The plane just landed.
The man walked in the airport terminal after getting out. One of his hands was holding his luggage while his other turned his phone on. He opened his messages, and his phone was greeted with a bunch of notifications.
His line of sight swept across them, and a subtle frown formed on his forehead.
Then, his phone rang— the screen displaying the name 'Jaden Wu'— and he received the call.
"I heard that you're back today, Daniel. Everyone gathered at the club tonight. It's your treat. After all, you managed to finally set yourself free," Jaden excitedly voiced out.
"I don't—"
Before he was able to carry on, Jaden interrupted, "I don't want to hear any 'no's' from you. How long had it been since we gathered like this? Even if you don't want to celebrate, we should all catch up. I am not hearing anything from you anymore. Bye. See you tonight."
A helpless sigh left Daniel's mouth when his friend hung up the phone without taking his opinion into consideration.
"Boss, here."
He turned his head to find his secretary standing, waving his hand, before rushing off in his direction. He released his hand on the luggage, passing it on to the man. There was a wide smile on the secretary's face.
As the man walked, his secretary followed after him, pulling his luggage along the way.
"Where are we going, boss? Your apartment or the company?" The secretary questioned.
"Take these over to my apartment. I am taking the car," Daniel ordered.
°°°
The loud music that echoed throughout the club created a hammering beat that kept the mood charged. Vibrant colors were projected onto the dance floor by multicolored lights that flashed in time with the music. Bodies were moving and mixing in a rhythmic dance in the center of the room, creating a chaotic yet vibrant show.
There was a fully stocked bar at the corner, where the bartender mixed up the drinks, and the clinkling of the glasses along with the sound of pouring drinks provided a symphony of their own.
Daniel entered. His presence drew in eyes from the moment he stepped in. However, the nonchalance in his eyes, coupled with the unapproachable aura surrounding him, did not give most the courage to talk to him.
A subtle frown settled on to Daniel's face. The environment invited headache and displeasure from him. He was never the fan of loudness and chaos.
His friend, Jaden— the blond man dressed in obnoxiously flashy manner— noticed him and waved his hand at him excitedly. He called, "Daniel, here."
That made rest of the friend group become aware of his arrival. All the unwanted attention on him immediately made Daniel regret his decision on stepping foot in this place.
Just as he was thinking about leaving, as if he noticed his dilemma, Jaden ran towards him and grabbed his hand, pulling him in.
"You are here! Everyone here has been waiting for you for so long!" Jaden exclaimed.
The stench of alcohol on his friend made Daniel raise his hand and push the man away coldly to maintain distance. "Talk if you want to. Don't touch me."
Jaden scoffed. "Look at you acting high and mighty again."
Daniel did not put his words to heart, used to Jaden's way of talking.
"Now, move, move, space out some place for our main attraction, the one and only Daniel, who happened finally find time to accompany us losers." There was a playful glint in Jaden's eyes.
As they moved closer to make space for Daniel, he sat down, and they enthusiastically greeted him. Daniel smoothly carried out conversations with them.
After a while, as they busied themselves with games and the women, Daniel reached out for the alcohol on the table. He stared down at the drink in his hand thoughtfully, swirling it.
Nudging him, Jaden asked, "What are you so distracted over?"
"Thinking."
"I don't know what you are thinking about, but I do think that it is time you start over. Finally, you set yourself free from that toxic relationship. Look, here are so many pretty ladies. Someone should suit your taste," Jaden advised optimistically.
Daniel's frown deepened.
"I-"
Before he was able to carry on, one of his friends exclaimed, "Shit! What is this!?"
His reaction caused the one sitting beside him to look over at the phone. The other person's eyes widened in shock. And as the rest gathered over to check, their faces mirrored similar expressions.
All of their eyes fell on Daniel. There was a mixture of inexplicable emotions on their face.
"What is the matter?" Jaden asked as he stood up and grabbed the phone.
He gasped immediately as he saw the screen, and the phone dropped from his hand. But before it was able to touch the ground, Daniel caught it.
His eyes first fell on the heading of the article.
'Emma Lin commits suicide! Is it an action taken for love?'
Daniel's heart skipped a beat.
'No way,' he thought.
As his eyes scanned throughout the article, delving into the details of how her body was found in the sea and her family claimed it was suicide due to heartbreak, Daniel's hand slightly trembled. At the end, her photo was attached, confirming her identity.
"Daniel," Jaden whispered.
All of them cautiously watched Daniel. His silence caused the tension in the room to rise, and Jaden took it upon himself to break the stalemate.
He extended his hand and placed it on Daniel's shoulder. "I get that you're sad, but I believe this matter has nothing to do with you. She has her family—"
Daniel slapped his hand away.
"There is something wrong. She shouldn't commit suicide," Daniel uttered.
Daniel knew Emma well.
She wasn't someone who would commit suicide.
Before Jaden was able to say anything more, Daniel was out of the door.