Bully Lord

Part-2

A few days later. A simmering resentment bubbled within James as he watched from the window. The same group of bullies, emboldened by their previous victory, had shifted their target. This time, it was a group of girls, their laughter morphing into nervous wary under the boys' crude advances.

James clenched his fists. He yearned for a way to vanquish these bullies, a way as swift and final as the strokes of a pen in his favorite manga, "Death Note." In that fantastical world, a mysterious notebook held the power to erase a person's life simply by writing their name within its pages. The concept both horrified and fascinated James. While he would never condone such violence, a part of him couldn't help but relish the idea of a world free from these tormentors. But reality, as always, held no such shortcuts. There were no magical notebooks, no easy solutions. He was stuck with the very real problem of these bullies and the helpless girls they were harassing.

Suddenly, a voice jolted him out of his brooding. "James, James! Look what I got!" It was Emdad, his classmate and one of the few who didn't actively bully him. Unlike James, Emdad was anything but overlooked. His father, a successful businessman, showered him with the latest gadgets and clothes. Today, it was a brand new iPhone, glinting in the afternoon sun.

Wow," James managed, a flicker of envy tugging at him. He'd never owned anything remotely close to an iPhone. His hobbies leaned towards nerdier pursuits, like historical reenactments and building model airplanes, which he found endlessly fascinating. Video games held little appeal to him, and the exorbitant cost of these devices put them firmly out of reach. Still, a part of him couldn't help but yearn for something new, something that might bridge the gap between him and his classmates.

However, curiosity overcame his envy. He took the phone from Emdad, its sleek design cool against his palm. Emdad, radiating a newfound confidence, explained, "I heard girls dig iPhones. Maybe this'll finally help me score a date!"

James watched, dumbfounded, as Emdad approached the group of girls, the phone a beacon in his hand. To his surprise, the girls, who had been ignoring Emdad just a few days ago, now seemed genuinely interested in Emdad and his new toy.

"Wow, is that the new iPhone 14?" squealed Anika, her eyes wide with fascination.

"Emdad, can we see it?" chimed in Maya, leaning closer to get a better look.

Emdad, preening under the attention, unlocked the phone and began to show off the features. "It's got this amazing camera, perfect for selfies," he said, swiping through the high-resolution images.

"And look at these games!" he continued, launching a popular racing game. The girls crowded around, giggling as Emdad expertly navigated a virtual car around the track.

James felt a pang of something akin to betrayal. Was this all it took to impress them? A fancy gadget?

A bitter truth settled in James' stomach. Maybe Emdad was right. Maybe material possessions, like iPhones, held a certain allure, a shortcut to popularity that academic achievements and a kind heart couldn't provide.  But was that the kind of connection he truly desired?  He glanced back at the window, where the rain continued to fall, mirroring the storm of emotions churning within him.