Obsession+Christy

“Betting all of ‘em,” I pushed my chips to the centre of the table. He snorted, “Being too cocky, aren’t you?” I replied silence. He snickered and held his chin up high. “Fine,” he shoved his entire chips to the table, “Just don’t cry when you lose ‘em all to me.” He cackled in a hyena-like way. “Show your cards now,” the dealer ordered. “Gladly,” hyena boy smiled. He dropped his cards on the table, showing a straight flush of ace, two, three, four and five of hearts. He laughed hysterically as he shoved all of the chips into his bag. “This is the King of Hearts of the generation! Hail to me!” He howled. I smirked at his ‘victory’. Seeing that, his howl faded in to silence. He frowned, “What are you smiling for, man?” I gently put down my cards facedown the table. “Well, I’m not called theKing of Spades for nothing, my dear hyena friend,” I said. Swiftly, I turned over my cards showing a royal flush of ace, king, queen, jack and ten of spades. “I believe,” I continued while snatching the bag of chips from his hand, “That belongs righteously to me.” Walking towards the exit, the hyena in him had been released out of the cage. “Come back, you scumbag!! You cheater!! What the hell was th-“ I shut the door, leaving only muffled noises from the room. I unzipped the bag and emptied the bag on a table. An employee approached me with a smile and exchanged the chips to cash. As I flipped the money and counting how much I earned tonight, Melissa had found me and frowned. “Gambling again?” she questioned. “Obviously.” She sighed, “Jake... I’m worried for you. You should stop gambling.” “And why is that?” I asked calmly, maintaining my composure, “It’s just a game.” “It’s not a game,” she objected, “It’s a disease. I don’t want you to suffer because of it. You’re playing because you’re addicted.” “No,” I breathed, “I play because I’m good at it.” Not wanting to hear anything anymore, I turned my head away to leave. “You’re sick!” she yelled. I paused for a while, still not turning my back. I left with the last line still ringing in my mind.

“Dude, get me the heaviest and hardest drink you’ve got here,” I demanded. The waiter frowned, “How about just a Kamikaze?” I waved my hand, signalling ‘Suit yourself.’ He handed me a bottle and I grabbed it from his hand. With one gulp, I finished half of the drink. Sick. That was what the drink gave me. Hurlings in stomach and nonsensical thoughts jumbling in my mind. Gulping every last drop, my mind started to lose consciousness. Darkness overwhelmed me, however.... The line repeated. //‘Am I... sick?’//

“Let’s hear it for the King of Spades!!” the crowd cheered out loud. I waved my hand and sat at my place. “Now, let’s hear for the next opponent..... Melissa Owens!” a louder cheer came. I frowned at the name. ‘//Melissa? That Melissa?’// Emotionless, she appeared and sat, facing me. “You gamble?” I asked her, amazed. “Jake... This is for your own sake, you’ve got to stop this instant,” she begged, her eyes now filled with concern. Snapping out of amazement, I muttered loud enough for only her to hear. “Over my dead body,” I said, receiving howls from the crowd. Perhaps I spoke a bit louder than I intended to.... The game began. Blue cards were dealt swiftly. I watched the opponent’s every movement and looked beyond her pokerface. It was no longer a game. A battlefield. “Your eyes....” she softly said. I turned my attention to her. Her voice slithered, “....Reminds me very much of one who plays to just play.” Chills automatically were sent to my spine. Taking my eyes off her hypnotizing eyes, I paid attention to my cards. However, once again, her line rang in my ears again. “Show the cards now,” the dealer ordered. The truth of the cards would be revealed any second now. Though, as for me, the truth of the cards definitely decided the answer of my question. In unison, our hands flipped the cards. One’s face had flushed, turning as pale as white. The other’s face had been pasted with a smirk. “The sins of the sick has to be paid....” ........