His mother's voice still echoed in his head.
One hundred thousand dollars—gone, just like that. Gun gulped down his thirteenth shot, the bartender exchanging worried glances with their colleagues.
"He's gonna get himself killed," one muttered.
Finally, one of them approached him. "Sir, please. You need to leave. We're closing."
Gun shook his head, his words slurring. "God, no… just one more shot."
His head felt heavy, the room spinning. He didn't want to believe it. He couldn't.
Her words played over and over in his mind.
"Where did you get 100k, Mom?" he'd asked, dread already clawing at his chest.
"I-I met th-this guy… and he said…" She had paused, taking shaky breaths. "He showed me how to gain interest by withdrawing cash frequently…"
Gun's stomach had dropped at her explanation.
"And it was working, it really was. So… so they said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since it was my first time, I could withdraw up to…"
He didn't want to hear the rest, but it came anyway.
"Up to 100k, and I'd get it back after withdrawal… so I-I took th-the… loan."
The memory made him slam his hands down on the bar table, yelling, "Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it all! Aaaargh!"
In a blind rage, he thrashed the bar, knocking over stools and glasses. Security swooped in, grabbing him as he shouted, "Fuck you! Let go of me!"
They tossed him out onto the street, handing him a check as they shut the doors behind him.
"Four thousand dollars for damages," they said.
Gun's shoulders shook with bitter laughter as he looked at the check. Now he owed $104,000. What a fantastic day to be a slave to the loan system.
"Who was that bastard that deceived my mother…" His fist crumpled the paper as his teeth clenched. "He will pay. On God, he will."
Headlights flashed in his face, a horn blaring loudly.
"Hey! There's the damn road, asshole!" he yelled, gesturing angrily.
The car rolled closer, and as the driver's window lowered, his eyes widened.
"Latisha?" he groaned, recognizing her at the wheel. "What are you, some kind of stalking bitch now?"
"Get in the car, or I'll run you over, you dumbass, deadbeat, rude-ass idiot," she spat back.
Gun rolled his eyes and began walking in the opposite direction.
"Get the fuck away from me, Latisha. I've got enough problems to last a lifetime."
She smirked, revving the engine. "Well, I'm here to solve your problems. I can beat the system, remember?"