chapter 55: smashing pillows

Bose POV:

After meeting up with Andrew and dealing with both work and personal drama, I finally headed home to prepare for the night ahead. Chapa and Sage were still at the Olivia Rodrigo concert, and I had arranged something special for them—backstage passes for a personal meet-and-greet. After the concert, they walked up to me, Sage almost bouncing with excitement, her eyes wide as she grabbed my arm.

"Bose, I can't believe this is happening! You're the best!" Sage's voice was full of excitement, and she looked like she might start jumping up and down any second.

Chapa grinned but seemed a little more mellow. "Thanks for doing this, Bose. Sage hasn't stopped talking about it since you told her."

I smiled. "No problem. Let's get you guys backstage."

We made our way through the crowd, and I met up with Olivia's manager, Logan. I knew him from a few industry parties. With the music and entertainment department at my academies, Andrew and I were constantly rubbing shoulders with some big names, so it wasn't unusual to run into familiar faces.

"Bose! Good to see you again," Logan greeted me with a firm handshake.

"Good to see you too, Logan. Thanks for making this happen." I motioned toward Sage, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

Logan laughed, "No worries. Anything for friends."

He led us backstage, and Sage was nearly vibrating with anticipation. When Olivia finally walked into the room, Sage looked like she was about to faint.

"Hi!" Olivia greeted us with a smile, turning her attention to Sage.

Sage froze for a second, unable to speak. "Hi... Oh my god, you're—oh my god."

Olivia laughed, clearly used to fans being starstruck. "It's so nice to meet you! Want me to sign something?"

Sage nodded rapidly, fumbling with her bag to pull out a notebook. Olivia signed it and took a few pictures with her, while I hung back with Logan, catching up a bit.

A few minutes later, Olivia made her way over to me and Chapa. "Nice to meet you guys! Logan's told me some good things about you," she said, giving me a quick nod.

"Thanks for doing this," I replied. "You've made Sage's entire year."

After a few more minutes of chatting, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the car. It had been a long night, and Sage was still buzzing with excitement.

"Bose, you're literally the best person in the world," she said as I dropped her off at home.

Chapa and I greeted her parents before heading back to Rivalton. Once we were back on the road, Chapa leaned her head against the window, sighing.

"Thanks for doing that. I know it wasn't exactly my scene, but Sage loved it," she said, her voice soft.

I glanced over at her, smiling. "It's no problem. I knew Sage would love it, and it was fun to see her so happy."

Chapa yawned. "Yeah, but I'm exhausted. Listening to Olivia for hours isn't really my thing."

I laughed. "I figured. We'll grab some food and then head home."

It was 11.p.m.We went to Nacho Ball, the nice one, and I was ready to pick up our food while Chapa waited at our table. As I waited, I heard the loud screech of tires outside. My eyes flicked toward the door just as four masked men stormed in, brandishing guns.

"Everyone, get down!" one of them yelled, waving his gun at the cashier.

I slipped into the bathroom quickly, hoping to avoid being seen, only to find Chapa already inside. "What the—why are you in the men's bathroom?" I whispered harshly.

She glared at me, whispering back. "The women's bathroom was locked, and there were girls doing their makeup in there! I needed space to transform!"

I raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright, let's do this."

We transformed, and Chapa immediately zapped the lights, plunging the restaurant into darkness. We moved quickly. And she turned on the lights again. Chapa slid forward, sweeping one of the criminals off his feet, while she disarmed another with a quick punch.

I lifted another guy off the ground and threw him against the wall, taking him out of the fight. But just as I turned, I saw the fourth guy making a move to attack Chapa from behind. Without thinking, I grabbed him and threw him hard to the floor.

Chapa kicked one of the fallen guys' guns away, but another reached for his weapon, managing to get a shot off. "Bose, watch out!" she yelled.

I ducked just in time, the bullet whizzing past me and embedding itself in the wall. I knocked the guy out with one punch and grabbed the gun Chapa tossed to me, while she zapped the remaining criminals, rendering them unconscious.

When it was over, we stepped outside, finding a crowd gathered around the restaurant. People cheered when they saw us—especially Volt.

"Volt! Where have you been?" someone shouted, their phone already up, taking pictures.

Chapa glanced at me. "We should go."

I nodded. "Yeah, let's get out of here."

After a quick debrief with the police, we snuck back into the car, transformed back to normal, and hit the road. Chapa leaned back in her seat, exhausted.

"I'm so tired," she mumbled, closing her eyes before I could respond.

We pulled into the garage of my penthouse, the hum of the engine dying down in the stillness.

As we walked into my penthouse, Chapa leaned in closer to me, sniffing the collar of my coat. I raised an eyebrow, not sure what she was doing until she pulled back and looked at me with that suspicious look in her eyes.

"Why does your coat smell like beer and cigarettes?" she asked, crossing her arms.

