The magnetic lines of force originate from the North Pole of a magnet and end at its South Pole.

The crowd around him was shouting when a girl was walking to the center stage. She had floating steps, and a pose at her final stop, putting effort to seduce everyone. Right hand on the hip, her skinny body was ready to wave, trying to look sensual with flat and .

Kyuhyun stood straight on his feet, eyes sticking at the familiar figure, not the girl but someone four feet away behind her. He couldn’t find a way to look another, or just simply refused to shift his gaze. The boy, who nights ago went fragile inside his bathroom, was on the stage, sturdy and confident like a lion. The boy's eyes were alert, lips slightly puckered and chin held up arrogantly. Sungmin was looking cold as a winter, was fierce like a predator and pitiless without mercy.

Why?

He had the question repeatedly inside his head since he saw Sungmin climbing the stairs to the stage. Sungmin’s existence in stupid ‘babe-pageant’ competition was something Kyuhyun would call a ‘trivial’. Kyuhyun was trying to think about Sungmin’s reason though his brain only had a little concentration left. Their last conversation was about giving up the relationship, Sungmin’s request. But no, Kyuhyun of course didn’t approve the idea. Sungmin wanted to break up the relationship, while Kyuhyun wanted to repair the broken pieces.

The rebel would try hard to keep their relationship because in Kyuhyun's defense, he wasn’t entirely at fault for their conflict. Yes, he had with some people, cheating on Sungmin, but he didn’t intend it. Kyuhyun couldn’t even recall the until now, how did it happened, how many times he came and did he enjoy it or not. He didn’t want the above all things. The only he wanted, was the one with Sungmin.

Kyuhyun remembered how he missed Sungmin, or stressed around craving about his boyfriend’s body, missing Sungmin’s warm touch and sweet words at that time. They had through a phone call few hours before he woke up with three other people in bed. He was and he was drunk, but he was caring and sober enough not to hurt Sungmin’s feeling by doing something stupid like cheating. Kyuhyun assured that he didn’t only drunk, but also drugged. The only logical reason for his memory loss of that night was probably drugs, or narcotics. Well, asking Zhoumi or Minho might help him to remember, yet he never did it. Since the incident, he avoided having a chat with the bartender and the , because he got angry with them. Maybe in few days, he would finally ask Zhoumi about it.

The crowd’s voice was getting louder. Casino Palace filled with roaring voices. Men were shouting in jubilation, women were screaming out their hormones. Something made them reacting that way. It dragged Kyuhyun’s attention to the stage, an object that made the crowd went nuts.

Sungmin was sitting at the edge of the center stage, as usual, he looked stunning with his gothic style. Legs spread open, one hanging on the edge of the stage, the other knee standing upwards. His right elbow folded on the knee. His eyes were ruthless towards one point at the audience, his face undisturbed and…lethal. He looked masculine with that seating pose, yet it’s still unable to cover a glimpse of beauty that Sungmin effortlessly possessed.

Music had started few moments ago but Sungmin still rooted, unmoving. The crowd was excited for him, cheering out their lungs. In a mere sudden, Sungmin stood up abruptly. He lifted his head upwards with boldness, allowing his tender neck and collarbone exposed for public, and quickly fell on his knees in one smooth motion. His hair swayed perfectly as he got down.

Sungmin moved his arms and started to take off his jacket. The music hummed in a slow beat as if counting Sungmin to strip himself from the leather material. At the time his broad shoulder was visible slightly, the audience wowed in excitement.

Sungmin still had his black tight wife-beater and jeans, but all people got crazed like he was topless, bare open without covers. It wasn’t their fault to react that way. It all made sense when Sungmin’s sleeveless shirt was too tight, and his jeans was too fitted wrapping his round . His delicate legs and thighs were pleasing everyone’s eyes. He made his curvy-body strikingly visual with that tight outfit. No wonder everyone was hyped to see him, with too-tight clothes, he was equal of being .

Contrary with all people in the room, Kyuhyun wasn’t pleased. Not even a single charm of Sungmin made him impressed. He clenched his fists tightly as his heart-rate increased. Kyuhyun was annoyed.

Right hand his own temple, Sungmin his crotch forward as he leaned back his shoulders a little. Striking a pose, he lifted his head upwards along with the right hand sticking on his temple. His chest was opened and heaving up-and down gradually to follow the rhythm of the music. His pelvic forward few times and it was arousing when it came with out-of-breath expression on his face.

