chapter 50: problem

Bose POV:

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, way too early for a Monday. Groaning, I shifted carefully, not wanting to wake Chapa, who was still fast asleep next to me, completely undressed and wrapped up in the blankets. I reached for my bathrobe at the foot of the bed, slipping it on as quietly as possible.

I got up, headed toward the bathroom, and opened the drawer to grab my toothbrush. That's when I noticed them—my pack of condoms, sitting there untouched. My heart skipped a beat. Last night. We didn't use one. I stared at the pack for a second, my mind racing. Chapa wasn't on birth control, at least not as far as I knew.

Shit.

I started brushing my teeth, trying to push the thought away, but it kept coming back. I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over me as I tried to figure out what to do. My mind was stuck on the same question: What if? Chapa's made it clear—kids aren't on her radar. Hell, even if we both wanted them, it's way too soon. Right?

I finished up in the shower, dried off, and got dressed, but I still couldn't shake the worry. I made some breakfast to take with me to work, but even while I was packing it up, the question kept nagging at me. How was I going to tell her? Should I even say anything yet? The last thing I want is to freak her out, especially over something that might not even be an issue.

But what if it is?

—

I sat down at my desk, trying to focus on the work in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to last night. No matter how much I tried to shake it, the nagging worry wouldn't leave. Just as I started to get into some emails, there was a knock at the door. It was Bridget, looking cheerful.

"Hey, Bose. You and Andrew got an invitation from Elle Magazine," she said, holding up a sleek envelope. "They want to interview both of you. You know, since you're the hot topic right now."

I blinked, still not fully processing. "An interview?" I said, leaning back in my chair. "I'll think about it."

Bridget smiled, clearly used to me dragging my feet on media stuff. "Alright."

"Bridget, could you send Andrew in for me please?"

"On it." she said.

Five minutes later, Andrew walked in, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face. He flopped down in the chair across from me, completely at ease, while I was anything but. I took a deep breath, deciding to just get it off my chest.

"Andrew, I've got a problem," I said, leaning forward on my desk.

Andrew's grin widened like he was ready for some juicy gossip. "Tell me, I'm ready."

"It's about Chapa," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "Last night... we didn't use protection. And as far as I know, she's not on birth control."

Andrew's smile only grew. "Oh man, Chapa's gonna kill you."

"Be serious," I snapped, glaring at him. "This is a problem. She doesn't want kids, it's too soon for that anyway, and I don't know how to even bring it up without freaking her out. And, of course, there's always the option of... abortion, but I don't want to just throw that at her either."

Andrew's grin faded, and he leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, slow down. First off, you don't even know if she's pregnant, so don't jump to conclusions. Did you actually, you know, have an erection in her?"

I cringed hard at the bluntness of his question, feeling my face heat up. "Yes," I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "How many rounds?"

"Why does that matter?" I shot back, already feeling the embarrassment creep up.

"It matters," Andrew said, half-laughing. "Because the more times, the higher the chance. It's basic math, man."

I sighed, quietly mumbling, "Five."

Andrew's eyes widened. "Five?! Were you guys up all night or something?"

"Sort of," I muttered, feeling even more awkward.

Andrew let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Man, you're in deeper than I thought. No wonder you're stressed."

I rubbed my temples, already regretting bringing it up. "You're not helping. But I don't want to talk about it anymore. It's weird and unnecessary. Whatever happens, happens."

Andrew chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You guys are so stupid."

I nodded, sighing heavily. "Yeah, I see that now."

Chapa POV:

I woke up around 7:30 a.m., blinking away the remnants of sleep and realizing Bose was already gone. The blanket was warm and cozy around me, so I wrapped it tighter as I walked toward the bathroom. After a refreshing shower, I dressed in the clothes I had brought with me—nothing fancy, just something comfortable for a day at the academy.

I was particularly excited today because I had motor lessons scheduled for the evening. I hated taking the bus, so the thought of finally getting to ride a bike made me giddy. After I finished getting ready, I grabbed my bag and headed out to catch the bus.

As I arrived at the academy, the familiar sounds of students filled the lobby—laughter, chatter, and the occasional shout. I scanned the big space for familiar faces, and that's when I saw Andrew approaching. His face lit up with a grin as he walked over to me.

"Morning, Spanish guy," I greeted him.

He looked a bit confused. "Spanish guy?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're half Spanish."

