chapter 57: hangover

Bose POV:

As the afternoon wore on, Chapa turned to me and asked, "Is it okay if I head to Swellview to visit Sage?"

"Yeah, of course," I said, nodding. She asked if I wanted to come along, but I shook my head. "I think I'll stay here."

"Are you sure? It might help to get out a bit," she offered, but I assured her it was fine. When I offered her a ride, she politely declined, saying she'd manage. After she left, the penthouse felt strangely empty. I sat in silence, surrounded by the walls that suddenly seemed to close in, and after an hour, I couldn't take it anymore. Almost on impulse, I decided to go to Sam's place. Maybe it was a bad idea, but I felt like I needed to.

When I knocked, my uncle opened the door. It was still surreal to look at him and realize this man was family. My emotions were dried up; I felt hollow, like I'd already emptied every tear. "Is Sam home?" I asked.

"He left earlier—out with some friends tonight," Edoardo replied.

"Oh, okay." I hesitated but then asked, "Mind if I come in for a bit?"

Inside, I took a deep breath before saying, "Does Sam know about... any of this?"

"He knows bits and pieces," Edoardo said with a shrug. "But Sam's never been interested in family matters."

"I get it," I said softly. "And... sorry for running off yesterday."

"It's understandable," he said, giving me a look that felt sympathetic. "You don't have to apologize for that."

Then, with a quiet breath, I asked, "Are my grandparents still... alive?"

"As far as I know, yes," he answered, looking at me curiously.

"Would you happen to know where they are?" I asked carefully.

He paused before saying, "I don't know their current address, but I can give you my home address where I grew up, it's possible they still live there."

We exchanged numbers so he could send it to me, and while we did, he glanced at me. "So... are you famous or something?"

"Yeah," I said with a small smile. "Not exactly by choice. I'd rather have a quiet life, honestly."

He chuckled. "Thought I recognized you from somewhere."

I cleared my throat, shifting uncomfortably. "May I ask... why you left Sam's mom after she was pregnant?"

Edoardo looked down for a moment. "I tried to make things work here in Swellview, but it was overwhelming. Eventually, I moved to Texas to work, save up... and once I was stable, I reached out."

I nodded slowly. "Got it. Thanks for sharing that."

He sent me the address, and I thanked him. As I turned to leave, he stopped me. "Wait... I'm sorry for your loss," he said quietly.

I took a moment, then replied, "It's fine. I... never knew him anyway."

Edoardo gave me a steady look. "If you ever want to talk about him, or have questions, reach out anytime."

"Actually... would you want to grab dinner tonight? My treat."

Edoardo looked a bit surprised but nodded. "Of course, that sounds nice."

We went to a cozy, quiet restaurant. I didn't know what to expect, but all night, Edoardo shared stories about my dad—details about my father's childhood, his habits, the dreams he'd had. The way he talked about him, my father seemed more real than ever. I could feel pieces of myself settling, my confusion easing just a bit. For once, I didn't feel as lost, and I felt a little closer to understanding the man I came from.

After a couple of hours, I glanced at the time. "Guess we should head out," I said, standing.

Edoardo smiled warmly. "It was really nice to do this, Bose. Thanks for inviting me—and for dinner."

I smiled. "Thank you for taking your time. You don't seem as much of a jerk as Sam makes you out to be."

He laughed at that and as we stepped out, he paused and looked at me. "You know... your father truly loved your mom. And he was a good man, Bose. He tried to reach out when he could."

I nodded, a warmth settling in my chest. "I believe that." And for the first time in my life, I felt a small sense of peace when it came down to my birth dad.

Chapa POV:

When I finally got back to my own apartment, it was covered in dust. It had been ages since I'd set foot in there, and I quickly gathered the things I'd come for, heading back to Bose's penthouse. He was probably waiting for me by now. But when I opened the door, I was shocked to see his stepfather standing there, as smug as ever.

He looked me up and down, sizing me up. "You must be that Chapa girl he used to be hanging out with all the time," he sneered.

I dropped my bag onto the table, folding my arms. "Yeah, I'm that Chapa girl. How'd you even get in here?"

He held up a key. "I have access, of course. Bose is in big trouble, you know—skipping work, missing the fashion show. He should be out there posing for the girls, gaining more popularity for us both, not wasting his time with you. It's disgraceful."

My patience snapped. "Listen, old man," I said, stepping up to him. He shifted back a little, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Bose has been dealing with things you couldn't possibly understand, and if you're here to tell him how to live his life, you better find yourself a new hobby. He's an adult and doesn't need you breathing down his neck."

He straightened, trying to regain his composure. "He's... vulnerable. Needs protection. He's too naive."