The crowd went wild with their screams and shouts, both males and females were ecstatic for Sungmin, who was making body waves forward on his knees. Like being hypnotized, many people was moving near to the stage and screaming more for him. Sungmin put his wrists together and raised it hanging up in the air above his head, all the while his pelvic still sensually shoved. And the audience, they loosened it into rowdy as ‘-slave image in cuffs’ came into their dirty mind.

He was all Kyuhyun think of at the moment. The rebel couldn’t believe that the polite, well-mannered, behaved Student Council’s President and the dirty dancer doing suggestive moves at the stage was actually the same person.

What are you thinking, Min?!!

Kyuhyun questioned with eyes narrowing to the middle. Didn’t Sungmin still his boyfriend? Or Sungmin decided that they broke up already, so he was trying to have another person to replace him immediately? Whatever it was, Kyuhyun hated the idea of sultry Sungmin for everyone’s entertainment. Yes, Sungmin was arousing. No doubt that the President was ually appealing for him. But his fury made Kyuhyun ignoring those facts.

Kyuhyun felt his right hand wet with liquid. He bowed down and was not very surprised with his finding. It felt nothing when he unexpectedly crashed wine glass into pieces. There was definitely no reason to be frantic for few pieces of glass piercing into his palm. His overwhelmed emotion made him invulnerable. Seriously, Kyuhyun didn’t feel anything even though blood started leaking out from his palm.

Obviously, Sungmin owned the crowd. By the look of their eyes, almost everyone wanted to touch him, to taste him, or to have him in their bed tonight. But it was still not enough. Sungmin spoiled the audience even more when he put down his hands and placed it on his clothes. Right hand held the hem of his tight shirt and left fingers clamped the button of his jeans. He teased the crowd by lifting his shirt, at the same time lowering his jeans to reveal few skin of his abdomen. Naughty smirk played on his face when people were getting more and more chaotic.

“Yeah!! Take it all off, babe!!!” Growling shout came from male audience, quickly followed by several ‘yeah-cheering’ supports from others. They sounded greedy, and hungry.

It was getting more ridiculous for him. Kyuhyun wanted to storm away and launched his fists to the owner of those shouting voices until they couldn’t say something anymore, or until they were unable to make ual attempt to his boyfriend. It couldn’t get any better when few ladies who were standing close from the stage already slipped few bucks inside Sungmin’s jeans and buckle. Their fingers trailed longer on Sungmin’s thighs, feeling him. Sungmin only performed for few minutes, yet, it seemed he would fill people’s fantasy for the entire night, or even longer.

Kyuhyun was wrong about one thing. He always said to Sungmin that Sungmin is cursed for having him as boyfriend. Actually, it was the other way around. He was the one who cursed. Not only in School, but also in his own place, Kyuhyun’s home, Sungmin was being adored and loved, in a different term and condition. And it was hard to be Sungmin’s boyfriend when Kyuhyun could be replaced in a snap, when Sungmin had so many choices. Not to mention that it took all the hate and anger inside him to keep Sungmin by his side.

! Totally cursed.

Cho Kyuhyun, 19 years old, messed up in gambling, witnessed everyone groping his boyfriend, pissed, alone, and had all people against him to have a little happiness with Sungmin.

Oh, the life he was living.

*****

*splash*

Water was all he needed to keep him sober. He was taking a break in the toilet after a whole fiasco he made. Sungmin was confident to say that he nailed his performance. Everyone seemed getting crazy over him, and he was satisfied with it. Though it was a little overwhelming, being needed was always great, right?

After he stepped down from the stage, many people approached him, offering drinks or finding excuses to touch him. Men and women were circling around him, getting friendly and intimate all of a sudden, few of them even blatantly flirting with him. He was being a center of attention even though the stage still holding talent-performances from other babe-wannabe participants.

Did you enjoy it, Hyung?

He wondered in agony before another round of water splashed onto his face, hoping it would also clear his mind.

Clear my mind from what?

A thought rushed in. And he wasn’t sure about the answer. Why he suddenly felt suffocated with all the attention he received? He planned this, he wanted it to be happened. And yet he wasn’t sure anymore. It was like his brain was corrupted, and it needed to be cleaned with water.

