The rest of the day at school, people would point and stare at David. Some looked at him with pity as they thought he would be humiliated by Henry, while others would laugh at him for even challenging him.

“I didn’t challenge him though,” David said with anger as he walked through the hall to his last class of the day. “I just said what was on my mind and he was the one who forced me into it because I haven’t even agreed to it.”

“Do you think he will stop if I asked him to?” David asked Shībài zhě, who had spent the entire time since the break, thinking of a way to help David.

“I don’t think so.” Shībài zhě said. “You hurt his pride. He would want to take revenge from you no matter what.”

“But what if I just apologize? Will that fix things?”

“Here’s the thing about bullies. The people they choose to bully, are those whom they never expect to talk back to them. You did. To them, it seemed like their prey acting up. So, they decided to do something that would take you down a peg or two.”

“So, I’m screwed.”

“Yes.”

“But what if I win?”

“Can you? I mean do you even know how to play?”

At this, David went deep in thought as if recollecting some old memory.

“Maybe,” David said. “I mean I did play with my older brother, but it’s been quite some time since I last played.”

“Then remember as quickly as you can because you only have 40 minutes.” Shībài zhě said with the utmost emphasis in his voice. “But even if you win, he will continue to bully you. The only that he will stop is if you stand up for yourself. Can you?”

David said nothing at this and continued to work.

For Shībài zhě, every single class seemed to drag on for hours, but this one ended in only a few minutes. This meant that it was finally time for the game that would decide who will be embarrassed in front of the whole school. The weak loner David. Or the strong and popular Henry.

As David made his way to the basketball court at a slow pace to delay the doom, the other students were moving toward the court as fast as they could so that they could see the match. Some even pushed David forward so that he would go faster. Shībài zhě stayed quiet this whole time as he wanted David to focus on what to do during the game. When they finally exited the school, a huge crowd gathered around the basketball court. It seemed that the entire school was present to watch Henry humiliate someone. When they saw David come out of the door, everyone turned their heads toward him. There was no cheering but only a need for entertainment on their faces. David slowly walked towards the gate to the court. The other students looked at him. They all murmured something about him. The boys were calling him stupid to stand up against Henry, while the girls were looking at him like he was something from the gutter. Once David entered, in the center of the court, Henry was standing, with a basketball in hand. When he looked at David, a mischievous grin formed on his face.

“Hey, Davey. You’re finally here. I thought you ran away.” Henry said.

David said nothing and looked forward. He dropped his backpack on the bench.

“Mister Shībài,” David said. “You were right.”

“About what?” Shībài zhě asked, trying to remember what he had said.

“That I am an outcast,” David said as he took off his coat. “I know that. Even though I don’t want to be. I have to change, to stand up for myself. But I can’t do it. I’m too scared.”

“Maybe you just need someone to stand by you.” Shībài zhě said and he put a hand on David’s shoulder.

David wanted to say something back, but Henry yelled from behind, “C’mon we haven’t got all day. We have to get the after-party.” The rest of his team roared with laughter.

David looked up at Shībài zhě who nodded back at him. David walked towards Henry and stood ready in front of him.

“First to 15 points wins,” Henry said.

Then he threw the ball up in the air, and the game was on.