chapter 65: away

Chapa POV:

It had been three weeks since Bose left for Italy. At first, we tried to keep in touch every day, but the network over there was terrible. Sometimes, his messages wouldn't come through until hours later, and calls would cut off halfway through a sentence. He told me he had been searching for the address the woman had given him, but no matter how many places he checked, he hadn't figured it out yet.

Next week was his birthday, and I had hoped he would be back by then. But at this rate, I doubted it. This whole trip was taking longer than I had expected, and I couldn't even blame him. If he really did find his father, this would change everything.

Meanwhile, I had been keeping myself busy. I finally decided to start taking lessons to get my official driver's license. I knew how to drive a motorcycle, but having a license would make things easier. My first lesson was next week.

Even with all of that, the apartment felt quieter without Bose around. It was strange not having someone to steal food from my plate or throw a pillow at me when I teased him. I tried not to think about it too much, but some nights, when I was lying in bed staring at my phone, waiting for a text that wouldn't come, I realized just how much I missed him.

Bose POV:

Today was my birthday, and I hated that I couldn't spend it with Chapa or my mom. Instead, I was stuck in the middle of nowhere in Italy, chasing a lead that might not even be real. I still couldn't reach the woman who had called me, and there was no signal here. If this all turned out to be a joke or some cruel trick, I would make sure that person paid for wasting my time.

At least today, I finally got a lead. A local farmer told me he knew someone who was familiar with every hidden place in the area. I agreed to meet the guy tomorrow. As a birthday gesture, the farmer gave me some fresh milk. I had snacks in my backpack, but who says no to fresh milk from a farmer? It was actually pretty good.

I had been in about fourteen taxis so far, and none of the drivers had ever heard of the location I was searching for. Even Google Maps didn't recognize it. This place was probably something only known by the locals, which meant I had no choice but to rely on people like this farmer to find my way.

The day dragged on, and I wished I could at least talk to Chapa, or even my mom. Just hearing a familiar voice would have made this day feel less lonely. In the evening, the farmer let me stay at his place since there weren't any hotels nearby. It was a simple house, but the warmth of the fireplace and the quiet countryside made it feel different from anything I was used to. I wasn't sure I'd want to do this often, but for once, it was kind of cool to experience something like this.

At one point, I finally got a signal. My phone buzzed with all the messages that had come in throughout the day. It was already 1 AM in Italy, which meant it was afternoon for Chapa. I quickly texted her:

"I'm a step closer. I miss you. Can you meet with my mom and tell her I'm okay?"

I wasn't sure if the message would even send, but I hoped it would.

—

The next morning, the farmer and I set out to find the man he knew. When we arrived, I saw an old man sitting on the ground, leaning against a wall. He looked homeless, with worn-out clothes and a scruffy beard, but there was something about him—he seemed... happy. Peaceful, even.

"Questo ragazzo sta cercando la casa dei Capra, vicino al ponte," the farmer asked if he knew the place I have been looking for.

The old man's eyes lit up like he understood exactly what that meant. He nodded slowly, "È lontano. Circa due giorni di viaggio da qui. Poi arriverai in un piccolo villaggio vicino alla casa." he said it will take two days to travel to a nearby unknown village that's close to the place.

That was fine by me.

"Se puoi portarmi oggi, ti pagherò 1000 euro," I told him I would pay him 1000 euros.

His entire attitude changed instantly. He grinned, stood up, and dusted himself off. "Vieni con me," he said, motioning for me to follow.

Finally, I was getting somewhere.

Chapa POV:

I sat at a bar with Mika, sipping my drink and trying not to think about how long Bose had been away. A whole month already. Mika had been keeping me company more often, which I appreciated. She understood how much I missed him, even though I tried not to talk about it too much.

"Oh, Andrew is here to pick me up," Mika suddenly said, glancing at her phone.

"Yeah, of course," I nodded, taking another sip.

Then, out of nowhere, Andrew appeared behind her, making her jump slightly. She turned around and swatted his arm, but he just laughed. Watching them made me jealous somehow—it reminded me how much I missed Bose.

"Hi, Chapa. How you doing?" Andrew asked, leaning against the counter.

"Just alright. It's been a while since Bose has left," I admitted.

"Yeah, work has also been a lot without him. I don't know if I can keep up," he said with a sigh.

"Today is his birthday, right?" he added.

