Adrian emptied another bottle of vodka and placed it on the table beside him. He was tipsy now, but not drunk enough to lose control. His head felt heavy, but he could still walk straight. He got up, staggered slightly, and made his way to the bathroom. A cold shower would help him sober up, at least for a while.
The water hit his skin, and he let out a soft breath. It felt divine, the icy sensation biting into his flesh, washing away the heat and ache that had built up inside him.
For a brief moment, it dulled everything, the frustration, the emptiness, the silent war in his chest.
Ever since he began chasing his father's dream, he'd slowly become a stranger to himself. The boy who once dreamed of building things, of writing codes that spoke to machines, had been buried under his father's expectations. He had studied what his father wanted, graduated top of his class, and yet… he felt hollow.
He secretly learned programming on his own, behind everyone's back, but it didn't fill the void. Success didn't excite him anymore. Alcohol did. It was the one thing that didn't judge him, the one thing that helped him forget.
For him, alcohol had stopped being a habit; it had become a companion. His only escape.
After a few minutes under the cold shower, he turned off the water and stepped out. Droplets ran down his skin, tracing the sharp lines of his muscles. In the dim light, he looked almost sculpted, like something out of a painting. His body was flawless, every inch of it carved with quiet strength. The way the water slid down his abs was mesmerizing, like he'd been built by the gods themselves.
He dried his hair, put on a casual shirt and shorts, and stood before the mirror. His reflection stared back, calm, distant, unreadable. He needed a distraction tonight.
Earlier that afternoon, when he left his room for the attendant to clean the broken glass, he found out about a party happening that night. He figured he might as well show up. If nothing else, he'd have more alcohol and forget his thoughts for a while.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number. It didn't take long before someone picked up.
"Sanjay, what's good?" Adrian said, his tone casual.
"Are you mad!" Sanjay's voice blasted through the phone.
"I've been calling you since morning! You didn't pick a single call. How dare you ignore me?"
Adrian chuckled. "Jay, stop acting like a nagging wife. I'm glad you're not a woman." He smirked.
"Anyway, did you collect my certificate? You can hand it to my dad when we get back to Italy."
"Italy? Already? Bro, come on! We just graduated. Let's chill a bit. Go clubbing, hit the beach, talk to some girls live a little!"
"Go alone," Adrian said flatly. "I'm not interested. We're leaving in two days. I already told my mum."
And before Sanjay could argue further, Adrian hung up.
They had been friends since childhood, almost like brothers. Their mothers were best friends, too. But while Sanjay loved fun, Adrian had grown tired of everything that once felt exciting.
"What a partyholic," he muttered under his breath.
He grabbed his cologne, his signature scent, sharp, clean, unforgettable. He sprayed a little on his neck and wrists, and with one last look at himself, left for the party.
The hotel's club area was already booming with noise. Lights flashed, music pounded through the walls, and the air smelled of sweat and alcohol. People were dancing wildly, some already half-drunk. Pole dancers twisted around metal bars while men cheered and threw money in the air.
Adrian didn't even look at them. None of it moved him. He just wanted to drink nothing more.
He ordered a drink and sat in a corner, quietly watching the chaos.
Among the dancers, a young woman's eyes had already found him. She'd noticed him from the moment he walked in tall, effortlessly handsome, completely uninterested in the attention around him. That alone caught her.
Her name was Lucia. She was one of the lead pole dancers, bold and confident, used to men drooling over her every move. But this one, this man didn't even spare them a glance. That made her want him even more.
"He's hot," she murmured under her breath, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Her thoughts ran wild for a moment, then she whispered, "What do I do?"
An idea came to her. She called one of the bartenders over.
"Give this drink to that man over there," she said, sliding him a few bills. Her voice carried quiet authority.
The bartender glanced at her, then at the drink she handed over. He instantly knew it was spiked, but said nothing. It wasn't his place to ask questions. Money talked, and Lucia always paid well.
He carried the drink over and set it in front of Adrian.
"Sir, a drink for you," he said politely.
Adrian didn't even ask who sent it. He just took it. As long as it was alcohol, he didn't care.
Minutes later, the burn in his throat was followed by something strange, something unfamiliar. His body suddenly felt too hot. His vision blurred slightly.
"Guess I drank too much," he said, chuckling to himself.
But deep down, something felt off. His skin tingled, his pulse quickened, and the room began to spin.
He tried to stand but swayed a little. The air around him felt thicker than before. He needed to leave.
As he walked out, he didn't notice Lucia following him. She trailed behind quietly, waiting for the perfect moment.
By the time he got to the third floor, his steps had grown heavy. His balance slipped, and he almost fell but someone caught him.
It was Lucia.
"Hey, you're so drunk. Where's your room? Let me take you," she said softly, tilting her body so her cleavage showed.
Adrian brushed her off. "No thank you. I can walk by myself."
Lucia didn't move away. "Relax, I just want to help," she said sweetly, her voice almost melodic.
He turned sharply to her. His patience was running out. "Are you deaf? I said I'm fine. Get out before I go against my principles and hit you." His voice was low, but the anger beneath it was real.
Lucia smiled faintly and touched his arm. "Don't be so uptight," she whispered, letting her hand wander.
He caught her wrist immediately. His eyes darkened. "One more word from you," he said slowly, "and I'll make you regret it."
The threat in his tone was enough. Fear flashed across Lucia's face. She pulled her hand back and ran off without another word.
Adrian clenched his fists, breathing hard. "What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered. His body felt strange, the unwanted heat, the rush of tension.
"Was my drink spiked?" he wondered aloud.
He quickened his pace toward his room, trying to shake off the dizzy feeling. But as he turned the corner, he bumped into someone, a girl, tipsy and unsteady on her feet.
For a split second, he recognized her. It was the same girl from earlier that afternoon.
'Is she always drunk?' he thought bitterly.
He ignored her and kept walking.
"Hey! Can't you say sorry?" she shouted behind him, her words slurring slightly.
Adrian didn't even look back.
"Asshole! I'll teach you a lesson!" she yelled, stumbling after him.
He ignored her completely, unlocked his door, and went inside.
His head was spinning. His heart raced uncontrollably. Whatever was in that drink, it wasn't normal.
He sat on the floor and stared at his trembling hands. "This is insane," he muttered.