Ethan continued:
“I just train every day.”
David nodded.
“That’s different.”
Those words bothered Ethan.
“Different how?”
David looked at him.
“Training to win and training to control yourself are not always the same thing.”
A few neighbors noticed Ethan’s expression change.
The joke was disappearing.
Now it felt personal.
“Okay.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Then let’s see.”
David sighed.
“Ethan…”
“One minute.”
The crowd reacted.
They understood.
Ethan was challenging him.
“Just one minute.”
David looked around.
He saw everyone watching.
He saw Ethan’s confidence.
And he understood something.
Ethan didn't actually want a fight.
He wanted validation.
He wanted to prove he was superior.
So David nodded.
“Fine.”
The crowd became excited.
Someone brought training gloves.