Chapter 1

On a Sunday night, the cafe was crowded with people spending time with their partners. Something that Zidane really wanted to do with Cassie. 

 

Unfortunately, he was too busy with three part-time jobs. In addition to paying for college, he also had to cover his sister's living expenses. Besides that, his goal was also to save money so that he could propose to Cassie as soon as possible.

 

Zidane stepped out through the back door. He walked slowly with three bags of trash. His feet suddenly stopped walking. In front of his face, he saw his girlfriend, Cassie making out hotly with a strange man.

 

Cassie was enjoying it very much. Not realizing that she was being watched. The side of the cafe was quite quiet, and anyway, there was little light there.

 

"Cassie!" Zidane called out weakly.

 

Cassie stopped the hot kiss. The top of her dress was already undone. Realizing who was reprimanding her, Cassie immediately removed her embrace from the stranger.

 

"Zi... Zidane. You?"

 

"Spending time in the apartment?" asked Zidane with a chuckle.

 

An hour ago, when Zidane messaged her, Cassie replied with a picture of herself in front of the television in her house. Complete with nightwear, popcorn, and her apartment friends.

 

"Zi, that..." Cassie seemed to want to explain something. 

 

However, what Zidane saw was too painful. He loved Cassie very much. They had spent four years together. Zidane was very protective of his girl, he believed Cassie was loyal.

 

"Who is that man, dear?" the stranger asked. He approached Cassie and hugged her from behind.

 

Zidane hoped Cassie would let go of the stranger's embrace. To push the man away. But she didn't.

 

"He..." Cassie wanted to explain. But there was only one word she could say.

 

"Come on, let's go. Let's continue at my apartment!" the man exclaimed.

 

Cassie obeyed and stepped away from Zidane. That disappointed her. However, Zidane's anger peaked. He couldn't accept his girlfriend leaving like that.

 

"Cassie, stop!" Zidane shouted.

 

Cassie stopped, right in front of the crowded parking lot. Zidane's embarrassment was gone, and he didn't care if everyone was looking at him.

 

"What is it Cassie? What's wrong?" asked Zidane.

 

"Wrong? You're too poor, Zidane. We can't even afford to spend a night on Sunday, or a weekend. You're too busy working. Then, I don't know how long it will take for the money to make you rich. In fact, for the past four years, you can't even give me luxuries like Jason did!" Cassie shouted. It was like a slap to Zidane.

 

This was wrong. Zidane felt it. Not once did Cassie complain during this time. They only met on campus, spending time together through chat. Cassie seemed to care and love him.

 

Occasionally they would go out, even if it wasn't a weekend. Not once did Cassie complain about wanting something to give Zidane. Because of that, Zidane thought Cassie was a different woman.

 

"You never asked me to buy you fancy things, Cassie! I thought you were unrealistic!" Zidane said.

 

"Hahaha! You're too blind and deaf, man!" mocked Jason. "All women love to be spoiled with money! See, with money, I managed to get your girlfriend! My money made her fall into my arms!"

 

Jason's words made the lion inside Zidane suddenly wake up and want to pounce on someone. Zidane couldn't accept that the stranger, who had flirted with his girlfriend, had a say here.

 

"Bugh!" Zidane struck first.

 

"Zidane! Stop!" Cassie shouted.

 

"Shit!" Jason snapped. Fresh blood came out of his lips. That didn't sit well with Jason.

 

"Leo, Alex, Berth!" Jason shouted.

 

Suddenly some big guys made a fort in front of Jason. Not three people as Jason mentioned, but there were seven people there.

 

"Finish him!" Jason shouted.

 

"No, Jason. Don't! Leave him alone!" Cassie shouted.

 

"No Cassie! She's messing with me! She'll pay for it!" Jason shouted with a smirk. His hand dragged Cassie's body to the car. He locked Cassie in the car and locked it.

 

"Finish that guy!"

 

"Buuk buuk buuuk!" The sound of punches blocked Zidane.

 

Zidane was outnumbered. If there were only two opponents, he could still keep up. But not with seven of them.

