Stepping onto the college campus felt like walking into another world. I'd spent years being the guy people avoided—now I was just one of thousands. Nobody knew my name, and nobody cared. Part of me liked it that way. A fresh start.
I kept to myself during the first few days, sticking to the basics: classes, dorm, and the gym. The gym was familiar, at least. I went early in the morning to avoid the rush. It was quiet, just the sound of my fists hitting the heavy bag. That's when I met Chris and Evan.
They walked in during one of my morning sessions. Chris, tall with a confident grin, nudged Evan as they watched me land a few punches.
"You box?" Chris asked, catching my eye.
I just nodded.
"Nice technique," Evan added. "You on the boxing team?"
"No," I replied, wiping sweat from my forehead.
"You should be," Chris said, not letting it go. "We need guys who can actually throw a punch."
At first, I wasn't sure. I'd joined teams before—boxing, badminton, basketball—but none of them ever felt right. Either people didn't trust me, or they just kept their distance. But Chris and Evan didn't look intimidated. They just seemed... curious.
They convinced me to check out a team practice. I wasn't the only newbie, but I was the only one who didn't seem eager to make friends. Chris didn't care—he kept talking to me, asking questions about where I was from and why I started boxing. I kept my answers short, but he didn't mind.
During practice, the coach had us spar in pairs. I got matched with a guy named Ryan—taller, lean, and too confident for his own good. The second the bell rang, he came at me with quick jabs. I blocked most of them and waited. When he dropped his guard, I hit him with a right hook that sent him stumbling.
When it was over, the coach clapped me on the shoulder. "Nice control. You've got power—just need to work on precision."
Ryan shot me a glare, but I ignored it. Chris and Evan looked impressed, and I couldn't help but feel... good. Like I'd finally done something right.
After practice, Chris tossed me a water bottle. "You're in, man. No way the coach isn't gonna sign you up."
I just shrugged. "We'll see."
Evan grinned. "You always this serious?"
"Pretty much," I said, cracking a half-smile.
As the days went by, I found myself hanging around them more often. They weren't like the guys from high school. They didn't just see the fighter—they wanted to know the person. It was weird, but I didn't hate it.
For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel like the lone wolf. Maybe this college thing wasn't going to be as bad as I thought.