MARINETTE

Mom opens the front door just in time to see me clean the table where Adrien and I sat.

"Oh!" she exclaims, "you had someone over?"

"Y-yeah!" I stutter nervously, stacking the plates and placing the utensils on top. "Just Alya!" Thank God that my back is facing mom or else she would see my red face!

"Hmm, that's weird...she would have greeted me first before leaving..."

"Uh, she-she was in a hurry! She told me that she had to go see Nino!" I turn around whilst holding the plates on one hand and the mugs on the other.

My mom grabs my arm and I come to a full stop, almost letting go of the plates in the process.

"Mom!" I scold her and she shushes me.

"What's that?" she asks, pointing at the half-eaten custard cake.

Oh no.

"This?? It's just the half of a cheese cupcake!"

Mom places her hands on her hips and looks at me sassily.

"Marinette. I know this bakery and what I bake more than you. I know that this is not a cheese cupcake. It's custard cake-"

"Omg, you are so good at guessing! Congratulations!" I interrupt her.

"Why would you serve Alya custard cake?!" she continues scolding me, "You know that Alya hates custard cake! You should always consider what your guest likes! I mean, it's like part of the "essentials" of being a host!"

"She wanted to try it!"

"Yeah right!" she shouts, "The only person I know that loves custard cake would be..." she sighs and scratches her arm. "Nevermind."

"Who, mom?"

Mom rests her hand on my shoulder and looks straight into my eyes. "You know who..."

"Oh.." Well, this is awkward.

Mom lets go of my shoulder and grabs the custard cake. She started to stuff everything in her mouth.

"Mom!"

"Dith wath how he ate the cathe before!" she exclaims with her mouth full. She swallows the cake before continuing, "It would always bring him great joy to just even see or smell the cake!" She chuckles.

"It was his favorite..." I whisper, "Alongside a croissant."

"Oh he loved your croissants! Not mine." she playfully pushes me and I scoff.

"No! All croissants that we make are the same!"

"Then how come his croissants would have a chocolate filling in them?" she retorts with one eyebrow raised in question. I feel heat rise up my cheeks.

"That was a long time ago, mom...how come you still remember that little detail?"

"It was never a little detail for you, Marinette." she whispers, "It never was..."

I sigh and bring the dishes to the sink. After that, I bring a rag and wipe the table using it.

"Speaking of Adrien..." my mom says after a while. "your dad was asking something about him." she leans on the counter and crosses her arms. "I think that you should stay with your dad tonight...he would love to have you around."

I wring the rag and put it at the side. "Maybe I can stay with dad tonight."

Mom nods, "He would love that."

--------------

"Marinette..."

"Dad!" I exclaim and carefully hug him. He tries to move his arm but fails miserably.

"I'm sorry...I can't hug you back." He says woefully.

I kiss him on the cheek and stroke his arm. "It's okay, dad."

I move away some of the wires surrounding him. I sit on the chair beside dad's bed and I look around the white room. The television set in front was showing the news in low volume.

"Maybe I should bring flowers..." I whisper to my dad. "I want to add more life in this room."

He scoffs then chuckles. "Nothing can change what I think of this room. Even if there are flowers in here, I would still know that this is a hospital room and I would still know that-" he stops as he chokes on his tears.

"Dad, you don't need to continue-"
"That I'm going to die!" He bawls out crying. Dad covers his face as his shoulders tremble.

"Dad..." I whisper, trying to get his attention. Tears are starting to form in my eyes. "Stop..."

He doesn't listen, instead he continues crying and it is getting louder and louder.

I start to cry as I watch him wallow in his own pain and sadness. "Dad...stop hurting yourself..."

I desperately hug him despite the wires attached to him. I hug him tightly as tears spill from my eyes. "Dad, stop please!"

He stops once he feels his shoulder getting wet because of my tears. "Marinette." he whispers.

"Stop crying please..." I beg, "you're making all of us worry. You're making all of us start to lose hope...and I don't want to."

I rest my hand on his cheek and I bring him forward to kiss his forehead. "I'm not giving up on you. I will never give up on you."

Dad grabs my hand and holds it firmly. "I'm sorry, my dear..."

"It's okay, dad." I whisper and I look around the room again. "But I'm still going to bring flowers the next time I visit."

"Maybe you can also bring Adrien with you..." he utters with a small smile playing on his face.
"I miss him.." he whispers while wiping the tears on his face.

"Dad..." I sigh and stand to sit on his bed.

"Please bring Adrien the next time you visit...I want to see him."