 

In no time, Zidane was on the ground. The relentless punches from Jason's executioners left Zidane helpless. Zidane was still trying to get up, but Leo stepped on his body.

 

"Kraaak!" It sounded like a bone breaking there. Jason laughed out loud at that.

 

"Zidane!" Cassie shouted with tears in her eyes.

 

Jason saw the tears. Then he approached Cassie.

"You still love that poor guy? Huh. Leave him, or I'll make you suffer too. We're going on a vacation to Paris. Forget him immediately!" Jason whispered softly into Cassie's ear.

 

Cassie wiped away her tears. Honestly, those feelings were still there for Zidane. Unfortunately, it wasn't love that could make her happy, but money.

The apartment payment, the college tuition, even being able to send his mom and dad money every month, since he's been with Jason. It was different with Zidane. Cassie would rather be with Jason.

 

 

****

 

Her body ached all over. When she tried to open her eyes and sit up, her head immediately felt spinning.

 

Zidane held her head tightly which was still very painful. She closed her eyes to ease the pain. He then flung himself back onto the mattress. He looked around and realized he was in a strange place.

 

"Are you awake?"

 

"Mr. Ben, you?" asked Zidane confused.

 

It was his boss from work at the cafe last night. He glanced at the clock on the wall and it was already 9:00 am. It seemed like he had been lying here for quite some time.

 

"You shouldn't get into trouble with Jason, Zidane. His father is a powerful man in this town, no one dared to help you last night, including me. When I realized you were fighting with him, I couldn't do anything! It's very fortunate that he didn't come to this cafe again and cause trouble. I think she must know that you work at my place!"

 

 

"I understand that, Ben. Thank you very much for bringing me here. I'd better go home!"

 

Zidane tried to sit back down and he again felt like the world was spinning. Zidane really didn't feel right.

 

"It looks like you can't go home now Zidane. Get some rest I've called the doctor, we'd better get your condition checked out. By the way, your cell phone has been ringing. It looks like it's pretty bad, there's only a ringing sound. But nothing appears on its blackened screen. It looks like it got dropped during your fight!"

 

Ben handed over the flat object that seemed to be ringing but had no screen. Zidane looked at the flat-screen cell phone he'd worked so hard to buy. His only means of communication.

 

It wasn't long before a doctor arrived and examined Zidane. He prescribed medicine and gave Zidane an injection. But just as the doctor was about to leave, Jason's men arrived.

 

Ben, who was downstairs and the cafe wasn't open yet, prevented Jason's men from going upstairs.

 

"Where is that man? He's not dead? Does he work here? Do you want to protect him?" A burly man shouted to Ben.

 

Ben answered whatever he could. Realizing that Zidane could be in bigger trouble than before, Ben then said that Zidane was immediately taken home last night. And he didn't know where Zidane's home was.

 

"Is that really true? If he does work here, I'll check. Tonight, tomorrow and tomorrow again, I will make sure that man is no longer here. You'd better fire that man! If you don't fire him, I'm sure Mr. Jason won't be happy and you'll definitely be in trouble. And so will the customers and your cafe!  The choice is yours!"

 

 The man looked threatening to Ben. Ben knew his position wasn't good, so he just kept quiet and nodded his head.

 

 It would have been nice if they had just left. But of course, with the slamming of one of the chairs and the smashing of several chairs.

 

Ben went straight upstairs afterward. The man's big voice was clearly heard all the way upstairs.

 

"Are you okay?" Zidane asked worriedly.

 

"Yes, they're gone!"

 

"I'm sorry you got into trouble because of me!" Zidane exclaimed regretfully.

 

"You'd better leave Zidane. You see, he can do anything. I think this is going to go on for a long time, it's not good for you to stay in this cafe. Disappear and hide for a while so that he doesn't get angry again.  I think he'll find someone else to vent his anger on!"

 

Zidane nodded, then he reluctantly chose to return home. Although his head was still spinning, the only person he had besides Casie in this world was Zoe.

 

As Jason said those words, Zidane was suddenly worried about his sister. Several police cars were seen in his yard. That added to the worry in his chest.

 

"Zoe, what's wrong?" Zidane shouted.