THE DESTINY REBOOT SYSTEM

The Betrayal

The late afternoon sun bathed the city in golden hues, casting warm rays on the sea of graduates gathered in the university courtyard. Cheers, camera clicks, and the joyful rustle of gowns filled the air. Eliot stood off to the side, smoothing down the lapels of his navy-blue suit — cheap, yes, but it was freshly ironed, neat, and all he could afford. He had worked extra shifts at the café for weeks just to buy it, and the bouquet of daisies in his hand had cost him nearly the last of his savings.

Still, he smiled.

Today was supposed to be perfect.

His heart thudded excitedly in his chest as he scanned the crowd. His eyes darted past laughing classmates, proud families, and lovers sharing warm embraces. Then he saw her.

Lana.

She stood under the shade of a jacaranda tree, her graduation gown partially unzipped to reveal the soft pink of her dress underneath. Her auburn hair caught the light like flames, bouncing as she laughed—so beautiful, so ethereal. Eliot’s lips curled into a soft smile as he took a step forward.

Then he saw him.

Marcus.

His best friend. Or so he thought.

Marcus had one hand resting casually on the tree trunk, the other gripping Lana’s waist. They were close—too close. Eliot’s steps faltered. He stopped in his tracks, blinking hard as if that would change what he was seeing.

Then she kissed him.

A slow, intimate kiss.

Time slowed. The bouquet slipped from Eliot’s fingers, petals scattering onto the pavement like his breaking heart. He didn’t even feel it fall. The sound around him dulled, replaced by the pounding of blood in his ears.

Lana pulled away from Marcus and turned—her eyes locking with Eliot’s.

She didn’t flinch. She didn’t look guilty.

She walked toward him, heels clicking like nails in a coffin. Marcus followed, grinning smugly.

“Eliot,” she said, folding her arms. “Let’s not make this dramatic. We’re done.”

Eliot's lips parted, but no sound came out.

“W-what?” he finally choked out, voice cracking.

“I said we’re over,” she said flatly. “This,” she motioned between them, “isn’t working.”

“But... why?” he asked, his voice trembling. “I love you, Lana. I—I bought these flowers for you. I thought—”

She cut him off with a snort.

“Those cheap daisies?” She glanced at the wilted bouquet on the ground. “Eliot, look at you. Always trying your best, wearing those budget suits, living in that shoebox apartment. I want more.”

He stared at her, stunned. “You knew what I had when we started dating.”

“Yes,” she said coldly. “And I thought you’d grow out of it. But it turns out you’re stuck being average. Poor and average.”

Marcus chuckled behind her. “She just upgraded, man.”

Eliot’s jaw clenched. “Marcus, you're a womanizer. You sleep around with anyone who gives you the time of day. She’s just going to be another—”

A slap cracked across his cheek. The sting hit instantly, burning his skin and pride alike.

“You don’t get to talk about him like that!” Lana snapped, her face twisted in rage. “You’re just jealous. He’s confident, successful, and has ambition. Not like you.”

Eliot stumbled back, his heart thundering, his cheeks flushed red from more than just the slap. Pain—raw, bitter pain—coiled in his chest. He looked at Marcus, who smirked and stepped forward.

“Don’t make a scene, Eliot,” he said. “Take the loss like a man.”

Something inside Eliot snapped.

He lunged.

His fist crashed against Marcus’s jaw, knocking him back a step. Gasps echoed around them as bystanders turned to watch. Marcus retaliated with a roar, grabbing Eliot by the collar and shoving him against the tree.

“You little punk!”

Eliot struggled, striking back blindly. They fell to the ground, grappling like wild animals, rage and betrayal spilling into fists and bruises. Voices screamed for them to stop. Someone called for security. A group of students rushed in to pull them apart.

Eliot’s lip was bleeding. His suit was torn. Marcus had a scratch under his eye and a smug smile that didn’t fade, even when security shoved him back.

Lana looked at Eliot with disgust. “You’re pathetic.”

And just like that, she walked away. Her hand curled into Marcus’s as they disappeared into the crowd, leaving Eliot bruised, broken, and utterly humiliated.

He didn’t remember how he got home. The world passed in a blur. His legs moved automatically, but his mind was far behind. By the time he stepped into his tiny apartment, the silence felt louder than ever.

He closed the door quietly. Removed the torn suit jacket. Sat on the edge of the bed.

The walls were beige. Blank. Staring at them felt like staring into nothing.

He sat there for a long time. Minutes bled into an hour. His hands were still trembling. He didn’t cry at first. He wouldn’t let himself. But the more he stared, the more the weight built inside him. A knot in his chest. A pain in his throat.

Then one tear fell.

Just one.

Then another.

And another.

His shoulders shook as he buried his face in his hands, quiet sobs escaping from deep within him. He had nothing left to fight with. No dignity. No love. No future. The world had spat him out, trampled on his pride, and left him bleeding on the inside.

He wiped his face, sniffling. “Why?” he whispered. “Why me?”

Then—something changed.

A flicker.

A soft, mechanical chime echoed in the silence of the room. His vision blurred for a second, and when he blinked again, it was there.

A screen. Floating in the air. Semi-transparent and glowing faint blue.

[SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]

Eliot’s breath hitched.

He leaned forward, not trusting his eyes.

[Welcome, Eliot Reyes]

[Your potential has been detected. Life path recalibration required.]

[Would you like to begin your journey toward greatness? Y/N]

Eliot stared.

His fingers hovered over the screen. He swallowed hard, still breathing heavily, heart pounding with confusion and disbelief.

“Is this... real?”

The room was quiet again.

The screen blinked softly.

A yes or no.

A new beginning or the same end.

He thought of Lana’s cold voice. Of Marcus’ smug smile. Of the bouquet crushed on concrete. Of the slap. The whispers. The laughter.

Slowly, Eliot reached out and tapped the glowing “Y”.

The screen pulsed brighter.

[System Integration Beginning...]

His fate was no longer in their hands.

This time, it was in his.