My stomach tightened. I scrambled for a response, keeping my voice casual. "Uh... it's probably from the concert crowd, you know? Lots of people packed together, someone must've been smoking nearby."

She tilted her head, not entirely buying it. "You didn't even go into the concert crowd, Bose. We were backstage."

Damn. She had me there. My mind raced, but I kept my expression steady. "Yeah, you're right. Must've rubbed off from, uh, someone I passed on the way back."

Chapa narrowed her eyes, obviously picking apart every word I said. "Did you... go somewhere else last night?"

I swallowed, fighting the urge to look away. If I told her I'd met up with Sam, the whole cousin situation would come out, and she'd lose it. I forced a shrug. "I mean, we dropped Sage off, didn't we? Nothing sketchy going on."

She held my gaze a little longer, her brows knitting together as she processed. Finally, she sighed and stepped back, seemingly willing to drop it for now, but I knew her well enough to know this wouldn't be the last time she'd bring it up.

"Alright," she finally muttered, but there was a weight to her tone, like she'd be keeping an eye on me.

Then she let out a soft yawn, her exhaustion clear, but there was a glow about her, like that familiar spark from when we used to fight crime together.

"I'll take a quick shower," I said, heading toward the bathroom.

The hot water felt like it was washing away all the adrenaline and chaos from the night. I scrubbed the sweat and dust off, thinking about the way she had handled everything back at Nacho Ball. After a few minutes, I stepped out, towel-drying my hair and slipping into a soft t-shirt and joggers. The bed felt so welcoming as I sank into it, pulling the covers over me.

A few moments later, I heard the shower running again, Chapa's turn now. I waited, lying there in the dimly lit room, the sound of the water calming me as I stared at the ceiling. When she finally came out, her hair still damp, she crawled into bed beside me, letting out a content sigh.

"Feel better?" I asked, glancing at her, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her features.

"Yeah," she murmured, snuggling into the blankets. She lay there for a moment, then spoke quietly, "You know... I really missed that."

"Missed what?" I asked, turning to face her more.

"Fighting crime," she admitted, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. "I didn't realize how much I missed it."

I chuckled softly. "You were amazing out there, seriously. It's like you never stopped."

She grinned, her eyes softening with fatigue. "I still got it."

Before I could respond, she shifted closer, surprising me as she rested her head on my chest. My heart jumped a little, the closeness unexpected. Chapa wasn't usually one for cuddling, especially not after a day like this, but now she was lying against me, her warm breath brushing over my skin.

I froze for a second, not wanting to move and ruin the moment. Then, her voice came out soft, teasing. "Your heart's racing," she murmured, her smile turning mischievous.

I felt my face flush slightly, quickly making up an excuse. "Uh... still got the chills from what happened at Nacho Ball."

She laughed at me, letting me know she knows that's not the real reason, her eyes half-closed. "Or maybe I just have an effect on you."

I opened my mouth to respond, but she was already drifting off, her breathing evening out as her body relaxed against mine. The peaceful rhythm of her breathing filled the room, and I couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth in my chest.

—

I woke up to the sensation of something hard and soft smacking right into my face—another pillow. As I blinked awake, still groggy from sleep, I saw Chapa standing in the room, fully dressed and visibly furious.

"So, you and Sam—are family?!" she snapped, her voice sharp. My stomach dropped instantly. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "How long have you been hiding this from me?" she demanded, arms crossed.

"Chapa, calm down, let me explain," I tried, raising a hand as if that could somehow slow her down.

"Calm down?" she echoed sarcastically, her voice rising. "I just found out that my current boyfriend is related with my ex-boyfriend, who literally tried to ruin my life! And you think I should calm down?"

Before I could respond, another pillow smashed into my face. "Ouch!" I winced, trying to keep it cool. She was too quick with the third pillow, already poised to strike again. Before she could throw it, I grabbed her arm, not too hard but firm enough.

"Stop throwing pillows at me, please," I said, forcing a half-smile despite the situation.

She yanked her arm out of my grip and glared at me. I needed to think fast. "How do you even know about this?" I asked cautiously.

She shoved her phone into my hands. On the screen were texts from Scar—Sam—saying, "Did Bose tell you yet that we're related?" My heart sank. How stupid could this guy be?

"He's an idiot," I muttered under my breath.

"Yeah, he's an idiot," Chapa fired back. "But not as much of an idiot as you, for not telling me sooner."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Look, I didn't want to tell you until I was absolutely sure. I didn't know how you'd take it, and I didn't want to stress you out."

"You could've at least told me you were going to see him yesterday," she shot back.

"I didn't want to worry you." I reached for her hand, holding it softly in mine. "I'm sorry, Chapa. I should've told you sooner."

She looked away for a moment, clearly trying to gather herself, then exhaled heavily. I could see she was still upset but no longer fuming. "It's fine," I reassured her, squeezing her hand a little tighter. "I'll figure this out."

