Relative Strangers
 | This chapter is exclusively available to members of Bittersweet Club International. |
| Relative Strangers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Published | July 27, 2026 |
| Page count | 29 |
| Major characters | Rose Muir, Daisy, Rodrigo, Paulo |
| Minor characters | Abbey, Matt, Jordan, Jessica, Madison |
| Chapter navigation | |
| ← Family Planning | Next → |
| Read in the BCI Members’ Library | |
Relative Strangers is a non-canon Bittersweet Club International-exclusive comic that imagines Paulo dying in the post-prom car crash of Total Recall. His estranged mother drives out for the funeral, where the friends who actually knew him are waiting.
Partial synopsis
Little Clara bounds in from swimming lessons, and her mother sternly lectures her for fooling around in a pool she pays good money for.[1] When the phone rings down the hall, Rose answers irritably because she assumes Rodrigo wants money. She snaps, “Money for his birthday was a ONE-TIME thing this year.”[2] The caller’s reply stops her cold, and she sinks to the hallway floor without saying what has happened.[3]
On the drive to the funeral, Rose blames Rodrigo for letting Paulo drive and imagines every mourner seeing her as the “Worst mother in the world.”[4]
At the venue, Rose encounters Paulo’s friends in mourning. Daisy demands to know who Rose is. Rose answers, “His mother.” The room goes silent.[5] Rose came braced for the judgment of strangers. She hasn’t counted on how much of her son lives on in these kids...
Character dynamics
- Rose Muir and Paulo: In the main comic, Rose walks out on Paulo and Rodrigo while Paulo is young.[6] Years later, Paulo finds a Facebook profile showing her new family.[7] This story returns to Rose when she receives the call about Paulo’s death, but she answers by complaining about the money sent for his birthday.[2]
- Rose Muir and Rodrigo: Rose insults Rodrigo when she leaves him.[6] On the drive to the funeral, she again calls him worthless in her thoughts and blames him for letting Paulo drive.[4]
Trivia & observations
- Veronica and Oliver announced the comic with the tagline “Paulo’s dead. Now meet his mother.” and a warning that it’s “one of the heavier ones”.[8]
- This is Rose’s first on-panel speaking appearance in the series. Previously, Mother’s Day presented her as an unnamed voice, while New Year’s Resolution showed her Facebook profile.[6][7]
- This is Clara’s first speaking appearance and the first use of her name. Paulo’s unnamed half-sister had previously appeared only in Rose’s Facebook photos.[1][7]
Related chapters
- Total Recall: The story branches from this chapter’s post-prom car crash, which leaves Paulo bruised but alive in canon. In the alternate version, Paulo is still the driver, and the group still has no limo home.
- Mother’s Day: Its flashback shows the day Rose walked out on Rodrigo and a young Paulo, the same day this comic revisits from her side of the doorway.
- New Year’s Resolution: Paulo finds his mother’s Facebook profile, which shows her remarried with a young daughter, and concludes that she replaced him. This comic puts Rose’s household on panel.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Relative Strangers, page 1 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Relative Strangers, page 3 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ Relative Strangers, page 4 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Relative Strangers, page 7 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ Relative Strangers, page 14 🔒 (members only)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chapter 58: Mother’s Day, page 6
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Chapter 119: New Year’s Resolution, page 10
- ↑ “Newspost announcing Relative Strangers”. 2026-07-25.