James Lee was a 19-year-old and fat young man who lived in an alternative universe like Earth. There was no magic in this world, only technology that was very advanced. Humans had some colleges where they mastered martial arts as well. Some companies were also researching in genetic modification, which was very costly and only rich people could afford it.
James came from a middle-class family. His father and grandfather were are hard-working people. They worked for five days and enjoyed the two days, and the cycle continued relentlessly. James also had an aunt named Mia who married a rich man. Her husband had a small company worth three to four million dollars.
James and his parents went to enjoy a Saturday, but they didn't know it was their last day on Earth. A loaded truck hit their car and James's parents died on the spot. James was admitted to the hospital due to his car insurance and life insurance. The truck owner also paid some ransom money for them.
James's grandfather sold their property to Mia's husband and took some loan to heal James's injuries. James fell into a coma and stayed in the same stage for one year. He recovered from the accident after two years, but the medicine made him obese.
James's grandfather's name was Garp and he was well-known in his neighbourhood. He was 70 years old, but he looked like 30. He had a strong body, thanks to a secret genetic modification he had done when he was young. He never told anyone about it, not even his family.
After the accident, James lived with his grandfather. He worked part-time jobs from evening 5 to 8 and earned some money to live with his grandfather comfortably. He had no friends, no hobbies, no dreams. He just existed, waiting for something to change his life.
But his enjoyable days were short-lived. One morning, when James woke up, he found a note on his bedside table. It was from his grandfather. He opened it with curiosity and dread, and read the following words:
"James, I am happy to see you grown up, but today I am taking a harsh decision. Please take care of yourself and don't hate me. I have a very important work to do, and I can't tell you what it is. Please understand and live your life fully. Days don't come back for anyone, so keep that in mind and make lots of friends. I will definitely meet you in the future, but I don't know when. I love you, my dear grandson. Garp."
James read the letter with teary eyes. He couldn't believe what he was reading. His grandfather had left him, without any explanation or goodbye. He felt a surge of anger, sadness, and confusion. He ran out of his room, hoping to catch a glimpse of his grandfather, but he was nowhere to be seen. He searched the whole house and the garden, but he only found some documents and some cash that his grandfather had left for him. The documents were about the ownership and transfer of the house and the land. They stated that James was the sole owner of the property, and that he could not sell it to anyone. If he died, the property would be donated to the government.
James didn't care about the documents or the money. He only wanted his grandfather back. He wondered where he had gone, and what he was doing. He felt lonely and betrayed. He had no one to stay with him, or to comfort him.
Mia, his aunt, also got the news about his grandfather's disappearance. She was Garp's daughter, and James' only living relative. But she had never cared about James or Garp. She had married a very greedy and selfish man, Jonathan, who was a shrewd businessman. They had two children, who were spoiled and rude. Mia and Jonathan only wanted James' house. They had always envied Garp's hut, which looked very comfortable and charming. They had tried to persuade Garp to sell it to them, but he had refused. Now that he was gone, they saw an opportunity to get what they wanted.
They packed their bags and took their children to see James. James didn't know much about his aunt and uncle, but he welcomed them politely. He hoped they would be kind and supportive, and help him cope with his loss. But he was soon disappointed. Mia and Jonathan treated James like a servant, not a nephew. They made him do all the work in the house, such as cleaning, cooking, and washing. They ate his food, but gave him only leftovers. They slept in his room, but made him sleep on the floor. They used his things, but broke them or threw them away. They never asked him how he felt, or what he wanted. They only criticized him, scolded him, and mocked him.
James hated his aunt and uncle, but he didn't say anything. He endured their abuse, hoping they would leave soon. He went to his normal high school daily, where he had some friends and teachers who cared about him. But his uncle had bribed his principal, and made his life miserable. He gave him false complaints, and made him take punishments every day. He also spread rumors about him, and turned some of his classmates against him. James felt frustrated and helpless, but he never gave up. He studied hard, and tried to ignore his uncle's schemes.
One day, his uncle brought some people to his house. They were property dealers, who wanted to buy his house. James finally understood his uncle's motive. He wanted to sell his house, and take the money for himself. He didn't care about James' feelings, or his grandfather's wishes. He only cared about his own profit. James was furious. He decided to fight back. He ran to his room, and grabbed the documents that his grandfather had left for him. He showed them to the buyers, and explained that he was the owner of the house, and that he could not sell it to anyone. The buyers were shocked. They looked at the documents, and saw that they were authentic and legal. They realized that Jonathan had lied to them, and tried to cheat them. They were angry, and left the house, cursing Jonathan.Jonathan was stunned. He couldn't believe that James had foiled his plan. He was furious, and tried to snatch the documents from James. But James was quick, and ran away from him. He locked himself in his room.