Grasping Strength: Games, and Revenge Transformation

Chapter 3

Zidane sat down sluggishly. His head was spinning again. Not just from the blow he received yesterday, but from the burden of thoughts he was carrying. 

 

Zoe, the only sister he had. Her mother had died 5 years ago. Her father, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found. 

 

The only family they have is her grandmother in the countryside. Grandma was already old andiel at china 0 plo&s had no intention of leaving her beloved village.

 

"How? Still want to deal with me?" asked a voice.

 

Zidane raised his head.  Jason was right in front of him now, along with the big men who had beaten him up yesterday.

 

"What? Are you bothering Zoe?" Zidane asked. He had expected it, but had nothing to prove it.

 

"Oh so her name is Zoe? Yeah, she's pretty and sweet too. She's my type too, but, ah she's not attractive!" exclaimed Jason laughing.

 

 

"What did you do to her? If only you touched her there's no way she'd be traumatized and scared like that! What did you do to her, Jason? What's wrong with you?"

 

 

"Oh of course not. Sweet Zoe is completely innocent. It's her brother who has a lot of faults. Do you remember what you did to me yesterday?"

 

 

Zidane felt very angry. Jason accused him of being the one who made the mistake yesterday. 

 

 

He was the one who got dumped by his girlfriend, then beaten up by Jason's people, now his brother was being ruined by Jason.

 

 

 Jason then accused Zidane of doing wrong to Jason? That was really strange.

 

 

"I'm the one you broke and messed up, Jason! I'm the one you ruined! Not my brother! He has a long future ahead of him!" Zidane shouted.

 

 

He then went to Jason and was ready to hit him. However, the stronghold of the big men immediately blocked Zidane.

 

 

"You are too poor Zidane. See what I can do with power and money? I can buy your love. Even though you have the strength of steel, I have the best men who are big and can instantly destroy your body!" Jason taunted.

 

 

Zidane was beaten again by the men. Jason just laughed at that.

 

 

"I'm going on vacation with Cassie. Give my love to Zoe. I'll visit her next time! See you poor guy!"

 

****

 

 

Zidane shuffled along, his legs crumbling. His eyes were stinging. His eyesight was blurry, perhaps there were bruises all around him.

 

 

"Zidane! Where have you been? Zoe just left! I couldn't bear to hear her keep screaming, so I opened the door. But she just ran away!" Aunt Lung reported immediately when Zidane hadn't made it home.

 

 

 Even though his leg was broken, Zidane forced his foot to run to find Zoe. He didn't know where Zoe was, but he didn't know the right direction.

 

 

Zidane's feet then stopped, he saw people gathering around something. Zidane immediately looked around, hoping it wasn't his sister.

 

 

"What a crazy person! Where's his family? Why did they let him wander around?"

 

 

Zidane's heart sank when he saw his sister shivering in fear as she was surrounded by people and she kept shouting at them to get away from her. 

 

The beautiful and sweet Zoe had suddenly turned into a strange woman. Her hair was messy, her clothes were dirty and she already looked like a crazy person. It was only natural that some would say that.

 

"Zoe! Calm down, it's me!"

 

Zidane approached his sister speaking softly to her, just in case Zoe suddenly walked away from him again.

 

"Zidane? Is that you?"

 

Zoe suddenly spoke straight and it surprised Zidane. Zoe recognized him, which meant a lot to Zidane.

 

"Yes, it's me, let's go home." Zidane then took out his hand.

 

 

"No, no! Don't touch me! Go away! Go away!" Zoe shouted again.

 

"Zoe! Calm down! It's me!"

 

"Zidane? Is that you?"

 

Zoe repeated her question. Zidane said yes.

 

"Let's go home Zoe!" 

 

Zidane persuaded again. Suddenly Zoe screamed again like before. Zidane began to lose his mind. Every time he held out his hand, Zoe would scream not recognizing him.

 

"Zidane, where is Zoe?" 

