chapter 33: the best kisser

Bose POV:

It was Wednesday, and today was Ray's birthday. We had planned a surprise dinner for him at Montego's, the steakhouse he's been obsessed with for years. The place was exclusive, and you could only dine there if the owner personally invited you. Luckily, I knew the owner well enough to arrange an invitation. Ray was in for a surprise tonight—he knew we were going out for dinner, but he had no idea where.

As I made my way to work, the place was still buzzing from yesterday's fashion show. Crew members were cleaning up decorations, packing away the last remnants of the event. I couldn't help but feel a bit distracted, though. Last night, I'd wanted to text Chapa to see how things went with George, but I hesitated. She'd told me she could take the day off, but I was still curious about how she managed to convince him. I hoped she hadn't done anything drastic, like kissing him or worse to get that day off. The thought lingered in my mind as I entered the building.

Bridget approached me as I walked through the hall. "Andrew wants to see you," she said.

"Alright, thanks for telling me," I replied, heading toward his office.

When I got there, I leaned against the doorframe. "You wanted to see me?"

Andrew looked up from his desk, a quiet excitement in his eyes. "Yes, I found out how I got my powers."

I straightened up, intrigued. "Really? Tell me." I pulled up a chair and sat down, ready to listen.

He leaned forward, his voice tinged with both excitement and a hint of sadness. "Okay, so Mika went with me to see my mom, and she told me everything. Turns out, she had healing, absorbing, and transferring powers before I did. She transferred them to me."

I frowned slightly, trying to piece it together. "How did she get them? And why did she transfer them to you?"

Andrew took a deep breath. "She was the woman who helped Drex with his zappelin years ago. My mom worked at that airport back then. When the OMEGA weapon was fired, she was there, but she ran when things got bad. When she came back to clean up afterward, she absorbed the healing power from the weapon. But here's the thing—you can't heal yourself with them. My mom transferred the powers to me because she was pregnant with Lily at the time. Her ex-boyfriend—Lily's father—was abusing her. She was worried it could affect the pregnancy and hurt Lily, so she had me heal her. I didn't realize what I was doing; she probably just asked me to put my hand on her bruises."

His voice had grown quieter, the sadness in his tone more apparent. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. "I'm so sorry, Andrew. I'm glad he's not in her life anymore."

"Same," Andrew said, the tension in his voice easing just a bit. "But now, at least I know how I got these powers."

I nodded, trying to keep the mood light. "That's great. It must feel good to have some answers."

"Yeah, it does," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

I stood up, feeling like we'd both processed enough heavy stuff for one morning. "Well, I'm going to head to my office. Coffee at 3?"

"Definitely," Andrew replied with a nod.

I left his office, heading back to my own, but my mind was still on the day ahead. There was a lot to do, and I still needed to prepare for Ray's birthday dinner. But no matter how busy things got, I knew we'd make tonight special for Ray. And as for Chapa, I'd check in with her later to see how things really went. For now, I just hoped she was okay.

Chapa POV:

Today was a quiet day at the academy. Nothing exciting, just the usual routine of classes and painting sessions. Around 5 p.m., I gathered my things, headed to the elevator, and made my way down to the lobby. As the doors opened, I spotted Bose waiting for me. Tonight, we were heading to Swellview to celebrate Ray's birthday. It would be the first time in years that I'd get to see Ray and Schwoz again.

Bose had filled me in on how Ray was still married to Credenza and that they had a two-year-old daughter named Marabelle. Schwoz, on the other hand, had moved back to his birth country and was living with his family. Miles would teleport there with Mika sometimes to visit him. It was a bit surreal to think about how much had changed since the last time I saw them.

"Hey, you're here. Let's go," Bose said as he saw me approaching. I nodded and was about to head out when I heard giggling behind me. I turned around to see Hannah and Lisa, and I couldn't help but sigh.

"What's he doing with her?" Lisa whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

"Right," Hannah replied, with a smirk.

I felt my frustration rising and was about to confront them when Bose gently placed his arm in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. "Chapa, don't. They're not worth your time," he said calmly.

"But I'm not letting them talk shit about me," I argued, feeling the heat of anger in my chest.

"Let them. They know you're lucky and they're not," he said as we walked toward the car.

"Lucky with what?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"With me?" Bose responded, though his tone was more questioning.

"You don't consider yourself lucky to be with me?" he asked, a bit more seriously this time.

I chuckled. "I mean, I do, but 'lucky' isn't the right word. There's a reason why I'm with you, and it's not because I'm lucky, but because you like me, right?"

"Yes, of course. Sorry, that's not what I meant," he said, realizing how it sounded.

"It's fine, but you're right. I am very lucky to have you. And not because of your success or money," I said, feeling the need to clarify.

"So, because of my personality?" he asked.

"No, your looks," I teased again, grinning as I saw his reaction.

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment," Bose said as he started the car.

