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OCTOBER 21, 2021 HOUSTON TX 1:36 AM
★
KASAMA LET OUT A LOW GROAN after downing a shot of Hennessy. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the sharp burn slide down his throat, a familiar sting that reminded him he was still alive in a world that sometimes felt heavy with memories he couldn't escape.
The club was alive, pulsing with an energy that seemed both intoxicating and suffocating. Neon lights flickered like fireflies trapped in glass jars, illuminating the faces of those around him—faces lost in laughter and the allure of the night. Yet, he remained unimpressed with everything he saw.
He watched as the strippers moved rhythmically up and down the pole, their bodies glistening under the dim lights. He observed the bottle girls, expertly navigating the crowded tables, their trays piled high with drinks. And he watched as his two closest friends, Horace and Von seeming to be having the time of their lives, their laughter ringing out over the bass-heavy music.
But to Kasama, it didn't feel like a celebration. Not without her.
"Happy G-day, bro! You finally legal, fuck nigga." Horace slurred, stumbling over to Kasama, a wide grin plastered across his face.
"Thanks," Kasama muttered, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a reflection of his true feelings.
"Why you look so fuckin' depressed?" Horace asked, his voice barely cutting through the loud music, a drunken laugh punctuating his words.
"Because I am" Kasama thought, but he replied instead, "I'm straight." The words felt hollow, even to him.
"Fasho, I'm finna go hook some shit up for you," Horace declared, already walking away, his eyes scanning the crowd.
"Nah, I'm coolin" Kasama called after him, but he knew it was futile. Horace was already lost to the night, his laughter fading into the cacophony of sound.
Kasama sighed, sinking deeper into his seat, the warmth of the liquor beginning to settle in. It wasn't enough to make him lose himself like Horace, but it was enough to dull the edges of his pain, if only temporarily. He sat in their section, nodding his head to the upbeat song that played through the speakers, staring at nothing in particular, lost in thoughts that swirled like the smoke that hung in the air.
Minutes passed, and just as he was starting to feel the pull of the alcohol, a curvaceous figure stepped into his line of vision. His gaze slowly trailed up her body, stopping at her angelic face.
She had small, almond-shaped eyes that sparkled with mischief, full plump lips that seemed to promise secrets, and a cute nose that fit perfectly with the rest of her features. Kasama thought she was gorgeous.
"I heard it was your birthday," she spoke seductively, her voice smooth and inviting, drawing him in like honey.
"Y-yuh," he managed to reply, his voice barely above a whisper. The woman raised her eyebrows at his soft-spoken tone, a smirk creeping onto her lips.
