The atmosphere in the Vasquez living room shifted the moment Rosa kissed Arin.
For a few seconds nobody even breathed.
Mary froze mid-hug.
Gwen's jaw literally dropped.
MJ blinked three times like her brain refused to load the scene.
Even Darla, Freddy, Eugene, and Pedro stared with wide eyes.
And Rosa?
Rosa pulled back slowly, cheeks flushed, tears still shining in her eyes, but clearly not regretting a thing.
Arin held her hand gently, steadying her.
The silence broke.
Darla gasped in pure shock.
"MOM??
MOM AND ARIN??"
Freddy's mouth dropped open.
"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT—ARE YOU TELLING ME—
ARIN IS MOM'S—?? MOM HAS A BOYFRIEND??"
Eugene frowned.
"Plot twist unlocked."
Pedro raised a hand.
"Uh… should we be happy? Scared? Confused?"
Billy just stared at Arin with a strange mix of respect and disbelief.
"…Dude. Really? Our mom?"
Arin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly—but didn't deny it.
Rosa blushed harder.
"Kids—! It's not—well—yes, it is what it looks like…"
Darla's expression softened first.
She ran to Rosa and hugged her.
"Mom deserves love!
She's been lonely for so long!"
Rosa's eyes watered again.
"Oh, sweetheart…"
Freddy sighed dramatically.
"Fine. I'll allow it.
BUT ARIN—IF YOU HURT MOM I WILL LEARN MARTIAL ARTS AND PERSONALLY DROP-KICK YOU."
Arin smiled.
"Understood."
Eugene smirked.
"We have a superhero as a stepdad?
Cool."
Rosa choked on her own breath.
"S-STEPDAD?!"
"NOT YET!" Arin coughed, turning red.
"Way too early!"
The kids laughed.
Even Pedro cracked a shy smile.
Mary stepped closer, face pink, eyebrows twitching.
"…So you and mother .… are really together?"
Her voice was soft—hurt but calm.
Arin nodded gently.
"Yes. But it doesn't change how I feel about you, Mary."
Mary looked away, heart thumping loudly.
"I know… I know… but still… seeing it in front of me…"
Her cheeks burned, jealousy obvious.
MJ crossed her arms tightly.
"Yeah, I'm definitely jealous."
She muttered under her breath, "She got to kiss him…"
Gwen poked MJ.
"You wanted to kiss him?"
MJ turned red.
"I—I didn't say that!"
Gwen looked at Arin and Rosa, then sighed, struggling.
"I mean… she is beautiful. And she deserves love. But…"
She blushed harder.
"…I'm jealous too."
Rosa looked guilty.
"Oh girls… I'm… sorry. I didn't mean to—"
Mary shook her head.
"No, Mother.
You suffered the most among all of us.
If anyone deserves love… it's you."
Gwen nodded.
"And Arin… atleast he's honest. He told us everything."
MJ exhaled sharply.
"I swear, Arin, you're going to drive us insane."
Arin smiled softly at all three.
"I'll take responsibility for every one of you .
I won't hurt any of your feelings"
Their faces turned red at the same time.
"Pervert…"
"Smooth talker…"
"Idiot…"
Rosa's heart melted hearing the girls accept her.
She hugged Mary, Gwen, and MJ all at once.
"Thank you…
for letting me be part of his life."
Mary whispered:
"We're… a strange group, aren't we?"
MJ sighed.
"Yeah. A crazy one."
Gwen smiled shyly.
"…But somehow, it feels right."
Arin Looks at All of Them
Arin watched his strange, growing family:
Mary wiping her tears
Gwen still blushing
MJ pretending not to look jealous
Rosa smiling through her relief
The kids accepting him surprisingly fast
He felt warmth flood his heart.
Maybe it was destiny.
Maybe it was luck.
Maybe it was fate.
But whatever it was—
He wasn't alone anymore.
Arin hugged them all gently.
"I'm home.
And I'm not going anywhere.
.....
The adrenaline in Arin's body drained all at once.
His legs trembled.
His vision blurred.
Mary noticed first.
"Arin…?
Are you okay?"
Arin opened his mouth to answer—
"I'm—"
His knees buckled.
His eyes rolled faintly.
And he collapsed forward.
"ARIN!!!"
Gwen screamed.
Mary caught him by the shoulders.
MJ grabbed his arm.
Rosa rushed from behind, supporting his back.
The kids panicked instantly.
"HE'S HURT!"
"SOMEONE CALL FOR HELP!"
"IS HE DYING?!"
Rosa pressed her fingers on his cheek.
"No, no… his breathing is steady—
he's just exhausted, badly exhausted—"
Mary's voice shook.
"He used too much power…"
MJ clenched her fists.
"Of course he did. He fought a literal demon squad."
Gwen cupped Arin's face gently.
"We need to lay him down—now."
Together, the girls guided him to the couch, Rosa supporting his head in her lap.
Arin's eyes remained half-closed, breathing uneven but alive.
Rosa stroked his hair with trembling fingers.
"He pushed himself too hard…
My foolish, brave …"
Mary held his hand tightly.
"You scared us to death…"
Gwen placed a cold cloth on his forehead.
"Rest… please…"
MJ crossed her arms, staring with watery eyes.
"Idiot… trying to act cool until he collapses…"
Even Pedro and Eugene looked worried.
Darla hugged Arin's leg.
Freddy sniffed loudly.
But Arin was already unconscious.
His body needed sleep to recover.
...
Rosa's phone rang loudly, making everyone jump.
She quickly put Arin's head down on a pillow and answered.
"Hello—?"
It was the school teacher.
"Mrs. Vasquez! Thank god—are the visiting students with you?!
Philadelphia is in chaos, the parents are panicking—
We're canceling the exchange trip!"
Rosa's heart tightened.
Mary, Gwen, and MJ looked up from Arin at the same time.
The teacher continued:
"All students must pack their things.
We are returning to New York tomorrow morning at dawn.
Please tell them to be prepared."
Rosa's voice softened.
"Yes… they're safe here.
They'll be ready."
She hung up and looked around the room.
Mary sighed sadly.
"So… tomorrow morning we leave."
Gwen bit her lip.
"But Arin—he shouldn't be traveling like this!"
MJ nodded.
"We're not leaving until he wakes up."
Darla hugged Arin tighter.
"He better wake up fast!"
Freddy raised a hand.
"Uh, legally, if he's a superhero, can teachers force him to go?"
Everyone glared at him.
"Freddy. Not the time."
....
Rosa took charge gently.
"Mary, Gwen, MJ… help me check if he has any other wounds."
They nodded and worked together:
Mary checked his breathing
Gwen wiped his forehead gently
MJ massaged his fingers to keep circulation
Rosa lifted his head and gave him water with a spoon
They treated him like something precious—
something they couldn't bear to lose.
Mary whispered:
"When he wakes up… I'm hugging him again."
Gwen's eyes were red.
"I never want to see him collapse like this…"
MJ crossed her arms.
"I swear, when he wakes up I'm going to scold him AND cry on him."
Rosa kissed Arin's forehead softly.
"Sleep well, my love…
We're right here."
....
Late at night Arin was sleeping peacefully.
The girls took turns sitting beside him.
Mary held his hand.
Gwen leaned on his shoulder.
MJ stayed awake, watching over him.
Rosa covered him with a blanket and never left his side.
Even the siblings wanted to stay but Rosa tell them to rest so they have no choice but to go but darla can't go even after saying so Rosa let her in.