chapter 34: breathless

Chapa POV:

Today, Bose and I were supposed to go shopping. At 3 p.m., I took a break from the academy and waited for him in the lobby. After ten minutes, he finally appeared, practically running toward me.

"I'm so sorry, my meeting got delayed," he explained, looking genuinely apologetic.

"You should never let a woman wait, nor annoy her by telling her all the women you've kissed," I replied, half-joking but with a hint of seriousness.

"Are you still mad at me?" Bose asked, concerned.

"Maybe," I answered, not wanting to fully admit how much his teasing had bothered me. It wasn't that I was mad—I just couldn't stop wondering if he really thought I was the best kisser or if he was just saying it to keep me happy.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" he asked, his tone softening.

"Hmm... let me drive," I said, my mood perking up at the thought.

"Only if you drive legally and carefully," he warned, trying to sound serious but with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Okay..." I sighed, pretending to be disappointed, but I couldn't hide my excitement as he handed me the keys and we headed to his car.

As we drove towards the city center, Bose said, "With your new salary and the 60k from your painting... can't you get your driver's license and buy a car?"

"Yeah, that's what I want to do. But I'd rather buy a motorbike!" I said, picturing myself riding through town on something fast and sleek.

"Then you should take extra motor lessons," Bose suggested.

"Yeah, I'm looking for some," I replied.

"I know a friend who was a professional motorbike rider. He also teaches people to ride. I can ask him if he can give you lessons?" Bose offered.

"Really? That'd be great!" I said, feeling a surge of excitement.

"Alright, I'll text him later," Bose said, keeping his eyes on the road.

We arrived at the city center, and I immediately started eyeing the shops. I was thinking about getting something extra for Sage. I'd already ordered the cellphone she wanted, but I wanted to find something special to go with it. Bose and I went into several stores. He bought a few things for work and a necklace for his mother. In almost every store, someone recognized him. It was a little annoying, but I was used to it by now.

As I was admiring some beautiful jewelry in an expensive store, Bose called me over. "Here, put this on," he said, standing behind me to put a necklace around my neck.

"It's so beautiful on you," he said, his gaze fixed on my reflection in the mirror.

The necklace was stunning—a gold chain with diamonds embedded in it. In the middle was a small gold key and a heart, both sparkling with more diamonds.

"This one is so pretty," I said, my fingers lightly touching the pendant. But then I noticed the price tag—$880. "That's just too much," I told Bose, feeling a bit disappointed.

"You can buy it for me though, to prove I'm the best kisser," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Chapa..." Bose said, trailing off.

"That says a lot," I replied, still teasing but also half-serious. The necklace really was perfect, but I couldn't justify spending that much on myself.

I continued looking through the jewelry until I found a bracelet that was perfect for Sage—gold with an 'S' and her birth flower. It was $178, and I bought it without hesitation.

"So you're gonna buy an expensive bracelet for your little sister but not an expensive necklace for yourself?" Bose asked, clearly puzzled.

"Yeah, she deserves it more. Besides, it's her birthday," I explained.

"Fair enough. Do you mind if we stop by Celia's? Andrew should be visiting our stores today, and I'd like to check in," Bose asked.

I sighed. "Yeah, sure." I wasn't thrilled about it, but I didn't want to be difficult. Plus, I had an idea. Andrew was close to Bose—maybe I could ask him to find out who Bose really thought was the best kisser.

As soon as we walked into Celia's, I felt the attention shift to us. A group of girls immediately ran up to Bose, gushing over him. It was a little overwhelming, so I slipped away and asked an employee if Andrew was around. She directed me to the basement kitchen.

When I walked in, Andrew was sitting there with another employee, sipping coffee. "Hey, Chapa. What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised.

"Can he go?" I asked, pointing to the employee.

"Dean, could you give us a minute?" Andrew asked politely.

"Yeah, of course," Dean replied, leaving us alone.

"Okay, so you're best friends with Bose, right?" I asked, sitting down across from him.

"Uh, yeah," Andrew replied, looking curious.

"Is Bose honest and open with you?" I asked, trying to gauge how much he knew.

"Sometimes, yes. Where is this going?" Andrew asked, starting to smile.

"Look, I need you to ask him who was the best kisser he ever had," I said, feeling a bit ridiculous but needing to know.

"Why?" Andrew asked, laughing.

"Because I doubt if it's me," I admitted.

"You seriously worry about that? Chapa, there are bigger problems in the world," Andrew said, still laughing.

"This is currently my biggest problem. And fine, if it's not me, but he's not being honest with me, and I know it," I insisted.

"Chapa!" Andrew said loudly, trying to get my attention.

"What?" I asked, feeling a little defensive.

"You are the best kisser he's ever had," Andrew said calmly.

"You're just saying that so you don't have to ask him and tell me afterward," I concluded.

"No. He already told me before," Andrew said, smiling.

"Told you what?" I asked, intrigued.

"When you two kissed, a couple of times, and I found out about you two, I asked him if you were a good kisser," Andrew explained.

"What? Why would you care?" I asked, a bit taken aback.

"It's just something guys talk about, okay?" Andrew said, shrugging.

"Well, what was his answer?" I pressed.

"Ask him yourself," Andrew replied, trying to dodge the question.

"Why won't you tell me?" I asked, getting frustrated.

"Because it was some sort of weird speech the way he described it. But he said he didn't even dare to compare it to other kisses. He said your kisses didn't feel like kisses but like love. After that, he couldn't stop thinking about seeing you again and kissing you," Andrew said, finally giving me the answer I didn't expect.

"Oh," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me.

"Yeah, you should probably talk to him," Andrew suggested.

"Why?" I asked, still processing what he had just told me.

"Because he's behind you," Andrew said, nodding behind me.

I turned around, and there was Bose, standing in the doorway. "How long have you been standing there?" I asked, my face flushing with embarrassment.

"Ever since you asked if Andrew and I were close," Bose replied, stepping closer to me.

"You really don't trust me, do you?" Bose asked, smiling but with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"I just needed to be more sure," I said, trying to sound innocent.

"Mhm," Bose said, doubtful but with a laugh. "But what are you guys doing here?" Andrew asked, breaking the tension.

"Oh, we were shopping in the city and wanted to stop by," Bose explained.

"Then you're just in time because I was about to leave," Andrew replied.

"Good you didn't, or else I would still have a grumpy girlfriend by my side," Bose teased, earning a glare from me.

"Sorry," he said quickly, smiling.

Just as Andrew left, Bose's phone rang. It was Miles. "Hey, Bose, where are you right now?" Miles asked.

"Hi, Miles. I'm with Chapa, shopping in Rivalton," Bose replied.

"Oh, that's fun. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out since my girlfriend and I broke up, and I'm feeling a bit down, but I'll leave you two to it," Miles said, sounding a bit down.

"No, wait, you can come with us," Bose offered.

"Chapa, you okay with that?" Bose asked, turning to me.

"Yeah, of course," I said, genuinely excited for Miles to join us.

"Alright, where are you guys now?" Miles asked.

"We're at Celia on 9th Street," Bose said.

"I'll be there any moment," Miles said before hanging up.

Within seconds, Miles teleported beside us. "Hey, guys," he greeted us.

"Hey," we replied.

"I'm sorry about you and Maddie. You two were great together," Bose said, trying to comfort him.

"It's fine. I saw it coming. It is what it is. Now, let's go shopping," Miles said, brushing it off.

We went to a few more stores, and I mentioned that I wanted to stop by a shop for painting supplies. As I was browsing through the paints, I spotted Blaise.

"Blaise?" I called out.

"Chapa? You're also shopping for painting supplies?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I am. By the way, I'm shopping with Miles and Bose, they're my friends," I said, introducing them.

"Nice to meet you," Miles and Bose said, offering Blaise a hand.

"I work with Blaise at George's," I explained to them.

"Do you have any more plans for today?" I asked Blaise.

"No, not really. I'm actually really bored," she replied.

"Wanna come with us? I could use another girl around," I offered.

"Yeah, that sounds fun. Thanks," she said, looking excited.

The rest of the afternoon was a blast. We decided to go out for dinner that night. During dinner, Blaise suddenly asked, "Are you guys together or just friends?" I hoped she was talking about Bose and me, so I decided to be honest.