She sighed, still not looking directly at me. "Are you still mad at me?" I asked, hoping for some relief.

She furrowed her brows. "Yes," she said, but I could tell by the way her lips twitched slightly that she wasn't as angry as before.

"How can I make it up to you?" I asked gently, watching her eyes shift a little.

She didn't answer right away, just looked up at me and said with a small smirk, "Oh, I'll think of something. Trust me, I'll hold you to it."

I smiled, relieved that things hadn't escalated further. But I knew I wasn't fully off the hook.

After a brief moment of silence, Chapa reached into her pocket and pulled something out. Without saying a word, she shoved it into my hands. I looked down and felt my stomach churn. It was a pregnancy test. My eyes flicked to hers, and she quickly added, "It's negative."

I exhaled, tension easing out of my body, but my mind was still racing. "Chapa...why didn't you tell me you were taking tests?"

She shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "I don't know. I didn't want to freak you out."

I sat down on the edge of the bed, the pregnancy test still in my hand. "I'd rather be freaked out with you than find out like this."

She sighed, finally looking at me. "It's not like I was planning on keeping it a secret. I just... I don't know. I didn't want to make it a bigger deal than it was."

I nodded slowly, processing everything. "Still, I wish you would've trusted me with that, Chapa. We're supposed to be trusting each other, right?"

"That's exactly how I felt when you didn't tell me you were related to Scar, uh Sam. And I know we should but it's just...you've already been dealing with so much—family drama, work. I didn't want to add more to it that's unnecessary."

I placed the test gently on the nightstand and turned to face her. "I know I'm sorry. And look, no matter what's going on—work, family, whatever—I'm always going to want to be there for you. Especially for something like this."

She gave me a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I didn't think it was that serious. I just wanted to make sure."

I reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But it was serious to you. And if it's serious to you, it's serious to me. Next time, let me in on it, okay? I don't want you handling this stuff alone."

She nodded. "Okay. I will." Then, after a beat, she added, "Sorry for not telling you sooner. And for the pillow-smashing."

"It's okay." I said.

She gave me a sideways smirk, that playful glint in her eye reappearing.

"Well, I guess I do have a type," she said, casually shrugging. "Long hair, tall, Italian..."

I stared at her, feeling a twinge of offense creeping in. "Hold on, you're not actually comparing me to him, right?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my reaction. "I mean, there are some... similarities," she teased, but there was a glint of mischief there that I couldn't ignore.

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Oh, come on, Chapa. The only thing I have in common with that guy is DNA, apparently," I shot back, shaking my head. "And for the record, that's why my coat smelled like it did. I stopped by his place. You should've seen it—it's like a garbage dump in there."

She snorted, half-laughing. "Somehow, I'm not surprised."

"Seriously," I insisted. "The guy's got trash everywhere. Empty cans, dirty dishes... it's a miracle there's even space to sit. And here you are, trying to tell me he's my competition?"

Chapa shrugged with a grin, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Well, I don't know. You two do have that Italian thing going for you."

I crossed my arms, rolling my eyes. "Unbelievable. I am nothing like him."

She laughed softly, patting my shoulder. "Alright, alright. I'll take your word for it, for now."

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. "You better, because I'd rather walk through his trash-strewn apartment in bare feet than ever be compared to that guy again."

Miles POV:

I was barely keeping my eyes open when Blaise texted, asking to meet up at a cafe. Last night had been rough; by the time I got the emergency call and rushed out, Chapa and Bose had already handled it. I'd gone home and crashed, so today, I wasn't exactly at my best, but I couldn't ignore Blaise. She deserved a proper conversation after everything she'd done.

When I walked into the cafe, she was sitting at a corner table, her fingers tapping lightly on her coffee cup, her face looking a little tense. I slid into the chair across from her, and we exchanged a quick greeting. For a second, it felt awkward. I could tell she had something on her mind, something that might not be easy to say.

After a bit of small talk, Blaise sighed, breaking the silence. "Look, Miles, I think you should probably tell your aunt that you and Maddie... well, broke up. I mean, it doesn't make sense for me to keep pretending, especially with Hawaii coming up. I can't keep this up forever."

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. I knew she had a point, but I also knew what was coming. "Yeah, I get that... but... my aunt already booked everything. I didn't know how to tell her..."

Blaise sighed, looking a mix of annoyed and resigned. "Oh, Miles... seriously?"

"I know, I know. I should have been more upfront with her," I admitted, looking at her apologetically. "It's just... she went all out with the reservations and everything. And Aunt Didi's really, really excited. Would you be able to hold it together just for one week in Hawaii? Please?"

She blinked, staring at me like I'd just asked her to move a mountain. "A whole week, Miles? That's a lot. I've got babysitting jobs lined up, not to mention other work. Dropping everything just to pretend to be your ex again... that's a big ask."