"Oh, is that right? Well, let me tell you something," I said, narrowing my eyes. "If you don't back off, I'll make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of stepfather you've been. Wonder how much popularity that will give you. Bose deserves love and support, not your control and manipulation. So if I see you meddling in his life again, I will do whatever it takes to fucking destroy you."

His face went pale, and he stumbled back toward the door. "You... you can't just threaten me," he stammered.

"Oh, I can—and I just did," I said, opening the door wide. "Now, get out."

He practically tripped over himself as he left, and I locked the door behind him, the satisfaction of standing up to that man settling in. About ten minutes later, Bose arrived, looking surprised to see me so soon.

"Where've you been?" I asked, curious.

He looked thoughtful, almost lighter. "I went to talk to my uncle," he said softly. "Discovered a few things about my dad."

I blinked, surprised. "Oh? And... how are you feeling about that?"

He hesitated, his voice quiet but steady. "My grandparents are partly responsible for my father's death, for keeping him from reaching out to me or my mom all those years."

I didn't know what to say at first, but he seemed less lost, more grounded. "Do you think you'll go talk to them?"

He nodded slowly. "I might, yeah. But... for now, I'll take it one step at a time."

I smiled at him. "How're you feeling now?"

"Better," he said, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.

After a moment, I cleared my throat. "By the way... your stepfather stopped by."

His eyebrows shot up. "What did he want?"

"He was angry, looking for you," I replied with a shrug. "But I told him to back off. Scared him off, actually. And to leave you alone."

He looked at me, his eyes warming as he smiled. "You know, I love you so much."

I grinned. "That's the least I could do for you."

His eyebrow raised, curious. "Oh yeah? What else could you do?"

"This," I said, leaning in to give him a soft, lingering kiss. When I pulled back, I smirked. "Or I could zap anyone who even dares give you a dirty look, if that's what you want."

He laughed, pulling me closer. "Tempting, but I think I'd rather stick to the kissing."

"Fine by me," I whispered, closing the space between us for another kiss, his smile melting into mine.

Blaise POV:

Today, I decided to check out the art museum in Swellview with my friend Cole. He's as into art as I am, so it was the perfect day to spend admiring some good pieces together. After we wrapped up our visit, we headed out—and right there, across the street, was the police station. And who happened to be walking out? Aunt Didi.

I froze, immediately hissing at Cole to keep walking and, whatever he did, don't look at her. Naturally, Cole did the exact opposite, giving her a quick glance. Aunt Didi spotted us in a heartbeat, striding over with that familiar look of suspicion mixed with humor. "Maddie?" she asked, looking at me in surprise. Her gaze shifted to Cole, sizing him up with a laugh. "And who's this? Why are you with another man?"

I forced a laugh, quickly coming up with an excuse. "Oh, Cole? He's gay, Aunt Didi. No worries there." Cole looked at me, clearly taken aback by the "Maddie" part, but I gave him a look, silently begging him to play along.

Aunt Didi didn't let up. "Well, I hope you're not planning to back out on Hawaii. I've already booked everything." She crossed her arms, giving me the kind of stare that only Aunt Didi could pull off—the "you'd better answer carefully" look. Panicking, I blurted out, "No, of course I'm coming, Aunt Didi. No doubt about it."

She looked pleased, announcing that she'd already sent the boarding passes. As she finally walked away, I stood there feeling like an absolute idiot. But honestly, I was even more furious at Miles. If he'd told her sooner, I wouldn't be stuck in this lie now.

Cole, of course, gave me a look. "What the hell was that about?"

I sighed, knowing I'd have to explain. "Long story short, I've been pretending to be a friend's ex, and now his aunt wants to take me on a family trip to Hawaii."

Cole's jaw dropped, and he laughed. "You should totally go with them. Sounds like an adventure."

I shook my head, unsure. "It feels so wrong, though."

"Who cares? You've committed this far," he replied, giving me a mischievous grin. "So, who's the friend you're playing 'fake ex' for?"

"His name's Miles," I said, realizing that, technically, he was more of a friend now than just Chapa's.

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Is he hot? Your type?"

I felt a bit of heat rise to my face as I nodded. "He's... yeah, he's definitely my type."

Cole gave me a nudge, smirking. "Okay, spill everything about him. This whole fake-dating trope thing sounds like a romance waiting to happen."

I rolled my eyes and laughed, pushing him a bit as we walked on, but couldn't help feeling a little intrigued by his idea.

Miles POV:

It was late at night, and I had just finished teaching a few super kids their lessons on fighting crime. It had been a long day, but I felt good about it. Just as I was winding down, my phone buzzed with a text from Blaise.

She said she decided to come with us to Hawaii.

I paused, surprised. "What changed your mind?" I texted back, genuinely curious.