Andrew chuckled, tilting his head. "Yeah I forgot you knew. But aren't you part Spanish or Portuguese too, considered your last name?"

"Yeah, my mom's half Spanish and my dad's half Portuguese," I explained. "But I don't really know the languages. Just a few Spanish words here and there."

He nodded, seeming genuinely interested. Then he leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if he was about to share some juicy gossip. "You should probably see Bose at lunch."

I frowned, puzzled. "Why? What's going on?"

Andrew's expression shifted to one of amusement, and I couldn't help but feel a little anxious. "He has something important to tell you," he said, his tone teasing but vague.

"Important?" I repeated, my curiosity piqued. What could be so crucial that he had to tell me at lunch? I tried to read Andrew's expression, but it only made me more confused.

"Yeah," he said, his grin widening. "You'll find out soon enough. Just... be ready for it."

My mind raced with possibilities. Was it about our relationship? Something regarding the motor lessons? I shrugged off the nerves and headed to class, mentally preparing myself for whatever it was that Bose needed to tell me.

Andrew POV:

I walked back to my office after seeing Chapa in the lobby, still thinking about the conversation. The day had been fine so far, but my mood instantly lifted when I saw Mika's name flash across my phone screen. I picked up, excitement running through me.

"Hey, Mika," I said, a smile creeping onto my face.

"Hey, Andrew," her voice came through, but there was a hesitation in her tone. "I, uh, wanted to let you know that our dinner plans tonight... they can't happen."

The enthusiasm I'd been carrying deflated instantly. "What? Why not?"

"My mom just called," she explained. "She wants to have dinner with me and Miles tonight. It's a family thing."

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the familiar weight of disappointment settle in my chest. "Right. Of course." My voice dropped, more serious now. "You're always so busy, Mika. Are you actually interested in me or is this just for lust or something?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear her take a sharp breath. "No, no, Andrew, it's not like that at all," she replied quickly. "I've just been really busy lately. You live in Rivalton, and I'm in Swellview... It's hard to sync up."

I rubbed my forehead, trying to keep my frustration in check. "I get that, but it still feels like I'm being pushed aside. Like I'm not a priority."

She was silent for a second, and I could tell she was trying to think of the right thing to say. "It's not that," she began slowly. "It's just... my mom is super intense. She goes all detective mode whenever she finds out I'm dating someone. And especially on you since I've sworn not to date anyone. She'll wants to figure out why I chose you anyway. It's... a lot."

"So what?" I shot back. "You don't think I'm worth dealing with that? You can't introduce me to your mom?"

She hesitated again, and I could feel the sting of her uncertainty. "I just... I want to wait. I don't want to rush that."

I let out a bitter laugh. "See? That's exactly what I'm talking about. It feels like you only want me for the fun stuff. Like you're not serious."

"No, Andrew, it's not like that," she said, her voice more urgent now. "I just need time to figure everything out."

"Yeah, well, I don't feel appreciated, Mika," I said, my tone sharper than before. "It's like I'm just a backup plan or something. And I don't want to feel like that."

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but it didn't sound like enough.

I clenched my jaw, staring at the phone for a moment before I sighed. "Yeah, well... I'll let you go have dinner with your family. We'll talk later."

Without waiting for a response, I ended the call, feeling frustrated and hopeless. It seemed like no matter what I did, I could never be more than a fleeting moment in Mika's busy life. And it hurt more than I cared to admit.

Bose POV:

At lunch, I headed to the cafeteria, stomach in knots. I had asked Andrew to come with me, but he just shook his head and said he wasn't in the mood. That wasn't like him, but I had bigger problems to worry about right now.

I found a seat and barely had time to open my tray before I noticed Chapa walking up to me, her face serious, like something urgent was about to go down. My heart sank. This was terrifying. After everything from last night, I wasn't ready to face her like this yet. I watched her sit down across from me, staring at me with this intense expression.

"Andrew told me you had something to tell me," she said, cutting straight to the point.

I sighed, my mind racing. Why did Andrew have to say that? Now I couldn't avoid it. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling the weight of the conversation coming. "Yeah, I... I don't know if you really want to hear it though."

She leaned forward, eyes narrowing slightly. "Just tell me now."

I hesitated, taking a deep breath. There was no way around it. "Last night, we forgot to use protection."

Her expression froze, and for a second, she looked completely shocked. I could feel the blood drain from my face.

