The Nerd Had Fallen

CHAPTER 5

The next day Portia was excited to go to school again, more excited than usual. She is very happy she had a very comfy and very well sleep.

"Bye, Momma! Bye, Dada! I love you," Portia said to her parents. She kissed them on the cheeks before finally getting out of the car.

"Dude! It's Portia, look!"

Portia looked away when she heard her name from the voice of a man she did not know.

"Aren't you close to that ugly? You have a different taste, don't you? There are so many fish in the sea but you like shrimp." The young men laughed like it was the funniest joke they have ever heard.

Portia felt a quick embarrassment, she quickened her pace when she realized that it was King Luther Daniel and his friends.

King Luther is humiliated by his friends because of me. If it's not because of me, they wouldn't tease King Luther, Portia blamed herself in her mind.

She just looked down because of the extreme embarrassment she felt from the jokes of King Luther's friends, she just walked as fast as she could so King Luther's friends will not see her but she was startled when her eyes caught sight of a pair of legs beside her, walking with her.

She wasn't used to it so she quickly looked up to look at the person who owned those feet.

"Luther---"

"Sorry."

Portia was still blinking, she couldn't believe the heartthrob of the campus was now apologizing to her for no apparent reason.

"Sorry for what?" She confusedly asked.

"Because I get so close to you, my companions make fun of you," said King Luther. "Shall I stop approaching you so that they won't laugh at you? Am I bothering you?"

"No!" Portia answered quickly but was also replaced by embarrassment when she realized how loud her voice was. "I mean, you're not bothering me. I-I'm the one who should be ashamed and apologize. It might ruin your friendship because they don't like me."

King Luther laughed softly and snatched the books she was carrying. "Isn't that amazing? My life will be free from toxic people and fake friends."

"H-how can you say that they are fake? You've been friends for long."

"Hmm. So you know me for long huh?"

Portia's eyes widened when she realized that King Luther had caught her with just her eloquent tongue.

That's a bad move! That's embarrassing, Portia! She almost wanted to hit herself because she was so stupid.

"You're famous here at school... T-that's why I know you," Portia lied to King Luther. She needed to lie.

"Hmm. I see. Good thing you cleared. I was about to assume," King Luther jokingly said with a laugh. "Anyway, back to what you've asked. I know that most of my friends aren't true to me. They're just here with me because I'm quite famous here and because of the influence of my family. "

"And you're not afraid to lose them?" Portia innocently asked.

"Who would want to save a lot of toxicity in life? Real friends should respect your decision and choice especially when there's nothing wrong with it."

Portia's lips parted in admiration. By his way of speaking, Portia knew that the young man was smart.

It's not surprising anymore, low-grade students cannot join Reinbert Academy's varsity basketball team. It was impressive, they were able to maintain their grades while also pursuing their passion.

"I didn't notice, we're already here," King Luther said to Portia. "Alright. I'm going to my classroom now. Study well and have a nice day."

Portia smiled at King Luther as she waited for him to go. She immediately entered her classroom after where she was greeted by the irritated looks of her female classmates.

But because of Portia's great happiness, she just ignored it. What will she get if she thinks about her bully classmates? Nothing.

Her classmates seem to be just waiting for her to make a mistake in their class so they can make fun of her. She knows that she has been repeatedly prayed for by anyone to fail but Portia will not just be overthrown in the field of academics.

She now has a full scholarship to Reinbert Academy because of the honors she has brought for the school. Any employee of Reinbert Academy knows her well and admires her. If Reinbert Academy only had a medical course, the school probably wouldn't let her go and would give her a good offer so that she wouldn't leave the school.

Last academic year she was trained to be the representative of the Reinbert Academy in an essay writing contest at the festival of talents, a big competition in the field of academics that happens every year.

Her former coach did not fail, she won an award at that time including the first prize. In whatever competition she participates in, she always wins medals, certificates, and trophies, the teachers of her school admire her the most because she is a great pride and asset of the school, she gained respect from them too.

During awarding and promotional ceremonies, her awards are overflowing, her name is always mentioned on the program, a single page in the program is only her part because of the number of awards she gets. It's no wonder why her parents put so much effort to afford her education. She has great potential, it's worth everything you gamble when it comes to Portia.

Therefore, it is inevitable that many will be envious of her impressive intellect and it seems that many more will be angry with her because King Luther seems like wanting to create a friendship with her.

Even though Portia never cared about any of her haters, she was too busy studying to even recognize the people who hated her.

Even if they kill her, she will never change herself because first of all she is comfortable with it, that is her, why would she change anything?

I will not change myself to be liked by others, I see nothing wrong with my personality. Being true matters the most and I don't care if they'll like me or not, besides, they're not the ones who feed and educate me. That's what she believes.

Their opinion and comments don't matter at all, I don't even know them.

"Portia, can we talk after this class?" her teacher on a subject asked, that also happened to be the adviser of Rainbow Dash, the official and exclusive publication of Reinbert Academy. Portia is also its current editor-in-chief.

"Of course, Sir," Portia said politely. Talking to Mr. Eraño is not new to her. He was also her coach when she joined essay writing, they have been together for a long time as teacher and student.

The class finally started until it finally ended. Mr. Eraño ended the class earlier than usual because they will have an important talk right after.

