On the Mat
By noon the whole school buzzed about the coffee. Some said Marcus had kept his cool; others said he was scared. Either way, he was the center of attention.
He ate lunch alone, earbuds in, replaying the moment. He hated the stares and whispers—but most of all, the idea that people saw him as weak. He wasn’t. He was trained. And if Tyler came at him again, he wasn’t sure he’d walk away this time.
That afternoon in PE, Coach Reynolds announced a self-defense review and paired students off. Fate put Marcus with Tyler.
The gym echoed with squeaking sneakers and thumps on mats. Tyler grinned. “Bet you’re loving this, huh? Finally get to pretend you’re tough.”
Marcus focused on the coach’s instructions. When Tyler shoved him needlessly during a drill, Marcus’s restraint strained.
“Got a problem?” Marcus asked evenly.
“Yeah. You,” Tyler snapped. “Think you’re better than me? You won’t be so calm when I wipe the floor with you.”
Coach Reynolds stepped in. “Controlled sparring, people. It’s training—show respect.”
When Marcus and Tyler moved onto the mat, the gym’s energy shifted. Students ringed their square, sensing a storm. Tyler cracked his knuckles and smirked. Marcus bowed, as tradition demanded.
“Fight!” the coach called.
Tyler charged wild, flailing with angry, shapeless punches. Marcus slipped and angled away—precise, economical, disciplined. A crisp block and a perfectly timed roundhouse to Tyler’s ribs sent him stumbling back. Gasps and murmurs rose from the crowd.
Marcus stayed composed. Each time Tyler lunged, Marcus answered with clean counters—never flashy, never cruel, only effective. Every strike had purpose, never rage. By the end of the round Tyler was drenched and breathless; Marcus stood steady, barely winded.
Coach’s whistle cut the air. He nodded toward Marcus. “That’s how it’s done. Technique. Control. Respect.”
The gym buzzed. Tyler’s usual swagger drained into stunned silence. Marcus stepped off the mat—no smirk, no gloating. He wasn’t trying to prove he was better, only that he wouldn’t be pushed around.
