Chapter 9 A Gamble for Life

• James knocked me down again and again, but I got back up each time.
• Blood from my nose and mouth had already soaked my shirt—a vivid red that seared into my memory.
• It was the same painful red that I remembered from years ago, when my father lay broken, legs and arms shattered, wrapped in bandages drenched in blood.
• Once more, James knocked me down.
• This was the ninth time.
• James was panting heavily, exhausted.
• Sometimes, dishing out a beating took more energy than taking one.
• Standing in front of me, James had lost the swagger he'd started with.
• "Kid, just say the word and admit defeat. I'll let you go," he offered, almost like he was bargaining with me.
• I stayed silent.
• Slowly, I rose to my feet again.
• Wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth, I glared at him with bloodshot eyes.
• "I'm not giving up. But what about you? Do you give up?"
• My words put James on the verge of a mental breakdown.
• Clearly, I was the one being knocked down, but I questioned if he would admit defeat.
• The crowd around us kept growing. Seeing me stand up once more, they started whispering among themselves."
• "This kid's got guts," someone muttered. "Just say you've had enough, and it's over."
• "Yeah, but you gotta respect him. Getting beaten like that and still standing, that's tough as nails."
• "Shouldn't they stop? Someone's going to die if this keeps up!"
• James didn't say anything. I licked the blood from a corner of my mouth.
• It tasted faintly metallic.
• "James, I don't accept defeat, and neither do you. This all started over a bet, so let's settle it like men. I challenge you. Are you brave enough to take it?"
• James asked, "What are we betting?"
• "Wait and see."
• Without another word, I pushed through the crowd and headed toward a nearby hardware store.
• The shop owner had been watching the commotion from the doorway. He was so terrified that he quickly stepped aside when he saw me approaching with my body covered in blood.
• Inside, I grabbed two long, sharp daggers from the shelf.
• The shop owner didn't dare ask for money, but I tossed a hundred-dollar bill on the counter anyway.
• I wasn't a thief, much less a bandit.
• But I was a gambler, one with principles and limits.
• If I took something, I paid for it.
• With both daggers in hand, I made my way back to James.
• Under the dim streetlights, my shadow stretched long and eerie, and the blades gleamed with a chilling glint.
• The crowd instinctively parted for me.
• When I reached James, I flipped one of the daggers and offered him the handle.
• "Take it."
• James didn't budge. He didn't get what I meant.
• "I said, take it!" I barked.
• James's large body trembled involuntarily, and he obediently took the dagger.
• You just asked me what we're betting. Now I'll tell you. You and I—we're betting our lives!'
• What?
• Betting their lives?
• A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.
• Everyone recoiled, fearing the blood that would spill.
• "How would you like to do that?" James asked, his voice tense, brow furrowed.
• "You stab me first. Then I stabbed you. We take turns. First one to die loses."
• James's expression changed drastically.
• He stood there and stared at me in silence.
• James had been in a gang before, and he had shed blood—maybe even risked his life.
• But he had never played a game like this.
• "I suggested this, so you get the first move. Go ahead," I said, standing there, my arms by my side, face blank, ready to take the first blow.
• James's expression twisted into something unreadable, a mix of shock, confusion, and fear.
• "What are you waiting for?" I growled when he didn't move.
• James stood frozen, like a statue, unable to lift his arm.
• "Fine. If you're too scared, I'll go first!"
• I stepped toward him, the balde in my hand gleaming under the streetlight.
• Each step brought me closer. With every step I took, James's fear deepened.
• When I was finally in front of him, I didn't hesitate.
• I raised the dagger and thrust it toward his abdomen.
• Arghhh!'
• The crowd gasped in shock.
• The faint-hearted ones covered their eyes and turned away.
• "Stop! I give up! You win!" James roared.
• He dropped his dagger to the ground with a metallic clang.
• That big guy quickly retreated toward the back to hide from me.
• My dagger hit nothing but air.
• James had surrendered.
• I stared at him coldly, my face expressionless.
• "What did you say? I didn't hear you."
• "I said I give up! You win!" James repeated, the fear clear in his voice.
• "You're convince. And who am I?"
• "Saturn."
• "Wrong. From now on, whenever you see me, you address me as Mr. Saturn. Got it?"
• "Yes, Mr. Saturn!" James stammered, completely defeated.
• Even years later, James would talk about the duel.
• James once said that whether it was in the boxing ring or in gang fights, he had risked his life before but had never been afraid. But that day, gambling his life against mine, he felt fear. It was a fear that came from deep within. To him, I seemed like a towering mountain, something he could only look up to and cannot defeat.
• James said it was an aura, like a tornado sweeping through and leaving him suffocating.
• The same thing was said Friday.
• He thought I was born with an oppressive energy, something that made people feel uneasy.
• Even when I was just learning the ropes and my skills weren't great, my presence and inner calm were on par with many seasoned professionals.
• Friday believed I was born with it.
• He had no idea that this aura wasn't something I was born with. It was forged in pain watching my father die, being beaten down and humiliated like an animal. That was the way I acquired my fierce, unyielding spirit.
• No one watching had expected that the duel between me and the mighty James would end with him submitting to me.
• I turned away from James, my eyes shifting to Carl and Janelle, who had been watching silently.
• "So," I said coldly, "what's it going to be? Bow, apologize, or come with me?"
• Carl opened his mouth to speak, but one glance at my blood-soaked figure, and he stayed silent.
• Janelle, however, wasn't intimidated.
• "I'm not apologized. I'll go with you."
• Without sparing Carl a glance, she sashayed over to me, her hips swaying with every step.
• She slipped her arm around mine in an intimate manner, as if I were her lover, not Carl.
• Carl was dumbfounded. I was speechless too.
• I had planned to make Janelle apologize as punishment for her disrespect toward my parents.
• Taking her with me was supposed to scare her, nothing more.
• I didn't expect her to actually leave with me. And what's more, she didn't seem the least bit upset.
• In the end, I had no choice but to take her with me.
• As we walked, we passed by a small house. An old man, red-faced and round-bellied, wearing a cowboy hat, was sitting outside. He laughed and called out to me.
• "Kid, you call that fighting? If I were in there, I'd have knocked that big guy out with a couple of punches! Do you believe me, hahaha?"
• From the crowd, someone shouted back, "Oh, come on, Jack. More boasting? You'd fall apart if someone poked you with a finger!"
• I had seen the man plenty of times before.
• Everytime I went to the Quick Mart to play cards, I would passed by his house.
• He was always there, boasting about his glory days, beer in hand.
• I thought Janelle might be scared now that she was alone with me, but to my surprise, she wasn't.
• In fact, she kept glancing at me with a curious expression on her face, as if trying to figure me out.
• I rented a small apartment and am not staying at the company dorms, so I could practice gambling in peace.
• It was true what they say—practice makes perfect.
• When we reached my place, I switched on the light.
• The dark room now lit up with a warm glow.
• I walked over to my desk and turned to look at Janelle, who was busy inspecting my apartment with mild interest.
• She caught me staring. Janelle let out a seductive smile and asked, "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a pretty girl before?"
• With a flirty wink, she strutted over to me, her hand sliding up my arm as she spoke, her sultry eyes locking on mine.
• "You won me fair and square. Tonight, I'm all yours. So, what do you want to do with me?"
• Her fingers traced lightly along my cheek.