"Yeah, I already texted him, but I don't think—"

A notification popped up on my phone, interrupting me. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Bose's name. I grabbed my phone quickly, unlocking it.

"I'm a step closer. I miss you. Can you meet with my mom and tell her I'm okay?"

I smiled, relieved. At least he was getting somewhere.

"You guys also wanted to look for houses, right? Found anything yet?" Mika asked as Andrew wrapped his arms around her neck from behind, almost strangling her in a playful hug.

"Yeah, I've seen a couple, but nothing that really stood out," I said, scrolling through my messages once more before locking my phone.

"How about you guys? Don't you get tired of living so far away from each other?" I asked.

"We've talked about it before, but he's from Rivalton, and I'm from Swellview. I don't wanna live in Rivalton, and he still needs to think about living in Swellview," Mika said.

"Uhm, correction," Andrew jumped in. "My mom and Lily still need to think about it. I'm fine with anything as long as I live with you."

"Oh yeah, true. We should just make a whole room for Lily then. And your mom," Mika teased.

Andrew groaned dramatically, but Mika just laughed.

"Well, anyway, I'm heading home. Good luck with everything," I said, standing up.

"Are you sure? You can hang out with us," Mika offered.

"I'm sure. I'll let you two do your thing," I said with a small smirk before grabbing my jacket and heading out.

Bose POV:

We arrived at a small village with a bustling market, and I took the chance to buy some water and food. The past few nights, we had been sleeping on the grass. It was hot, so it wasn't too bad, but I couldn't say I was used to it.

As we walked through the village, the man who had been leading me asked several locals about the place I was looking for. Their dialect was thick, making it hard for me to understand, so I just stood there, waiting. We spent the whole day in the village, asking around and following small leads that led to nowhere. When night fell, we found a local family willing to let us sleep in their home. I gave them 100 euros, which seemed like a fortune to them. It was the least I could do.

That night, I noticed I had a weak signal. Without hesitating, I grabbed my phone and called Chapa. She picked up instantly.

"Bose." Her voice was sharp with urgency.

"Hi, missed me?" I asked, leaning back on the old wooden bed.

"What do you think? I have to clean your penthouse and do everything myself."

I laughed. "Just hire a cleaner, I don't mind."

"Alright, but how long will you be there? I can't wait another month for you."

"I think I'm almost there. We'll continue our search tomorrow, hopefully then I'll get some answers. I should be home within a few weeks."

"Okay, good. Are you eating and sleeping properly?"

"It's fine," I said, not wanting to get into details.

"Okay. Just remember to call me whenever you have a signal."

"I will, don't worry."

She stayed quiet, or so I thought, until I noticed the call had disconnected. I sighed, placed my phone down, and closed my eyes.

---

The next morning, we woke up early. I changed into loose white pants and a blue T-shirt to keep cool. My hair had grown a lot, so I tied it up into a bun, hoping it would help with the heat. With my backpack and suitcase in hand, we left.

They said the place I was looking for was about a four-hour walk from the village. As much as I hated this entire journey, I had to admit—this place was beautiful. Lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, and the air was fresh, untouched by the pollution I was used to. It was a side of Italy I had never imagined.

After four hours, the man turned to me. "Now, walk straight. You'll see a little wooden bridge and a house near it. That should be it." he said in Italian.

I nodded, thanked him, and handed him his 1000 euros. His eyes widened, and he thanked me repeatedly before leaving.

I walked straight, just as he said. Soon, a small wooden bridge came into view, and beyond it, a house. It wasn't tiny, but it wasn't big either. It looked old, worn by time.

I knocked. No one answered.

I walked around the house and spotted a woman milking a goat. Could she be the one who called me?

She turned her head and froze. Then, suddenly, she ran toward me. "Bose, sei tu?"

I nodded.

"I've been waiting for you. I can't believe you found this place."

"Who are you?" I asked in Italian.

"Come inside, I'll explain everything. Would you like some milk or tea?"

I nodded, still confused but eager for answers.

Inside, the house was even older than it looked. The walls were cracked, and the wooden beams above seemed fragile. She placed a glass of milk in front of me.

"Is this from the goats?" I asked curious.

She nodded, smiling. Then, she sat down across from me, her face growing serious.

"I am Francesca, the cousin of Rafaelle—your father."

I looked up, startled.

"I called you here because I needed to tell you something. Rafaelle is alive, boy."

