Mohammed woke up early in the morning, excited to follow his new routine. Today was a special day—it was his first time stepping into a boxing gym. As he got ready, he wondered to himself, How will my first day at the gym be?
After finishing his household chores, Mohammed headed to school. Something felt different today—his classmates, who used to bully him, were no longer conspiring against him. This sudden change made him suspicious. Why have they stopped? he wondered. However, he decided not to dwell on it and focused on his studies instead.
Once school ended, Mohammed rushed home, changed his clothes, and eagerly headed to the gym for his first training session. Since he was still a beginner with a weak physique, his coach gave him a special training program tailored to his level. After warming up, the coach called him over to teach him the basics of offense and defense. But to the coach's surprise, Mohammed picked up the techniques quickly, and despite his frail build, his punches were surprisingly strong. This unexpected talent caught the coach's attention, making him more interested in training Mohammed.
Two weeks passed. During this time, Mohammed continued his training while attending school as usual. One day, he discovered the reason why his classmates had stopped bullying him—they had found a new target, a student even weaker than he once was.
Since Mohammed never had friends in class—because everyone avoided him due to the influence of the three bullies, Abdul Razzaq, Khaled, and Mustafa—he turned to the student sitting next to him and asked, "Who is that kid sitting in the front?"
The student replied, "He's a new transfer student. Unfortunately, those three who used to pick on you have started bullying him now. He's weak and can't defend himself. His name is Osama."
Hearing this, Mohammed felt a deep sense of sympathy for Osama. He knew exactly how it felt to be in his position. But how could he help? He was still not strong enough to take on all three bullies at once. At best, he could handle one of them.
At the end of the school day, just as the teacher left the classroom and Mohammed was packing his things, he noticed the three bullies approaching Osama. The boy looked terrified, and the rest of the class watched in fear, unwilling to intervene.
The Confrontation
Abdul Razzaq walked up to Osama's desk and slammed his fist on it, then grabbed Osama's schoolbag and threw it aside. "Hey, coward! If you're a real man, defend yourself! Say something! We're waiting."
Osama was paralyzed with fear. His lips trembled as he barely managed to say, "P-please… stop this…"
Khaled laughed mockingly. "Oh, don't make us look like bad guys. We're just playing with you!" He then turned to the rest of the class and asked, "Are we bullying him?"
Fearful of becoming the next target, the entire class replied in unison, "No, you're not."
Khaled smirked and looked back at Osama. "See? We're not bullying you. Why do you act like this?"
Mustafa stepped forward and kicked Osama, knocking him to the ground. "Enough talking. Let's teach him a lesson."
The three bullies began mercilessly beating Osama while the class watched in silence, their faces filled with sorrow, knowing they couldn't do anything.
But Mohammed… Mohammed was different. Rage boiled inside him. His fists clenched, his heart pounded, and before he knew it, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "You bastards! How dare you gang up on him in front of everyone? Not only do you bully him, but now you're beating him too?"
The entire class gasped, shocked by Mohammed's boldness. No one had ever dared to stand up to the bullies before.
The Fight Begins
Khaled turned to Mohammed with a sneer. "Don't think that just because that senior student saved you once, he'll save you again."
Mohammed chuckled. "I don't need anyone to protect me from cowards like you."
Khaled lunged at Mohammed, aiming a punch at his face. But Mohammed dodged effortlessly, crouched slightly, and countered with a strong punch to Khaled's jaw. Before Khaled could react, Mohammed delivered another blow to his knee, causing him to collapse to the ground. With one final strike, he sent Khaled sprawling across the classroom.
Mustafa saw his friend fall and, seizing the opportunity, attacked Mohammed from behind. The blow almost knocked him down, but Mohammed steadied himself by grabbing onto the wall. He turned to face Mustafa and scoffed, "You cowards always attack from behind."
Mustafa smirked. "Don't get cocky just because you learned a few moves. You think you can beat us?"
Mohammed's gaze was unwavering. "If you're a real man, then fight me head-on."
Mustafa hesitated. How did Mohammed get this strong in just two weeks? he thought.
He wasn't the only one surprised—the entire class was in shock. Khaled lay on the floor, unable to move, while Mustafa and Abdul Razzaq stood frozen, unsure whether to attack or retreat. Mohammed's stance was firm, his eyes burning with determination, showing not a single trace of fear.
Mustafa finally asked, "What happened to you in these two weeks? How did you get this strong?"
Mohammed smirked. "I went through hell… and survived. And if I ever see you bullying anyone again, I swear I'll make you pay."
Mustafa gritted his teeth. "You'll regret this, Mohammed. Just wait and see." He then helped Khaled up and left the classroom with Abdul Razzaq.
As the three bullies exited, Mohammed stood there, stunned by what he had just done. I finally did it… he thought to himself. For the first time in his life, he felt true pride.
A New Beginning
A moment later, the entire class gathered around him.
"Hey, Mohammed! I'm Kareem. That was incredible—thank you for standing up to them!"
One by one, his classmates expressed their gratitude. Mohammed, unused to this kind of attention, felt embarrassed.
Then he suddenly remembered Osama. Rushing over to him, he asked, "Are you okay?"
Osama, still shaken, nodded. "Yes… Thank you for defending me. I'll never forget what you did."
Mohammed smiled. "Don't mention it. We're classmates—it's my duty to help." He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Would you… like to be friends?"
Osama was taken aback. "You… want to be friends with someone weak like me?"
Mohammed chuckled. "Two weeks ago, I was just like you. I know exactly how you feel."
Osama's eyes widened. "Wait… someone as strong as you was weak just two weeks ago?"
Mohammed nodded. "It's all about determination. I was determined to become stronger. But honestly… I still feel like I have a long way to go."
Osama laughed. "That feeling never goes away. But thanks again, Mohammed. I hope I can be a good friend to you."
For the first time in his life, Mohammed had a friend. And though today was a victory, he had no idea that even greater challenges lay ahead.