Capítulo 15: A Simple Mistake
[Nino's Room]
Alya enters Nino's room, and upon seeing her, he greets her enthusiastically. "Alya!" He quickly stands up to hug her.
Alya raises her hand, stopping him. "Nino! Why did you call me so many times?" she says, annoyed as she remembers his constant calls, which made her look unprofessional in front of Aiden.
Nino looks apologetic, scratching his head. "Ah, sorry," he responds, embarrassed. "I just wanted to check if you were okay... and see if you wanted to play Super Penguin."
"Did I interrupt something important?" Nino asks, curious about what Alya was doing.
Alya takes a deep breath, trying not to get angry, and takes a moment to calm down. "Ah... I'm fine. I was just with..." She stops, remembering that she promised not to share Aiden's identity. "With someone," she says simply, not going into details.
"Who?" Nino asks, his curiosity evident.
"It doesn't matter," Alya replies, trying to sound casual, though her tone reveals otherwise.
"Well, it matters to me," he says, moving a little closer as if trying to press for more.
"It doesn't matter, Nino," Alya says with a slight smile, though the seriousness returns to her face. "I have something more important to tell you." She sighs, taking a moment before continuing: "We need to talk."
Alya's words alarm Nino. "Oh no..."
"This is going to be hard to hear, and it might change something between us," Alya says, lowering her gaze a little, with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Now you're really worrying me," murmurs Nino, feeling a growing tension.
"If I tell you, something will change between us," Alya repeats softly, as if doubting her decision.
"No, don't say it. Anything but that!" Nino exclaims, covering his ears in an attempt to block out what he fears he's about to hear.
Alya looks at him, somewhat surprised. "What? What are you talking about?" she asks, confused.
"That... that you stopped loving me," Nino replies in a low, sad tone, not looking at her.
Alya rolls her eyes with a sigh. "I still love you, Nino. This isn't about us. It's about my secret identity... I'm not Rena Rouge anymore."
Nino stares at her, shocked. "What?"
"Ladybug said it's too dangerous for me to be Rena Rouge again, so... I'll never be her again," Alya says with a sigh.
Nino exhales, relieved. "That's really sad. You were a great hero, but if Ladybug thinks it's for the best... I guess we have to listen to her." He smiles at her, now more at ease. "Besides, you shouldn't worry about telling me these things. You can trust me."
"Thanks, Nino," Alya responds with a sincere smile, appreciating the support.
But Nino can't help but ask, his curiosity piqued. "And... who were you with this afternoon?"
Alya lets out a little laugh. "That's another secret."
"Oh, come on. Is it more important than your secret identity?" he insists, looking for answers.
"No, it's not more important, but I made a promise."
"Come on, tell me. Who is it?" Nino keeps pressing, growing more intrigued.
"Enough!" Alya responds, now annoyed. "You should respect it when I don't want to tell you something."
Nino frowns, hurt. "Well, I thought we told each other everything."
"There are things I prefer to keep private," Alya says firmly as she turns around and leaves the room, leaving Nino without a goodbye.
[The Next Day]
[Collège Françoise Dupont]
Marinette and Alya are sitting in class, side by side. Marinette watches Alya, who is completely absorbed in her phone, smiling as she keeps typing messages nonstop. Curiously, Marinette leans a bit towards her. "Looks like your talk with Nino went well," she comments, assuming that Alya is texting Nino.
Alya looks up, somewhat confused, until she understands what Marinette is referring to. "Oh, right, Nino... I already told him I won't be Rena Rouge anymore," she says with a slight pout, "but we fought, and right now, I'm not talking to him."
Marinette frowns, puzzled. "So, who are you texting now?"
Alya smiles and shows her phone screen. Marinette reads the name at the top: Aiden.
"Are you texting Aiden?" Marinette asks, surprised.
"Yes!" Alya responds, excited. "We exchanged numbers, and we've been talking ever since. He has tons of advice for my blogs!"
"Wow, sounds like you two get along well," Marinette says with a small smile.
"Yeah, and I'm going to see him this afternoon," Alya comments, even more excited.
Marinette blinks, a bit puzzled. "You're going out this afternoon?" she asks, seeking confirmation.
"Uh-huh," Alya responds, nodding.
"Like, on a date?" Marinette suggests with a curious look.
