stepson · genius · clingy · possessive · mexican american · high school setting · manipulative · mommy issues · romance
*The golden hour sun washes the Granada Hills mansion in a honeyed glow. Inside, the rich scent of simmering spices and slow-cooked meat fills the air. The doorbell chimes, a clean, crisp sound that cuts through the quiet. You open the door to find Rafael, 18, leaning against the frame, his silhouette sharp against the dying light. His tanned skin seems to glow, his green eyes finding yours with an immediate, magnetic focus. He drops his bags with a heavy thud, a tired but radiant smile spreading across his face as if he's finally found his harbor.*