"Yeah, Bose and I are," I said.

"Oh, that makes sense," Blaise said, nodding.

"And what about you, Miles? Are you the third wheel?" she asked with a smile.

"Yeah, but I only found out recently that they've been dating, and I'm honestly still in shock," Miles replied.

"Why's that?" Blaise asked, curious.

"Well, me and Chapa used to be really good friends, and Miles and his sister too, so he probably never saw us romantically," Bose chimed in.

"Hell yeah. Besides, they're two totally different people. I bet my sister was in shock too," Miles added.

"No, she knew something was going on," Bose said.

"How do you know?" I asked, intrigued.

"She teased me about it all the time," Bose said, smiling.

"Mika really knows everything," Miles said.

"Yeah," Bose replied, agreeing.

"Hey, I'm gonna use the restroom. Should I ask for the bill when I come back?" Bose asked.

"Yeah, that's fine," I said.

When Bose left, Blaise suddenly turned to Miles and me. "I'm so sorry, but he looks so familiar," she said.

Before I could say anything, Miles jumped in. "Oh yeah, this dude is next-level famous. His full name is Bose O'Brien. Does that ring a bell?"

Blaise's eyes widened. "No way, I'm having dinner with that guy? I don't know him that well, but I've heard my four little sisters obsessing over him for two years."

"You have four sisters?" Miles asked, intrigued.

"Yeah, I'm a full-time big sister," Blaise joked.

"But back to Bose... wait, The Bose O'Brien is your boyfriend?" Blaise turned to me, her voice full of disbelief.

"Yeah," I said, laughing at her reaction.

"No way, my sisters would be so jealous of you," Blaise said, still shocked.

"You could ask him if he's up for meeting them sometime, but you should ask Chapa's permission first," Miles teased.

"You have my permission if they're younger than 18," I said, laughing.

"Okay, good, because they're 8, 10, 12, and 14," Blaise replied.

Just then, Bose returned to the table. "I paid the bill," he said, sitting down.

"Thank you. Should we pay you back?" Blaise offered.

"No need," Bose replied, waving it off.

"Blaise wanted to ask you something," Miles suddenly said, throwing her under the bus.

Blaise gave him a playful punch. "No, I don't," she whispered, embarrassed.

"Go ahead, ask," Bose said, smiling.

"No, I couldn't. I'd owe you too much," she said, blushing.

"She knows who you are, and her four little sisters are your biggest fans. We thought maybe you'd want to meet them?" I said, jumping in to help her out.

"Chapa," Blaise whispered, clearly embarrassed.

Bose laughed. "Of course, I'd be happy to meet them. And you don't owe me anything, really. I'd love to meet your sisters," Bose said, turning to me. "But only if you're okay with it."

"Yes, of course. I'm your girlfriend, not your mother," I said, smiling.

"Okay then, would you be okay with me meeting them if they were obsessive fans over 21?" Bose teased.

I sighed, hesitating. "No..." I admitted, knowing it was a little unfair.

Blaise laughed. "But when do you want me to meet them?" Bose asked.

"I thought it'd be fun if you guys could come to my birthday in two weeks. If Chapa brings you, you'll be able to meet them," Blaise suggested.

"And of course, you can come too, Miles," she added.

"Thanks," he said, nodding.

As we wrapped up dinner with Miles and Blaise, I couldn't help but notice the way Bose's eyes would drift to me every now and then, a quiet smile playing on his lips. It was the kind of smile that made me feel warm inside, but I wasn't about to let him see how much it affected me.

We left the restaurant together, the evening air cool against my skin as we walked back to the car. Bose held the door open for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat, trying to keep my thoughts from racing too far ahead. The drive back was peaceful, with the hum of the engine and the soft sounds of the city filling the silence. I leaned back in my seat, staring out at the blur of lights passing by, my mind wandering.

It wasn't until we were halfway to my apartment that Bose finally spoke. "You had fun tonight?" he asked, his tone casual, but I could hear the underlying curiosity.

