Sacrifices 015

Hearing her cheer lit a fire in him. Ali dug deep, managing to block a brutal uppercut and respond with a sharp hook to Jason's jaw. The impact made Jason stagger for a split second, and the crowd erupted in disbelief.

"Did you see that?" Zahra screamed, practically shaking Farid. "He actually landed it!"

Farid, munching on popcorn he'd inexplicably brought, nodded. "That's my boy!"

Jason's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something like respect flashing across his face. But he didn't let up. He pushed Ali back with a flurry of punches, ending the round with a powerful shot to Ali's midsection that sent him stumbling.

Ali's body screamed at him to quit as the third round began, but his mind refused to give in. Jason was stronger, faster, and more experienced, but Ali had something else—grit.

The crowd was on its feet now, divided between Jason's fans and those rooting for the underdog. Every step Ali took felt like climbing a mountain, but he kept going, kept fighting.

Jason came at him with a sharp combination, and Ali barely dodged the first two punches before taking a hit to his shoulder. He countered with a quick jab, then another, and for a brief moment, Jason looked... impressed.

"You've got heart, I'll give you that," Jason said quietly as they circled each other.

"And you're about to see all of it," Ali replied, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.

Jason launched one final onslaught, forcing Ali to retreat to the ropes. The blows rained down, and Ali's vision blurred, but he refused to go down. With the last of his strength, he threw a desperate uppercut that grazed Jason's chin.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the match.

Ali collapsed onto his stool, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he couldn't stop the small smile creeping onto his face.

The referee raised Jason's arm, declaring him the winner, but the crowd's cheers were equally loud for Ali.

"You put up a good fight," Jason said as he approached Ali, extending a hand. His tone lacked its usual arrogance, replaced by something almost... respectful.

Ali shook his hand, his grip firm despite his fatigue. "I'll do more than that next time."

Jason smirked, nodding once before walking away.

Crystall was waiting for Ali as he climbed out of the ring. Her smile was warm and proud.

"You were amazing out there," she said, handing him a bottle of water.

"Thanks," Ali said, taking a long sip before meeting her eyes. "It wasn't enough, though."

She shook her head. "It's not always about winning, Ali. Sometimes, it's about showing people what you're made of. And today, you showed everyone—including Jason."

Zahra and Farid ran up, nearly tackling Ali in their enthusiasm.

"Dude! You were a beast!" Zahra exclaimed. "That uppercut? Chef's kiss."

"Yeah," Farid added, grinning. "Next time, I'll bring a banner with your face on it. Maybe some fireworks too."

Ali chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys are ridiculous."

As the crowd dispersed and the gym emptied, Ali sat alone for a moment, wiping the sweat from his brow. His body ached, his mind was exhausted, but his heart burned with renewed determination.

He glanced at Jason's retreating figure, then clenched his fists.

"This isn't the end," he muttered under his breath, his stormy gray eyes blazing with resolve. "It's just the beginning."

---

Ali slumped onto his desk, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like a lead blanket. His notebook lay open, pages filled with half-hearted scribbles that barely made sense. Training, studying, and maintaining a semblance of a social life had become a juggling act he was failing miserably at.

His grades were slipping. His friends had started teasing him about being a ghost. Even Coach Rahman had noticed his fatigue, offering cryptic warnings like, "A burnt-out candle doesn't light the way." But Ali had waved it off.

"Just a little longer," he muttered to himself, staring at the clock.

At the gym, Ali's punches lacked their usual fire. Each jab felt like wading through quicksand, his arms trembling with fatigue. Coach Rahman called a halt to the session, his piercing gaze locking onto Ali.

"Ali, come here."

Ali shuffled over, sweat dripping from his brow.

"You're pushing too hard," Coach said bluntly. "You need to rest, or you'll end up ruining everything you've worked for."

"I can handle it," Ali insisted, though his voice betrayed his doubt.

Coach frowned, his arms crossed. "You're no good to anyone if you collapse. Boxing isn't just about physical strength—it's mental, too. You need balance."

But Ali's stubbornness won out. "I'm fine, Coach. Really."

Coach sighed, muttering something under his breath about "kids these days," before waving Ali off.

The next morning, Ali trudged into the school courtyard, dark circles under his eyes. He barely had time to process what was happening before Zahra and Farid ambushed him.

"Ali!" Zahra said dramatically, holding up a clipboard. "It's time for an emergency life intervention!"

Farid, wearing a ridiculous suit and sunglasses, struck a pose. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Motivational Life Coaching of Farid Enterprises! We're here to save your sorry butt from self-destruction!"

Ali groaned. "Not now, guys. I'm tired."

"Exactly why we're here," Zahra said, shoving the clipboard into his hands.

The paper was a bizarre mix of boxing drills and academic deadlines, with phrases like "Knock out that algebra homework!" and "Uppercut your way through biology."

"You made me a study schedule?" Ali asked, incredulous.

Zahra grinned. "And it's color-coded. You're welcome."

Farid threw an arm around Ali's shoulder. "Look, buddy, we get it. You're trying to be Superman. But even Superman has a day job. And friends. And doesn't, you know, keel over from exhaustion."

Ali couldn't help but chuckle despite himself.

Later that day, Ali opened his locker to find a neatly packed lunch and a small note.

"Don't forget to eat. You're doing great. —C"

His heart skipped a beat as he read Crystall's handwriting. It wasn't much, but it reminded him that someone believed in him.

By the time he sat down at lunch, Zahra and Farid had joined him, launching into a barrage of jokes and stories that had him laughing so hard he nearly forgot his worries.