After few minutes recollecting his mind, Sungmin closed the tap water down and decided to go back to Casino Palace room. With somewhat wet-face, he started to walk outside the toilet. His steps were firm until it reached the doorframe. Right after the door opened, Sungmin paused. One man made him stop on his trance, welcoming his sight.

With his back leaning on the wall, the man was standing in front of the toilet’s door. Eyes and face were preserved only for Sungmin. His folding arms stated that he was waiting.

The person in front of Sungmin looked bold and ignorant, reminding him of the past, when similar scene happened many times in front of his dorm. For few seconds, Sungmin found himself becoming hard to breathe. Maybe, the person in front of him took all the oxygen away from this cold hallway.

“Are you happy now?” Kyuhyun said with a deep clear voice, inserting threat within the question.

The words froze him. He stunned all of a sudden, getting electrocuted from Kyuhyun’s question. Three seconds passed and Sungmin remained calm, seeming not to care. He turned his head and started to take another step when the other spoke again.

“Do you enjoy getting all the attention and love from everyone?” It wasn’t a compliment from Kyuhyun. It sounded sarcastic because he said it with a chuckle, mocking him.

Sungmin shook his head unbelievably, as if his ears just heard a very stupid comment from a total idiot person. Staying there alone with Kyuhyun was not an option, so he continued to walk again. He already walked passing the rebel when the latter uttered something again.

“If this is your punishment to me then I will endure it.” Kyuhyun stated it like he ran out of choices, helpless and hopeless.

Sungmin wanted to show the older that he didn’t care about Kyuhyun’s situation, his words, or anything related to him. He wanted to walk away without giving a damn. But his body betrayed him as his feet felt heavy, unable to take any further steps. His intention to act undisturbed failed miserably.

“I don’t like it.” Absolute threatening-voice declared.

“No.” Kyuhyun corrected. “I’m ing pissed.”

Growling sound was heard behind Sungmin’s back.

“But you can do whatever you want if it makes you satisfied.” Kyuhyun continued to tell him.

Sungmin didn’t need to turn around to see Kyuhyun standing in alert. That rattling sound was giving him the image already.

“I don’t need your approval, Hyung.” Sungmin croaked, finally reply the other.

“Of course you do… You don’t know how dangerous they will get, Min.” Kyuhyun raised his voice a little.

“And I still don’t agree to end…us.” He stressed the last word.

Us…

A sudden chill crept onto his arms, moving upwards to his shoulders and making him shivers.

After five seconds in silence, Sungmin managed to start his walk again. Before he completely left Kyuhyun in the hallway, Sungmin heard his Hyung shouting.

“You’re still mine!!”

This was it. If Sungmin wanted to make Kyuhyun mad and angry, he supposed to be mocking him with laughter, and humiliating him with sarcastic tone saying that Kyuhyun didn’t mean anything for him because he could pick anybody in the Casino Palace to replace Kyuhyun. Sungmin supposed to say it if he wanted to hurt Kyuhyun.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he shook his head in disbelief. Before Sungmin closed the door behind him, little smile displayed vaguely on his face, unknown to the rebel, unexpected for himself.

*****

Everything was all over the places inside his head. How many glass and bottles he drank before Heechul dragged him up to the stage? Sungmin lost count. He remembered few things though after he left the toilet. Someone offered him drinks, which he gladly received it. And then he danced with few people, pretty sure their skin was in contact with each other during the dance. Hands belong to…, Sungmin also lost count, roamed around his , groping it while he was lost in the dance. After few moments, Sungmin danced again, however this time, he was alone, on a poker table, defeating the male-contestant on stage by making his own crowd.

Now, he was with Heechul on the stage, music still playing by the DJ, and the audience never got bored to shout out their lungs for him. They were loud in Sungmin’s ears, calling him ‘babe’ with unexplainable sound. Everyone ghosted him with their lusty eyes.

The time to choose the winner had come. Only Sungmin and a girl stood on the stage will be crowned ‘Casino Nights babe’. Heechul raised the girl’s arm and noises came from the audience as feedback. It wasn’t bad, the girl was quite popular based on the hustle she got from the crowd. As Heechul pulled down her hand, Sungmin’s hand was lifted by the pretty . And that’s it. Goodbye hearing senses, because everyone was getting rowdy for him. They clapped eagerly for him, screaming and rumbling the ceiling with their sounds. Sungmin went slightly dizzy. Maybe he was a little bit drunk, or the crowd got too much overreacted.

