Chapter Text
Through the ages, alcoholism has been undisputedly maintaining its position in the list of risk factors for preventable diseases in the world. According to a WHO report, 5.3% of all deaths that occurred worldwide in the year 2016 were because of harmful alcohol use. It is the main culprit behind the advancing nature of many chronic diseases. It drastically increases the severity of diseases and also makes the treatments less effective. Alcohol not only affects the person physiologically, but it has many adverse effects psychologically and socially too. Also, the habit of alcoholism leads to huge expenses
Apart from systemic involvement, which causes various clinical manifestations, there are certain signs and symptoms that are most of the times non-specific and that as such don’t point out or say lead to a particular diagnosis, such as nausea, agitation, vomiting, anxiety, diaphoresis, tremors, headache, visual hallucinations, tachycardia, seizures, delirium, temperature elevation, etc. It is not always necessary that these mentioned signs and symptoms are compulsorily linked with disease conditions.
Alcohol clearly plays a very important role in making many other diseases progress to their advanced stages. It has been also noted that alcohol intake and its related disorders are often associated with many other manifestations; for example, patients with alcoholic neuropathy often have associated nutritional deficiencies. Recent studies have clearly proved that alcoholism is associated with many types of cancers too and this understanding of alcoholism has spurred research minds all over the globe to find out the exact pathophysiology behind the same. Alcohol is a very easily available source of addiction, which is one of the main reasons why it remains a serious threat to the community. There is a huge variety that is available as far as alcoholic drinks are concerned. Alcohol is also one of the cheaply accessible means of addiction; this explains why alcoholism is so prevalent. A person may initially start consuming alcohol in very low amounts most probably with just a desire to try it, but once he or she gets addicted, then getting rid of the habit becomes extremely difficult. Even if a person is mentally resolute enough to quit alcoholism, his or her body, which has been modified because of the chronic use of alcohol, won’t be up to the challenge anytime soon; he or she has to overcome many hurdles put forward by the body, which could in an umbrella term be referred to as alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Alcohol exerts various effects on our CNS in various ways, the common ones being depression of the CNS, destruction of the brain cells, contraction of the tissues of the brain, suppression of the excitatory nerve pathway activity, neuronal injury, etc
Alcohol’s impact on the functioning of the brain ranges from mild and anxiolytic disinhibitory effects, motor incoordination, sedation, emesis, amnesia, hypnosis and ultimately unconsciousness. The synaptic transmission is heavily disturbed and altered by ethanol, and the intrinsic excitability in various areas of the brain is also compromised. The effects of ethanol may be pre-synaptic, post-synaptic, and at times, non-synaptic too. Alcohol being a psychotropic depressant of the CNS exerts a deeply profound impact on the neurons, which alters the biological and behavioural well-being of the one who consumes it by the promotion of interference in various neuronal pathways.
Even knowing all this, Jia Qin was a slave to his vices. Following an argument with his mother in the topic (some whining about the immorality of the quantity of alcohol and the fact it was drank at all), he'd spent a week seething.
It was so bad, the usual party animal had almost refused an invitation to a High-school reunion.
They must be insane. We graduated a year ago. It hasn't even been 18 months since Olevels. Are you mad? Are you stupid? Besides, what possessed you to invite me? I spent the entirety of my time there getting bullied?
Okay, not the entirety. Admittedly, I made a multitude of friends- It's likely one of them who invited me. No need to worry, it’s fine. People did like you, to an extent- probably.
And so, Jia Qin opened the Invitation properly. Rather than, say, read the damned thing, he simply skipped to read the name of the sender. Undoubtedly, it would be one of his many friends, most of whom weren't exactly broke!
The name read “Alexander Toskinolkinov”.
Jia Qin threw the letter at the wall.
Of all the names. Of all the names I despise. Why he? Oh, that beautiful bastard! I should kill him. I'm definitely going. I need to kill him. Tie him up, pull down his- wait, why would he even invite me? Does he not despise me? He spent the latter half of our years slandering and brutalizing me.
Surely I must accept?
“Mom, there's a High-school reunion. Can I join?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
This price of shit. I'm going to fucking mangle him. Wait, no. I should get him drunk and humiliate him. Yes.