 

Aunt Lung came this time with some people she had met a while ago.

 

 They were medics. It seemed they had come to help calm Zoe down with tranquilizers again.

 

Zidane just stared sadly at his sister who then turned calm and wanted to be taken home. It broke Zidane's heart to see his sister like that.

 

In the evening, Zoe was again tied up like the doctor suggested. They locked her up in her room and it made Zidane really feel sorry for her. 

 

"Why did everything end up like this? It's all Cassie's fault! How could she meet Jason and ruin my life like this!" 

 

Zidane complained to the sky that looked clear tonight. Usually he would spend a night like this together with Cassie. Looking up at the sky together.

It was soothing. Seeing the sky like this reminded him of Cassie who had ruined his life.

 

"My lover betrayed me, I was forced to quit my job. And now my sister, they ruined my sister's life! They ruined my whole life!"

 

"Zidane!"

 

The voice sounded weak. He recognized that voice quite well, it had been a while since he had heard it. 

 

Zidane turned his head and found an elderly woman standing quietly behind him with a smile.

 

 "Grandma! How did you get here?" He exclaimed in surprise to find the grandmother who never wanted to leave the village, suddenly standing behind him.

 

"Am I a ghost? Why are you surprised to see me like that?" she exclaimed, although she sounded quite excited.

 

"Of course I was surprised. Grandmother never wanted to leave that beloved village. How can you be here, is this a dream?"

 

 

"Lung called me and told me about Zoe's situation. Just pack your things and move to the village. The fresh atmosphere of the countryside will make Zoe feel better. No one will insult her even if she is like that. I think it will be good for her!"

 

"But..."

 

"Why are you still thinking, let's hurry! I purposely rented a car for a one-day trip. If you wait until tomorrow, the rent will triple!" she exclaimed fiercely. 

 

She was in a hurry and didn't like to waste time. Zidane immediately followed her footsteps to leave and pack his things.

 

****

 

The fresh atmosphere greeted Zidane who had just woken up from his sleep. They had been traveling all night. I don't know how long they were on the road.

 

Now suddenly the busy scenery of passing vehicles turned green, covered by trees.

 

Zidane always felt at ease every time he visited his grandmother's house. This time she asked him to clean the upstairs storeroom.

 

"If you're not tired, clean the upstairs storeroom, Zidane. No need to rush, you can do it tomorrow or the day after!"

 

"Tomorrow or the day after, Zidane will probably be back in town, Grandma!"

 

"So soon? Why don't you stay here?"

 

"Zidane doesn't know what to do. It's better for Zidane to find a new job. Besides, Zidane thinks Zoe needs a lot of medical treatment!" 

 

Zidane looked at Zoe who seemed to be lost in thought. Her gaze was blank. Even so, since meeting grandmother, Zoe no longer screamed hysterically.

 

"Alright. Stay here for a week first. I miss you too, Zidane!"

 

"Yes, grandma."

 

To please his grandmother, Zidane immediately went upstairs to clean the storeroom that hadn't been cleaned in a long time. One by one, old things were put away. As instructed by his grandmother, he could sell the old items to the flea market.

 

 

"What year is this cell phone? Funny! Does it still work?"

 

 

Zidane immediately turned on the cell phone. He tried several times. But unfortunately, the old cellphone wouldn't turn on at all.

 

 Zidane then immediately went downstairs and looked for a battery charging cable. Luckily, the cell phone could be charged.

 

"If this is still good, I should use it. This item is very antique. I hope it can still work. After all, my cell phone is broken. At least this will be enough to find out where Zoe is!"

 

The new cell phone Zidane had found was charging quite quickly. Within 30 minutes, it was back on.

 

 

Zidane double-checked the condition of the phone. He was quite tech-savvy. He also knew that the cellphone could still function. When the power button was turned on, Zidane was surprised by what he found.

 

 

"Are you ready?"

 

"Are you worthy of being a warrior?"