Drunk over Coffee III
Buttercup nodded after her sister reminded her of their family dinner the coming weekend. The event marketing of her sister's wine company, 'A Splash of Red', had just ended. Bubbles was managing the after-event while Blossom decided to retire for the evening. The day was ending but Buttercup's life was yet to begin. Mounting her Triumph, the Utonium headed to her club across the city.
Citiesville was still a great adjustment. Compared to her sisters, it has been a year since she was back at the country. Blossom was the first to return after their father introduced his girlfriend. Life in Japan never did become Blossom's cup of tea. So, she returned and helped the professor and Emma, with kind woman's vineyard by the countryside.
Finishing her Bachelor's, Bubbles followed suit. A 24-year old woman she may be but she would always be a baby to their father's eyes. Plus, Emma loved having the triplets around. Buttercup, on the other hand, needed to handle some loose ends before it was her turn. Parting with their sister, Bliss, was hard but her life was there besides it wasn't too hard to see her during the holidays.
She parked her bike at her designated spot before entering the club. The music was booming through the speakers as she entered the place. Dim lights illuminated the posh little club, save for the stage light and disco ball. Buttercup accommodated herself to the scent of alcohol and smoke infused in the air. The night was still starting but the place was brimming with intoxicated individuals. Meandering through the crowd, Buttercup was brushing against those who were dancing. Some of the regulars howled as they noticed their favorite vocalist.
"Harmoni! Harmoni!" They chanted.
The dj lowered the music and waited for Buttercup to climb the stage.
"What's up Citiesville!" Buttercup roared through the microphone.
The crowd went wild and cheered her stage name. "Harmoni!"
Buttercup smiled and when the beat started, she stomped her feet.
"And the bass keeps runnin', runnin' and runnin', runnin'" Buttercup began.
"And runnin', runnin' and runnin', runnin' and runnin', runnin'
And runnin', runnin' and runnin', runnin, and runnin', runnin'
And" the crowd continued.
"In this context, there's no disrespect
So when I bust my rhyme, you
We got five minutes for us to disconnect
From all intellect, collect the rhythm effect
To lose your inhibition follow your intuition
Free your inner soul and break away from tradition
'Cause when we be out, girlies pull they weave out
You wouldn't believe how, we wow shit out
Burn it 'til it's burned out, turn it 'til it's turned out
Act up from north, west, east, south"
"Everybody!" Buttercup sang.
"Yeah!" The crowd replied.
"Everybody!"
"Yeah!"
"Just get into it."
"Yeah!"
"Get it started, get it started."
"Yeah!"
"Let's get it started!"
"Ha!"
"Let's get it started!"
"In here!"
The crowd sang along with Buttercup and once the song was over, Buttercup began to sing 'Just Dance'. The night was getting wilder by the minute. The crowd danced, sang, and cheered.
"Great performance as always." Bell, a friend of the Utonium sisters, handed Buttercup a shot of tequila after the vocalist left the stage and headed to the VIP section.
"Never a dull moment." Buttercup raised the glass for a toast before downing the drink. She relished at the burning sensation in her throat.
Bell finished hers and pushed the empty glasses to the bartender before asking a double. She watched the drink get prepared as Buttercup scanned the nightclub.
"Harmoni, huh?"
Her attention was caught by the man who approached them. It was a surprise for the dark-haired woman to see the man clad in a dark suit. Buttercup's unmistakable shock was voiced out by her companion.
"Brodin Jojo." Bell gasped at the public figure.
"Brodin? Haven't heard that in a while." Her words danced with amusement as she gave the man a once-over.
The guy flashed her his infamous smirk. She would have swooned if she didn't know the man but alas, a memory of her sisters and herself wrapping him in a princess dress when they were reaching the early years of puberty was a memory hard to forget.
"It's so nice to see you! Last I've heard, you were in England steering the maternal concierge." Buttercup gave him a brief hug.
"It was a dying business but it had the resources for a conceivable future." His raspy voice ignited a heat, Buttercup would later blame onto the alcohol.
