177 A Game of Life POV (1/2)

It feels like mister Max is actually asking everyone in the restaurant where the Queen of Heart is, and even after a while, no one answers him.

There is only silence in the restaurant as no one has said anything all.

What everyone is doing is continuing to stare unblinkingly at mister Max, who is looking at me, waiting for me to speak up. He didn't bother to pay any attention to anyone else in the restaurant even if it is really, really weird for people to stare at him like this.

At least I think so.

It is also very difficult to breathe, as if the air somehow becomes really thick and heavy, but it isn't like this morning when I was unable to breathe properly due to the sharp pain in my chest.

I don't feel any more pain in my chest thanks to mister Max, but I feel very uncomfortable sitting here in this restaurant with him while everyone nearby is staring at him.

Not everyone is looking directly at mister Max though. Like me, some of the people are looking at the four facedown cards on the table in front of him. It is as if those cards symbolize something important.

I wonder what.

But I guess that they have seen those cards before. Maybe they recognize the Hydra emblem depicted on the back of each card somewhere before.

I would too if I have seen the emblem before because it is really easy to remember.

It could also be because they want to join in on the game.

I have played this card guessing game with my daddy before, and I always get it right. It isn't that hard to keep track of one of the cards when it is being shuffled, especially when I concentrate really hard.

”What's wrong, Christina? Did I shuffle the cards around too fast for you? Should I do it again?”

Mister Max asks with a smile.

I shake my head in response. It isn't because of that since I was paying attention when he was shuffling the cards. I actually know where the Queen of Heart is.

Ah. I just forget that I am not supposed to answer mister Max like that. I should speak up to give him my answer, not nodding or shaking my head because it is disrespectful. Mister Max doesn't like anyone who is being disrespectful.

I look up at mister Max, matching his eyes before answering his question.

”No, mister. It isn't. It's… it is just that everyone in the restaurant is staring at you strangely.”

I whisper the last part so no one else but mister Max can hear me, but I think many people still heard since they avert their eyes from our table before resuming chatting and eating just like they did when mister Max and I entered the restaurant.

The atmosphere in the restaurant return to normal soon after, letting me breathe normally again.

”Oh, is that so? I guess they couldn't help it because they are wondering how someone like me get to have a date with pretty and cute girl like you, Christina.”

Mister Max tells me, making me blush a little. He thinks that I am pretty and cute.

And even though I don't think that I am, his praises still make me really happy.

I try not to look at mister Max anymore and refocus my attention onto the four cards on the table. As I have been paying attention, I know exactly where the Queen of Heart is amongst the four facedown cards.

It is actually the card on the far right. I am very sure of it.

I think that the people who are still looking at the cards also know where the Queen of Heart is as well, and they are looking at the same card as me.

Mister Max nods and flips the card over right after I choose it.

It is the Queen of Heart, making me happy again. Just two more times and I will get something special from mister Max.

Ah. I shouldn't be so greedy because I already get to have delicious Sushi for dinner. But still, I am very curious to what mister Max will give me if I get it right two more times.

I can't wait.

”Very good, Christina. But let's make it a bit harder this time, okay? Can't let you beat me too easily.”

I giggle because mister Max implies that I will beat him.

I do hope that I can.

Mister Max flips the Queen of Heart back, so it is facing down again. He then shuffles it amongst with the other three cards on the table, but much faster this time around.

Sometimes, I notice that he didn't really shuffle them even though his hands run across them.

He is feinting it.

Daddy do it all the time, but he isn't really good at it since he accidently caused the card to move when he didn't really mean to.

But even so, I manage to choose the right card again. The other people who is playing with me form a distance give a nod because they also choose the same card as me, at least in their mind.

I think they are curious than actually interested in the game like me.

”You do have a keen eye, Christina. Just like a lot of people here, but this time, I am sure that you will not be able to choose the right one so easily.”

Mister Max announces before flipping the Queen of Heart, so it is facing down again. He then shuffles the four cards on the table, slowly at first, but faster with each swap.

He is swapping card so fast that I am unable to tell if he did or it is just a feint.

None of the cards seem to move even a little when his hands slide over them.

Mister Max stops shuffling the cards a few more times, but even if he didn't do that, I wouldn't know where the Queen of Heart is.

And I think he knows as well because he smiles victoriously at me.

”I guess it is a bit too fast for you, Christina.”

Mister Max tells me, and I nod in agreement. The shuffling was really fast.

And since he did not ask me a question, I don't think that I have to speak up to answer him. I speak up anyway because I like talking to him.

”Yes. I couldn't see your hands at all, mister. Can you do it again?”

Mister Max chuckles and shows me where the Queen of Heart is, causing many people who are paying attention to smile. They could keep track of where the Queen of Heart even if mister Max shuffles the cards so fast to the point that the cards don't seem to move at all.

”Alright. Pay attention carefully, Christina. I will only do it one more time.”

I immediately stare at the four cards sitting on the table. All the noises in the room drown out as I am fully focused.

Mister Max shuffles the cards on the table as fast as he did before, and I only manage to keep track of the Queen of Heart for a little. It is just too hard since he switches the card so fast.

”So, where do you think the Queen of Heart is, Christina?”

Mister Max asks me once he finishes shuffling the card. I do not know, but the people who are playing appear to know where it is. This is because they are smiling proudly. Maybe even smirking as well.

”I don't know, mister. It was too fast.”