Bab 17: Chapter 17: The Weight of Expectations
Chapter 17: The Weight of Expectations
The cafeteria hummed with life as Malik stepped inside for lunch. The smell of fried food and the sound of trays clattering filled the air. Students sat clustered in their usual groups, heads turning in unison as he walked past. He wasn't trying to draw attention, but being who he was made blending in impossible.
Malik grabbed a tray and scanned the room. His first instinct was to find a quiet corner and eat alone, but he caught a glimpse of a group of students waving him over. They looked friendly enough—three boys and two girls, all sporting curious expressions.
"Malik!" one of the boys called out, a lanky kid with glasses and an easy smile. "Come sit with us!"
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A New Circle
Reluctantly, Malik made his way over and sat down.
"So," the boy with glasses started, "what's it like being Mike Tyson's son? I bet you've got crazy stories."
Malik chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, it's not as wild as you think. He's just... Dad to me."
One of the girls, a petite brunette, leaned forward. "But you've been training, right? I saw that video on social media. You've got skills."
The mention of the video made Malik stiffen for a moment. It had gone viral faster than he expected, and while he appreciated the attention, it also felt like a double-edged sword. He didn't want people to assume they knew him just because of a clip.
"Yeah, I've been training," he replied casually. "It's just something I've always been good at."
The group exchanged impressed looks.
"Well, it's cool you're here," the second boy, a quiet but athletic-looking kid, said. "I mean, I can't imagine starting fresh in senior year with everyone watching you like that."
Malik shrugged. "You get used to it. Besides, I've got my own goals to focus on."
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The Buzz Continues
Unbeknownst to Malik, his arrival was still the hottest topic in the school. Social media was flooded with posts and comments about him.
"Malik Tyson is in my English class. He's crazy smart, too. Not fair."
"I can't believe he's at our school. His dad's a legend!"
"That clip of him boxing? Dude's a beast."
Even teachers were abuzz in the faculty lounge, trading stories about their new student.
"I've never seen a kid handle attention like that," one teacher said. "He's calm, collected... almost like he's been through it before."
"Well, with a father like Mike Tyson, he probably has," another replied.
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The Day Rolls On
By the time Malik made it to gym class, he felt more at ease. The initial wave of introductions and stares had started to die down, and now he was ready to focus on something familiar—physical activity.
The coach, a burly man with a booming voice, blew his whistle. "All right, everyone! Today's basketball. Tyson, let's see what you've got."
Malik smirked. He'd never been much of a basketball player in his past life, but this body seemed to have a natural athleticism that made up for it. He moved fluidly on the court, sinking shots and outmaneuvering his opponents with ease.
"Yo, Tyson's got handles!" someone shouted from the sidelines.
As the game continued, Malik felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Boxing was his passion, but dominating a basketball court wasn't too bad either.
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Reflections
At the end of the day, Malik sat alone in his room, scrolling through social media. His name was everywhere—photos, videos, comments. It was surreal, seeing his life unfold through the eyes of others.
"Man," he muttered to himself, "it's like they're writing my story for me."
But Malik knew better than to let it get to his head. He had a long road ahead—balancing school, boxing, and the expectations that came with being Mike Tyson's son.
"This is just the beginning," he thought, determination flickering in his eyes. "Let's see how far I can take this."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone