If there was anything Adrien didn't believe in the most, it had to be the possibility of having a soulmate. It was an age-old story: two people would meet the moment the final seconds of the time on their wrists were to go out. Just a glimpse. A touch. Nothing more, and definitely nothing less. It was fate, destiny, written in the stars — however they call it. Forever was promised to the couple, and that was one thing that he did not understand on how his family could become the only exception he knew of.

His father met his mother before her time was up. Gabriel Agreste's time run out as he saw a beautiful lady walk into his tailoring shop. Honey blonde hair, and deep, enchanting green eyes. He said she was the one, until the girl shrugged and showed him her time: a year. A year was still ticking away on Lillian Bellerose's arm, yet she felt the exact same feeling as Gabriel did. The two couldn't explain how they had defied the norm of their society, but as long as they knew what it was, they held onto it. That is... after a year passed, and Lillian's time had run out.

You could only think that her love for Gabriel was stronger, but it seemed like she could not fight fate when it hit her. She left the Agreste household, leaving little Adrien behind, without even a proper goodbye because she was ashamed of her fate — and because she, too, had dreamed for her soulmate to come.

Living under the grief and remorse of his father, Adrien tried to never mention his mother, but the sight of him alone could cause Gabriel's heart to break over and over. His son took after his mother — even with those same pair of soul-searching eyes. As much as he was hurt over the fate of his family, never did he wish the same to happen to Adrien. Above all things, he hoped that it would be different for his son. He might not show it to him, but he deeply loved him with all that was left of his heart.

The park was not exactly far from the bakery. Adrien knew he could arrive there in less than two minutes with his awfully long strides, but on the other hand, his friend Marinette was a different, and definitely shorter picture. She did not wear anything to hide her time — an hour and a half left on her wrist. Adrien knew how important this was to her friend, and he could never forget the pact he made with her two years ago.

Then, he was the new kid. Fresh from the cities in the East Coast, his father wanted a change of scenery. What seemed to be a European vacation, turned into a permanent residence. Adrien thought it was a good start. He could finally leave the place where he knew his mother once stood. Staying in Paris was rather unexpected for him, but what was more unexpected was a bright-eyed, dark haired teenage girl who was holding out a box of macarons on their doorstep. And as if something had clicked back into place, Adrien knew this girl was going to change everything he believed in. One thing led to another, and the pair became the most unlikely of friends, and as Adrien wanted, they both promised to be there for each other, even at the moment their time runs out.

"What do you think he'll look like?" Marinette asked out of the blue, almost near the park.

Adrien shrugged with a smile. "He can't be any more handsome than I am, that's for sure."

She playfully punched his shoulder, "You're so full of yourself, Mr. Agreste."

"Well, I kind of have every right to be, bugaboo," he replied.

There weren't much people in the park. Other than the two of them, there was a woman strolling around with a baby carriage. Adrien felt Marinette freeze beside her. Her eyes were getting glassy, and her face suddenly drained out of blood.

"What if... he isn't here?" She spoke out in a soft tone, her breathing starting to get heavy. She was having a panic attack.

Adrien pulled the girl into his arms, running his hand down her back. "Impossible. Even if he doesn't come, I'm here. I'm always here."

"I've been dreaming of this moment my entire life," Marinette slowed down. "What if... What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?"

"I may not believe in this as much as you do, Marinette, but I wish your wish would come true," Adrien said, squeezing her free hand.

The two sat down on a nearby bench to wait for the miracle to happen. The entire meeting was supposed to be unexpected, but Marinette watched her wrist so much that every second that ticked away lured her even further down her imagination.

"Maybe he studies in our school?" She kicked her feet around to keep her amused. "I do love boys when they have blue eyes."

"You do? I got a thing for blue eyes, too," Adrien said, never pulling his eyes away from the girl.

Marinette's cheeks turned bright pink. She blinked and said, "Y-you... You do?"

Realizing what he had said, Adrien quickly ducked his head, his fingers pulling at the fabric of his sleeve that covered his wrist.

After a moment of deafening silence, Marinette spoke out, "Hey, when this... thing is over, you have to reveal to me how much time you have left. I mean, it's only fair."

Adrien's gaze fell on his covered wrist with a sigh, "Sure. It couldn't hurt, can't it?" He glanced over at her wrist. Two minutes. It was so close. Their hearts pounded fast — too eager and too worried for what was to come.

"Don't forget our promise, okay, Marinette?" Adrien reminded his friend. "We'll still have Movie Mondays every Monday, okay?"

"I'll never forget, Adrien. Don't worry." She assured him with a warm smile.

Ten seconds.

Here we go, Adrien thought.

Nine

"Hey... I've been meaning to tell you..."

Eight

"... Something important..."

Seven

"... That I treasure the days when I'm with you..."

Six

"... I believe that fate brought us together, too..."

Five

"... I wish that maybe..."

Four

"... Just maybe..."

Three

"... That you feel the same for me, too..."

Two

"Marinette, the truth is I..."

One

"Hey, uh, can you show me to the nearest restaurant here?"

Adrien whipped his head towards the boy who asked the question. He wore the sea in his eyes, and had a rather striking face, indeed. He wasn't from around here. Adrien looked at Marinette, who had her eyes wide open, and a loss for words.

"You... you're... Are you?" She whispered.

The boy blinked and glanced at his wrist. A zero, as well.

He took Marinette's hands and pulled her from the seat. "My name is..."

Adrien couldn't bear to hear their conversation. He lost the only thing he had left to believe. His eyes started to rim with his tears, but no one could see him bury himself in his sadness. The boy started walking with Marinette, who was in utter glee and mouthed to Adrien that she would call him back soon. Adrien looked away. He could not take it.

Fate has yet left him abandoned once again. And now, he felt the same thing his father once did.

He tried to tell himself that he could make it work — he could make them work. But he was wrong.

Adrien dug his nails on the timer on his skin, wishing it would all go away. His tears fell one by one on his wrist as he remembered the day he met her. The very first moment he laid his eyes on Marinette, he was sure she was the one.

Blood started to seep out from his wrist, yet he still could not change the sad, cold truth.

There was nothing he could do, for the timer on his wrist had long been zero.