When Mika woke up, she was delirious. From the moment she got into the ambulance, she blacked out from pain and was having a hard time recalling what occurred.
However, she noted that the pain she was feeling had drastically gone down and she felt a whole lot better. Mika squinted at the sunlight and sat up. She turned he head to the door when she heard it being opened. Mika smiled when she saw Bose, and he smiled when he saw her. He was carrying a tray of breakfast foods and what she assumed was tea. "Mika, good, you're awake, " he acknowledges. Mika reached for the side of her to pull out the built-in mini food table and Bose set the food down in front of her.
He looked worn out and Mika felt guilty. Bose started naming the food he got her happily and asked if there was anything else she was in the mood for, eager to do anything for her.
"No thank you, I'm okay," Mika dimly said.
"You sure? It's no trouble," Bose went on.
"I'm sure, Bose, thank you again," Mika thanked.
Mika moved over carefully not to disrupt the IV in her wrist and gestured for Bose to sit on the cot. Then flashy, Mika remembered Isadora's cries last night and how she couldn't get to her because she physically couldn't bare to move, "Where's Isadora?". "She's fine, she's with my mom back at my place," Bose responded and Mika felt at ease.
A small awkward silence fell over them as Mika stared at all the food in front of her. It's been ages since she had a real breakfast. Mika's undertone turned a slight burgundy because she was sure by now Bose knew what she's been doing. Mika wanted to pick something up and eat, she was famished but her hands stayed glued on her lap.
Then she saw her Bose's hands pick up a waffle and she met his gaze, "Let's eat together," he encouraged. Bose wanted her to feel comfortable with him, he wanted her to know that he wasn't judging her and he would try to understand what was happening with her. Mika nodded with a grateful smile and picked up a strawberry.
They ate in comfortable silence. There was a point where Bose was full but he pretended he was still eating so Mika could.
"So, how are you feeling?" Bose sincerely asked. "Better," Mika responded. "That's good," Bose now rested his hand on her knee was covered by her blanket.
Mika signaled that she was done eating and Bose cleared the area, leaving her tea in the cup holder. Mika honestly didn't know what to say or where to begin. But she knew that she owed him an answer, even if he wasn't asking. Mika started speaking, "Bose I'm really sorry I lied to you, again. I thought that this time I was protecting you and-".
"No, Mika, it's okay just focus on getting better don't worry about that," Bose sat closer, his hand on the side of her head trying to soothe her but it only made her want to come clean even more.
"I have to do this Bose. You don't deserve this, you've been so good to me and I thought I was being good to you this time by keeping this from you but I only made things worse,". Mika continued. Bose didn't have a clue what she was rambling about. But he did have an idea that whatever she was going to tell him was probably as bad as it seemed. However, it was happening to them and nothing is ever as bad as it seems if there in it together.
"Okay, tell me, what happened?", Bose said with a heavy breath and Mika removed his hand from her head and held it in her own hand instead.
"About a month or two ago, I found out that my parents went behind our backs and tried to put Isadora up for adoption, even after she was born," Mika revealed.
Mika felt Bose's grip on her hand loosen and he blinked in confusion. "What?" He questioned, "That's insane,".
Mika took a deep breath and continued. "I know, and I was so distraught... I confronted them as soon as I found out and of course, it turned into a screaming match. My mom started talking about how I couldn't do anything by myself and how I should be grateful for them and one thing leads to another, I told her that I didn't need them, so she cut me off. I started working at the diner to afford the rent and other necessities for Isadora,". Bose stood up in disbelief.
"I should have told you but I knew if I did you would have done everything in your power to prevent me from falling so low, you would have helped me, but that's exactly what my mom would have wanted. It would have just proved that I'm not as independent and ready for this life that I've been fighting so hard for," Mika admitted. After speaking everything out Mika waited for Bose to speak up.
Bose didn't know what to feel. What do you say to something like that? His mind was still on the possible adoption. His first thought was her parents were idiots if they thought they'd get away with it. If they thought for one second that he would have ever let that happen. No matter what bullshit the four of them were dealing with, Isadora was still their granddaughter.
Secondly, he was furious thinking about the way they'd been treating Mika behind closed doors. Her mother was a complete narcissist and her dad was her loyal follower. "I realized now that I wasn't trying to prove that I could be a good mom to them, but to myself," Mika quietly added.
This was too much for Bose to process, he told himself that he should have figured it out sooner. If he had then she wouldn't have so worked tirelessly that she'd end up hospitalizing herself. Bose sat back down next to her, there was nothing he could say to make everything go away, but he knew one thing for sure. "Listen to me, you're not going back there," he affirmed.
Mika laughed a little, "I wish it worked like that," she responded to what she believed was a joke to lighten up the mood. But when she looked at Bose, she saw that there was no amusement on his face. "I mean it. Mika, you're living in such a toxic environment. look what it's done to you, you can't live like this. You can do so much better, okay and I won't allow you or Isadora to suffer like this," Bose stated. Mika bit her bottom lip and looked away.
"You may not think this affects our Adora but it does or it will sooner or later. As her father, I don't want her living in that house anymore. She's not going back there and neither are you," Bose lectured.