A few moments later, she replied, explaining that she ran into Aunt Didi. Apparently, Aunt Didi still expected her to join the trip, and in the moment, Blaise felt she had to lie and say she was coming along.

I frowned a bit at that. "You really didn't have to lie, you know," I typed.

Blaise shot back quickly, "It's just one more time in Hawaii, and then it's over. And I'm mad at you for not telling her sooner."

I could feel a grin creeping onto my face despite her irritation. "Thank you and I'm sorry," I replied, my heart feeling a bit lighter. "I really appreciate it."

It felt good to know she was willing to step into this chaotic situation for my sake, even if it was a temporary fix. Maybe it would help mend things a little between us, or at least give us both a break from all the tension.

Chapa POV:

It had been three weeks since Bose learned the truth about his father, and I could tell he was finally starting to heal. He was smiling more, seemed more at peace, even if he still didn't have answers about the mystery of the goat statue and Cookie's sudden appearance.

Tonight, I dressed up in a way that felt relaxed but put-together—a pair of dark blue jeans and a red, off-the-shoulder top. When I stepped out, I caught Bose watching me, and he smiled, nodding as if he approved. He'd gone for blue jeans as well, with a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the top and with the sleeves rolled up, looking casual yet effortlessly handsome.

"Ready?" I asked.

He nodded but took a step closer, his eyes locked on mine. "You look beautiful," he murmured, voice soft. I couldn't help but laugh, which only made him lean in, bringing his face close to mine. Our noses almost touched, his gaze holding mine.

Almost in a whisper, he suggested, "Maybe we should just stay home tonight."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Nice try. I want to go."

He rolled his eyes and dropped his head, exhaling in mock defeat, but then looked right back into my eyes. "I just want to spend my time with you."

I stood in front of him, smiling, and teased, "I already basically live here, you know. You see me everyday."

Bose's eyes lit up at that, his excitement barely contained. "Please do," he whispered, his voice so gentle it almost surprised me. He looked at me with an openness I hadn't seen lately, as if he'd been hoping for this moment but wasn't sure it would come.

I laughed, but his gaze stayed serious, searching my face. "So, would you?" he asked, his voice a little more hesitant this time. "Would you actually move in?"

I paused, feeling the weight of his question settle in, and then a warmth spread through me. "Yeah," I finally said. "I'll move out of my apartment and officially stay here with you."

At that, his face broke into a grin, and he let out a laugh—quiet at first, then almost childlike in its joy. He practically bounced on his feet, his energy so infectious I couldn't help but smile along with him.

"Really?" he asked, just to make sure he'd heard right.

"Really," I confirmed, reaching up to brush a lock of his hair back. He leaned in, pulling me closer, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead.

Then he lifted my chin, bringing his lips down to mine in a kiss that held everything he couldn't quite put into words. When he pulled back, he still wore that elated, almost boyish smile, and I found myself mirroring it.

"Okay," he whispered, as if it was some long-held dream finally coming true. And with a final laugh, we grabbed our things and headed out, ready to celebrate at Andrew's birthday.

—

I hadn't seen Bose all evening. It was nearly 1 a.m., and Andrew's party was still in full swing. Mika was also still there, talking to some friends across the room. I made my way through the crowd to Andrew, who looked tipsy, laughing and talking loudly. Leaning in to be heard over the music, I asked, "Have you seen Bose? I want to leave."

Andrew let out a laugh, and his answer took me aback. "He's destroyed," he said.

"What do you mean?" I shouted over the music, feeling a twinge of worry.

"He drank... a lot," he said, holding his hand up to indicate an exaggerated amount. I frowned and asked where he was. Andrew shrugged, and that only made my frustration grow. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I asked, realizing he was too tipsy himself to take anything seriously.

Leaving Andrew to his drunken laughter, I searched every corner of the mansion, checking room after room, until I finally went upstairs. In a guest room, lying on the bed, I found Bose. I flicked on the lights, and he groaned immediately. "Turn them off," he muttered, squinting. But then, through bleary eyes, he saw it was me and softened. "Wait... don't. Now I can see you."

I walked closer and asked, "Bose, what happened?" He slurred, "Nothing happened," and tried to sit up, wobbling slightly. I gave him a look, and he just sighed, grabbing my face, staring at me with that overly sincere, drunken look. "I... I love you," he started, his words tumbling out with slurred but heartfelt conviction.

"I know you love me, but that's not what I'm asking," I said, trying not to laugh. "What happened?"

He waved a hand in the air, insisting, "I just drank... a little," and made a small pinch gesture with his fingers to show how "little" he'd had. I shook my head, already doubting his version, and told him we were going home.

"You're too drunk, Bose," I said firmly.

He frowned, shaking his head slowly. "I'm not. It's just... one time," he murmured, clearly not realizing how much he was slurring. I sighed and headed downstairs to find Miles, who'd just wrapped up talking with some friends. I told him I needed help, and when he asked why, I led him upstairs.

