The Power Of The Powerless Gambler

CHAPTER 14: Trust Issue's

Yuna's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the dull throbbing in her head. A headache plagued her, each pulse echoing like a distant drumbeat in her skull. She sighed, her hand instinctively moving to her temple, fingers pressing gently to soothe the ache.

She struggled to recall what happened last night as she closed her eyes while her body ached. Her gaze drifted downward to the glass floor covered with a Savona rug, where a collection of empty wine bottles lay scattered, their once vibrant contents long gone. The faint, sweet scent of wine still lingered in the air, mingling with the cool morning breeze that slipped through the window.

"Oh, men!"

Yuna muttered to herself, amusement flickering in her tired eyes. She quickly stifled a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand to avoid waking anyone else in the tree house.

Curiosity piqued; she leaned forward, peeking under the couch. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the few black cards, blank checks, a loose stack of cash, and, unmistakably, Zack's golden revolver.

Her fingers toyed with the edge of one of the blank checks as a fond memory surfaced. "The thrill of victory must have filled my father's heart whenever I asked him to let me win," she thought, recalling the strategic games she used to play with her father.

She planned to stay in the treehouse and spend the evening with a bottle of wine when Zack and Victor started to brag about their knowledge of liqueurs, from most popular to most expensive.

Victor, unable to resist any longer, finally asked if they could join her, noticing that she had already drunk nearly half the bottle on her own. Yuna raised an eyebrow and shot back with a smirk, "Oh sure, because that would make you leave, right?"

"This man is a walking encyclopedia, as you can see. He could go on all night discussing his incredible knowledge about alcoholic beverages." Victor gestured towards Zack with a wry smile.

Yuna glanced at them and asked, "Is this your new way of threatening?"

When Yuna suggested they play a game to liven up the night, they decided on a round of "bottle blow." The deck of cards is placed as a loose or messy stack on the empty bottle. Each player blows cards off the deck on the bottle in turn. The one who blows the entire deck of the bottle loses.

Victor and Zack had soon grown frustrated, as the penalty for losing was to drink more liquor and receive a flick on the forehead.

*Flick!*

"Are you using this opportunity to torment us?" Zack muttered, rubbing his throbbing forehead from Yuna's playful flick.

"It's flicking-licious." Arching her brow in the most menacingly playful way. She licked her thumb, clearly savoring the moment. She never intended to make it easy for them to win, no matter what games they were playing.

*Flick!*

Victor, caressing his forehead where a phantom flick always landed, whined, "I always thought you were just a fan of card games, not medieval torture!"

"Let's make a bet with money, or she'll drill a hole in our forehead." He added, attempting to hide the redness on his forehead with his black hair.

When Zack and Victor realized they might have little chance of winning if they teamed together, they tried to collaborate but kept losing until they used their checks and bank cards for a bet.

"Aren't you a trickster?" Zack grumbled, looking dejectedly at Yuna. "I can't believe I lost my golden revolver in this game!" He held up the gun like a treasured relic, then sighed dramatically. "First, my dignity. Now it's my prized possession. What's next, my soul?"