The Berserker Nerd

Cheated...?

John Lee was the only student at Magical Academy without a superpower. Or at least, that's what everyone thought. In a school where the students could summon flames with a snap of their fingers or control water with a flick of their wrist, John was seen as less than ordinary—he was considered weak. Every day, he tried his best to disappear into the crowd, to avoid being noticed, but it was impossible. His lack of powers made him a target, and the other students never let him forget it. The sun was high in the sky as John walked through the courtyard, his arms full of textbooks. He kept his head down, hoping to avoid attention, but trouble always found him.

"Hey, John!" a voice called out from behind. It was Keshia, one of the popular students who seemed to take pleasure in tormenting him. Before John could react, she waved her hand and summoned a small whirlwind at his feet. The gust of wind knocked his legs out from under him, sending him sprawling to the ground. His books scattered everywhere.

"Haha! John, did you forget how to walk?" Keshia laughed, her voice sharp and mocking. Around her, other students began to giggle and point, amused by his misfortune. John clenched his jaw as he pushed himself up, his face flushed with embarrassment. Just ignore them, he thought to himself, fighting the urge to snap back. They're just looking for a reaction. As he started to gather his scattered books, another voice cut through the crowd.

"Hey, loser!" Ian, one of the school's worst bullies, was leaning against a wall with a smirk on his face. His power allowed him to manipulate gravity, and he often used it to make John's life even harder. "Why don't you use your non-existent powers to stop her, huh? Oh wait—my bad, I forgot. You don't have any! Not even a family. Pathetic."

The word "orphan" hung in the air, stinging more than any of the other insults. The laughter around him grew louder, echoing in John's ears. His heart pounded in his chest, his hands trembling as he tried to hold it together. Before John could completely lose hope, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Layla, his girlfriend, smiling softly at him.

Her eyes were filled with sympathy as she waved her hand, teleporting the fallen books back into John's arms with a gentle shimmer of light. "Don't let them get to you," she said, her voice calm and comforting. "They don't know the real you, John." John's heart slowed, and he gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Layla. I'm glad I have you in my corner." Layla squeezed his hand, and for a moment, everything seemed to be okay.

But that moment wouldn't last.

The next day, John made his way through the courtyard again, but this time something felt off. As he approached, he saw a crowd gathered near the center, whispering and pointing. His stomach twisted into knots as he pushed through the crowd, desperate to see what was going on.

And then he saw it.

Layla was standing with Ian, laughing, her arms wrapped around his neck. John froze, his breath catching in his throat as he watched her lean in and kiss Ian on the lips. "What... the hell?" John muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, disbelief crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Ian turned and noticed John standing there, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Hey, John," he called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Looks like your little girlfriend's got better taste. Turns out she likes real power." The crowd burst into laughter, feeding off the cruelty in Ian's voice.

John's eyes darted to Layla, searching for any sign that this was some kind of misunderstanding. But her face was cold, indifferent. She didn't even look guilty. "Layla... why?" John asked, his voice trembling with hurt.

Layla pulled herself away from Ian and crossed her arms. "It's simple, John," she said, her voice laced with ice. "You're weak. I don't want to be with someone who can't even defend himself." John's chest tightened. The world around him seemed to blur as the weight of her betrayal crushed him.