"Why him?" I ask, "Why not Alya? I mean, you haven't seen him for quite some time. Why now?"

Dad looks away from my gaze and stares at the door. "When you entered," he starts, "you had a smile on your face that I had never seen for years..."

He turns to face me again. "That is the smile I want to see everyday..."

"And how is this connected to Adrien?"

"Well, Adrien has brought happiness to you, Marinette. That smile that you wore when you entered my room was the exact smile that Adrien would bring upon you..." he starts to close his eyes. "I want to see your source of happiness." he continues.

"But dad, that would be hard on my part! We're divorced! Separated!"

"Don't use your divorce as an excuse to not bring him!" he scolds me and lightly slaps my arm. "You can still be friends..."

"Maybe we can start with acquaintances first..." I suggest.

"Yes, acquaintances!" Dad says excitedly, "Then lovers again!!"

"Dad!" I scold as my eyes widen.

Dad laughs heavily and hugs me. "Calm down, Marinette! I was just joking!"

"Jokes are half meant though." I huff. I turn my body to face the other direction.

"Be annoyed and angry all you want! Just know that you made me happy tonight." he says cheerfully.

I turn to look at him again with a smile on my face. "Really? Oh, that makes me happy!" I kiss him on the cheek and I stand up from the bed.

"I'm tired already, my dear...let's go to sleep. Maybe tomorrow, you can make me happy again." Dad yawns and slowly closes his eyes. "Oh before I forget," he starts talking again with his eyes closed. "Has Alya told you something important?"

I look at him curiously, "What do you mean?"

He opens one eyelid and looks at me, "She hasn't told you anything?" he asks.

"Told me about what?"

"You know what," he laughs, "Nevermind. I'm not telling you! Good night!"

I look at him as I was about to say something but I stop. He was sleeping peacefully with a smile on his face.

"Good night, dad. I love you..." I whisper.

I can't disturb him. This might have been his first ever peaceful sleep in this room.

I sit again on the chair and I rest my head on my arms. I too, go to sleep.

---------------------

"Marinette! Marinette! MARINETTE!"

I turn my attention away from cleaning the champagne glasses and I focus on Ramona running towards me. Ramona was crazily waving her arms as she ran.

"What the- OOF!" I lose my breath once Ramona squeezes me tightly.

"We're roommates!!" she shouts happily. She jumps around making me jump with her.

"Roommates for what??" I ask curiously and she drags me to the nearest bulletin board in the room. She points at our names typed on a piece of paper stapled on the board. I read the content on the paper.

"We will be having a company outing?" I ask and Ramona nods her head excitingly.

"Yup! It's a two days one night outing! And we're roommates!!"

I read the announcement again and I start to smile.

"We will be having this the day after tomorrow! Oh Ramona, I'm so excited!!" I clap my hands.

"Everyone is excited!" She says then she whispers to my ear, "Even Mister Agreste is excited! He planned this outing and he will even be staying with us!"

I move away from her, awestruck. "Really?" That makes me more excited...

Maybe I should see Adrien and thank him for planning the outing.

"Ramona, I have to go somewhere first!" I leave her and walk to Adrien's office.

Once I arrive in front of the office, I knock on the door and I hear Adrien shouting for me to come in.

"Hi..." I greet timidly as I enter his office.

"Yeah hi, what do you want?" he says impatiently. I look at him and he is having trouble trying to button the top button of his polo. It's so cute to see his face look so determined just because of a single button. He looked just like an angry cinnamon bun. (AN: I had to guys, I had to. haha)

"Adrien-"

"Mister Agreste." Someone at the door interrupts me and I see that it is Karla looking so frazzled. "And Marinette." she continues, acknowledging me.

"Yes Karla? Is something wrong?" Adrien asks, turning his attention away from the button.

"She's here. The interviewer is here." Karla simply says. "Should I send her in?"

"Of course! We can't keep her waiting!"

Karla closes the door and Adrien gets his suit and puts it on. After putting it on, he struggles on the button again.

"Let me do it, Adrien." I volunteer as I walk to him.

"Fine." He mumbles and stands from his chair, giving me more access to the button.

"So..." I start, trying to start a conversation, "you planned for the company's outing..."

No wonder why Adrien was having trouble with this button. It couldn't fit right through the tiny hole on his polo!

"Honestly, I'm excited for it.. what about you?" he asks and now I just realize how close our faces are to each other. It's like as if I can kiss him at any moment.

I start to blush just thinking about his soft lips on mine. Oh my God, Marinette! Bad, bad, BAD!