I glanced down at my coffee, feeling even guiltier. She was right—it was unfair, and this whole situation was messier than I'd planned for. "I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't want to put you in this position. Maybe I'll talk to her, or... I'll figure something else out, if you can't. I really appreciate everything you've done. Really."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Look, I get that family stuff can be complicated. It's just... this was a lot. I wanted to help you, but, honestly, this whole pretending-to-be-Maddie thing was probably a bad idea from the beginning."

"Thanks for even trying," I muttered, feeling kind of defeated but grateful.

She looked at me for a long moment before giving me a half-smile. "Let's just stop this now before it gets any worse. The last thing I want is to be roped into a whole week of family drama, especially when it's not even real."

Her words hung between us, and I nodded, feeling the weight of it. "Yeah, you're right. I'll... I'll find a way to fix this. I promise."

She looked at me with a hint of relief but also a trace of concern. "Good. I hope so. I don't want to leave you hanging, but this has to be on you."

"I get it. And thanks, Blaise," I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though I could feel the pressure building.

Mika POV:

It was nearing 7 p.m., and my stomach reminded me it hadn't seen food since breakfast. I was knee-deep in reports, so focused that I jumped a little when a knock came at the door.

"Come in," I called, glancing up—and froze when Andrew walked in, carrying a massive takeout bag.

He flashed that easy smile of his. "Brought you sushi. Thought you might be hungry."

My mind spun as I processed this unexpected visit. "Andrew... how did you even find my office? Or, wait, this company?"

He grinned, holding up a lanyard with Bose's access pass. "Bose gave me his pass, told me exactly where your office was. I figured you might be working late, and sushi's your favorite, right?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised he knew that. "How... did you know?"

He shrugged casually. "Asked Miles. He said you loved it."

The gesture was unexpected, and I found myself smiling despite the surprise. "That's... thoughtful. Why go to all this trouble just for me?"

His eyes softened as he looked at me. "This isn't trouble, Mika. A little sushi delivery? That's hardly effort."

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten, and I felt my cheeks warm as he set the takeout bag down on my desk. He stood back up, giving a nod. "I'll leave you to it. I know you probably have tons of work to do."

Impulsively, I stopped him. "Wait."

He turned back, eyebrows raised. I swallowed, feeling oddly nervous. "I mean... if I'm going to eat, I might as well take a break. And I don't really have anyone to sit with. So... I'd like some company, if you're not busy."

He grinned, pulling up a chair across from me, and I started opening the boxes. My jaw dropped when I saw the sheer amount of sushi packed into them.

"Andrew, there's... so much here. How many did you get?" I laughed, glancing up at him. "There must be 90 pieces in here! And... dumplings? Chicken?"

He scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "Well, I didn't know exactly what you liked, so I got a little of everything."

I shook my head in disbelief. "How much did this even cost?"

He waved it off. "Doesn't matter. Seeing you smile over sushi? Worth every penny."

We fell into easy conversation, mostly small talk. He'd ask about my day, I'd tell him a bit about my workload, and somehow, between dumplings and laughter, we both relaxed. But then his expression grew a bit more serious.

"There's actually something I wanted to ask you," he said carefully.

"Oh?" I picked up another piece of sushi, waiting for him to continue.

"Well..." he hesitated, as if choosing his words. "I wanted to know... why you slept in the guest room the other night."

I stopped mid-bite, feeling my cheeks burn. I'd been dreading this question, hoping he hadn't made a big deal out of it. "I... well... I didn't want to, um, invade your privacy, I guess."

Andrew chuckled softly. "Mika, that's ridiculous. You couldn't invade my privacy, trust me."

My face grew even warmer, and I stammered, "It's just... I didn't want to give you the wrong idea or anything."

He tilted his head, his curiosity obvious. "Wrong idea of... what, exactly?"

I waved my hand awkwardly. "You know..."

His face softened with understanding, a small "Oh..." escaping him. There was a moment of silence, and I felt embarrassed, like I'd just let down some invisible wall. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, immediately feeling stupid for apologizing.

"Don't be," he said gently. "You don't have to apologize for that. I didn't expect to do that, anyway."

Relief washed over me, and I nodded. "Good."

"Good," he echoed with a reassuring smile.

An awkward silence settled between us as I picked at my sushi, the unspoken tension lingering in the air. After a few minutes, he glanced at his watch, clearing his throat. "I should probably let you get back to work. Don't want to keep you up too late."

"Yeah, that's probably best," I replied, feeling more awkward by the second.

He waved, his warm smile making my heart flutter for a split second. I forced myself to wave back, but as soon as the door closed behind him, I slumped back in my chair, feeling every bit as ridiculous as the conversation had been.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I muttered, lightly hitting my forehead with my hand.