Bose was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, half-asleep, like he was about to nod off completely. "Oh, now I see," Miles said with a knowing look. He grabbed my hand, and in a moment, teleported us back home.

I thanked Miles before helping Bose, who was heavier than I expected, to his feet and guiding him to bed. As I supported him down the hall, he kept leaning in to kiss my cheeks, mumbling, "I love you so much, Chapa." I shook my head, amused and slightly cringing. "That's enough, Bose."

"Never enough," he murmured, grinning at me in his drunken haze.

I helped him into bed, kneeling down to take off his shoes one by one. He looked at me with that hazy, affectionate expression, begging me, "Stay... live with me, really."

I nodded, "I will." He just smiled, his eyes soft as he continued to stare up at me.

"You're breathtaking," he said, almost in awe, reaching out to brush his fingers over my hand. "I don't deserve you. You're... you're precious."

His words made me smile, as cringy as they were.  But it came from a drunken Bose, which was cute and funny. I never thought I'd see him drunk like this—it was, unexpectedly, a little entertaining.

I turned to leave him, and he reached out for my hand again, looking up with an exaggerated pout. "Where are you going Sparky?" he asked, half-whining.

"I'm sleeping on the couch," I told him, keeping my tone firm. "You might throw up, and I'm not lying next to you if that happens."

He let out a dramatic sigh, pulling my hand to his lips and giving it a soft kiss. "I'm the luckiest man alive," he mumbled, his eyes closing.

I chuckled, grabbed a bucket from the bathroom just in case, and placed it by his bed. Then, I whispered a goodnight, leaving him to sleep it off.

Bose POV:

I woke up around 11 a.m., my head pounding as if I'd been hit by a truck. Squinting against the daylight, I stepped out of the bedroom and saw Chapa sitting on the couch, already wide awake. She looked up at me, smirking. "Finally awake, huh?"

I walked over, resting my face on her shoulder and closing my eyes, letting out a groan. "I'm such an idiot. Got drunk and made my girlfriend carry me to bed."

She laughed, a soft sound that somehow made my headache a little more bearable. "It was entertaining, though," she said, grabbing her coffee mug and offering it to me. I nodded gratefully, taking a sip. It was still warm, and I let it clear some of the fog in my mind.

After a pause, she asked, "So, what made you drink so much anyway?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I think I just needed to let it all out. You know, with the drama and... everything life's been throwing at me lately. It actually worked for a while," I added, glancing at her with a small smile, "but now, I feel like complete shit. Won't do it again, I promise."

She nodded, seeming relieved. "That would be nice," she said, and then her expression softened. "Are you okay, though? Like, is there something going on you haven't told me about?"

I gave her hand a squeeze, reassuring her. "No, I'm fine. Besides the headache, honestly."

She nodded, and I noticed her gaze drift off for a second before it hit me. I shot back into the bedroom, rummaging around for the small gift I'd hidden. I came back out and handed it to her, her eyebrows raising in surprise.

"What's this for?" she asked, giving me a curious look.

I grinned, shrugging casually. "Because... it's been six months since we've been together officially."

She tore open the wrapping. Inside, nestled in a small velvet box, was a silver necklace. The pendant was a sleek, minimalist thunderbolt—a subtle nod to her powers.

She looked up at me, her eyes lighting up. "Is this...?"

"Yeah," I said, feeling a bit nervous now. "I thought it could be, like, a little reminder of how amazing you are. I mean, you're basically lightning in human form."

She laughed, running her fingers over the pendant. "Thank you, Bose. It's so pretty."

A warm wave of relief washed over me. "I'm glad you like it."

She stood on her toes and kissed me lightly. "I love it." Then she clasped the necklace around her neck, the thunderbolt resting just below her collarbone.

Seeing it on her, I couldn't help but smile. It was like it belonged there, right above her heart, where all her strength and courage really came from.

Her eyes widened a bit, and she looked at me, amused. "How did you even remember today was our 6 month anniversary? You don't remember anything."

I laughed, scratching the back of my head. "That day is one of my favorite memories."

She smiled, "Well, I didn't get anything for you."

I shook my head, not caring. "I didn't expect you to. Just give me a kiss, and we'll call it even."

She smirked, holding back a laugh. "Maybe after you brush your teeth. Alcohol from last night and coffee? Gross."

Grinning, I ran to the bathroom like a kid, brushing my teeth with more energy than I'd had all morning. I could still taste last night's mistakes, mixed with coffee, and yeah, she was right—it was gross. After making sure I was minty fresh, I sprinted back and wrapped my arms around her, pressing my lips to hers in a kiss that felt like it could clear any hangover.