Buzz

* X x * x * x * Chapter 25 * x * x * x X*

The ride went on smoothly but Zach still hasn't said a word and it worries Jeremy who tried his best to focus on the road.

Kaye on the other hand kept on glancing absentmindedly outside. Her friend Ellie is right beside Kaye while Arthur sat in the front seat and the others went to the place on their own.

"So, want to talk about it?" Jeremy started as the car stopped at a red light.

Zach sighed and decided to keep her silence, her sights glued on the outside of the car.

Jeremy briefly glanced at his friend and tried to think of something that would make her talk.

"I saw you hugging her oh so tight." Jeremy blinked twice and stepped on the gas when the stoplight changed to green.

I thought you were not planning on doing anything?" Jeremy carefully asked and wait for Zach's reaction.

Zach held her breath and heaved another sigh. "It's not like that. I don't really know what happened."

Jeremy pondered for a moment and decided to pry further. "Walk me through it."

Zach pursed her lips and finally turned to her best friend.

Zach finally voiced out after a minute of brooding. "I'm not sure. All I know is when I opened my eyes, I thought I saw mom."

Jeremy's brows furrowed in confusion. He wasn't expecting this answer at all.

"Before I knew it, I was already clutching the hell out of her." Zach chuckled ruefully, "Can you believe that?"

Jeremy sighed, "Well, it happens. Maybe you just miss your mom so much, actually, everyone does."

"Yeah." Zach nodded and her eyes traveled back outside the car looking at nothing in particular.

It's been years but she could still hear the sweet voice of her mom, not to mention she misses her playing the piano so much.

It took almost half an hour's drive and they were the last to arrive at the resto-bar where there were already all of Team A's creative team with the addition of the seven people from Jeremy's team. Kaye was sat out at the table where the newbies were seated.

Zach and Jeremy sat with Arthur on the table beside them. Zach discreetly sat on a seat with a clear view of Kaye's current sitting.

After settling down, Jeremy yelled and grabbed everyone's attention, "I know it's been a couple of months but once again, we congratulate you guys on getting this far without handing in your resignation."

Everyone laughed at his remark. It has been indeed a hell of a culture shock for Kaye and all of the new hires share the same sentiment including those from Jeremy's team.

"This dinner is on us so don't hesitate to order anything. You can go wild with the drinks but please be responsible. Alright, people?"

The two tables roared in his speech. Most of them are coming from the development team. The seat arrangement was scrambled up with both teams mixed together.

As soon as the cheers died down, three waiters came and put food and drinks on the table. Jeremy looked at Arthur, a little amused, "You ordered these?"

Arthur just smiled and nodded sassily with a raised brow.

"Phua! The first set is on Arthur as he seemed to have ordered already." He said to everyone's laughter.

"You don't think I can?" Arthur smirked at him. He can actually pay for the first round but he knows that Jeremy won't allow it so he played along.

"Our departments may have the youngest leaders but what I can assure you people is that we are the most competent and they are the best leaders we can ask for!" Arthur raised his beer mug.

"Cheers, everyone." Jeremy nudged Zach who obviously had her thoughts inhabited by something else. She raised her beer mug and quietly said, "Yeah, cheers."

J shook his head and said, "What would happen to you wallflowers if we didn't crash this party? HAHAHAH!" Since their bosses are close, both teams know each other and everyone just laughed at his comment.

Everyone started eating and having fun with loud music playing inside the bar while Z just mindlessly eats her own food. She looked at Kaye that was pretty occupied by all the men that flocked around her asking personal questions.

She suddenly forgot all about why she was feeling gloomy and instead worried for her.

Time went by like a flash and the fourth set of drinks came and it was not beer. She frowned at the tequila bottle and shot glasses she and the waiter put on the newbies' table.

They've already had a lot of beers. She can hold her liquor so she's not worried about herself but she's not sure about the newbies, especially Kaye.

"Hey, why aren't you drinking?'' J nudged Zach, a little tipsy already.

"I am drinking. Just taking it slow because I'm trying to be responsible for my team. Just look at them." Some have already passed out while others are still gobbling their beers and having tequila bottoms up.

.

"Forget about them and just chill for once. Those idiots are old enough to care for themselves." He hands her a shot of tequila. "Here. No one's gonna blame you for having fun."

She accepted the glass and tried to brush off everything that has been on her mind and forget about it all for today.

Zach glanced at Kaye who happened to look at her at the same time holding her own shot of tequila. She raised the glass to her while the other did the same.

Zach swished the tequila around her mouth before swallowing while Kaye drank the whole shot in one gulp causing her to make a face as she felt the burning sensation down her throat.

They both laughed at their reactions. She smiled inwardly thinking how she is still pretty while making that sour face.

This, however, was not left unseen by the three people that know what's going on with them. Jeremy and Arthur looked at each other before blurting out, "Ugh~"

A few better hours later, everyone's energy has died down and almost all of them are pretty much drunk. Zach peeked at Kaye again only to find that she was also looking at her with her chin resting on her left hand with a smile that reached her half-closed eyes.

Z lost count of how many shots she's had but she knows that Kaye just finished her fourth. She's even amazed by how she can hold her liquor and maintain her gracefulness.

Over the duration of the evening, she watched how people from the development team tried their best to talk to her. She liked it when Kaye denied them attention but was irked when she smiled at them.

She enjoyed every bit of the night staring at the girl. Kaye would sometimes look in her direction which makes her turn her eyes away but when she brings it back, Kaye's eyes are always still with her, often catching her guilty of staring.

Kaye would just smile every time, making the bitter taste of her drinks taste as sweet as chocolate.

"I think that's enough, guys. No one orders more." She told them but she heard a collective drunk grunt of disagreements as a reply.

"No!"

"It's still early!"

"With all due respect, hiccup!"

"No way!" She heard most of the opposing reactions are from J's team.

"What a bunch of idiots." She rolled her eyes at them.

She dialed David, Scott's on-call driver, who had been waiting for her call. "Hey, David we're ready to go." She told the driver who answered.

"I'll be there in a few. I'm just around the block." She heard him reply and continued, "Thanks, David."

She nudged Jeremy who had his head slumped on the table, shaking her head at her friend who had a bit too much to drink.

"Hey, you've really done it. It's been a while since I've seen you this drunk." She chuckled.

J groaned and grimaced at her playfully, "I'm not drunk. Sleepy is all. I didn't get enough sleep last night~."

"Whatever, we're going in a few. David's on the way." She told him and he just went back to bussing the table with his cheeks.

She stood up and walked behind Kaye and Felicity. "We're about to head out and I would like it if you guys could go home as well. Is there someone picking you guys up?"

She suddenly felt her head buzz and had to hold onto the table to support herself. She extended her arm in front, slightly bumping her chest to Kaye's back, almost as if she was hugging her from behind.

Kaye's breath hitched and blinked twice. She didn't expect what has transpired. The raven-haired girl's profile was too close for comfort, but she dared not complain. She could easily close the distance and give her a peck on the cheek but she resisted doing so.