"Just kidding. It's because you let me sleep in your bed instead of mine," I added, enjoying how easily I could make him roll his eyes.

"I can't take you seriously," he muttered, but there was a smile playing on his lips.

"I know, and I love seeing you try," I laughed.

"So, where are we going to eat?" I asked, suddenly curious about our dinner plans.

"Haven't I told you? We're going to Montego's," Bose said casually.

I turned to him, my eyes wide with surprise. "You're kidding me, right? That steakhouse?"

"I'm not kidding, and yes, it's that steakhouse," he confirmed with a grin.

"How did you get an invitation?" I asked, still in disbelief.

"I know the owner. He's a business partner and a friend," Bose said, as if it were no big deal.

"Of course you do," I said, smiling at how effortlessly he seemed to make things happen. "We should go shopping tomorrow. I want to buy Sage that new cellphone and maybe something extra. So, you're coming with me."

"Thursday is actually a day I have to work till late, but sure, I can make time," Bose said, always so accommodating.

"You're the best," I said, genuinely appreciating how he always found a way to make things work.

The academy had a pretty strict schedule. We had to be there by 9 a.m., and while we could leave after 4 p.m., I usually stayed as long as possible to work on my paintings. Bose knew this and respected how serious I was about my art, which was just one of the many reasons I valued our relationship so much. As we drove toward Swellview, I couldn't help but feel excited about seeing Ray and Schwoz again.

Bose POV:

Chapa and I entered the restaurant, greeted by the familiar ambiance of Montego's. The place was warm and welcoming, filled with the mouthwatering scent of sizzling steaks and rich Italian sauces. As soon as we stepped inside, I spotted Santino, a waiter I knew well from my many visits here. I'd often come with my mom and stepfather, and over time, I'd gotten close with the owner, Antonio. Antonio liked me, partly because he was Italian and, according to my mom, my birth dad was Italian too.

"Ciao, Bose! How's it going?" Santino asked, his Italian accent thick and melodic.

"I'm fine. How are you?" I responded, genuinely happy to see him.

"Sono fantastico! Are you having dinner with your amore?" he teased, making me laugh.

"No, I mean sì, but we're dining with our old capo because it's his birthday today. Four more people will join us," I explained with a smile.

"How thoughtful. So, may I ask, what's your name?" Santino turned to Chapa, extending a hand.

"Of course, I'm Chapa. Nice to meet you," she said, shaking his hand.

"Likewise," Santino said, then leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Amico, she's a very beautiful signora, non perderla (don't lose her)."

I smiled, appreciating the compliment. "Don't worry, I won't."

"Good. Now, I won't take any more of your time. I'll walk you to your table. Six people, right, amico?" Santino confirmed.

"Yes," I nodded.

He led us to a large table set for six. "Do you want to order already, or should I wait for the others?" Santino asked.

"We'll have some water, per favore," I said.

"Of course, I'll bring it in a minute," he replied and walked away.

"I didn't know you still speak Italian," Chapa said, surprised.

"Yeah, I always kept speaking it. Ever since my mom told me my birth dad was Italian, I decided to learn it," I explained.

"Oh, I didn't know. Now that I think about it, you do look Italian," Chapa said, scanning me with a thoughtful expression.

"I remember you were very impressed when you heard me speaking fluent Italian for the first time. You were swooning," I teased.

"Yes, I was impressed because you were so uneducated and not smart at all. How was I supposed to believe you could speak fluent Italian but couldn't remember how to turn on your own shower, so you had to call me for instructions? And I was definitely not swooning," she shot back.

"You were," I whispered, grinning.

"I wasn't!" Chapa hissed back quietly.

"A little bit," I said innocently. She sighs.

"So, Miles and Mika will be teleporting Ray here, right? As a surprise?" Chapa asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, they'll be here in like 10 minutes," I said, glancing at the clock.

Just then, we saw Schwoz making his way to our table. "Schwoz! It's so good to see you. How are you?" I said, standing to hug him.

"Hi, Bosey! I'm fine, and you?" Schwoz asked, returning the hug.

"I'm great," I said, genuinely happy to see him.

"Ohh! Chapa, long time no see. How are you?" Schwoz asked, taking a seat at the table.

"I'm good, thanks," Chapa replied with a smile.

"So, what are you guys going to give Ray?" Schwoz asked excitedly.

"We all have a gift for him. Mika will bring it with her. It's a sword that's like 2,000 years old," I said.

"That's so cool! Will Credenza come too?" Schwoz asked.

"No, I don't think so. She had to stay with Marabelle," I said.

"Oh yeah, of course," Schwoz nodded.

Just then, Miles appeared with Mika, who was guiding a blindfolded Ray into the restaurant. When they took off his blindfold, Ray nearly screamed in delight.

"Shut up, you guys arranged dinner at Montego's? Am I in heaven?" Ray exclaimed, looking around in amazement. Then he spotted Chapa. "Chapa! Haven't seen you in a long time."

"Right. I heard you're a father now," Chapa said with a grin.

