It was Friday night, and the game had just started, just like every other game. Joshua, my brother, and I had already selected our sure odds, just waiting for the right time to place it. We both loved the joy that came with placing a bet with our last card, with high hopes of expectations at the end. Betting had become part and parcel of our lifestyle; to us, it was more than just betting.
On that particular Saturday, we staked our game and watched together. Our eyes were glued to our phone screen as we watched the game being played. The suspense was high; all that we were interested in was for a game to play. We watched, cheered, laughed, and groaned when it went the opposite.
With that small capital, we were cooking up something big. The joy was indescribable as we continued staking on games that we believed would play. With every win, we jubilated and agreed together to go again. Our target was to hit the jackpot and cash out something huge that night.
As we reached our target, our excitement knew no bounds. My younger brother quickly said, "Sis, today's games are specially prepared for us. Just look at what we have accumulated with our capital."
My eyes blinked with excitement. "I think we should just try this last one. It's looking promising, isn't it?" I asked, looking at him with excitement on my face.
At first, he shook his head, expressing negative feedback, but as I pushed further, I was able to convince him. "A little more won't hurt."
We staked all our funds again. Alll we had gathered for the day in one bet. I was already jubilating, making plans for what I would use my share of the money to do. I needed a new phone, and that was the first on my budget list, then giving myself a treat. The certainty of the win was convincing to us.
The first half of the game was just as we thought. Home was winning, and that elevated our hopes. The joy was massive; the excitement was reaching its climax when everything began to change. "Was that a goal?" my brother asked to be certain. At that point, I was already speechless, as my joy was already looking cut short.
From a goal, it got to two. My team had started playing roughly out of tension, from missed shots to missed penalties.
With my heart racing, I refused to say anything to my brother. Guilt filled my heart as the mastermind behind staking that last time.
Seeing my mood, my brother tried to lighten it. "We can't conclude; everything might turn in our favor," he said, trying to convince me to be hopeful.
After that sentence, there were just some minutes left, and finally, our fate was sealed. I let out a very annoying hiss. Joshua stood up and went straight to the restroom. I felt my heart beating heavily as our phone screen read “what is cash out?”
The match ended, and we lost the game; everything we invested was gone. It felt like a dream; I needed someone to wake me up and say it was a dream, but it wasn't. "If we had known, we would have just taken out the money when we wanted to," I said with much regret.
"You are right, but betting comes with greed. Self-discipline is important but very hard to implement. This has taught us a lesson."
That night was nothing but a night of regrets. "Had I known" was ringing in my head. Remembering everything was gone changed a night that was looking promising to a regretful one.