He cleared his throat and loosened his tie. His every move followed by green eyes. Boomer has always been easy on the eyes even Buttercup would not deny that. How the years have blessed him. Buttercup never missed a public appearance of the man. Vogue had headlined the blonde and even GQ could not miss the chance to feature him in their quarterly.
"Ahem." Bell cleared her throat.
She gave the Utonium a knowing look before stretching her arm forward.
"I'm Bell. It's nice to meet you Mr. Jojo." She introduced.
"Brodin is fine." Boomer shook her hand.
"Yet I prefer Boomer." Buttercup teased.
"Don't worry, love. That's exclusive." He leaned as to battle the blasting sound of the nightclub's music.
The fine scent of bergamot and amberwood flooded Buttercup's senses as he leaned close. The heat rose to her cheeks, the obvious tinge masked by the dim lights of the place. A shaky breath escaped her lips. It brushed against Boomer's neck, his eyes darting towards his estranged paramour. Had the feelings been mutual she would have been.
His eyes were dark with desire but the unassuming woman thought none of it. Buttercup averted her gaze as the bartender placed two drinks beside the ladies' drinks which Boomer picked up.
"I'll be sure to catch up." He spoke to Buttercup's ear, catching the vocalist off guard thrice that evening.
"Cheers!" He turned to Bell before spinning on his heel and leaving.
"White Russian." Buttercup pulse was raising under her skin.
The bartender hesitated to prepare the coffee blended cocktail. Bell laughed and gestured the bartender that it was fine.
"You didn't tell me you were friends with Brodin Jojo!" Bell exclaimed.
"It's Boomer. Brodin is too unfamiliar. Yeah, I grew up with them." Her friend replied.
The Utonium took her seat next to Bell and tried to calm her nerves. She never expected that a reunion with one of the Jojo's would feel like this. It felt familiar yet not. She was not certain she would ever meet them.
Buttercup's drink came but Bell stopped her before she could take a sip.
"Okay, calm down. I have never seen you this bothered by a guy." She urged but Bell knew he was not just a guy.
"Fine. You're lucky I drove my way here." Bell watched as Buttercup drank the cocktail.
She turned to her own drink and shrugged before drinking the two shots of tequila.
"I think I'm gonna puke." Buttercup slurred. She untangled herself from Bell's hold and lurched at the bush by the parking area. Bell cringed as she watched her friend hurl. Deciding to avoid the display, the ash blonde brought her eyes elsewhere. A mischievous grin graced her features as she saw a familiar face. She glanced at Buttercup, she was done throwing up but the vocalist was passed out drunk.
"Brodin!" She called the blonde's attention.
The hotelier stopped from entering his car. Once he saw Buttercup seated on the ground, he was quick to approach. He assessed Buttercup's condition. She reeked of alcohol but that familiar wildflower scent still lingered and danced under the blonde's nostrils. She squirmed under his hold and she was warm. Her cheeks were scarlet from the influence of the whatever alcohol she nursed that night. He carried her in his arms and noted how she perfectly fitted in his embrace.
"How much did she drink?" Boomer asked.
"Two glasses of cocktail." Bell replied.
"I never knew she was a lightweight." Boomer mumbled as he looked at Buttercup's sleeping face.
He faced their sober companion. "Where is she staying?"
"Barlowe vineyard."
"Vineyard? Outside the city?"
Bell nodded her head. "Long way from here."
After seeing the doubt on his face, Bell raised her hands. "I did not expect her to get drunk. Why did she even get drunk? She has a nightclub to manage." She accused.
"She wasn't there to perform?"
"That too! She owns the place." Bell berated.
Bell went on and continued throwing complaints. It has giving Boomer a headache so he told her to stop.
"How about you?" He asked.
"I'm staying with my boyfriend." Was her quick response.
Boomer released a sigh. "I'll take her to my place. Make sure to drive safe."
"Uh-huh." Bell nodded her head and watched them walk away.
"Hey! The only reason I trust you is because you're famous. Cross the line and I'll let the media know." Bell warned.
But who was she fooling. The way he cared for her friend and the way Buttercup cried her heart out after one glass of coffee cocktail. It was Bell's incitement that made Buttercup drink what was more than necessary. She was friends with the Utoniums but she never knew anything about Brodin and that he has brothers and one of them was Bubbles' ex. The tea was just too good to decline. Plus, who knew Buttercup had a crush on one of the world's renowned bachelors. After she learned about Brick and Bubbles' relationship, she just lost hope and gave on her feelings.