My heart nearly stopped.

"Where is he? What are you talking about?"

"He's very ill. He lives in a small abandoned house on our farm."

My mind raced. "Then why did people tell me he was dead? Why hasn't he reached out? What happened?"

She sighed. "I'll tell you everything. Twenty-five years ago, Rafaelle discovered that his parents had killed someone. Back then, they lived in a crowded town, and if anyone found out, they would be ruined. So, they sent him away to America as an exchange student. But when he returned, he told them he had met your mother and had a child—you. He planned to turn his parents in and run away with your mother."

She paused, her fingers gripping the table. "His parents were terrified. They moved here, to this unknown place, and kept him locked away for years. They told everyone he had died. Even Edoardo believed it."

My chest tightened. "How do you know all of this?"

She hesitated. "Because I was there. They killed my parents. Your grandparents murdered them."

I froze.

She continued, "My parents weren't even there for me, but I searched for this place for years. When I finally found it, I found Rafaelle- sick, barely functioning. He had lost touch with reality. The only memories he held onto were from when he had you. Everything after that is gone."

My throat felt dry.

"I turned in his parents, but they refused to go to jail. Instead, they killed themselves."

She took a deep breath. "I have taken care of Rafaelle for the past seven years, but he hasn't gotten much better. Then, suddenly, he started calling your name. He kept repeating strange numbers. It took me a week to realize... he was reciting your phone number. That's why I called you. Because I needed you to know—he's still alive."

I couldn't speak.

"Can I see him?" I finally asked.

She nodded. "Come with me."

---

We walked through the farm, past fields and trees, until we reached a small, run-down house. She knocked.

"Rafaelle, sono io, Francesca."

I stood outside, hesitating.

"There's someone here for you."

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

He sat in a wheelchair, head bowed, frail but still strikingly handsome. He looked young—maybe 40 at most—but exhausted. His hair was graying at the edges, and his hands trembled slightly.

I dropped to my knees in front of him. "Hi, Dad. It's me... Bose, your son."

Slowly, he lifted his head. His tired eyes softened, and then—he smiled.

"Bosey?" His voice was hoarse but warm.

I nodded.

"You've grown so much. My beautiful boy.""

Tears blurred my vision. I smiled as I wiped them away.

"Shh, don't cry," he whispered, brushing a tear off my cheek.

"Do you really remember me? Do you know who I am?"

"I recognize you. You look just like me when I was your age."

I let out a breathless laugh. "Really?"

"Sì."

"All these years, I've been waiting for you to find me."

I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head against his chest. He smiled, stroking my hair gently.

After a while, Francesca cleared her throat. "He needs to sleep now."

I nodded and stepped back.

As we left, she turned to me. "I've never seen him like this before. He never smiles, never speaks much. I knew this would work."

I wiped my face. "Could he actually recover? Could he leave this place?"

She hesitated. "A psychologist told me before he has a chance. If we keep bringing him back to reality, he might regain his mind. But he needs something to hold onto—something to keep him present. I think that something is you."

I swallowed hard. "Are you saying I need to stay here and help him recover?"

She nodded.

I stayed quiet, torn.

"How long would it take?"

"It depends."

I exhaled sharply. I would stay years if it meant saving my father. But... my life in Swellview. My mom. Chapa.

I couldn't stay here forever.

Miles POV:

Training was over. The group of young heroes I had been mentoring over the past few weeks had just left, teleporting back to their cities. They were new to their powers, rough around the edges, but they were getting there. I stood in the middle of the empty training facility, letting out a deep breath, rolling my shoulders. Finally done for the day—

Then the alert went off.

I straightened up and checked my wrist device. A robbery in downtown Swellview. I had to move. Without hesitation, I teleported to the location.

The thief was running out of a high-end electronics store, a backpack slung over his shoulder, clearly stuffed with stolen goods. He barely got two steps onto the sidewalk before I appeared in front of him.

"Come on, man," I sighed. "You really think you're getting away?"

He tried to bolt in another direction, but I was faster. A quick teleport behind him, a precise strike—just enough to knock him out cold. He hit the ground, unconscious. I called the police and stepped back, taking in the crowd that had gathered around. The usual reaction: phones out, people whispering. Just another day.

Then I saw her.

Blaise.

My stomach tightened. I hadn't seen her in months. Not since she kissed me so fast I barely had time to process it—and then disappeared. Then blocked my number. And ignored every attempt I made to reach out.