"What are we going to talk about, Sir?" Portia asked Mr. Eraño.

"About the coming competition of our basketball team," Mr. Eraño started. "Last year we didn't include the basketball team in our papers, now the admins are requesting if we can make them a cover, they also brought a lot of awards last year so I thought it was just right."

"So, what are we going to do now, Sir?" Portia asked him.

"We're going to go with them to their coming competition, we will take a picture of them then we'll make them as our cover for this month's papers. We will also interview them. "

"Okay, Sir. Noted. But I think it's not a big job, it'll be unnecessary if we'll bring the whole team, Sir. Aside from that, we still have classes."

"About the classes, you'll be excused and excepted. It'll be just me, you, two photographers, a journalist and a photographer's assistant. "

Portia nodded, she was satisfied with what she heard, as long as her grades were not affected she would agree.

Their conversation ended after about half an hour and Portia immediately said goodbye to Mr. Eranio.

Portia immediately went to the canteen where she found that she had no place to sit. She would be late for her first subject at noon if she will wait any longer.

Portia saw King Luther eating but the young man didn't seem to see her.

Portia sighed and went out of the canteen and decided not to eat, she'll just eat later when she got a free time.

If she eats outside the canteen, she will not be satisfied with the food either because the students will not give her peace, they treat her like a pest.

The canteen is the safest place for her to eat because if there is a riot, any employee who can see will defend her

Portia just entertained herself by reading her favorite medical books when she arrived at her classroom.

She is not used to not eating at the right time but she would rather just choose it than have her schoolmates make fun of her.

"Hey!"

Portia looked at the source of the voice, her heartbeat immediately quickened because of that, she thought that it was her classmates who were angry with her again but she was wrong.

It was King Luther Daniel exposing his perfect set of teeth as he smiled sweetly at her.

Portia quickly sat up and calmed down before answering and smiling.

"Hi!"

King Luther walked towards her and Portia must have noticed that he was carrying something.

"I bet you haven't had lunch yet?" King Luther guessed. "I bought you food. There are vacant seats in the canteen, why don't you just share a table so you can eat?"

Portia laughed as if King Luther had told a joke. "As if they would let me join them. They are already disgusted by just seeing me how much more if I join them? As if it is a sin to have a strange look."

King Luther frowned, immediately confused.

"You can just buy food and eat somewhere else?" King Luther suggested.

"Our schoolmates are just going to make fun of me."

King Luther gave the food he bought to her. “Really?”

King Luther seems to have no idea how Portia's schoolmates bullied her. If only he knew how rude the students of Reinbert Academy to Portia and how they treat students like Portia, he would surely be grateful that he is a famous student blessed with appearance and came from a well-known and wealthy lineage.

"Eat," King Luther commanded."I'll stay here with you so you can eat peacefully," said King Luther.

"Really? You do that?" Portia asked incredulously.

King Luther shrugged and open his arms as if he's showing Portia that he's just there.

"Thank you. Honestly, I'm really hungry, how much is this? I'll pay you." Portia hurriedly took her wallet but stopped when the man acted as if he was hurt.

"Ouch!" he said dramatically while softly caressing his chest. "My ego hurts, Portia."

Portia blinked, "Oh my God! I'm sorry, I don't know what I did, did I say something wrong?" she asked concernedly and worriedly.

"You're hurting my ego by asking me how much is the food. Do I look like I'm selling it?"

"Oh! I'm sorry, King Luther!" Portia apologize. "I don't want that to happen to you, I just innocently ask you the price so I can pay for it. It's embarrassing for my side to let you pay for these."

King Luther laughed softly. "Are you worried?"

"Huh?" Portia frowned. "I-I was just afraid that I got you offended, I'm so sorry."

"You're cute when you're afraid then." He laughed softly and messed Portia's hair. "Silly girl. It's my treat for you, no need to pay for it, it's all on me."

"Huh? why? I'll pay for it, it's embarrassing." Portia said and gave the thousand peso bill to King Luther but he didn't accept it.

"It's okay, Portia."

"But---"

"It's fine. Don't mind it," he said and smiled. "Alright, eat now because we might be late for our next subjects."

Portia scratched her head. "Alright," she said hesitantly.

This is so embarrassing! She shouted in her mind.

"Ahm--- I'll just treat you next time so I can make it up to you. Thank you and sorry, you're bothered because of me." Portia frowned at King Luther.

"I insist, don't be sorry, it was me who bought you food. But with your offer you will take me for free food, I will agree. That's a very generous offer."

Portia laughed, "I'm not going to take you to an expensive restaurant, I can't afford it. Let's just settle for the cheap ones. I'm sorry, that's what I can only afford."

King Luther laughed again, this young man is cheerful, this is also one of the reasons why Portia liked him, the reaction on her face was not intimidating because he looked kind and friendly even though he is a self-proclaimed bad boy and playboy.

"So you mean, we'll just eat on the street food cart? Or fast-food restaurant, I guess?" King Luther asked Portia.

Portia was immediately embarrassed by the question because she knew King Luther is really rich. She was about to answer but he spoke again.

"I want to try street foods, I don't mind going there as long as I'm with you, Portia. I don't mind going anywhere. "