“So we have our babe for tonight!!!!!!” Heechul shrieked to the microphone while curling his arm around on Sungmin’s shoulder, pulling the younger closer.

Okay, Heechul is louder than everyone.

He thought as round of applause following after. Sungmin also heard whistling voices everywhere. Shrilling females, howling males, upbeat music, all excitement-noises mixed together.

“Girls! Close your lips and legs! And guys, guys! Zipped your pants now!” Heechul told the audience to calm, successfully making the commotion toned down and amused. “I bet none of you here know about our babe tonight.”

“Let me discover him for you!” Female voice came from the right side of the stage.

Heechul scoffed. “Yeah, you wish honey.” He raised one eyebrow and made a y face. “Let me do the honor.”

He pulled Sungmin's shoulder with his arm that was holding a microphone.

“Hi, babe.” Heechul leaned the microphone to his lips, indirectly making Sungmin’s face inside his arm closer.

“Good news. You win. And everybody wants you.” Told Heechul with playful tone.

With this short distance, Sungmin could smell alcohol and from Heechul’s lips.

Sungmin moved to the microphone. “That’s not new.” He commented with a rigid kind of face, making him more poised than before.

Heechul perked in excitement. “Ooouuu… Cheeky aren’t we?”

Playful gasps came from few people, while the rest were just laughing around.

“What’s your name, babe?” Trying to be a good host, Heechul asked again.

Sungmin shifted his gaze towards the crowd. Among those males and females in the Casino Palace, he searched for one man who needed to hear his upcoming answer clearly. He was moving his head sideways while his eyes were strolling the audience carefully.

And there.

He found him. Sungmin catch Kyuhyun’s eyes and freeze it. He put their eye-contact standing still, making sure Kyuhyun didn’t look for another except him. Naughty smirk slowly appeared on Sungmin’s face before he finally answered. “Call me Miin-ah.”

“Miin-ah…” Heechul repeated in awe together with the crowd.

Not completely sobered from admiration, many people dropped their jaw in surprise when Heechul boldly lifted up Sungmin’s chin and kiss him hard on the lips.

*****

Even in confusing situation, or nerve-wrecking moment, both Kyuhyun and Sungmin were hard to release each other’s eyes. Sungmin found Kyuhyun holding a wrath inside his looks, placing death glare to him, especially after he introduced himself as Miin-ah, and the following hot-kiss from Heechul in front of many people.

Surprisingly, he found himself in a state of being confused. It made him to think, being happy to see Kyuhyun angry, or being something else, another feeling Sungmin couldn’t define. Attention and admiration were always nice, especially in a broken-hearted situation like Sungmin’s now. It was a great feeling, really. He could prove to the rebel that Kyuhyun was not irreplaceable. But, somehow, it’s not right. Something irked him. Sungmin didn’t feel the absolute comfort or accomplishment that he thought he would have.

After the public kissing, everyone became wild, shouting their eagerness to taste Miina-ah’s m-shaped lips. Heechul got overwhelmed with the crowd’s request, few females even asked Heechul to arrange an auction to win a kiss and a date with Sungmin.

In the middle of commotion, Heechul’s voices suddenly came again through the speaker.

“Look.” He spoke, attracting the attention. “They wanna fight just to have a date and kiss from you. What do you say, sweetheart?” His right hand was pulling Sungmin’s waist from the side.

Sungmin finally broke his eye-contact with Kyuhyun and turned to Heechul. He pulled the microphone in Heechul’s hand closer to his lips and answered. “Date will be nice.” Said Sungmin with husky tone.

“So I don’t need to worry of being cold and lonely for Casino Nights.”

The room shouted in glee before Heechul had the chance to reply Sungmin’s answer. It took few seconds for Heechul to laugh, expressing his amusement, before he tried to control the audience again.

“My, my, you guys are seriously need to stop drinking.” He shook his head while added. “Geez, your hormones went out of control.”

Mirth of laughs replied him before Heechul continued. “Alright folks, our babe decided that he needs company. Let’s make it fun then.”

Few shouts of ‘yeah’ and supporting exclamation supported Heechul’s announcement.

“But no auction, please.” Heechul scanned the crowd with his sight, communicating with the audience in front of him. “Our boss won’t allow-”

*clank clank clank clank clank*

Crashing sounds of glass and other material disturbed Heechul in completing his statement. It emerged from one spot in the crowd. Many people turned around and invested their attention towards the source.

