A.N. You may play the song on repeat while reading the first half of the chapter. Enjoy :)

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ADRIEN

The moment Nino, Luka, and Nath made me dress up a bit more than usual for dinner was already an indication that something fishy was going on.

It was more puzzling when they brought me to this secluded place, a small house that I think people can rent for a night or two. 

They gave me a key then told me to enjoy my night before leaving me at the front door of a dimly-lit porch. I watch how they leave in the same car with Luka driving and I look at the metal key in the palm of my hand. Without any hesitation, I place it in the keyhole and unlock the door. As I push the door open, a living room with pale light welcomes me and when I further step in, my breath hitches in my throat. 

I did not expect Marinette to be standing in front of a couch placed by the wall across from me. Different sizes of candles all lit up decorate the space around her and there are even rose petals scattered around the floor. The sight before me causes me to still in place and take in the beauty of it. Especially the woman I love.

She’s wearing the same dress as that night. The blue dress that completely took my breath away.

The first night where I saw her in a completely different light. The first night I realized that she was a walking beauty, inside and out.

She still is, perhaps even more.

“Hi…” she softly greets me from where she is standing. It is only then that I notice her carrying a box wrapped in blue Japanese paper. “Come in.” she beckons me to her. 

I ask breathlessly, looking around the room, “What is this?” The corners of my mouth twitch up and I chuckle lightly. “What...what did you prepare this time?”

She smiles back at me, but it does not reach her eyes. It seems forced…ah, no. It seems despondent. “We know that what we have is not going to last long,” she starts, placing the box on the couch behind her before taking a few steps forward to take a hold of my hand. She intertwines her fingers with mine before peering into my eyes as she continues, “So, I'm going to make each moment count.”

Her words, as much as she makes them try to sound lighthearted, cause my heart to clench within my chest. I find it hard for me to say something back, but she does not push me to go on with my words. Instead, she patiently waits for them, even taking another step forward for her to be close enough for her other hand to cup my cheek. I melt in her touch, closing my eyes and leaning my head against her palm. I press a small kiss on it and let my eyes flutter open to meet hers again. “I...I don’t know what to say,” I admit in a delicate voice. 

She nods in assent then a half smile graces her features. “Then you don’t have to say anything,” she reassures me, “I want you to enjoy this night I prepared for the both of us. I want to celebrate your birthday with you.”

“M-My birthday?”

She gently tugs my hand to follow her to the couch. We both take a seat closely next to each other and her bare knees brush against my legs. 

“We never got to celebrate it together. All you got was that stupid text from me.”

“We had an agreement that week,” I remind her in a gentle voice.

She scoffs softly in a bitter manner. “An agreement that I wish we broke the day after.”

I utter sullenly, “I’m sorry.”

“And I'm sorry, too.” She squeezes my hand. “We did not know what to do then. Maybe even now. But tonight I want to show you how much I love you. Just tonight, can we forget what awaits us and love each other with no boundaries?”

I muster a grin at her and bring the back of her hand to my lips for me to press a kiss on it. “Anything for you.” I see that she is wearing the earrings I gave her and I let my free fingers touch one of them ever so lightly. “You look very beautiful tonight.”

“And you always know how to make me swoon when you’re all dressed up in a suit like that.” Marinette sighs in content then gradually pulls her hand away from my hold to reach for something behind her. She brings out the same wrapped box she was holding a few moments ago and holds it out for me to take. “Happy birthday, Adrien,” she sings in a gentle whisper.

I take it from her and start to unwrap the gift as she waits with an excited smile on her face. When the wrapper is gone, I open the lid on the box and find a blue knitted scarf lying in it. I take it out from the box and exclaim, “Wow! Did you make this for me?”

Marinette lets out a giggle then removes the scarf from my hand to hold it on both sides and wrap it around my neck. She makes a knot and tucks the loose ends under the bundle of it. “I made it to keep you warm and cozy. Do you like it?”