She was standing in the crowd, frozen for a second when our eyes met. But before I could take a step toward her, she turned and walked away. Fast.

Oh, hell no.

The cops had arrived, but I barely registered them as they asked what happened. "He robbed the place," I muttered, my eyes still on Blaise's retreating figure. "I gotta go."

And I did.

I teleported away, just far enough to duck into an alley, shed my mask, and reappear ahead of her. She nearly bumped into me.

"Blaise."

She froze. Then her shoulders tensed, and she let out a breath. "...Miles."

I tilted my head. "You blocked my number."

She hesitated. Then, instead of answering, she tried to step around me. I shifted, blocking her path.

"What are you doing in Swellview?" I asked. "Did you come here just to avoid me in person, too?"

She let out a small, nervous laugh and shook her head. "I... got a job here."

I blinked. "Wait, you live here now?"

She nodded, avoiding my eyes. That threw me. I had spent so much time wondering where she was, why she just disappeared—

And she was here the whole time?

I studied her. She was fidgeting, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. That didn't stop me from asking the question that had been burning in my mind since the day she vanished.

"Why did you block me?"

She sighed. "Miles—"

"No, seriously." I crossed my arms. "I thought things were going great. Then you kiss me out of nowhere and just disappear? What was that about?"

She bit her lip, looking everywhere but at me. "I don't know."

"Try again."

She exhaled sharply, finally meeting my eyes. "Because I knew if I didn't, I'd keep talking to you. And if I kept talking to you, I'd never stop."

That shut me up for a second. She looked at me with this... vulnerable expression I wasn't used to seeing on her face.

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. "That doesn't make sense."

"It makes sense to me," she murmured.

I took a step closer. "Blaise."

She shook her head, her guard snapping back up. "It doesn't matter, okay? Just... let it go."

But I wasn't about to let it go. Not now. Not after all this time.

"Let me take you to dinner," I blurted out before I could overthink it.

She blinked at me. "What?"

"Dinner," I repeated. "You live here now. We can catch up."

She hesitated. Then, after a long pause, she nodded. "Fine. One dinner."

I smiled, satisfied. "Good. It's a date."

She rolled her eyes. "It's dinner."

"Same thing."

She groaned, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide as she walked past me.

Blaise POV:

Sitting across from Miles in the restaurant, I kept my eyes on my plate, pretending to be more interested in my half-eaten food than in the fact that he was staring at me. The silence between us stretched, heavy and awkward, and I hated it. I wished he'd just drop it—whatever it was he wanted to say.

But, of course, Miles never let anything go.

"So... where are you working now?"

I sighed, finally looking up. "I'm interning at that company."

His eyebrows shot up. "Wait. That company? The one you were practically obsessed with getting into?"

I nodded, taking a sip of my drink.

Miles leaned back in his chair, shaking his head like he couldn't believe it. "Damn, Blaise. That's huge. Why didn't you tell me?"

I shrugged. "I didn't think I needed to."

"You didn't think you needed to?" He scoffed. "You worked for years to get in there, and you just—what? Decided not to mention it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not everything I do is your business, Miles."

His jaw tightened slightly, but he let it go. Instead, he started asking more questions—what I was doing, who I was working under, if I liked it. I gave short answers, careful not to give him too much. The last thing I needed was to start feeling comfortable.

And then, just when I thought we were past the hardest part, he dropped it.

"Tell me... that night... why did you kiss me?"

I nearly choked on my drink. "What?"

"The kiss," he repeated casually, as if it was nothing. "That night, before you disappeared for months."

I set my glass down a little too hard. "I was drunk," I said immediately, cutting him off before he could say anything else. "I didn't know what I was doing."

Miles watched me for a second, then tilted his head. "Right."

"Right," I echoed, crossing my arms. "So there's nothing to talk about."

"But do you still like me?"

My stomach dropped.

I scoffed, trying to play it off. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

He didn't break eye contact. "Not my words."

I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You said it yourself," he said, voice steady. "Back then. That I was on your mind. That you liked me."

I froze.

I had said that.

And now, I was trapped.

Miles smiled slightly, like he knew exactly what he was doing.

I glared at him. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he said, but he was clearly enjoying this way too much.

I inhaled sharply. "I was drunk."

Miles leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Drunk people tell the truth."

