotionale intelligenz, How to win friends and influence people, How to read a person like a book, Never split the difference negotiating as if your life depended on it, How to influence people and get what you want, The subtle art of not giving a fuck.
All this books and many more I read on self-improvement and emotional intelligence helped me tremendously in my journey later on, anyways as I delved into "The Art of War" book, I realized that mental strength alone wouldn't be enough to defeat my bullies. I needed to develop physical strength as well. So, I grabbed my phone and searched for "MMA near me" on Google. A few locations popped up, and I chose one that seemed promising. I quickly found their phone number and called them.
"Hello, how may I assist you?" a friendly voice answered.
"Hi, I'm interested in joining your MMA gym. Can you tell me a bit more about it?" I asked, feeling a bit nervous.
"Sure, we offer a variety of classes including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. We have experienced coaches who are dedicated to helping our students improve their skills and reach their goals. Would you like to come in for a free trial class?" the voice replied.
"That sounds great! When can I come in for a trial class?" I asked eagerly.
"We have a class starting in about an hour. Would you like to join us for that one?"
"Yes, I would love to! Thank you so much!" I replied excitedly.
After putting on my sports outfit, I informed my parents that I needed some fresh air and headed out the door. The excitement coursing through me was palpable, causing me to run the entire way to the gym. By the time I reached my destination, I was panting, struggling to catch my breath. Opening the door, I stepped inside and my eyes widened in awe. The gym was expansive, brimming with an atmosphere charged with testosterone. Fighters sparred in one corner, while others focused on weightlifting, their muscles rippling with each exertion.
Feeling slightly overwhelmed and lost in the midst of the action, I wandered aimlessly, observing the dedicated individuals immersed in their training. It was then that a towering figure approached me from behind, his presence commanding attention. He asked with a deep voice, "What brings you here, sir?"
Recalling my earlier phone call, I replied, trying to catch my breath, "I called the gym an hour ago and was told to come for a trial."
The man nodded. "Ah, you must be the one they mentioned. Welcome to our gym. We're glad to have you here. I'm Coach Ali. Follow me, and I'll introduce you to the team and show you around."
Relieved to have some guidance, I followed Coach Ali, eager to begin training.