“I love it,” I murmur and bring one end of it to my nose for me to take a whiff of the sweet scent radiating off of it. “Did you spray your perfume on it?”

“Just a bit. Does it bother you?”

I shake my head and lean forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “Not at all,” I answer, “it makes me think of you all the more.”

She then starts to unfasten the scarf around my neck and take it away in a rush. My brows furrow together in confusion. “W-What are you doi-”

“I’m getting jealous over a scarf so I’m getting rid of it for the meantime, that’s what I’m doing,” she replies in haste and finally takes the scarf away then hides it behind her. I start to laugh and she huffs out, “I can’t stand my boyfriend ogling over this inanimate object while I’m around watchi-” I take her by the arm and capture her lips with mine before she continues with her petty, yet cute, rant. I smile into our kiss and I feel her soften against me, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. She places her arms around my neck, pulling me closer, and I rest my hands on the small of her back. 

I slowly draw back for me to rest my forehead against hers. She sneaks another kiss as she does the same. “Boyfriend?” I tease her, smirking knowingly. “I just realized that we did not place any labels for us. I haven’t been someone’s boyfriend in years.”

“Oh, shut up.” She moves her head to look into my eyes, pouting her lips as she does so. “I’ve never been anyone’s girlfriend.”

“And there is nothing wrong with that.” I hold under her chin and slowly kiss her again. “Being your boyfriend takes a lot of responsibility and I am willing to take on it.”

Marinette asks in a small voice, “Why?”

“You’re a great woman. Need I say more?”

We enjoy sharing a meal together for dinner and that is when Marinette tells me that the girls helped her come up with the idea for tonight and the guys voiced out their willingness to prepare and bring me here. 

Despite the arguments we’ve encountered, I’m glad that things worked out well even if it is as small as having a support group with few people. It’s better than dealing with things on my own. I see it now. And in the eyes of the woman I love, I see it clearly. 

After a plate of pistou linguine and a shared glass of strawberry parfait, Marinette clears out the table by the couch and brings out another bottle of merlot. She raises it then gives me a sly smirk. “Where do you want to finish this one?”

I take my glass and down my serving of the wine in one take. Amused with her suggestion, I say back in a teasing manner, "How about we get cozy at the couch?" 

"You do know that there is a bedroom for us to rest for the night…" she points at a closed door which apparently leads to another room. 

“I didn’t know that there was a room here.”

She laughs softly, untwisting the cap of the wine bottle and refilling my glass. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about this place yet. The girls helped me find it...but I think that we can check out the rest of the place later. You did say that you wanted to get cozy on the couch. Let’s not waste more time then.”

I follow her back to the couch and leave our glasses of wine and the bottle on the coffee table before taking the space beside her. Marinette scooches closer to me and I bring an arm over her shoulders. She adjusts her position to rest her head on the crook of my neck and rests her hand on my chest, brushing it softly over my white polo and the line of buttons on it. 

I smile down at her and kiss the top of her head. “You’re really something, Marinette.”

“Is that a good thing?” she asks, unbuttoning the top button of my polo, loosening the tie around me a bit.

I help her out with a free hand of mine and answer her as the tie comes off, “It’s a great thing, don’t doubt any of that.”

She chuckles and hikes her legs up, pushing the skirt of her dress up for a part of it to rest on top of my legs. I touch the flowers in pastel colors embroidered on it. “By the way, why are you wearing this dress in particular?”

She stays silent for a moment and I start to wonder if I hurt her with my question. It does make me curious, though. There is no known reason for her to wear it again. Aside from her looking beautiful in it, she can don on anything and still look breathtaking in it. 

“I...I turned you down,” she utters in a timid voice. 

An eyebrow quirks up, piquing my interest. “What?”

Marinette looks up closely. “The dinner party that night...you said you wanted to dance with me. I turned you down, but this time I do not want to miss the opportunity.” I watch her get to her feet and bring out a small stereo from under the coffee table. With one push of a button, music starts playing. The soothing melody of the violin in the tone of a legato, a smooth flowing manner. 