My whole body tensed.

He was right, and we both knew it. But I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction.

Instead, I grabbed my bag and stood up. "Whatever."

Miles raised an eyebrow. "Not denying it, huh?"

I ignored him as we left the restaurant. The air outside was crisp, and I hoped it would cool down the heat rising to my face. We walked for a bit in silence, but just when I thought I was in the clear, he spoke up again.

"You still didn't answer my question."

I clenched my jaw. "What question?"

"If you still like me."

I stopped walking and turned to him. "Why do you care?"

"Because you confessed and then disappeared for months."

I exhaled through my nose. "I was confused," I admitted. "I said something I shouldn't have."

Miles didn't respond.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked away. "I'm going home."

He just stood there, watching me, like he was waiting for me to say something else.

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "Can we not meet up again?"

I didn't wait for his answer.

I just walked away.

Chapa POV:

I arrived at Celia's mansion, the place so extravagant it still felt surreal every time I visited. The massive white pillars, the marble floors, the grand staircase—it was like stepping into some royal palace. Bose never lived here anymore, but I knew his mom would be happy to see me. She had told me earlier that Bose's stepdad, the mayor, wouldn't be home, which was a relief. I didn't want to deal with his condescending attitude today.

Celia greeted me with a warm hug, her perfume lingering in the air.

"It's been a while, Chapa. I'm so glad you came," she said, leading me into the living room, where a massive chandelier cast golden light over the room. "Have you heard from Bose? I thought he'd be back by now."

I hesitated for a second, then sighed. "Yeah... it's taking him longer than expected."

She gave me a questioning look, sensing there was more to it. "What do you mean?"

I shifted in my seat, debating whether to tell her everything. But his mom deserved to know. "Bose isn't just on some random business trip," I finally admitted. "He's been trying to find someone..."

Her expression stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

I swallowed hard. "His father. Your ex-husband. Bose found out that he might still be alive. He's in some isolated village in Italy trying to find him."

His mom went pale. Her lips parted, but no words came out. I could tell she was trying to process what I had just said.

"That's not possible," she finally whispered. "His father... we were told he was gone."

"That's what Bose thought, too. And he wasn't sure of it all, so he went down there to look for answers."

She leaned back, rubbing her temples. "I don't... I don't even know what to say."

I nodded, understanding how overwhelming this was. "It's been hard to stay in touch with him. The signal where he is is terrible."

As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my hand. I quickly checked it—Bose. I didn't waste a second before opening the message.

"I found him, Chapa. He's alive, but really sick. He needs treatment, and I need to stay here longer to help him recover. It's going to be even harder to keep in touch—I have to walk four hours to the village just to get a weak signal. But I'll try whenever I can. Please tell my mom I'm okay."

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

His mom was watching me closely. "Is that him?"

I nodded and handed her my phone. She read the message in silence, her fingers tightening around the edges of the screen. Her eyes looked glassy, but she quickly composed herself.

"He's staying there?" she asked, her voice strained.

"For as long as it takes," I said. "He wants to help his dad get better."

She exhaled, placing the phone down on the coffee table. "That boy... he has the biggest heart." She shook her head, blinking rapidly. "I wish he told me sooner."

"I think he didn't want to give you false hope in case it turned out to be nothing," I said. "But it's real. He found him."

She was silent for a long moment, lost in thought. Then she straightened up, her usual composed self returning. "I need to find a way to help him from here."

I gave her a small smile. "I know you will."

We sat in silence for a while, both of us processing everything. Bose wasn't coming home anytime soon. But at least he was closer to the truth—and to the father he thought he'd lost forever.

Blaise POV:

I had just gotten back from work, exhausted and ready to collapse on my couch, when I noticed a young girl standing in front of the apartment next to mine, rummaging through her bag with growing frustration. She huffed, tapping her foot, clearly searching for something important.

"Lost something?" I asked, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.

She turned to me with a dramatic sigh. "My keys. I swear I had them."

We seemed to be neighbors. I hadn't really noticed before. "Where do you think you lost them?"

She shrugged. "No idea. Just... somewhere."

I raised an eyebrow. "At a boy's place?"

She made a face. "Ew, no."

I smiled.

"My sister won't be home until seven anyway. And I really don't feel like waiting in the hallway for an hour."

I chuckled. "Fair enough. Want to chill at my place until you figure things out?"

She hesitated, then nodded.