“Settle it with gambling games.” A man said, one hand holding a wine glass, the other holding gold lighter. “The winner will have the babe for entire Casino Nights.” Heavy voice stated abruptly.

The interruption and the proposal following after drew the attention right away and turned the situation into more serious and thrilling. Heechul narrowed his eyes to focus at the speaker. “I see our charming babe has taken your interest…” He paused for a moment. “Mr. Marcus.”

A smirk slowly appeared on Heechul’s face, delivered just for Marcus. “This is once in a lifetime. What’s up with your favorite partner?”

Heechul’s smirk was returned with more devilish impression. “For Miin-ah… I can stay single forever.” Marcus’ voice was rotten in possessiveness.

While few people jeered to give Marcus a credit for his attempt, Heechul whistled in appreciation.

“Nice pick-up line, Mr. Marcus. Didn’t realize you had it in you.” Turning on his heels, Heechul pointed out to Sungmin. “Babe, any comment?”

It was a shock for Sungmin to see Kyuhyun popping up from the audience and made a statement of himself. For few seconds, Sungmin left the people wondered in curiosity. He placed his looks once again to Kyuhyun, who was pulling his smirk wider for him.

So cunning of you…

Judgmental opinion came into his head as he finally responded. “I don’t need your lines, Mr. Marcus.” It was the first time he said Kyuhyun alteration’s name in public, and Sungmin felt some kind of excitement.

“I want proof.” He challenged. “Impress me.” His lips puckered, alluring many pairs of eyes.

“Ooouu…” Heechul wailed to interrupt.

“You guys have a sparkling tense going on.” Small chuckle was out from his lips before he confronted the audience again.

“Gamble it is, gamblers!” Heechul slammed the air with high-spirit to mark his decision. “Winner will have Miin-ah for few nights.” He nodded with appraisal, telling people that it was a very good deal.

“And…I assume you’re in, Mr. Marcus?” He set his look to the said man.

Marcus let out a mocking chuckle, as if telling that it was such an idiot question to answer. He shifted his gaze from Heechul to the prize that he would claim. Sungmin, a lover he refused to let go.

“Absolutely.” He stated with total confidence.

No, not claim, the prize that belonged to him since the beginning.

*****

Blackjack was chosen to be the game, and the rules were simple; one on one, and the one who had 21 or Blackjack first in their hands, won. They used square table to face each other on both sides. Heechul, the dealer, stood in the center, and the prize, Miin-ah was standing in front of Heechul.

People were gathering around the table to enjoy the competition. Several males and females sat and went away at Heechul’s right side, changing now and then with frown on their faces. Curses, loud shrieks, annoying comments, adoring claps and marveling smiles were expressed when they forced to accept their lost from the person sitting on Heechul’s left.

Marcus sat there since the start, and never gave up his chair to anyone else. He continuously won the game, receiving praises from most of the people around, only they who lost from him got annoyed.

“Blackjack.” Announced Marcus from his seat, opening his cards on the table.

“! Damn it!” A buff man tempered while throwing his cards. His loss made him upset and cranky. People were clapping for Marcus when the big guy arose from the chair and walked away abruptly.

Heechul collected the cards on the table and put them inside the shuffling machine. He was chuckling in disbelief when he stated.

“Alright folks! Since Mr. Marcus is winning because he, somehow, got head-over-heels for our Miin-ah, I’ll give a chance for one person to challenge him, the last round, and the winner will have Miin-ah in their arms tonight!” Excitement was clearly heard inside his tone.

Up to this point, Sungmin started to question all things he had done and what he should do next. The whole situation was unexpected for him. As everyone wanted to date Sungmin, Kyuhyun came with his attempt to keep Sungmin from everyone, giving the idea of games that he had skill for, to win Sungmin over as the prize.

With heavy headache, Sungmin was thinking. If Sungmin wanted to make Kyuhyun realize how Kyuhyun was stupid for cheating on him, or making Kyuhyun suffering from grudge and jealousy, he was succeeded. Through the gambling competition, Kyuhyun was trying to eliminate all people who wanted to flirt with Sungmin, at the same time making statement that Sungmin was his possession. Kyuhyun wanted him, that’s affirmative.

And then, what?

He questioned himself. With twirling head, dysfunctional brain, people groping him, non-stop loud noises; was he satisfied with this? He probably said no. In the end, he couldn’t laugh freely to mend his broken-heart and disappointment over Kyuhyun. In the end, his heart was still unrest, and anxious because of Kyuhyun. In the end, he wasn’t happy with these.