“You really prepared for all of this, didn’t you?”

“Maybe,” she drawls, slyly grinning while bringing out a hand for me to take. “Adrien, will you dance with me?”

Even if the only sources of light are from the pale bulbs on the ceiling and the glow of fire from the candles, I could see how her eyes twinkle in delight and excitement, and await for me to accept her invitation. 

I do not hesitate at all. I take her hand and stand. She quietly gasps when I pull her to my chest and place her hand on my shoulder. I make sure to do the same with the other. I then whisper in a low voice, “I would love to spend this time dancing with you.”

With our gazes locked on each other and our bodies pressed together, I lead the slow dance to the tempo of the music being played. I rest both hands on the side of her waist and allow the music to enrapture this moment of the two of us together. 

The feeling is different now. We are not in this living room of a place that is hiding our trace of where we are. I imagine us in a ballroom with a lone violinist playing for us. The ballroom is adorned with golden chandeliers on top that sparkle as much as the eyes of my girlfriend. The floor beneath us outlines the reflection of our movements and even if it is a reality I only create in my mind, it still feels very real.

“I love you,” she murmurs lovingly. 

My head dips down to meet her lips in a kiss. “I love you, too,” I murmur back against them. I feel her mouth twitch up to form a smile before tugging me closer to capture my lips once again, this time growing more desperate. Her hands move up to my hair, entangling within them and surely making a mess. I wrap my arms securely around, running them up and down her back as I reciprocate her kisses in the same manner that when she suddenly pulls away, it leaves me instantly growing hot and bothered, and weak to the knees.

Marinette breathes heavily, her eyes wavering as if she’s waiting for something, something for me to say or point out. I’m not so sure. I’m still hungover by how intense she was kissing me moments ago.

She then swallows thickly and whispers something under her ragged breath, “I almost lost myself there.”

I clear my throat and look the other way, feeling my face flush. “M-Me too.”

“I mean, if we are not careful enough,” she starts, and I watch how her left hand delicately goes down my right shoulder and stops to hold my hand. Slowly, she brings my hand up and catches the tip of my index finger with her mouth. Her stare grows sultry even as she pulls her head away. “We might make our own version of Loafy,” she continues.

My eyes widen due to her bold words and my heart hammers against my chest. But I do not stop her. “W-What?” I stammer because of the nervousness and excitement coursing through my body at the same time.

“Perhaps, this could be our...trial round?” she finishes in a soft yet suggestive voice which ultimately takes my breath away.

I lean forward to immediately nip the top part of her ear before whispering into it, “Then I think it’s time you show me what's behind the door to the bedroom…”

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We get right on to it when she pushes me down onto the bed and I fall on the soft and fluffy white comforter covering the pillows and blankets beneath it. She immediately climbs up right after, making her thighs straddle mine and her hips tug against them. I fidget under her and a lump forms in my throat. I could only let out a soft groan as she grabs a fistful of the collar of my polo and slams her lips on mine. Our kisses instantly start to grow hot and desperate, and we do not stop. Is it the effect of the wine that’s making me hazy and fall into this passionate trance, or is it just the work of her? The intensity she brings into every kiss, every touch, every pleasured cry is intoxicating.

With the erratic beating of my heart which, in any time, can go all the more haywire, I run my hands down her back and raise the skirt of her dress to touch the bare skin of her thighs, and feel how her knees press down on the bed. I hear her moan softly into our kiss just as I start to knead her thighs. 

She throws her head back, separating her lips from mine, and whimpers with her eyes closed, “Adrien…” she tightens her hold on me with her arms around my neck and her hands finding their way to my hair to yank on some strands of it.

The mere sight of her on top of me, succumbing to the way we touch each other, makes me chuckle softly under my breath. 

Marinette hears it since her head whips to look back at me. “Why are you laughing?” she asks in a whisper, “You think this is funny?”

