night fell quick the city lights flickered to life casting harsh glows on cracked sidewalks ren stood outside the rundown building where the girl had told him the real game would start the air smelled like smoke and something bitter that made his throat tight
he clutched the deck tight nerves twisting in his stomach but he kept his face steady his eyes sharp searching for any sign of weakness or trickery around him the girl led him inside the dim room where a small group sat around a battered table stacks of worn chips scattered like little mountains between them
ren's heart pounded as the dealer pushed a fresh deck across the table the room was quiet except for the soft rustle of cards and low murmurs of players sizing each other up the stakes were high not just money but pride respect and something deeper that ren couldn't yet name
he took his seat the girl beside him her eyes never leaving his "remember what i told you watch their tells listen to their breath count their blinks" she whispered
the first hand began slow each card flipped deliberate like a secret being revealed ren forced himself to breathe steady his fingers moving with more confidence than he felt the other players were older tougher their faces unreadable masks of experience
he bet cautiously not wanting to lose too much but also not wanting to seem weak the tension built like a thick fog until one player pushed a large stack forward a challenge ren stared at his cards then at the chips then back at the players eyes trying to find the truth hidden beneath calm expressions
the girl nodded slightly it was his move he swallowed and pushed his chips forward a gamble not just with money but with his future the room held its breath
ren knew he had more to learn but tonight was a step deeper into a world where every choice was a risk every smile a bluff and every card could change everything