Kyu-Hyung…

Sungmin stole a glance towards Kyuhyun’s table. His gold lighter was there, near his right hand that was holding a glass of wine. And Sungmin saw it. His eyes flickered by disturbing sight of Kyuhyun’s right hand. His hand was injured, a trace of blood was slightly visible.

Before Sungmin could react about the scars, rattling sound of moving chair halted his tongue. He turned around to find someone pulling the chair and bring himself down to sit opposite from Kyuhyun, challenging the rebel.

“Let’s play, Marcus.” The new comer confronted openly. He had a husky growling voice. “I want Miin-ah.” He stated definitely.

Sungmin froze in a spur of a moment. His voice was commanding and thrilling. Once again, Sungmin found himself getting tense being around that person.

“…Top…” He whispered, unexpectedly slipping the words out from his lips.

The said man put his right hand on the table to get more comfortable position and turned his head a little, placing his vicious look on Sungmin. “Now I finally know your name…” He pulled his lips to smile. “I still want to call you Mine…”

Sungmin dilated his eyes in surprise as his memory was tracing back to their first encounter and conversation. It was unexpected. Well, nothing seemed working in plan since he came to Dukryang, so ‘out of expectation’ was not new.

“Tell you what, Miin-ah.” Top continued further. “I want to have you by my side when I deserve my victory in Casino Nights. So rest assured and watched me stealing you away from Marcus.” With intense look, his smile was getting wider.

Sungmin was unable to say something in reply. He was speechless and agape a little.

“Tsk, tsk.” Kyuhyun’s voice suddenly interrupted. “Don’t get too cocky, Mr. Top. You don’t want to humiliate yourself later with your loss, rite?” The statement was witty, it supposed to be a little joke, but Kyuhyun’s eyes said otherwise. He was threatening the other when he said it.

Top turned to Kyuhyun and replied. “Oh, I can’t wait.” His face was still, unprovoked, but his tone was definitely mocking the other.

*****

“I changed the rules. Cards reveals after both of you decide to stand, even if you have Blackjack in hand, just wait until the other stands. If both of you have 21 or Blackjack at the same time, we’ll add another set. But if one has 21 and the other has Blackjack, the Blackjack wins.” Heechul explained, both hands were on the edge of the table, supporting his shoulders.

“Question?” He turned his head to both Kyuhyun and Top, asking one last time before he started to deal the card.

Kyuhyun wouldn’t bother to look at Heechul. He just shook his head a little, similar gesture with Top when he answered Heechul’s question. Since Top’s last comment, Kyuhyun and Top were observing each other, sending a dagger look.

“I’ll deal the cards now.” Heechul announced.

Kyuhyun was trying to read Top, as the latter was also doing the same to him, at least from the serious look in Top’s eyes. Two cards dealt face down for both of them and he saw Top’s lips was forming a smirk to him. The latter broke their eye-contact as he started to collect his cards.

Kyuhyun followed suit. He also peeked into his cards on the table.

Sweet!

He celebrated inside, still composed, not trying to conceal it on his face and body gesture.

“Mr. Marcus?” Heechul asked Marcus’ decision.

“Stand.” He answered shortly.

“Stand.” As if rushing or being overly-excited, Top blurted out after Marcus, without being asked by Heechul.

Both of them put the cards down and at the same time proclaimed. “Blackjack.”

Oh !!

Kyuhyun commented.

There was a brief pause moment to absorb the whole situation before excitement and loud noises broke the silence. All people praised the game for having two Blackjacks in the first set.

“Very competitive aren’t we?” Heechul who already took the previous cards, distributed another cards onto their table.

Again, Kyuhyun was trying to observe Top by his expression or gesture, but nothing useful could be summed up. He took his cards from the table and grunted inside.

Ace diamond and seven love.

The value was soft 8 or hard 18. Kyuhyun hated this kind of combination, it was nearing 21, but it wasn’t enough to win.

“Mr. Top?” Heechul changed the order to ask Top first this time.

“Stand.” Top declared confidently.

It disturbed Kyuhyun. Top’s confidence to decide and the decision itself made him nervous.

Is it 21?

Kyuhyun wondered about Top’s cards value.

“Mr. Marcus?” Heechul asked.