"I'm so sorry," I blurted out immediately, stumbling over my words. "It's all my fault. I didn't mean to, and I know how hard this is. I'll do anything to fix it, to make sure nothing happens, to—"

"Bose, stop talking," she interrupted, her voice firm, cutting through my rambling.

I shut my mouth instantly, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched her process what I had just said. She stayed quiet for a moment, clearly thinking things through. Then, she asked, "Did you have an... you know... erection?"

I nodded, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. This was beyond awkward.

She sighed. "Alright. Then, we'll just wait and see what happens. We shouldn't worry right now." Her voice was surprisingly calm, but I could tell she was trying to keep it together.

"I'm really sorry, Chapa," I said again, quieter this time. I couldn't stop apologizing. It felt like my fault—like I had failed her somehow.

"It's not your fault," she reassured me, her voice softening just a little. "Look, if it's that bad, I can always take the morning-after pill."

I felt a wave of relief, but it was still hard to shake the guilt. "I'll come with you to get it. Whatever you need."

She smiled. "Thanks."

I looked at her, grateful she wasn't freaking out like I was. But even though she was staying calm, I could tell we were both on edge. This wasn't something either of us had been ready for, and I hated that it was happening now.

Mika POV:

I had just gotten home from work, completely worn out after what felt like the longest day of my life. We were in the middle of working on some new projects, and to make it more nerve-wracking, Bose's stepdad had stopped by to "observe." He's always had a sharp eye for details, and I'd been holding my breath the entire time he was there, hoping he wouldn't rip my work to shreds. Thankfully, he'd ended up really liking what I'd done, which was a huge relief, but it hadn't made the day any easier.

As soon as I got in, I kicked off my shoes and changed into something more comfortable—a loose, off-the-shoulder sweater and my favorite jeans. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, letting out a sigh as I finally felt like I could breathe again. Just as I grabbed my bag, leaving my house to see my parents, I stepped outside—and nearly ran into Andrew.

He was halfway up the path to my door, looking as surprised to see me as I was to see him. We both stopped, staring at each other for a second. His eyes widened a little, and then a small, sheepish smile tugged at his lips.

"Uh, hey," he said, his voice softer than usual. He looked down at his feet, then back up at me, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I didn't think you'd be here."

I blinked, recovering from my surprise. "Andrew? What are you doing here?" I asked, glancing around as if expecting some grand explanation. "You didn't text or anything."

"I know," he admitted, stepping a little closer but still keeping some distance. "I came to—well, to apologize. For earlier."

His words caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow. "Apologize?"

He nodded, taking a deep breath. "I... overreacted. I get that. I shouldn't have pushed you, Mika. I just—" He hesitated, looking genuinely frustrated with himself. "I just miss you. I want to spend more time with you. And I guess I didn't handle that very well." His voice lowered as he finished, a hint of something vulnerable in his eyes. "I didn't mean to make you feel pressured."

It was hard to stay mad at him when he looked like that. "I understand, but still, you have to let me decide when I'm comfortable with things. You know that, right?" I asked softly, crossing my arms as I looked up at him.

He nodded again, more earnestly this time. "Of course. I get it now. And I need to respect your boundaries." He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "It's just... it's like we're in that... that honeymoon phase, you know?"

I couldn't help it—I snorted, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Andrew, we're not even married. That's ridiculous." I shot him a teasing look. "But... I kind of see what you're getting at."

His grin widened a little, the sheepishness melting away. "Exactly!" he said, his voice lighter now, almost hopeful. "So... to make up for being an idiot," he added, gesturing toward his car parked down the street, "I brought something."

I frowned, confused as I watched him jog back to the passenger side and open the door. When he straightened up, he was holding a bouquet of bright, colorful flowers. He walked back over to me, holding them out with that lopsided grin I knew so well.

"For you," he said softly.

"Flowers?" I looked from the bouquet to him, raising an eyebrow. "You think flowers are going to fix everything?"

He chuckled, a bit more relaxed now. "No. But I figured you'd like them. And... I was kind of hoping they'd be a start?"

I stared at him for a moment, then let out a soft sigh, a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. "Okay, fine. I admit it, they're beautiful." I took the flowers from him, brushing my fingers lightly over the petals. "But you're not fully forgiven yet."

He leaned in a little, his smile turning more playful. "I'm not?"