"Um, Marinette?" Adrien asks I snap out from daydreaming.

"What? Oh, yes! Of course, I am also excited! That's why I'm here. I'm here to thank you..." Finally I have buttoned it and out of instinct, I fix his collar and I straighten up his jacket. Just as I was about to fix his polo, he grabs both of my arms and puts them around his waist. He brings me closer to him.

"May I thank you also for last night?" he says with his husky voice. His breath tickles my nose and I am trying my best to avoid his piercing gaze. Note the word: Trying.

"What do you want to thank me for? We just ate and drank coffee together. That's it..." I say, trying not to stutter.

He chuckles, "If I recall clearly, you treated it like a date, Miss Marinette..."

Should I continue this? Flirting with him? Maybe...just for once.

"You caught me..." I whisper, playing with him.

"What? I can't hear you well..." he whispers, moving his face closer to mine.

"Adrien.." I start, "You caught-"

"OH MY GOD! ARE YOU TWO DATING AGAIN?!!"

Adrien and I let go of each other's hold. The both of us see Alya standing at the doorway with a camera bag on one shoulder and she is carrying her laptop bag with one hand. Her mouth was wide open out of shock.

"This isn't what it looks like!" I immediately say. Shit. That is like the worst sentence you can say to a person who doesn't even understand the situation right now.

"You're going to be interviewing me, Alya?" Adrien asks shyly.

"I will be interviewing you later, sir! Allow me first to interview this lady over here! Come with me, Marinette!" she grabs my arm and drags me out of the room. I see Adrien looking at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry..." he says and I smile at him.

"I'll see you later, Adrien." I swiftly say before the door is closed.

Alya drags me to an empty room and switches on the lights. I look around to see dusty brooms, dry mops and feather dusters around me. We are in one of the cleaning rooms. She locks the door and looks at me with a deadly gaze.

"Okay, he had trouble with his button!" I start to ramble, "So I volunteered to help him then he pulled me closer! He was the one who wanted to talk! Well, I shouldn't have even entered his room..I just wanted to thank him for planning our company outing that will be held on the day after tomorrow. But I shouldn't have even done that! I can't do that anymore! It would just be bonkers if I continued-"

"Oh my God, shut up Marinette!" Alya screams at the top of her lungs and I flinch upon hearing her voice. "You don't need to explain yourself...you don't have to." she softly said.

"Alya..." I sigh and I notice that tears started to form in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

The tears started to fall and she bawled out crying. I immediately hug her and she rested her head on my shoulder while crying.

"I'm sorry!" she sobs and I soothingly rub her back. "If only I knew that he brings such happiness to you, I wouldn't have stopped you from being with him!"

"A-alya, I don't understand..."

She lets go of the hug and wipes her tears. She opens her handbag and grabs her mirror. "Look at yourself, Girl..." placing the mirror on my hands and forcing me to look at myself. "After four years...you are blooming. You look alive, Marinette. And it's all because of him."

"I'm...blooming?" I say, dumbfounded.

Alya looks at the mirror too and points at my cheeks. "Look! Your cheeks have a rosy tint and your eyes are sparkling! You're blooming! There's no doubt of that!"

Unconsciously, I caress my cheeks and I smile timidly. I see Alya looking at me dreamily and I hug her tight.

"Thank you, Alya..." I whisper and she just nods.

"I'm sorry for what happened the other time..." she apologizes again and I lightly chuckle.

"I forgive you..." I say and hug her tighter, "I will always forgive my best friend."

"Oh Girl...do you think that the two of you can get back together?" Alya quietly and carefully asks. I let go of the hug and I sigh heavily.

"Honestly," I start, "I don't know...the feelings are there..but he doesn't know the truth. The truth that- the truth that will change everything..."

"Let's see where fate will lead us, huh?" Alya smiles softly and I pat her hand on my shoulder. "I have something to tell you." she says after a while.

"I think that this is the perfect time to tell you..." she continues. "But this might hurt you or it might, hopefully, make you happy."

I inhale sharply, "I'm getting anxious, but I'm ready to hear what you have to say."

"Okay..." she takes a deep breath and the next thing she said blew my mind:

"Nino and I are getting married."

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Hi! Wow! So, honestly I had fun writing the chapter :) My favorite part would be Adrien and Marinette flirting with each other (because why not? haha) What is your favorite part? ;)

P.S. The song is entitled, "Out There" from the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It is one of my favorite songs and I wanted to share it with all of you ❤

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