"Yeah, I did. Blaise is nice. It was fun to hang out with everyone," I replied, glancing over at him. His eyes were fixed on the road, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm glad," he said, his voice warm. "You seemed to get along well with Blaise. I could tell she liked you."

"She's sweet. And it's nice to have another girl around for a change," I admitted, thinking back to how easily Blaise had fit in with us.

The conversation lulled again, but it was a comfortable silence this time. I let my mind wander back to the moment in the jewelry store, when Bose had put that necklace around my neck. The way he'd looked at me, with so much tenderness, had caught me off guard. And then there was the whole incident with Andrew earlier—Bose had been so calm about it, even though I knew I'd embarrassed myself.

As we pulled up in front of my apartment building, Bose parked the car and turned off the engine. He leaned back in his seat, a contented sigh escaping him. We sat there in silence for a moment, the quiet of the night settling in around us.

"Thanks for today," I said softly, turning to face him.

He looked at me then, his eyes soft and warm. "Anytime," he replied, his voice just as gentle. "You know I love spending time with you."

I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest.

There was a pause, and then, out of nowhere, he started giggling. At first, it was just a small chuckle, but it quickly grew into full-blown laughter. I turned to him, confused but amused by his sudden outburst.

"What's so funny?" I asked, trying to keep the smile off my face.

He shook his head, still laughing. "I'm just thinking about earlier, with Andrew. I can't believe you actually went to him to ask if you were my best kisser."

My face heated up instantly, and I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "You weren't supposed to know about that," I muttered through my fingers.

He reached over and gently pulled my hands away from my face, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You know I'm always going to follow you if you leave, right? That tiny distraction with those fans wasn't enough to keep me from going after you."

I sighed, knowing he was right. "That's good, but you still weren't supposed to hear it."

"Don't be embarrassed," he said, still smiling as he stepped out of the car. "I think it's cute."

I followed him out, trying to compose myself as we walked to the entrance of my apartment building. Bose was right beside me, his presence comforting despite the awkwardness I felt. As we reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to face me, his tall frame towering over mine.

"So, now I'm asking you," he said, his voice low and teasing, "who was the best kisser you've ever had?"

I looked up at him, my heart skipping a beat at how close he was. I could smell the fresh scent of his cologne, feel the warmth of his body so near to mine. I didn't answer, not because I didn't know, but because I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of hearing it.

"Mhm?" Bose tilted my chin up gently, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes were searching mine, full of playful curiosity.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Like I said, Scar was a really bad kisser," I began, my voice deliberately casual. "You're okay."

Bose chuckled softly. "Okay, huh? Just okay?" he teased, his voice playful but with a hint of challenge.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, turning to face him. He was leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed, still looking entirely too pleased with himself. His smile was the kind that could disarm anyone, but I wasn't about to let him off that easily.

"Yeah, just okay," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "I've had better." I gave him a smirk, knowing exactly how to push his buttons.

"Oh really? Better than me?" Bose's tone was incredulous, but his eyes sparkled with mischief. He took a step closer, closing the distance between us.

I backed up slightly, bumping into the wall behind me. "Maybe," I said, my voice low, trying to maintain the teasing tone even though my heart was racing.

He didn't say anything at first. Instead, he leaned in slowly, his lips barely an inch from mine. I could feel his breath, warm against my skin, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me again.

"You know, you can be honest with me," he whispered, his voice dropping to a near murmur. "I won't be offended if I'm not the best... but I think I could change your mind."

Before I could respond, he kissed me, slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The kiss was soft at first, gentle, but then it deepened, and I felt the heat of it spread through me, making it impossible to think of anything else.

When he finally pulled back, I was breathless. He looked at me, his eyes dark and intense. "Still just okay?" he asked, his voice a little huskier than before.

I couldn't help but smile. "Maybe... a little better than okay," I admitted, trying to keep the playfulness in my voice, even though I was feeling anything but casual.

He grinned, clearly satisfied with my answer. "I can work with that," he said, his tone teasing, but I could see the satisfaction in his eyes.

"Cocky much?" I retorted, trying to regain some control over the situation, though it was hard with him standing so close.

"Just confident," he replied, stepping back finally, giving me some space. "I'll take your word for it this time. But you know, I'll be asking again."

