Chapter 243 - 1: Intentional bloom
The summer night was cool to the touch as Shawn glided to the back door of the club he always frequented. He was cautious of entering the entrance, as he feared that one of his family’s acquaintances might spot him and inform his family about his whereabouts.
Tonight, he was supposed to be in a family gathering, where his father strictly forbade him not to skip, because he was going to announce something important. However, Shawn felt foreboding, so instead of going, he sneaked out of their house and went to The HideOut instead.
As soon as he entered the main dance floor, his eyes were blinded by the neon blue and violet across the crowded place, pulsing in rhythm with the disc jockey playing the sound system, and hyping every club-goer.
Soon, his eyes adjusted from the lights and the dimness, and with his free-spirited energy, he swayed effortlessly, his body moving in perfect harmony with the beat.
Shawn was nineteen, brimming with life and a carefree spirit that practically illuminated the space around him. Tonight, he wanted to be lost in the music, his only focus on the liberating feeling of the rhythm.
"Woohoo!!"
He threw his hands up in the air and closed his eyes, completely immersing himself in the moment. Someone brushed past him, but he didn’t care. After a few minutes more of dancing, he headed to the counter and ordered drinks.
He drank without thinking about his tomorrow. At the back of his head, he knew what his father was going to announce. There were many things that his father decided for him and ignored what he truly wanted. He wanted to take computer science in college, but his father forced him to get finance.
And now, he wanted to take over his own marriage—his own life. He was suffocated, and unwinding all his burdens and worries in that club was what he always did. That was why, without asking for another glass, the bartender already knew to give him one.
"Don’t drink too much, Sir Shawn," the kind bartender said.
Shawn winked at him. "I’m going to get wasted tonight, so when you see me pass out, just tell Harvey to send me to my usual room."