Groovy jazz music is Wyn's favourite type of music. He enjoys the soft, gentle melodies and the catchy, poppy sounds that blend together to make him feel cool yet composed. It is a genre of music that quelled his anxiousness yet did not bore him, and he loves listening to it wherever he goes.
It was these type of groovy jazz music that tickled Wyn's ear and woke him up this morning. His eyes fluttered open groggily. He found himself seated on a high chair, his head leaning against his arm on the bar table. He pulled himself up slowly, yawned and realised that he was at McDonie's, the most popular pub in Springton.
"Finally awake?" Eric, a tall and handsome bartender with curly blonde hair and big, blue eyes smiled at Wyn.
Wyn looked at Eric, who was standing behind the bar table polishing a wine glass.
"What time is it?" Wyn yawned again.
"Just a little after six," Eric said. "You've been knocked out since 3am. How are you feeling?"
Wyn cleared his throat hoarsely. "Parched. Give me a gin and tonic."
"Coming right up."
"Gin and tonic," Eric placed the dainty little drink on a coaster in front of Wyn. "Your fans were queuing outside in the morning when I came to switch shifts with Jeff," Eric said. "They were shouting and screaming for you. Oh, and there was the paparazzi too. They were clicking away with their cameras despite the blinds covering our glass windows."
"It's not a surprise." Wyn groaned as he took a sip of the alcoholic drink.
The reporters of Springton and Wyn's dedicated fans had been coming at him for the past few months. Ever since he announced an indefinite hiatus of his popular web comic series Fairytale Town, everyone in Springton had fixated their eyes on Wyn. Fans wanted to know why the series was going on a hiatus, and they grew mad and frenzied after Declan rejected all interviews and talks with anyone at all. Wyn, who had already been quiet and private in divulging information to the public, became even more secluded and sheltered after announcing the hiatus of his web series. Fans and reporters followed Wyn, camped outside his mansion and bombarded him with ridiculous questions with every step he took outside. The invasion of privacy caused Wyn to move into a smaller townhouse to hide from the public, and for several months, he did not leave the comfort of his new home. He disappeared off the face of the city until a few weeks ago, when Wyn's collection of wines ran out and he decided that he needed a fix from a pub outside. His reappearance in Springton sparked many lengthy discussions and gossip videos in the media, and reporters and fans returned to stalking Wyn and his every move. To counter them, Wyn had rented McDonie's, the pub in Springton for wine connoisseurs, and he has been practically living there ever since.
"You have a week left until the month is up," Eric said. "When that time comes, McDonie's will be reopened to the public and you will have to return home."
Wyn finished the gin and tonic in one mouth and passed the whiskey glass which contained his drink to Eric.
"I'll worry about it when the time comes," Wyn said. "Give me another round."
As Eric made another gin and tonic for Wyn, a sharp rap on the glass door of McDonie's caused them both to turn towards the blinded door.
"I'll handle it," Eric ceased his work at hand and made his way towards the door. As Eric opened the door slightly to dismiss whoever was outside, Wyn reached behind the bar and grabbed the half-mixed gin and tonic that Eric was working on. Without mixing the drink, Wyn downed it in one mouth, desperate for the alcohol to wipe away the pain in his heart.
"You're drinking?" An all too familiar voice gasped as the door to the pub clicked shut.
Wyn turned towards the uninvited guest in the pub with a look of indifference.
"Robin."
"Nice to see you too, Wyn," Robin, a short and plump male with thick, black volumized hair and a thin beard running down the sides of his face towards his chin, settled down into the high chair next to Wyn's.
"I booked this entire pub for myself," Wyn looked at Eric. "No one else is supposed to enter this place."
"But it's your publisher," Eric said. "I saw you guys on television last time. I thought…"
"Give the poor man a break, Wyn," Robin interjected. "Hey, ignore him," Robin said to Eric. "Give me a water, please."
"What are you doing here, Robin?" Wyn groaned.
"You mean, what am I doing here after searching for you for the past month?" Robin raised his eyebrows. "No, for the past three months? Are you really asking me that question, Wyn? I'm worried about you!"
"You don't have to be," Wyn said dryly.
Robin scoffed. "Clearly I do. You're drinking before the sun is even up."
"Go away, Robin."
"Your water," Eric placed a glass of lime water on a coaster next to Robin.
"Thank you, cutie," Robin smiled at Eric before turning to Wyn. "And no. You've been hiding from everyone for far too long and you haven't been visiting your psychiatrist, hence your state of mind now. You need help, Wyn."
"I don't need therapy," Wyn turned to look at Robin. "I just want to drink."
"Nuh uh," Robin said. "You're coming with me today. I'm going to get you to visit your psychiatrist today. Maybe she could knock some sense into you."
"What makes you think I will do what you say?"
"Because if you don't, I'm going to cancel your contract with the company on grounds that you disappeared without notice," Robin said. "And you know what that means. Your house will be repossessed."
"Take the mansion," Wyn spoke in a relaxed manner. "I don't want it."
"And your rights to Fairytale Town will be cancelled. You will no longer hold the copyright to the story, and our company will be the sole copyright holder of the franchise."
Wyn glowered at Robin. "You can't do that. I'm the author and the artist. I drew every single character and wrote every single dialogue in that story."
"Sure I can," Robin smirked. "It's in your contract."
Wyn shook his head in disbelief. "No…"
"So, are you going to come with me today or not?" Robin simpered, looking pleased with himself.
Wyn sighed in irritation. "Fine. Let's go."