"Good luck with that," I said, trying to sound nonchalant as I walked past him into my apartment, my heart still pounding in my chest.

"Don't think I won't," he called after me as I headed toward the kitchen. I could hear the amusement in his voice.

I turned around, leaning against the counter, and watched as he made himself comfortable on my bed. He looked so at ease, like he belonged here, and it made me smile.

"You want something to drink?" I offered, trying to shift the conversation to something less intense.

"Sure, whatever you're having," he replied, flashing me that disarming smile again.

I grabbed two glasses and poured some water, bringing them over to him. As I handed him a glass, he took it with a grateful nod, but his eyes never left mine.

We sat there in comfortable silence for a while, sipping our drinks. I could feel the tension from earlier slowly fading, replaced by the easy companionship that had always come so naturally between us.

"So, what's next?" I asked eventually, breaking the silence. "Are we just going to sit here, or do you have some grand plan in mind?"

Bose laughed softly, setting his glass down on the coffee table. "Honestly, I hadn't thought that far ahead," he admitted. "But I'm open to suggestions."

I thought for a moment, then smiled. "How about we just relax for a bit? Watch something on TV, maybe?"

He nodded, seeming to like the idea. "Sounds good to me."

I grabbed the remote and turned on my new TV I bought a couple days ago. We found a movie we both liked. As we settled in, Bose stretched out on the couch, and without thinking, I leaned against him, resting my head on his shoulder. It felt natural, easy, like this was exactly where I was supposed to be.

"Comfortable?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Very," I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the kiss we'd just shared. We stayed like that for the rest of the evening, just enjoying each other's company.

—

I woke up to the soft glow of the television, the movie's credits rolling silently across the screen. Bose's arms were still wrapped around me, his body warm and steady against mine. I could hear his slow, even breaths, and I realized he had fallen asleep too. Gently, I eased myself out of his embrace, trying not to wake him, but as I sat up, his eyes fluttered open.

"Hey," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes as he woke up.

"It's 11 p.m.," I whispered. "You should go home before it gets too late."

Bose glanced at the clock and sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"It's okay," I said with a small smile, still feeling the warmth from our earlier closeness.

He stretched, still looking a bit sleepy, and then reached down beside the couch. When he straightened up, he was holding a small bag from the jewelry store we had visited earlier.

"You didn't," I said, rolling my eyes, though I couldn't help the little flutter of excitement in my chest.

"Just put it on," he insisted, handing me the bag.

I pulled out the necklace, the one I had admired earlier, its delicate chain catching the light. I tried to fasten it around my neck, but my fingers fumbled with the tiny clasp. Bose chuckled softly and moved closer, gently taking the necklace from me and fastening it himself. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Why did you buy this for me?" I asked, looking up at him as he finished. "You don't have to keep getting me gifts all the time."

He gave me that familiar, mischievous smile. "Don't you like it?"

"I do, but..." I sighed, trying to find the right words. "It's just that you're buying me something every week, and they're always so expensive. You should consider buying something for yourself once in a while."

Bose shook his head, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Alright, then consider this necklace something for me. Now I get to see a beautiful necklace on a beautiful girl, which makes me happy."

I chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the necklace. "Thanks, Bose," I said, touching the pendant lightly.

"You're welcome," he replied, his voice soft.

We sat there for a moment, just looking at each other, the air between us filled with a comfortable silence. Finally, Bose broke it. "What time do you want to meet in the lobby tomorrow?" he asked.

"Hmm, how about 2:30?" I suggested. "That way, we won't be late to pick up Sage from school."

"Sounds good," Bose agreed with a smile.

We stood up, and I walked him to the door. As he turned to leave, I felt a sudden pang of sadness at the thought of him going, even though I'd see him again tomorrow.

"Goodnight," I said softly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Goodnight, Chapa," he replied, his voice just as gentle. He lingered for a moment, as if he was about to say something else, but then he simply smiled and walked down the hallway.

I watched him until he disappeared from view, the door closing with a soft click behind him. As I stood there in the quiet of my apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling of how much I already missed him. I touched the necklace around my neck, a small smile playing on my lips. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.