aOS v.1.19

The neon glow of Neptune's Paradise cut through the evening fog like a beacon. Alex Han stood at the entrance, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, taking in the familiar sight. Last time he was here, he had unknowingly played the fool—bought the drinks, got played, and lost more than just a poker hand. But tonight? Tonight was going to be different.

Kofi, in his snarky, invisible form, hummed in his ear like a bad conscience. "Ahh, back at Neptune's. Last time, we left with our tail between our legs—metaphorically, of course. Ready to redeem yourself, or should I order you another round of bad decisions?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "This time's for fun, Kofi. No games, no setups. Just a good time without getting played."

As he said it, Alex couldn't help but glance down at the digital screen hovering in front of him—his bank balance displayed in neat, glowing numbers: $2,246,066.12.

"I won't lose this again," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening slightly. The weight of that number pressed on him, a constant reminder of everything at stake. Last time, it had slipped through his fingers like sand, but not tonight.

"Fun, huh?" Kofi's voice oozed sarcasm. "You and your grand ideas of fun. If you're expecting some magical 'do-over' button, you should've stayed home. But whatever, I'm here for the ride. Just don't try to impress any more meatheads by buying the whole bar a drink. I can feel secondhand embarrassment."

Alex smirked, ignoring the jab. The memory of that night still stung—a night fueled by too much adrenaline and not enough sense. But tonight? He was here to enjoy himself and to make sure he wasn't anyone's fool again.

The moment Alex stepped inside, the warm din of laughter, clinking glasses, and low jazz washed over him. The place hadn't changed. Neptune's was still the same old dive, filled with regulars and newcomers alike. As he glanced around the room, he noticed the same bartender behind the counter, and in the far corner, a few familiar faces from the poker game still hovered around the table. Good. No Jack tonight. Perfect.

"So, what's the plan?" Kofi's voice chimed in as Alex made his way to the bar. "We gonna sip overpriced cocktails and pretend we're not still being watched by the universe's biggest cosmic joke?"

Alex leaned against the bar and waved for the bartender. "Nah. Tonight, we're just two guys having a good time. No schemes, no stupid risks. Just drinks and maybe a couple rounds of pool."

The bartender, a grizzled old guy with a beard that seemed as old as the place itself, nodded at Alex. "Back again, huh? Same as last time?"

Alex laughed lightly. "Let's skip the part where I buy out the whole bar. Just a whiskey. Neat."

As the bartender poured, Kofi's voice crackled again, laced with that ever-present sarcasm. "Oh sure, let's skip the fun part. But you're forgetting something, buddy—we're here to change things, not just sit around like we're extras in a bad soap opera. Let's make some waves."

Alex chuckled, taking the glass and sipping his drink. "Not everything has to be a scheme, Kofi. Sometimes you just need to kick back."

But Kofi wasn't one to let things go so easily. "Kick back? With your luck? Yeah, that always works out well. Just don't try to 'not play the fool' so hard that you end up doing it again."

Alex shook his head, smirking as he scanned the room. "Trust me, I've got it under control. Just gonna have a good time."

Kofi snickered, his voice fading into the background as Alex made his way toward the pool table. This time, no poker. No grand stunts. Just a game he could control. He grabbed a cue, chalked the tip, and rolled the balls into place. It felt good to take things slow for once. No pressure. No high stakes.

As the night wore on, the whiskey warmed Alex from the inside, and for the first time in a while, he felt relaxed. Kofi's usual chatter dulled to a sarcastic hum, but even the alien seemed content to let Alex enjoy the night. One by one, he won each pool game, but it didn't feel like the rigged victories from the casino. No cheating, no aPhone tricks—just skill and a bit of luck.

Halfway through his second drink, Alex felt the old, familiar sting of eyes on him. Not from across the poker table, but from somewhere else in the bar. He turned slowly, feeling the weight of someone's gaze.

It was one of the regulars—an older guy with a gray beard, sitting at the corner booth, eyes narrowed in Alex's direction. He had the look of someone who recognized him, but Alex couldn't place the face.

"That guy's been watching you all night," Kofi's voice crackled back into his ear, breaking the peace. "You sure this whole 'no games' thing was a good idea?"

Alex shrugged it off, unwilling to let the feeling ruin his night. "Let him watch. We're just having a good time."

But Kofi wasn't convinced. "Right. 'Just a good time.' I'm sure that's exactly what the universe wants for you, Alex Han. And by the way, the universe? It's a terrible bartender. It likes serving shots of chaos when you least expect it."

Ignoring Kofi, Alex finished his drink and lined up another shot at the pool table. The night stretched on in easy rhythms, the tension loosening with every sip of whiskey and every click of the billiard balls. No pressure. No high stakes. Just a guy enjoying his night—finally.

But as Alex knocked the last ball into the corner pocket, that same nagging feeling of being watched crept back. He turned, eyes flicking toward the far booth again, but the man was gone.

"Welp, I'm calling it. The universe is about to pull the rug out from under you. Again."

Alex ignored him, gathering his jacket and heading toward the door. Tonight was about correcting past mistakes—about enjoying Neptune's Paradise without being played for a fool.

Just as he reached the exit, the bartender called out, "Leaving already?"

Alex turned, smirking. "Had my fun. This time, I'm walking out on my own terms."

The door swung open, and the cool night air hit Alex's face. For once, it felt like he'd won without playing anyone else's game. Just a good night, no strings attached.

"Well, well," Kofi's voice chimed in with a hint of amusement. "Maybe there's hope for you after all. But let's not get too comfortable. The universe's chaos shots are still on the house."

Alex chuckled to himself as he walked into the night, feeling the weight of the past lift off his shoulders. Maybe Kofi was right. Maybe chaos wasn't far behind. But for now, it didn't matter. He'd corrected one mistake, and that was enough for tonight.