Arin closed the door of his apartment behind him and let out a deep breath.
The soft warmth still lingered on his lips.
He walked to his bed, sat down, and rubbed a hand through his hair.
"...What a day."
His heart was racing, as he think about today events which was unexpectedly good.
He open his system screen to clear his mind.
"System. Notifications."
Ding.
A small window appeared.
---
[ COUNTER POINTS +20 ]
Action: Interrupted a minor plot event in spiderman.
Cause: Protected heroine Mary Jane from danger.
Description:
Influencing the emotional path of a major character.
Changing her relationship trajectory.
---
Arin stared at the message for a moment, calm but thoughtful.
"So saving her… changed her destiny."
He had expected some reward.
But what he didn't expect… was how good that kiss would feel.
He leaned back against the wall, eyes half-lidded.
Mary Jane's flushed cheeks.
Her soft lips.
The tremble in her breath when she kissed him first.
Arin pressed two fingers lightly against his lips.
"...She was really something," he murmured.
His voice stayed calm, but a faint smile tugged at his mouth.
He didn't aim for romance for a while but now is has he chance he will go for it .
Arin exhaled softly.
"Mary Jane…"
He didn't know where this would lead.
But for the first time, he felt someone genuinely show affection for him.
And that mattered.
---
Meanwhile — MJ's Room
Mary Jane lay on her bed, dinner finished, lights dim, a soft breeze from the open window brushing her hair.
But her mind?
Completely occupied.
By him.
Her fingers touched her lips for the hundredth time in the past hour.
"…I can't believe I kissed him," she whispered to herself.
Her heart fluttered wildly just remembering it.
She rolled onto her side, hugging her pillow.
"Why did I do that? Why did I just… kiss him like that?"
A pause.
Her cheeks warmed.
"And why did it feel so… good?"
She closed her eyes and saw the moment again:
Arin standing in front of her.
Protecting her.
Calm, fearless, gentle.
The way he stepped in front of the thugs without a second thought.
The way he beat them.
The way he held her waist when he kissed her back.
Her breath hitched.
"He's so… cool."
In school, he was quiet.
Reserved .
But today she saw something else entirely like he became a another person .
MJ buried her burning face in the pillow.
"I can't believe it… I kissed him first…" she mumbled, voice muffled and embarrassed.
But then she smiled — slowly, helplessly.
"I think… I think I actually fell for him…" she whispered.
Not because he was handsome.
Not because he was strong.
But because he made her feel safe.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest.
"I want to see him again…" she admitted softly.
She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, smiling like someone newly in love.
And in that moment, Mary Jane Watson knew one thing for certain:
Her first kiss with Arin Aether…
wasn't going to be her last.