NEO ZONE
PRIVATE BAR
10:01 PM, SUNDAY

3RD PERSONS VIEW。

Before Kun could even place down the card, Keiko's voice hollered through the private bar, eyes averting onto her figure as she stood behind the bar counter. Hands gesturing towards the dark red cocktail which had bright red cherries in them.

Mark arched his brow in amusement, he wasn't going to lie, seeing the Japanese female in a red slim dress made her look sexy in a way even Xiaojun, who hates her to the guts so bad, couldn't keep his eyes off her. The dangerously low v-cut in the front suited her body shape as her silver hair with black highlights were straight rather than curled. Lips tinted red as she smirked widely, flashing her clear braces at them proudly.

"You can't start the gamble without a drink," she said simply before grabbing both cocktail glasses and placing it gently on each of the gambler's side, "Care to indulge yourself in a drink of my famous Cherry Bomb before we start this dangerous gamble?"

Her eyes glowed dark, as if it was tainted with her own hidden dangerous feature. She bowed at them before stepping back, standing beside Taeyong who smiled at her. "Well?"

She rolled her eyes, "Shut up."

Keishin eyes the drink before taking a sip, eyes widening as the liquor mixed cherry flavor exploded in his mouth like a bomb. As much as he hated to admit it, he noticed how the girl inherited the same bartending skills his father had.

Jisung dragged a seat and patted it down for Keiko, "Noona, have a seat." he smiled and Keiko took the offer.

The game started off with Kun raising a card, only for him to see before setting it down with the back of the card faced towards the players and everyone.

"Even or Odd?" he questioned both players.

Youngho hummed with a confident demeanor whilst Keishin tightly balled his fists, thoughts swerving in his mind as he guessed the value of the card.

"Has both players have their answer?"

The two players nodded simply as Kun snapped his fingers, a sign that they would say their answers.

"Even!"
"Even."

Both had the same answers and Kun flipped the card over, revealing the value of the card as four of diamonds.

"One point for each player."

The game continued on, and there were forty cards to guess meaning it would take quite awhile for the game to end actually. Eventually, the other mafioso's lost interest and went to play either billiards or other card games, however some remained to watch over the most important game in the whole bar.

"Shit." Keishin grumbled as he guessed the wrong value for five executive times already. There were five cards left in the deck, meaning Keishin could still win over Youngho if the roles were switched, that would be Youngho guessing wrong this time and Keishin guessing right.

Youngho had a score of twenty seven right guesses, with eight wrong guesses while Keishin had the score of twenty five rights with ten wrongs.

Keiko was quite impressed that they could randomly guess a card if they were even or odd, but then again, these were crazy gamblers she was seeing in action, who knew what they had up their sleeves. It was down to the last card, with one number gap in between the two gamblers, still Youngho had the lead in the game. If Keishin managed to turn the game into a draw, it was all left for the coin toss of fate.

"Even or Odd!"

With a snap of a finger, the two males screamed their answers.

"Odd!"
"Even!"

Keishin grinned in satisfaction, "You are sure an odd one, Youngho. Can't you see? This card right here, is an odd one too."

Youngho cocked a brow up, reaching to take a sip from the Cherry Bomb cocktail Keiko served them. "Are you sure?" was the only thing he questioned the man in front of him.

With a smirk, "Of course, after seeing and remember each card that has passed, this card would be nothing but an Ace of Diamonds." Keishin pointed out, confidently as he raised his chin higher.

Keiko shook her head, realizing where this was going. Analyzing all the cards that had passed, she was sure enough that the thirty sixth card was the Ace of Diamonds, but then again, maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Youngho scoffed, "If you remember all of the cards, can you state the thirty ninth card then?"

Keishin squinted his eyes, "Indeed. It was an even card, you failed to guess that card, Youngho. Thus explaining why you had to let go of that precious watch you always wear."

"Losing a watch doesn't concern me, but losing to someone who fails to notice the true value of friendship does."

"What are you implying?" Keishin asked, seeing as Youngho's tone changed. "Friendship? There is no friendship."

"There is where you go wrong." Youngho points out, "The reason why you truly lost to Lee Taehui was because of your excessive greediness that lead you to your own downfall."

Keiko glanced at Taeyong, nudging him to take action. Taeyong looked at her and smiled, "He knows what he's doing. I trust him."

Again was she impressed by how much trust they had for each other, then again they must've been working together since they were younger, it was safe to assume that the friendship bond grew over time. Keiko rested her chin on top of her palm, knowing that if Youngho wins this round, her whole life would come crashing down into the hands of Taeyong's mafia.

Either way, it was a lose for Keiko. Mikami Keishin winning means that his pride would grow and the more power he would want to receive. Sighing, Keiko crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Seeing how crazy my father has become, I'd actually–"

"You'd rather let us win, don't you?" Taeyong cuts her off and she nodded.

"That doesn't mean I lost anything. I just want my father to learn his lesson."

Taeyong smirked, grabbing her hand into his, "I know, Cherrie."

"He isn't my friend!" Keishin exclaims loudly, slamming his palms onto the table.

Kun hissed, "This is a game not a fight."

Keishin harshly pushed his back onto the backrest, glaring at Youngho.

Kun held onto the remaining playing card, "Are your answers final?"

Keishin tilts his head, "Better think about your answer, Youngho. I told you. Odd."

Taeyong chuckles lightly and leaned towards Keiko, whispering into her ear, "Want to play a game?"

"No." she replied, shoving his head away.

"Come on, no bets or anything. Let's just guess the last card with them."

Keiko sighed, "Fine. I guess Even."

Taeyong lifted a brow in amusement, "Really?"

"It's obvious."

"Then I go with Even as well," he quipped, going back to look at the two players, "I could also guess that the card is four of Spades."

Youngho smirked, "If you think I would rethink and change my answer, no." he said confidently, fingers lacing together as he anticipated for the awaiting reveal.

Kun smiled, "Congratulations–" he turned over the card and Keiko's jaw dropped in an instant.

Even. Four of Spades.

Slowly, her fingers curled into a fist and Kun announced Youngho's fair win loudly. Keiko bit her bottom lip, head throwing back to look up at the ceiling in disbelief.

A laugh emitted from Taeyong as he looked down at Mikami Keishin who was trembling in fear. "N-No... No! This can't be– I was sure enough... sure enough!" he yelled and reached the cocktail glass, throwing it angrily at the floor.

The beautiful glass shattered into thousands of little pieces. He bit down his lip, eyes fuming in anger as he gritted his teeth, "This won't be the last."

Jaehyun pursed his lips, "Actually, it is."

Hansuke gave Keishin a pitiful look before shrugging, "Guess you're no longer a Mikami."

Keishin snarled and pulled a gun from his side, instantly pointing it at Keiko. "If I can't win, neither can you win the prize." his finger immediately pressed the trigger, the bullet flying through the air.

Despite it happening in a flash, Taeyong managed to grab the girl's upper arm, yanking her away and the bullet shot the chair instead.

Everyone pulled out their guns, pointing at Keishin. Keishin gritted his teeth, "What's this?"

Doyoung scrunched his nose, tilting his head, "I'm sorry, but Keiko's life fell into our hands the moment you lost the game."

Jisung chuckled, looking up from his computer as he twirled the gun between his fingers. "We can't let you hurt Keiko."

Taeyong lightly shoved Keiko backwards, leading her to fall into Jungwoo's grasp. Keiko huffed, looking at his father with nothing but anger and betrayal. She couldn't believe that after he had the guts to sell her away, he also had the guts to kill her.

"The only odd one here is you." Youngho uttered before shooting Mikami Keishin.

—