Bose POV:
It was still early when I drove over to my mom's place, the sun barely creeping up over the horizon. After last night, things felt quieter, more normal. I needed that. Spending time with Chapa always grounded me. Cookie had been with my mom while Chapa and I were in Italy, and I couldn't wait to see the little guy. Or girl.
As I arrived, the room was filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. I walked in and called out, "Mom? You here?"
"In the kitchen, honey!" came her familiar voice.
I smiled, following the sound. When I stepped in, she was already waiting by the counter, a soft smile on her face and a mug of coffee in hand. She looked up from whatever she was preparing and walked over to give me a hug.
"Welcome back, sweetheart," she said, pulling me in close.
"Thanks, Mom. It's good to be back," I replied, hugging her tightly. For a moment, everything felt right.
"How was Italy? I saw some of the pictures online—it looked beautiful," she said, pouring me a cup of coffee and handing it over.
"It was," I said, taking a sip and leaning against the counter. "A lot happened, but it was... good. I missed you though."
She smiled warmly, her eyes filled with that familiar motherly concern. "Well, I missed you too. And Cookie missed you even more—he's been a little terror running around the house. He's out back, by the way. I'll grab him for you in a minute."
Just as we started to settle into the calm rhythm of catching up, I heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall. My mom's face tightened slightly, and I knew who was coming before I even turned around.
The door creaked open, and in walked the mayor of Swellview—my stepfather. He's been announced mayor a couple years ago, which boosted his self-orientated personality. His face was set in that same stern expression he always wore around me. Even before he opened his mouth, I could feel the tension thickening in the air.
"Bose," he said coldly, his voice laced with disapproval. He didn't even try to hide it. "I saw the video."
Of course. I could feel my stomach knot up. Here we go.
"What about it?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture, but I knew one was coming.
"This is bad, really bad," he said, stepping closer, his face hardening even more. "You're all over the internet, dancing with that girl—Chapa, is it? That old friend of yours. It's a disgrace. Do you have any idea what this does to your and more important, my reputation? People are talking. They're asking why the mayor's stepson is involved in something like this."
I could feel my blood starting to boil, but I kept my cool. Barely. "It's just a video. We were dancing. It's not that big of a deal."
"Not that big of a deal?" His voice rose, frustration clear in his eyes. "You're a public figure whether you like it or not. This isn't the kind of attention we need. People expect more from you, Bose. You're not a child anymore. You should know how to handle yourself."
Before I could even respond, my mom stepped in, her voice calm but firm. "Honey, it was just a dance. He's young, let him live his life. There's no need to blow this out of proportion."
She always tried to protect me from him, but it only seemed to make him angrier. He waved a hand, dismissing her words as if they didn't matter. "This isn't about that. It's about responsibility. He's a reflection of us, and this video... this isn't acceptable."
I stood there, clenching my jaw, trying not to explode. It was always the same with him—everything was about reputation, appearances, politics. I didn't care about any of that. Not like he did.
YOU ARE READING
bapa: from here to eternity
RomanceNow Bose, Chapa, Miles and Mika have grown up and almost beaten every criminal in Swellview, they have their own lives and different paths. At one point they've not seen in each other in months. While Bose is doing great and Chapa is in a financial...