“I find it cute with you being on top,” I tell her with utmost sincerity. Though, I expected a situation like this already.

“Cute?!” She utters in bewilderment, pressing a hand on my chest to eye me up and down from the angle where she’s at. “I’m trying to be sexy here.” she pouts her lips, her eyes set downcast.

Just as she opens her mouth again to say more, I grab the back of her neck and silence her with a kiss. A torrid one. And I pull away, tugging on her bottom lip. “I know,” I murmur against her skin as my lips leave a trail of kisses from her neck down to her exposed shoulder. “And you have no idea of the unspeakable wonders you do to me," I pant.

She scoffs quietly, her hand starting to unbutton the rest of what’s been covering my torso this whole time. “I think I’m starting to sense it. Don’t move,” Marinette whispers in my ear and my breath shudders as the smooth skin of her palms run aimlessly on my bare torso. She pushes the cloth of my polo away to give her an ample view of what has been hiding beneath the white piece of clothing the whole time.

She blinks her eyes at me in a coarse manner then brushes her lips over mine teasingly. “Do you want me, Adrien?”

I swallow down a lump in my throat then breathe out shyly, “...yes.” I bet my whole face has now turned to a deep shade of red. And the vibration of her soft laugh creates another sensation building in my body which does not help me with the desire building up from my core.

Marinette stops for a moment, maybe to admire the view, as she whispers in a shaky breath, "I never got to say that you're so hot."

“Figuratively or l-literally?” I stutter.

“In all ways,” she answers with a smirk and starts to kiss a line down my body, stray strands of her hair tickle gently against my skin.

I gasp at the feel of the soft swipe of her tongue along my exposed abdomen and I bring the back of my hand to my mouth for me to bite into my knuckles. She covers the line in rough, biting kisses which makes me squeeze my eyes shut and bite my lip, trying my best to hold back a pleasured grunt. 

“Marinette,” I moan, slowly starting to lose my mind. My back arches when she won't relent and I don’t think she has any plans in doing so soon.

“You said that you wanted me...then I’m yours,” she pants, moving up before going back to kissing my lips hungrily.

“Then she’s yours…”

I hear Byvael’s voice and the voices of the other men with him cheering for me, watching the two of us. The echoes of their voices haunt me, trapping me in a nightmare of a reverie.

“You need a de-stressor, so spend the night with one of them…”
“The scaramuccia scored a woman tonight!”

I instantly push Marinette away in a loud gasp and recoil away from her. The excitement and desire filling my senses wash away as dread takes over. I crane my neck, looking at every corner of the room, trying to see if any of the men are here, if there are any cameras around to record our every movement, if there is any kind of indication that someone is watching us.

“Adrien?” Marinette calls out for me softly, her voice laced with concern as she sits up straight from where she is. My eyes meet her worried ones, eyebrows scrunched together.

My heart drops down to my stomach and I squeeze my eyes shut, finding it hard to breathe as every second passes. “I’m sorry,” I force myself to breathe out, “I-I can’t continue.” My eyes fly open and I move over to the side of the bed, letting my legs hang from the edge. I hold onto the comforter and tightly clench onto it.

I hear Marinette shift on the sheets behind me. “...did I do something wrong?”

“No,” I immediately clarified, turning around for her to see me vehemently shake my head. “You did not do anything wrong.” I reach out to hold her arm, squeezing it gently. “I…” I trail off, losing what I wanted to say as tears start to pool in her eyes.

“I pushed you too far, didn’t I?” her bottom lip wobbles before she starts to cry softly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I...I just wanted,” she sniffles, mindlessly wiping her eyes which does not stop the tears, “I wanted to make this night perfect. I-I wanted it to be all about y-you, but I keep on messing things up and now I scared you-”

I take her face with both hands, one cupping each cheek, and I caress her in my hold. “I want to spend the night with you. God, I really do want to spend it with you,” I breathe out in great want. But my face falls in an instant as I recall their voices and the way they were handling those women. Even if it was only for a moment, it felt like the sight of that lasted for an eternity.

