Poker Face

"Lirui, why did you refuse to become Vaelan's brother?"

The question belonged to Dr. Claude Leblanc and triggered all the voices that had accumulated in Ru's mind.

"Like, seriously? Even after you, like, totally messed with his son a couple of times, even stabbed him once, the guy still wants to adopt you. Can you even wrap your head around that?"

"Come on, you wouldn't want to miss out on such a fantastic opportunity. I mean, the guy's loaded, you get me?"

"Oh, and remember your stepmom? She's a hot chick. We all saw her when she visited the orphanage last year and showered us with gifts."

"The caretaker mentioned that she and her husband are at least thirty years apart in age, can you believe that?"

"Bro, seriously, think about it. You can't just let this opportunity slide, Rui. It's like, once in a lifetime kinda thing, you know?"

"Dude, you're on the brink of exiting the realm of childhood. Next year, you're gonna be this pimply, awkward teenager, trust me."

"And on top of all that jazz, you've got a rap sheet, buddy. Assault with a weapon and even robbery, can you believe it?"

"Otherwise, you'll end up in some back alley gang or mafia, dude."

"Oh, man, can't you see? You're the luckiest kid in the orphanage."

"You dreamed of being a rock star, right? Well, here's your golden ticket, Lirui."

"Dreams equal cash, Lirui. Think about it, buddy."

"You're the luckiest orphan among us."

Ru covered his ears. He was tired of hearing similar sentences. But the voices did not stay silent.

"Imagine, sleeping in a cozy bed, taking a warm bath, it must feel so comfortable."

"First you'll have a bicycle, then a motorcycle, and eventually even a car."

"Your very own grand piano is coming soon, my friend."

"And not just that, your private music room."

"Plus, the ultimate cinema room..."

"And don't forget the sauna and jacuzzi."

"Why won't you be my little brother, man? Why can't you be my little brother?! You could be part of our family, but you're shutting me out. Did I do something wrong? Please, tell me!"

"Your health is secure with the Thagarta family. They'll even get you braces for that perfect smile."

"And imagine, your favorite doctor will personally come to you for treatment. It's like having VIP healthcare at your doorstep!"

"My favorite doctor, my brother, my piano, my warm water, my teenage years, my school, my future... It's all within reach, isn't it?"

<Demons can't go in there, Dad.>

<We think you should accept the offer.>

"Are you serious?" Ru scoffed, rolling his eyes.

<So it's always been haunted, and now we've checked it out. There are some very good magic barrier antiques there, Dad.>

Ru's mind screamed, "What the hell are you saying? Shut up, girls!"

"Are you there, Lirui," Dr. Claude Leblanc asked, passing his hand in front of the boy's eyes, trying to get his attention.

"Yeah, kinda," Ru replied, struggling to shake off his inner voice(s).

"Are you like this because of the beer," Dr. Claude Leblanc asked, sounding incredulous.

"I guess not. Sometimes I just zone out like this. I guess I'm hitting puberty, getting all those pimples soon, yuck," Ru mumbled.

"Hmm, it's probably because of the proposal," Claude thought. He had only mentioned the Thargata family once, and it seemed that Ru was extremely uncomfortable with their offer. "Would you like some fries," Claude asked to end the topic.

"Sure," Ru said, still absent-minded.

When Claude couldn't find a waiter, he got up from the table and said, "Wait."

"Okay," Ru said and sipped the beer.

<Think about it, Dad, you'll even have your bar in your room. >

"I don't think, shut the fuck up," Ru hissed. He found it hard to keep quiet, probably because of the alcohol. Occasionally, words escaped his lips.

Back at the table, Dr. Claude Leblanc coughed lightly to grab Ru's attention. "Ahem, Lirui, I need to continue our conversation. I need to share some concerns of mine, particularly regarding you," he said.

Ru suddenly turned his gaze to the doctor and raised his eyebrows. "What could your concerns possibly be? Everyone already has a multitude of worries," he remarked.

Dr. Claude Leblanc stayed silent and nudged the plate of potatoes toward the boy.

At first, Ru replied, "Thanks, I'm full." After a while, he said, "But I'll give it a try since you served me like a waiter. It would be rude not to eat even one potato; you'd feel bad," and grabbed a potato. Moments later he blurted out something like, "Hmm, not bad. Actually, I'm a better fryer than these," and grabbed three more potatoes. Before he realized it, he was dipping each potato in the sauce and devouring them one by one.

Claude watched him with a smile, biding his time to strike up a conversation. At the same time, he felt a strange thrill of having escaped from the hospital with a dangerous patient and watching people come and go. He had also pampered that patient with an alcoholic drink. "Oh, Claude, oh," he thought to himself.

"Hey, get us another beer," Ru said to Claude, nodding towards the empty plate of potatoes. "How about two more plates of fries? And if there's any sausage, toss that in too, would you?"

Claude chuckled, his hand instinctively covering his mouth as he struggled to contain his laughter.

When Ru noticed his reaction, he pouted and leaned back against the seat. He grumbled, "You kidnapped me from the hospital, and now I'm hungry and thirsty. What kind of psychiatrists are you, I just don't get it."

"Me? Ha ha, I didn't exactly kidnap you, Lirui. Let's just say I led you a little astray," Claude said with a sheepish grin.

"You kidnapped me," Ru said, rolling his eyes.

Claude's smile suddenly faded. "But please don't say that," his voice trembled.

"I don't know, but you've given me enough ammunition to blackmail you," Ru said with a wicked grin.

"You're joking... You're joking, aren't you?" Claude said, his tone filled with doubt as he came to grips with his loss of control and felt foolish for his actions.

Ru suddenly smiled sincerely and said, "Of course, I was joking, you're nuts, man."

Claude attempted to smile as well, though it was strained due to his anxiety. "I'll place the order," he said, getting up from his seat.

It was a sudden idea that crossed Ru's mind, devilish and mischievous: "Can I manipulate Mr. Thargata too, I wonder?.. Why not," he thought to himself, a cunning smile playing on his lips.

This little escapade with potatoes and beer was fun for Ru, but he never saw the rookie doctor again. He didn't know if they had been caught. Ru became more convinced that Claude had admitted his mistake the more they thought about Claude's naivety.

Two weeks had passed and the day of reckoning had finally arrived. Ru's ambition had grown to the point where it had eclipsed clarity of thought. Without hesitation, he perused the guardianship document in front of him and affixed his signature, even though he was fully aware of the consequences.

Ru's new stepfather, Mr. Thargata, whom he targeted for manipulation, was a middle-aged, handsome, and impeccably dressed man. Among all his attributes, his wealth undoubtedly stood out as the most significant. Ru regarded him as a chicken to be plucked, feigning respect while secretly plotting. On the contrary, Mr. Thagarta's obsessive attention to Ru exceeded even his love for Vaelan, his wife, his dogs, his property, and his cars put together.

Mr. Thargarta had only one desire, and it was something Ru could easily fulfill. However, it was a secret, and Ru was strictly forbidden from divulging it.

Mr. Thargarta had never explicitly stated that recording or filming was prohibited.

Needless to say, Ru would try to capture what his stepfather called "the great mystery" and turn it into a series of live performances. By documenting Mr. Thargarta's embarrassment, Ru believed he could not only satisfy his current desires but also gain leverage for his benefit in the future.