I'm going to get wasted~ ❤︎
Ah, I'm going to ruin him. Your face, utterly soaked in tears, looking at me in utmost sorrow and agony, I can envision it now.
Jia Qin got to preparing. First, he made some syrups! He should be a good guest, and bring materials, after all. He'd handle the drinks.
It was the role given to him in the invitation. Meant to sideline and isolate. No way it could backfire, right?
First, he batched some spiked punch. It was a simple matter- 400ml of rum, 200ml of gin, two limes, and 600ml of punch concentrate.
It would be diluted with water and ice later. Besides, should the party be good like this? Next, he prepared some rose tea for the non-drinkers- of which Moorson was not one of.
Ah, he plauged my thoughts even now. My torment never ends. You deserve what I'm going to do. You're asking for it. Idiot. Disgusting. I hate you.
He poured the batches into the bottles with a gentleness he didn't know he could muster.
It was the following day, of course. He'd received the invitation a week before, he'd simply never bothered to open it- He'd been preoccupied with schooling and matters of obligation that had left him with no time to attend to such matters. He selected a lovely pastel lavender bag to carry the bottles in. Along with nylon ties. Not the silk ones, They were too expensive.
loop them twice around both wrists, loop them around the loops from between the wrists to fasten, and then tie the knot as tight as possible.
Repeat with the legs, and then to ensure silence, gag.
Simple sugar. Time to go to bed.
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It was a very irritable morning, really. He hadn’t managed to get much sleep, spending most of the night practicing binding arms and legs. Jia Qin got up from his bed, stumbling to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Mentally, he checked his outfit-
I could get away with a shirt and some slacks, right? I don't have anything informal… but if I dress up too much… yeah, just a shirt and slacks.
I should get some water.
And he poured some. And sipped it. Riveting stuff, really.
Ugh, so annoying. I wanted to drink today, but noo, I have to go to a party by some idiot named Toskinolkinov. What's your fucking problem? You're not even Russian? You're Singaporean, why is your name like that? This is why everyone calls you “Alex”, your last name is fucking incomprehensible? I hate it! I hate you-
Alex’s face flashed in Jia Qin’s mind.
AAAH. FUCK.
“FUCK! FUCK! FUCK YOU, BITCH. I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU, hahahahah….”
“Hahahahah, hahahahah!
“Wait, no, Jia Qin, lock in. Lock the fuck in. Lock IN. I hate him. Hate. Him. Wanna kidnap him and brainwash him and-”
“Shut the fuck up, you stupid prick, just fucking drink your water like a good boy~”
Jia Qin's maid looked at him weirdly. Of course, Jia Qin wasn't going to explain himself.
“Oh, hello, good morning. Can I have Nutella for breakfast?”
“... Of course.”
Jia Qin walked over to check his phone. A bunch of notifications, of course- par for the course with social media- but thankfully no new messages.
“... I suppose a bit of gaming wouldn't hurt.”
________________________________
Jia Qin got up from his desk. He'd long since gotten bored- even the insanity of 5-dimensional chess game on steam grew monotonous after being just that utterly incomprehensible.
I'm actually fairly sure it's suboptimal to comprehend the game. I surprisingly like puzzles.
He shrugged, and checked the time. Ah, it was about 2:36 PM. Late for lunch. Wallet? About $17.70. Hm, ample budget for a good meal. But, Lunch for him and food were two very different things
Hm, only $18? That's annoying, 375ml of brandy is about $20.50… hm, maybe I could do a $13.50 bottle and use the rest for mixers? That would be nice. Hm… that does make sense.
… Mother hates it when I drink, so best not go near the house. She'll cry if she sees me drunk again.
Ah, annoying. Best to just go drink at a hawker centre, then. Useless hag.
He yawned, pouring his drink as he sat quietly. Away from the humdrum, away from everything. Just him and his liquor.
A wonderful date to pregame for the date tomorrow.
“... Why am I calling it a date?”
“... Eh, close enough anyways. Besides, when I'm done with him, I might even take him on a proper date.”
For some reason, his drink turned a little sweeter after that passing comment that was too fragile to constitute a whole thought.
Perhaps the word, or the idea, had laid sweet on his tongue?
… Ah, he's passed out.