Her glassy eyes peer into mine and she still cannot stop crying. “Then why did you stop?”

I exhale a shaky breath. “It was different from my view…” My voice breaks toward the last part and I bitterly squeeze my eyes shut.

“W-What?”

“That night when we saw each other at that secret meeting,” I say, giving a vague reminder of that night with hopes that she understands where I am leading to. I cannot find it in myself to further describe that night, that meeting. It's a memory I want to repress in my mind. My eyes slowly flutter open and I gaze at her face falling.

She stays silent, sniffling quietly. Then she reaches a hand up to hold onto my arm. 

I continue, “To see you that night, willing to give yourself...I…” My words die in my throat and my chest clenches in pain. “You were not there to hear what they said about you, about all the women there.”

She murmurs, “That’s what you think of then, don’t you? But Adrien, you’re not like that.” Marinette pushes my hands away from her face so that she could reach out to loop her arms around my neck. I bury my face on her shoulder and hold her from behind. “Adrien, you are much more than those men.”

“...even if you say so, it’s something I can’t forget. The aura of that room was too much. It was suffocating.” I purse my lips and brush my fingers over the cloth of the back of her dress. After licking my lips, I whisper, “You know that I love you…”

“I love you too, Adrien…”

“And because I love you, I respect you more than myself. Yet, I have this one favor to ask of you.”

She retreats a bit to glance at me over her shoulder. “What is it?”

I pull back and run the back of my hand down her cheek. I stop by her chin, keeping my hand there, and in a soft voice I ask her, "...will you wait for me? Will you wait for me to gain back my personal strength and will?" She takes a hold of my hand and delicately presses a kiss on its palm. "Will you wait for me to gain the courage to truly touch you and treat you as mine?" I finish and her eyes look up at mine. Under the dim light, her eyes shine and sparkle. Each tear that falls out of them is like a fresh dewdrop under the morning sun. 

She nods then breathes out a soft chuckle before craning her neck to peck my lips. "You are worth every moment. Yes, I will wait for you. Even if it will take a long time, I will wait for you."

“I’m really sorry with how things turned out.”

“Don’t be,” she reassures me, wrapping me tightly in her arms again. “Hearing you say that you love me is more than anything that I want.” The look in her eyes tells me that what she is saying is the mere truth. Her sincerity makes me love her all the more.

I hold back my tears and choose to bury my head this time in the crook of her neck, showering it with light kisses. "You're adorable, you know that right?" I bet she can feel me smile against her neck.

"I-I don't hear that often."

"Then I'll keep on reminding you."

Marinette breaks off giggling in a quiet voice and her quivering sends a chill down my spine, especially since we’re holding each other close. It’s still hard for me to fathom the fact that our feelings have changed between us. I swore to myself that I would never forgive her for what she did when I was trying to get a job under Nordic’s team. Perhaps forgiveness does take time, along with patience and understanding. I understand her now. And I understand that my heart tells me that like her, hearing her say she loves me is more than anything I want. Our time together may be short, very short, but I won’t take a tryst like this for granted. I’m going to pour out all my love for her before reality comes to pull us away from each other.

So even when we choose to lie together on the bed, with her wearing my white polo after taking off her dress, we talk and share a few kisses here and there. Our legs stay tangled together and her head rests on my arm while I draw slow circles around her tense areas and back. 

And when she finally falls asleep, her head now rests on my bare chest. I twirl a few strands of her hair around my finger and start to tear up just watching her look all tranquil. It’s different knowing that she trusts me to the point of relying on me even when she sleeps.

“My brave blue-head,” I whisper, feeling a tear run down my face. “Where do you carry such courage in that small body of yours?” I smile and kiss the top of her head. “ ...Thank you for everything.”

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I felt very shy writing and posting this *covers my very red face with a pillow* Still, I hope you liked this chapter :) 

I have this new book to those who haven’t checked it out yet, “MAYDAY” :)

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