We went inside, and she immediately made herself comfortable on my couch, flipping through TV channels like she lived here. I leaned against the wall, watching her, before finally asking, "What's your name?"

"Gigi," she said, eyes still glued to the screen.

She seemed comfortable enough, so I let her be, heading to the kitchen to grab a drink. A few minutes later, her phone rang. She answered quickly, spoke in hushed tones, then hung up.

"Someone found my keys," she said, standing up. "He's bringing them over now."

I smirked. "So it is a boy."

She groaned. "No, it's not like that."

I just laughed, but when the doorbell rang and I opened it, my amusement instantly disappeared.

Miles.

What the hell was he doing here?

He noticed me immediately. "Blaise?"

Gigi peered over my shoulder. "Wait... you two know each other?"

Miles smirked. "Sort of."

I crossed my arms. "What are you doing here? And how do you know Gigi?"

"Oh, I train her. And a few others," he said casually. "They've got powers. I help them control them."

"Wait, she already knew?" Gigi asked, her voice full of betrayal. "So I was keeping a secret that wasn't even a secret?!"

Miles nodded. "Pretty much."

I shook my head. "So that's where you were?"

"Seeing each other sooner than expected, huh?" Miles teased me, his smirk widening.

Gigi tilted her head. "Are you guys dating or something?"

"No!" I said, way too quickly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You both seem to like each other. Miles is a great guy. You're a kind person. You both look good. What's the problem?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Miles shrugged. "I don't know what's the problem either."

I froze.

What did he mean by that? What was there to not know?

Gigi groaned. "Ugh, feels like I'm interrupting something." Then, before I could react, she grabbed Miles by the arm, shoved him inside my apartment, and shut the door behind him. "You two talk. Bye."

And just like that, she was gone.

Miles sighed, shaking his head. "That was... something."

We stood there in silence for a moment before he finally spoke again. "You know, it wasn't very nice of you to leave me yesterday without even saying thanks for the date."

"It wasn't a date."

He rolled his eyes. "Still. You could've at least thanked me. Or been a little less harsh."

I exhaled, glancing away. "Fine. Thank you for the meal. Now can you go?"

He didn't move. "Why are you being so distant? What's up with you? Is it because I'm AWOL?"

I sighed. "Miles, please just leave."

His expression darkened. "Just give me answers, Blaise. You confuse me so much, and it's not funny anymore."

I couldn't look at him. "Sorry. But please go. For now."

He stared at me for a moment, then let out a short breath. "Fine. Whatever." He turned toward the door, but before he could reach for the handle, he suddenly froze.

I frowned. "What?"

He didn't answer immediately. Then he turned, his voice quiet. "Shh. I just had a vision."

I stiffened. "A vision?"

"Slash." His voice was barely above a whisper. "He's outside. Right now."

My heart stopped.

Miles put a hand over my mouth before I could say anything, then pointed to a nearby table. His silent order was clear—hide. I didn't argue. I ducked underneath just as Miles quietly transformed, his entire stance shifting into something sharper, stronger.

One minute passed. Then—

The door was kicked open.

Slash.

How the hell did he find me?

Before he could even get a word out, Miles punched him across the face, sending him stumbling back. He didn't stop there—he followed up with a sharp kick to the stomach, knocking him off balance.

"You again?" Slash growled, wiping blood from his lip.

"Surprise," Miles muttered, before landing another punch.

Slash barely had time to react before Miles was on him, but then he pulled out a weapon, aiming it directly at him.

"Stay here," Miles ordered before quickly grabbing his phone and calling the cops.

Within minutes, the police arrived, restraining Slash and dragging him away. Miles didn't mention anything about my past with him to the cops. He didn't even hint at it.

I appreciated that.

When the officers left, Miles turned to me. "You okay?"

I let out a breath. "I could ask you that."

He smirked slightly. "I'm fine."

He started to say something else, but before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and hugged him.

"Thank you," I murmured.

I pulled back almost immediately, feeling embarrassed. "Sorry for that."

He just shook his head. "No worries."

There was a beat of silence, then he smirked. "Now that I've taken care of him, could you do me a favor?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Meet up with me once in a while."

I hesitated, then gave a small nod.

He smiled. "Then do me one more favor."

"What?"

"Unblock me."

I sighed, but nodded again.

His smile widened. And in the next second, he was gone, teleporting away in a flash.