Ayano: "I won. I did it once, at least. But that's not enough. My victory means nothing if I lose the last two rounds. I have to focus."
referee: "Alright, round four."
He opened a new deck, shuffled it, and dealt five cards to each.
As Ayano looked at her cards, she couldn't hide the shock on her face; her hand was 3 and 4 of clubs, 6 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, and 10 of spades.
Ayano: "Damn, my hand is terrible..."
Ayano exchanged two cards, while the man exchanged only one.
referee: "Now show your cards."
Ayano had the worst possible hand — a high card — while her opponent had two of a kind.
Ayano: "things are getting worse..."
referee: "Now, let's start the final round."
Ayano began to worry; she knew well there was no room for another loss. If she lost here, she would lose a lot, but if she won, she'd get some money for her mother.
The referee took out the last deck, shuffled, and dealt five cards each.
Ayano: "Two pairs again?! Damn, that's really weak. But if I risk again, maybe I could get a straight flush again. Though the chance is nearly zero. He might also have a worse hand than mine, and I could win with this hand. What should I do?"
The man didn't change any of his cards, so Ayano immediately discarded two cards and drew two new ones.
referee: "Now show your cards."
Both glanced at each other briefly, then Ayano placed her cards on the table revealing...
She got another straight flush.
??? : "Again? How is this possible?" Even the referee was surprised by what he saw.
Ayano: "Looks like the outcome was already decided." She spoke arrogantly, as if she were the best in the world.
??? : "You're right, The outcome is already decided... for me."
He placed his cards on the table, revealing a royal flush — the strongest possible hand.
Ayano's pride shattered instantly, She just realized she lost $540, which in itself was a huge amount to A girl at the age of 17 and already drowning in debts.
Ayano: "..." She found no words and just stared at the cards.
??? : "Gambling isn't as easy as you think, Now you have to pay."
Ayano: "Wait... I... maybe we should play another game, please!"
Right there, Ayano fell into the trap.
To those who don't gamble or don't understand it deeply, they think it depends on luck — some days you win, some days you lost, But that's completely wrong.
If you think that way, every day will become a losing day, Gambling, especially illegal gambling, has nothing to do with luck, It's about the best trickster, the most deceitful and manipulative person, The more cunning you are, the better gambler you become.
People who fall victim to gambling believe the best way to get rid of gambling debts is to gamble again, The same thoughts echo in their minds:
I might win; I might clear my debts this time.
They don't realize that this mindset is what puts them deeper in trouble and greater debts, After every failed gamble, they come back again and again, It becomes like an addiction, thirsty for just one win — one small win.
They sink deeper into despair, only to realize that single win wasn't worth all those losses at all, And that's exactly what hit Ayano at that moment...
??? : "Don't pay what you owe immediately, or things will get very bad..." The referee revealed a gun hidden at his belt.
Ayano: "I... I..." She began to stammer, tears threatening to fall...
Suddenly.
someone fell from the ceiling onto the table right in front of them!