In a small town, there lived a boy named Artem. He wasn’t like the other children in his class. From a young age, he had a plump figure, and it became the source of constant mockery. His classmates would make fun of him every day, calling him “fat” or “chubby,” and mocking his appearance. They would laugh and make cruel jokes, treating it as if it were completely normal and funny. Artem tried his best to ignore the teasing, but each insult weighed on him. Despite his hurt, he continued to hold his feelings in, hoping that one day it would stop.
What many didn’t know, however, was that Artem had a passion for sports. While other boys were busy playing computer games or running around the neighborhood, Artem spent his free time training. At the age of 10, he took up freestyle wrestling. At first, it was just a casual hobby—something he might forget about like many other childhood interests. But over the years, his commitment to the sport grew stronger. What had started as a simple pastime turned into a serious pursuit. He worked tirelessly, improving his skills, and wrestling became an essential part of his life.
As his fitness and strength improved, so did his confidence. Artem felt his body become stronger, more flexible, and his problem-solving abilities grew sharper. Though his confidence soared, he never used his newfound skills to defend himself against his classmates. He believed that conflicts should be resolved with words, not fists. He knew that violence would never earn true respect, and he was determined to handle things peacefully.
But one day, Artem’s patience wore thin. As usual, his classmates began mocking his appearance, and for the first time, he couldn’t keep quiet. In the middle of their taunts, he suddenly approached one of the bullies, grabbed him, and used wrestling techniques to quickly take him down. The others stood frozen, watching as Artem effortlessly demonstrated his strength. They moved aside in silence, realizing that the boy they had mocked was no longer someone they could ridicule.
From that moment on, no one dared to laugh at Artem anymore. He had earned respect, but not in the way they expected. Despite his victory, Artem wasn’t proud of what he had done. He knew that true strength didn’t lie in physical dominance but in controlling one’s emotions and actions. Still, no one ever mocked him again, and Artem remained a bit of a mystery to his classmates—someone who had proven that real power lies not in fighting but in the ability to stay calm and composed.