You're gonna thank me later. Was Bell's message to Buttercup after she pressed the send icon.
He laid Buttercup on his bed after reaching the hotel. He wasn't even certain it was her, the first time he saw her. It was only after she stood on the stage did he truly recognize that it was her. Blossom and Bubbles were the only ones he saw four years ago. He stared at Buttercup a little longer before fatigue caught up to him.
He undressed himself and entered the shower. His flight was bound the coming day. His only agenda was at Townsville, it was his friend's pestering that brought him to Black Diamond. He almost wanted to thank the bastard for his serendipitous encounter with Buttercup but he would not bother.
It was cold under the shower. He hated the cold, it always reminded him of that incident six years ago. It always came back to him. The cold afternoon brought by the afternoon breeze. The pain he saw in Buttercup's eyes. She donned a firm resolve, proving them wrong but he saw through her. He always saw her. And she was broken, betrayed, and hurt.
It hurt him tenfold, watching her walk away with those emotions weighing on her shoulders. Plagued with these memories, he turned the valve to relieve him from the cold.
Buttercup scurried to the bathroom and discarded another portion of her dinner down the drain. Her head was pounding but her senses were still at work. She tasted the bile and moved to the sink to wash her mouth. She lifted her head at her reflection and she was a mess. Cupping a handful of water, she washed her face. The cold water made her gain an ounce of her rationality. It was then when she realized, she was not alone. Someone was taking a shower. She staggered away to the door but stopped when she noticed the thick steam from the shower. Adrenaline kicked in and she entered the shower. Buttercup pulled Boomer away from the scalding shower and they both fell to the tiled floor. The fall shook the Utonium's aching head and she groaned.
"Buttercup?! Are you okay?" Boomer held her head and his eyes searched for any injury.
She nodded her head but refused to open her eyes. The light was already bright underneath closed lids, she knew opening her eyes would aggravate the headache. She sat up and began to stand.
"Let me help you." Boomer supported her up.
"No, finish what you were doing but please try not to burn yourself." Buttercup began to walk but slipped on her first step.
Boomer steadied her, pulling her against his naked form. The contact was the least of her worries. Buttercup was troubled with the ensuing hangover. The Utonium slipped out of his grasp. She thanked him and began to walk out with careful steps.
Boomer got out of the shower five minutes later and found Buttercup already tucked under the sheets. The blonde grumbled at himself before slipping into a pair of sweatpants and a cotton shirt. He joined his childhood friend under the covers and lulled himself to sleep.
Despite the long night, Boomer was up before the sun. The familiar feeling of naked body pressed against him greeted the Jojo. He tried to remember which woman it was this time and stilled when he realized it was Buttercup. His eyes were wide open but he could not dare look at her. It was not necessary, his peripheral offered enough field of vision. He motioned to slide off the bed but she moved. His body was quick to react from the soft skin that rubbed against his arm. For f*ck's sake! He was acting like a virgin.
Buttercup's leg was propped above his and there was only one way he could think of to rid himself from the mattress. He watched her as he rolled her over, mindful of any signs that indicated she would wake up. Buttercup was now under him and his position gave him a view of her exposed body. He cursed himself. His blood ran cold after he watched Buttercup open her eyes.
Buttercup smiled and pulled him to a kiss. Boomer was paralyzed for a split second before he responded to her kisses. He pressed his body against her but paradise felt too short. Buttercup stopped and when he opened his eyes, she was back dwelling dreamland.
He couldn't help it but chuckle. Boomer got off the bed and called room service. The Jojo was treading on dangerous waters and he had to withdraw. The Utoniums were always a poison to them. While Butch was discreet, Boomer knew about his affairs with Blossom. After Bubbles left, Brick seemed detached to the world. And now, he was at the same spot as his brothers were back when they were younger. He would deny it to himself but he always was. A point for Boomer Jojo for being the only one with most constraint among the trio. Or maybe he lost, he never got acquainted with the person he wanted the most.
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