The Game of Love and Cards (Catradora)

Ace of Spades

Catra's POV
"Shit there is no way he can beat me." I says to myself going all in for the huge winnings that await for me in another turn. "Things can go one of two ways right now. He could have a better hand than I do or I could win it all right here right now. My cards could be my winner or my demise. He put all of chips into the pot making it bigger. 10 billion in cash could be all mine. My Queen and King of Spades could make me or break me.

All eyes have been on me. A prodigy in cards, playing in high school I used to do card tricks to get by making people smile everyday when I was at home being abused. "Like they say right fake it till you make it." It's been seven years since then I finally moved out of that abusive home. In high school I had met someone before my whole career was kicking off. That princess was one in a billion. That soon changed when she moved. Then my heart turned cold. My escape from life left me alone and now I only got happiness from card tricks to keep other students entertained. It got me through but something was missing from my life.

(7 years ago)
As soon I walked around the corner of Horde High I saw someone sneak into the janitors closet. I saw that the camera was looking elsewhere and I decided to sneak in myself to find it empty. I look and look till I see a hatch that's under a shelf.

"Well that's a nice hiding spot" I said when I move it and opening the hatch slightly before sneaking my way down. "Oh shit you better pay up now guys full house here." I here and then start to see as he slams the cards down on the green table. "Nah Uh better think again." Another says as he lays out a straight flush on the table.

Right now my eyes must be huge in curiosity and fun as I watch the game. Two rounds go by and I see that the wins are based on luck as I could tell. That's when I notice about their faces when one has a good hand I see their ears move back. The other I see he taps his fingers on the table at least three times before he places a bet and look away like he's thinking. The dealer sniffs like he's holding back a laugh every time he has a good hand. The bluffs were quicker to catch on though. When the guy at the far end was bluffing he moves in his seat, the second one fiddled with their cards and the dealer well I noticed his eyebrow twitched up from his cards when he's bluffing.

As I was turning to leave I stepped then a loud creak erupted the basement room stairs. "Uh oh." I say to myself and before I knew it the three gents were looking at me like I just stumbled in on something super important. The one that was dealing the cards began to talk.

"Hey! His voice was loud whisper yell. "How did you know we were down here?" The dealer ask.

"I saw— I saw that one coming in here all suspicious." I point at him after. The dealer looks back at him and the one I followed shrugs saying that he didn't know he was followed.

"Well since your here let's play." The dealers says.

"What are we playing?" I ask.

"Texas hold 'em. Do you know how to play." He ask

"I'm familiar with the rules." I lie as I know every aspect of the game.

"Great then I'll deal the cards out." The dealer says.

They gave me some chips to bet with since I didn't have actual money to bet so I had a loan from the dealer 2,000 dollars total which's means if I lose here I would be 4,000 dollars in debt to him. He finally deals the cards. Ace of diamonds and the Two of Hearts couldn't get much better hand than that. 5,000 dollars in chips, 4,000 dollar out come who knew I would be so good at the game.

The game started and I was looking at my cards waiting. I called my first turned and everyone started raising already. People really like living on the edge. They think I could be beat out early. I think to myself and called again. The pot was already a thousand then the  flop came and three aces where already on the table. The dealer raised up the stakes and put up five hundred. He eyebrow rose up quick but I was quick to catch it. The two others already folded after the dealer bet 500 chips in. I called him and his bluff. The turn was no good to me anyway I already knew I had this round in the bag. The river though it was a surprising one a 10 of hearts. I looked at the dealer who finally looked like they had a enough and went all in. I returned the favor. He looked at me with a surprise glance and showed his cards a 10 of spades and 2 of diamonds.