“Hit.” Kyuhyun finally decided, which quickly granted by Heechul.

Two love.

Kyuhyun stopped for two seconds before announced again. “Hit.”

Queen clover.

Well, nothing much Kyuhyun could do. Twenty was the nearest to reach 21.

“Stand.” Kyuhyun told as a sudden nervous crawled his skin.

Both revealed the cards in their hands, and Kyuhyun could release his breath comfortably. Kyuhyun thought that Top had 21 or Blackjack in his hand. It turned out a king and a two. Kyuhyun admit, Top’s bold decision influenced him. His bluffing had a power to harass Kyuhyun’s concentration.

“Mr. Top had 12, and Mr. Marcus had 20.” Heechul collected the cards and distributed another pairs for Top and Kyuhyun.

Kyuhyun peeked his own cards.

Five love and two diamond. It’s seven.

“Hit.” Kyuhyun decided without regret.

Heechul dealt one card for Kyuhyun and turned to Top.

“Stand.” Heavy tone decided in such haste. Top put down his cards on the table, face down, with no hesitation or doubt. His state was convincing, too convincing. It felt like he was winning, and he knew it coming. He looked up at his opponent afterwards, waiting for him.

Kyuhyun was nervous again by the other’s boldness.

Is it Blackjack?

He mentally guessed. Did he have Blackjack? If he had an ace, then yes, he had blackjack. But if he didn’t have an ace, his cards were below 21 in total. There was one ace left in the deck. The chance was small but it was possible for Top to have it in his hand. For Top, it was either blackjack or below 21.

Predicting would bring him nowhere to win this set. Kyuhyun shut his anxiety over Top cards’ value. Whether Top had an ace or not, the rebel still had a chance to reach 21.

Kyuhyun took the card that Heechul handed out for him and opened it.

Three diamond.

Kyuhyun got 10 in his hand now. He didn’t have any choice except to try his luck again. “Hit.” Told Kyuhyun to Heechul.

It was amazing to see how Casino Palace became silent after those commotions, those loud music, those exciting performances, and those soaring laughter and shouts. The room turned quiet, intense, nerve-wrecking, as Heechul dealt another card for Kyuhyun. People were savoring the thrills emitting from the game. They got carried-away with Top and Kyuhyun’s implicit hostilities towards each other.

Kyuhyun flipped the card open a little, peeking into it. He closed it down onto the table mere seconds afterwards and straightened his head to look up.

Top was giving him a threat message through the eyes. Heechul’s curiosity was clearly shown in his ‘cat-like’ eyes. Not only Top and Heechul, almost everyone in the room had their look on him, including Sungmin. Sungmin and his opaque beautiful eyes were anticipating. They were waiting for Kyuhyun, his decision.

Kyuhyun took all his cards and arose from his chair. Many pairs of eyes were tailing his movement. From his chair, he launched few steps slowly and stopped promptly beside Sungmin. Many people gasped, holding their breath, as Kyuhyun palmed Sungmin’s scalp and pulled his face onto him.

Sungmin’s eyes were bulging when Kyuhyun placed a force kiss on his lips. The latter was urging the kiss, making their lips stacked in messy form.

It was a déjà vu for him. Sungmin never forgot their first public kissing during the first initial meeting for Charity Ball. Many students were there, shocking and gasping, when Kyuhyun stormed and kiss him hard on the lips. Just like this.

As if re-enacting the memory, while Kyuhyun’s lips still moving eagerly, Sungmin shut his eyelids gradually. Moment later, he welcomed Kyuhyun’s hot tongue by opening his mouth.

The crowd around them was idle, both from making noises and doing something. They left agape.

Kyuhyun pulled away from the kiss and turned to Heechul. He threw his cards on the table.

Five love.

Two diamond.

Three diamond.

Ace love.

“21.” Kyuhyun announced victoriously.

He curled his arm on Sungmin’s shoulders and pulled the younger's head onto his chest. Kyuhyun made the two of them turning around towards Top’s direction.

“Sorry for your loss, Top. I’m claiming what's mine.” Kyuhyun stated and stomped his heels away from the table, also dragging Sungmin along in his hold.

People were stepping aside to give them a way to the entrance. With many eyes and whispers floating around, Kyuhyun walked confidently with Sungmin in his arm. Before they completely left Casino Palace, Kyuhyun added.

“Enjoy your nights, everyone.”

*****