I shook my head, biting back a grin. "Nope. But... I'm glad you came by."

His expression softened, and he reached out, gently brushing a loose strand of hair back from my face. The touch was light, almost hesitant, and it made my heart flutter just a little. "I'm glad I did too," he murmured.

For a moment, we just stood there, smiling at each other. Then I took a deep breath, letting the tension ease out of my shoulders. "Look, I was in the wrong too," I admitted quietly. "I should've thought about your feelings more. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

His eyes widened a little, like he hadn't been expecting me to say that. "Mika... you didn't have to apologize," he said softly. "But... thank you."

We stood there, a comfortable silence settling between us. Then I gave him a gentle nudge with my shoulder. "Well, since you went to all this trouble... you can come with me tonight."

His reaction was instant—his whole face lit up, eyes brightening like a kid who'd just been told he could open all his Christmas presents early. "Wait, really?" he asked, his voice almost breathless.

I nodded, smiling at his excitement. "Yeah, really."

"You don't know how happy that makes me," he said, practically bouncing on his heels.

I laughed softly, shaking my head at him. "Well, I guess I'll have to get used to that grin now."

"Hey, you're stuck with it," he shot back, grinning even wider.

"Fine by me," I replied, reaching out to give his hand a quick squeeze. "Just don't start calling it a honeymoon phase again, okay?"

He held up his hands in mock surrender, still grinning like a fool. "Alright, alright, I promise. But... I am taking you out to dinner next week. No work, no excuses."

I rolled my eyes playfully, but my smile didn't fade. "We'll see," I teased, turning to head back inside. "Now let me put these flowers in some water."

He laughed, trailing behind me. "Okay, but I'm holding you to it."

"Yeah, yeah," I called back over my shoulder, shaking my head. But I couldn't help the smile that lingered on my lips.

Bose POV:

I had just dropped Chapa off at her motorcycle lessons. She hopped out of the car, adjusting her helmet, and I told her again, "I'll handle the morning-after pill. You don't have to worry about anything." She shot me this look, half skeptical, half amused.

"If anyone's gonna worry, it's you," she teased, crossing her arms, one eyebrow raised like she knew me all too well. She was right, of course.

I smiled, shaking my head. "Pick you up at 8?"

She nodded, giving me a quick wave before walking inside, and I watched her go, feeling a little knot in my stomach about everything. It wasn't even about the pill, but how easy she made it seem while I was over here, barely keeping it together. I sighed, putting the car in drive and heading to the pharmacy.

It was about a 15-minute drive, but my mind was already spiraling. What if someone recognized me? The idea of my name popping up in headlines for something like this made me cringe. I pulled into the parking lot, mentally preparing for any awkward encounters. Walking in, I kept my head low, but of course, it didn't help. Almost instantly, I noticed four people recognizing me, whispering and looking over.

One woman, braver than the rest, came up to me, her eyes wide like she'd just seen a celebrity on the red carpet. "Oh my God! Are you Bose O'Brien?" Her voice had that excited tremor to it.

I forced a smile, trying to be polite. "Yeah, that's me."

"Can I get a picture?" she asked, already pulling out her phone.

"Sure," I said, leaning in as she snapped a selfie with me. I plastered on my best fake smile, hoping to get through this quickly. Once the photo was done, I nodded politely and headed straight to the counter.

The woman working behind the counter recognized me too. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw me approaching. "Hi, how can I help you today?" she asked, trying to sound professional but clearly starstruck.

I leaned in, my voice low. "I need the morning-after pill."

Her eyes widened for a second, but she composed herself quickly. "Oh, okay," she said, turning to grab it from behind the counter. I could feel my palms getting a little sweaty.

When she handed me the box, I hesitated for a second and then leaned in closer, my voice barely above a whisper. "Can you do me a favor and keep this quiet?"

She smiled, clearly entertained by my awkwardness. "Of course. Don't worry."

I exhaled in relief, shoving the pill in my pocket after paying. I muttered a quick "thank you" and hurried out of there, my heart pounding. The last thing I needed was for this to somehow get out. As I stepped back into my car, I was about to drive off when my phone rang.

I looked down at the screen, and to my surprise, it was Sage. I raised an eyebrow, a little confused. She never really called me, so I wasn't sure what this was about, but I answered anyway. "Hey, Sage. What's up?"