Mika wasn't used to hearing Bose speaks with such a stern tone. She couldn't deny that he wasn't right, but there were other factors that came into play. "I understand where you're coming from, but what other choice do I have," Mika drawled. "Me," Bose immediately replied. "You have me,".
"You are more than welcome to come stay with me and my family, we have room, lots of it," Bose insisted and Mika shook her head 'no' as he spoke. "Mika for once in your life can you just let someone be there for you, can you let that someone be me,", Bose said agitated.
Again Mika opened her mouth to say something but couldn't. Bose was right, and this wasn't about just her, it was about Isadora and what was good for her, and what's good for Isadora is being with Bose's family away from her toxic parents. "Yeah, okay, we'll stay with you," Mika agreed.
Bose chuckled and shook his head, "It wasn't really giving you an option, you would have gone even if I had to drag you by your beautiful hair,". Mika started to laugh as well. Bose took her hand and rubbed his thumb against hers. Her brain was telling her that this would be good. It was time for her to accept that she couldn't do everything by herself, everyone needs help, even those who think they don't deserve or need it.
))
Bose meant it when he said that Mika wasn't going back to the Macklin house. He had Mika text him a list of everything she wanted to bring with her while the doctors did a final examination. Bose went back to Mika's house and started packing her and Isadora's things. On his way back to the hospitable he stopped by his house to leave the baggage there.
After Mika signed herself out, she and Bose headed to the O'Brien residence. Mika kept asking him if he was sure it was okay with his parents if she stayed with them because she really didn't want to intrude. Bose told her about a million times that his mom definitely didn't mind and Willard really didn't care.
)
When they parked on the driveway, Bose rushed to get out of the car so he could open the car door for Mika. She stepped out and her eyes wandered the property. It never failed to amaze her how extravagant the whole manor was. T
hey walked to the front door and Mika nervously tucked messy hairs behind her ear as Bose unlocked the door. Ceila was already waiting for them on the couch. "Mika! So glad you're here, come in, come in," Ceila took Mika's arms. "Dial it down," Bose whispered to his mom and she hit his shoulder.
"Hey Ceila, good to see you," Mika greeted shyly.
"Because I know you're already wondering, Isadora is upstairs in her nursery sleeping. I did her nightly routine as Bose told me you did. She ate some whole-grain cereal with milk, took a room-temperature bath, did her eight minutes of tummy time, and I played some soft classical music to soothe her to sleep," Ceila relived.
Mika gently smiled at her, "Thank you, it means a lot to me that you cared enough to do that,".
Mika waited for that feeling she would always get when others knew was vulnerable. She hated that feeling but with Ceila, it didn't come. Ceila told her that it was nothing and said that she had a helper prepare the guest room for her and all her stuff was already set up. Mika expressed her gratitude again and Bose showed her to her room, but not before stopping by the nursery to check on their baby.
Walking through the nursery, there was a door on the other side that led to another room.
"And this is now casa de Mika Macklin," Bose said as they entered her room. Mika gaped at the interior, it was way bigger than her previous room. Their manor had a lot of room and Mika hadn't been in more than three of the extra ones. The walls were a dark wooden gray and white marble, the floors were shiny, the windows were the size of doors and there was a small living room space at the center of the room with a tv. Mika was already a small person so being in the nearly empty room felt intimating.
But Bose's room was bigger than that one and she always felt comfortable there, probably because his room looked homier with all his stuff packed in there to give it some personality. She noticed that the bed and chandelier were the same ones he had.
Bose saw Mika's gaze and worried, "What is it? You don't like it? We have other rooms if you wanna check those out".
"No, it's fine. It's pretty in here. I was just taking it all in," Mika assured. Bose was relieved, he hoped he didn't overwhelm her. "Okay then, well you know that my room is the door on the other side of the nursery so if need anything just let me know," Bose said with his thumbs up. Mika nodded, "Cool, I'm just gonna hit the shower before dinner, is that okay?".
"Yes, yes, you do that, take your time," Bose stammered. Mika gave him a quick Akwarad smiled and turned her back on him, going to the bed and looking through her bags for her towel. She found the towel and turned back around to see Bose still standing there, cluelessly looking at her with awe-struck eyes.
Bose was happy knowing that Mika would be taken care of now and that this was probably the most relaxed she'd been since all the drama happened. He didn't realize he was staring at her with such a doughy face.
Mika rolled her eyes with her lips curled and took her sweater off, "What? You wanna get in with me?". Bose knew she was playing but his face brighten up and he started walking towards her, "Well since you're basically begging me,". Mika scoffed in glee and threw a pillow at him from the couch next to her. "Kidding," he chortled when the pillow hit his head, messing his hair up in the process. "I'm sure you were," Mika teased, lifting her tank top over her head and revealing her black bralette.
The smile on Bose's face faded into parted lips and he took a silent deep breath, appreciating the beauty in front of him. Mika moved all her hair to her left side then reached for the clasp of her bra. But stopped, remembering that Bose was still there.
Bose cleared his throat and slightly licked his bottom lip, eyes still on her chest. Not hiding his regard. Then he made eye contact with her. "So yeah, I'll see you downstairs," he disclosed giving her a look that he knew always drove her crazy.
Once he left, Mika realized how hot she'd gotten from yet another close call with Bose. "Son of a bitch," she cursed out loud, suddenly in a hurry to get in the shower.