"Sure am. I love my wife and baby girl," Ray said proudly.

"So, after we order, I want my presents!" Ray added, bouncing with excitement.

"Whoa, hold on, tiger. I still have to get your gift out of my car. We'll give it to you after dinner," Mika said, trying to calm him down.

"Fine," Ray sighed, but his excitement was palpable. "But now I want to order some good steak."

Later that night, as we were all chatting and catching up, Ray suddenly blurted out, "So, are you guys married yet?"

Everyone sighed.

"Ray, we're only in our early 20s," Miles said, rolling his eyes.

"Still, you can be married at this age," Ray insisted.

"Girlfriends? Boyfriends then?" Ray asked, not letting it go.

"I got a girlfriend. We've been dating for two years now, but we barely see each other, and I don't think we'll stay together for much longer," Miles admitted.

"Is she a mom?" Ray asked, as if that were the most important criteria.

"No, Ray, what?" Miles replied, utterly confused.

"If she's not a mom, she can't be a good girlfriend," Ray declared confidently.

"Oh, and Credenza was a good girlfriend when she tried to destroy the world and kill you?" Mika shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"We had some complicated issues in our relationship, but we solved them," Ray said defensively, making everyone laugh and sigh at the same time.

"And you, Chapa, what have you been up to?" Ray asked, turning to her.

"I'm now taking art classes at Bose's company, and I'm working for George Davis," she said.

"The George Davis? You got lucky," Schwoz said, clearly impressed.

"Yeah, I'm very happy," Chapa said with a nod.

"Bose, do you already have a girlfriend?" Ray asked, turning his attention to me.

"Uh... No, no I don't," I stammered, unsure of what Chapa wanted me to say.

"Oh, come on! You're famous all over America and you've become very successful. I can't believe you don't have a girlfriend. Is she a famous actress? Musician? Influencer, maybe?" Ray pressed on.

"Actually, it's me," Chapa stepped in, finally putting an end to Ray's relentless questioning.

Chapa just told Ray and Schwoz she was my girlfriend? I actually never heard her say it out loud before, and it felt good. The table went silent, and suddenly Ray started laughing.

"No way? You two? Bose, if you can charm Chapa, you can charm anyone," Ray said, still laughing.

"You better keep your mouth shut before giving him more ideas," Chapa shot back, giving Ray a look that could kill.

"I'll stop, sorry," Ray said, grinning innocently.

"Oh, come on. Bosey wouldn't cheat on you, would he?" Schwoz chimed in.

"Of course not. I couldn't imagine dating someone other than Chapa," I said, feeling a bit defensive but sincere.

"What about that alien? Glerp?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Dude, Glerp is an alien, and she turns him into a grandpa," Miles interjected, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, Bose, that's not a good option. Just date a mom," Ray advised, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Ray, what's wrong with you?" Mika said, laughing.

Ray leaned in closer to me and whispered, "Was Glerp a good kisser, though?"

I looked at him, confused, not sure if he was being serious or just Ray. Chapa turned to me, and I could tell she wasn't amused.

"Ray, do you want your gift?" Mika stepped in, saving me from the awkward moment.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Ray said, practically bouncing in his seat with excitement.

"Alright, I'll grab it out of my car," Mika said, leaving the table. Once she returned, Ray immediately stood up and grabbed his gift. He ripped off the wrapping paper, and his jaw dropped when he saw what was inside.

"No way, guys. This is amazing," he said, holding the ancient sword in his hands, his eyes wide with awe.

"Just be careful with your daughter around," Miles warned.

"Yeah, sure," Ray said, all his attention on the sword.

As everyone grabbed their stuff and I paid the bill, we headed outside to say our goodbyes. Then Chapa and I got into the car together, sitting in silence for a moment.

"Sorry for Ray," I said, breaking the silence.

"Don't be. It's Ray, you know what he's like," she said with a smile.

"But... Who was the best kisser you ever had? Me or Glerp?" she asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "I also kissed Kennedy," I teased.

"I hate you," she said, turning away from me.

"Chapa, from all the girls I've ever kissed, you were the best," I said, my tone more serious now.

"I doubt it," she said, still sounding irritated.

"You are, don't doubt it," I said softly.

"Sure," she replied, not sounding convinced.

We arrived at her apartment, and I got out of the car. We stood still for a moment in front of the car, the night air cool around us.

"Now you tell me, who was the best kisser, me or Scar?" I asked, a little nervous about her answer.

"Scar wasn't a good kisser," she said flatly, turning to head towards her apartment.

"Just wait," I said, grabbing her arm gently and pulling her in for a kiss. This one was different—longer, softer, more intense. When we finally pulled apart, she just stared at me for what felt like forever, not saying a word.

"You're even worse," she finally said, but there was a smile on her face as she turned and walked away.

I smiled too, watching her go. Her words might have stung a little, but that smile of hers told me she didn't mean them—at least, I hoped she didn't.