Her voice sounded shaky on the other end, almost like she'd been crying. "Bose... I know this is last minute, and I'm probably bothering you, but I'm really stuck. I don't know where I am, and I'm not okay."

My heart sank. "What do you mean you're stuck? Where are you?"

She sniffled, sounding more upset now. "I ended up in some weird town called Neighborville. I don't know how I got here. I'm lost, and... I just need help."

I frowned, recognizing the name. Neighborville wasn't a place people usually went unless they were lost. "Yeah, that's a ghost town," I muttered. "Hang tight, I'm coming to get you."

"Really?" she asked, her voice sounding so small, so fragile. "Thank you, Bose. I didn't know who else to call."

"Don't worry, I'm on my way."

It was about a 20-minute drive, and as I pulled out of the lot, it started raining—hard. The kind of rain that drenches you in seconds. Just perfect. I kept glancing at the GPS, making sure I was going in the right direction as the rain blurred the road ahead of me. When I finally arrived in Neighborville, I spotted Sage standing inside an old phone booth, soaked through and shivering.

I grabbed an umbrella from the backseat and rushed over to her. "Hey, you okay?" I asked, holding the umbrella over her head and putting an arm around her shoulders.

She looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. "Not really," she said, her voice breaking.

I led her to the car, helping her inside. Once she was settled, she let out a deep breath and started crying again. "I met this guy from Rivalton, and I thought he was cool, but... he ended up being a total jerk. He called me useless and boring and... God, I feel so stupid."

I reached over, squeezing her hand. "You're not stupid, Sage. That guy's an idiot."

She wiped her face with the sleeve of her jacket. "I don't know why I thought he'd be different."

We sat in silence for a minute as the rain drummed against the car windows. "You can crash at my place tonight if you want," I offered. "Warm up, get your head straight."

Her face lit up just a little. "Really? That'd be nice. Thanks, Bose."

As we started driving back, she turned to me, biting her lip. "Can you... not tell Chapa about this? I don't want her getting the wrong idea, and... I just don't need more drama."

I glanced at her, understanding her concern. "It's fine. I won't say anything."

The rain didn't let up as we made our way back, but by the time we reached my penthouse, Sage seemed to have calmed down a bit. I parked and grabbed the umbrella again, holding it over her as we ran toward the door. Once inside, she was shivering, her clothes completely soaked.

"You should take a hot shower," I suggested. "Warm up. I'll make us some dinner."

Sage smiled, a small one, but it was something. "Thanks, Bose."

I nodded, but before she headed off, she gave me a hug—something to show her gratitude. That's when disaster struck. As she pulled away, something fell out of my pocket and hit the floor. My heart stopped. No. No. No.

Sage's eyes widened as she bent down, picking up the small box. "Bose? What's this?"

I stood there, frozen. "Uh..."

Her face brightened as she put two and two together. "Oh my God! Am I gonna be an aunt?!"

"No, no, no," I said, shaking my head frantically. "That's why I bought it—to stop that from happening."

Her excitement died down, and she pouted, clearly disappointed. "Oh..."

I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Look, just... go take your shower. Stop asking if you're gonna be an aunt."

She smirked, teasing. "You're no fun."

I pointed down the hall. "Shower. Now."

Laughing, she finally headed off, and I let out a long breath, leaning back against the counter. What a day.

While she was showering, I got to work making dinner. Pasta seemed like the easiest option, so I boiled the noodles and started on the sauce. The warm smell of garlic and tomatoes filled the kitchen, and it was almost calming—almost enough to make me forget the chaos of the last few hours. Almost.

As I was stirring the sauce, I heard the bathroom door open. I turned around to see Sage standing in the doorway, wearing one of my oversized pajama shirts with cats all over it and Chapa's shorts.

I couldn't help but laugh. "That shirt is huge on you."

She gave me a twirl, grinning. "I know, but it's comfy."

The shirt looked like a dress on her, and Chapa's shorts were clearly too big, but she wore them anyway. She plopped down on the couch, her hair still damp but looking much warmer than when I'd picked her up.

"You hungry?" I asked, setting a plate of pasta down in front of her.

"Starving," she said, digging in immediately. "This is amazing, by the way. I didn't know you could cook."

I shrugged, sitting down across from her. "I try."

We ate in silence for a while, the clinking of forks the only sound. Eventually, she looked up at me, the usual light back in her eyes. "Thanks, Bose. For everything."

"Don't mention it," I said, meaning it.