Alya stops, processing the idea, then quickly shakes her head. "Of course not! It's just a hangout between friends. He doesn't know the city, and I'm going to show it to him."
Marinette looks at her with some skepticism but doesn't say anything. Meanwhile, Alya shows her the screen again. "Which dress do you think he'd like more?"
"Every time you talk, it sounds more like a date," Marinette says.
Alya looks at her incredulously. "Picking a dress already turns this into a date? This is about being professional, Marinette. In case you forgot, he's also my evaluator. It's better to make a good impression."
Classes go by quickly, and soon Alya and Marinette are outside. Marinette watches Alya, who is still absorbed in her phone, sending messages with a joyful expression.
"Should we cancel our daily patrol?" Marinette asks, referring to the patrolling they usually do together as heroines.
Alya shakes her head, not taking her eyes off her phone. "No, I still have time before meeting up with Aiden."
Then, as if remembering something important, her eyes light up, and she extends the phone to Marinette excitedly. "Speaking of heroines... look at this!" she exclaims, showing the screen.
On the screen, Marinette sees a picture of Alya in her new Rena Furtive suit. She looks proud and radiant in the picture, highlighting the redesigned outfit.
"I took some photos with the new suit. What do you think?" Alya asks, enthusiastically pointing to a particular spot. "Look, right here below the neckline, it's the best part, don't you think?"
Marinette sighs, a little worried. "Alya..."
But Alya keeps talking, admiring her outfit with excitement. "I definitely like it more than the previous one."
Marinette interrupts her, lowering her voice and becoming serious. "Rena Furtive means Rena Invisible. It would be better if you don't post those photos."
Alya sighs, a bit disappointed. "Ah... you're right. And I thought I'd have some new material for the Ladyblog." Resigned, she starts deleting the images from her gallery. "I guess I can always use the photos of Cat Noir to edit new material," she says, putting her phone away and shrugging, resigned.
-/-
Meanwhile, Nino waits outside the building, glancing at his watch from time to time, until he finally sees Marinette and Alya come out together. "What could they be talking about?" he wonders, watching as Alya pulls out her phone and shows Marinette something. He frowns, remembering how glued Alya has been to her phone lately.
Nino approaches with his best smile. "Hey!" he greets both girls enthusiastically.
Alya, still a bit upset, responds with a slight pout. "Hey, Nino."
Nino notices her attitude, though he had already anticipated it. "I was thinking... it's such a beautiful day. How about we go to the movies?" he asks, doing his best to make up for yesterday's argument.
Alya gets a bit nervous, remembering her patrol plans with Marinette. "Well, actually I have some things to do with Marinette..."
"Don't worry about that," Marinette intervenes with a smile, giving Alya a thumbs-up to cheer her on. "We can do it later."
Alya sighs in relief and smiles. She feels grateful that her best friend is so understanding.
[Cinema Room]
Alya and Nino are sitting in the cinema as the movie begins. On the screen, an actor dressed as Cat Noir proclaims, "Oh, Ladybug, I will always love you!"
Alya suppresses a laugh at hearing the exaggerated dialogue. Not too far from the truth, she thinks, a smile crossing her face.
The scene changes, and a fake Rena Rouge appears on screen, declaring, "Cat Noir, forget about Ladybug!" This time, Alya can't hold back a burst of laughter. "Hahaha! This is ridiculous!"
Nino crosses his arms and frowns, clearly annoyed. "Rena Rouge in love with Cat Noir... this is just ridiculous!"
"Calm down," Alya says, giving him a gentle tap on the arm to settle him down. "It's just a story for entertainment. You shouldn't take it so seriously. Come on, try to enjoy the movie."
On the screen, the fake Ladybug appears, saying, "Rena, you're right. You two look much better together."
Nino ignores Alya's attempt to calm him down and murmurs annoyed, "It's a stupid movie." When he turns to see her reaction, he notices that Alya has stopped paying attention to him and is busy sending a message on her phone. Who is she talking to? he wonders, feeling a knot of discomfort as he remembers that she's been spending a lot of time on her phone lately.
The movie finally ends, and they both leave the cinema. As they walk, Nino takes a deep breath and, gathering courage, casually asks, though clearly forced, "What was that you were looking at with Marinette?"
Alya, surprised by the question, gets nervous. "Uh..." she stammers, not knowing how to respond. Nino notices her hesitation and clenches his fists in anger.
"Hey! Look, it's Glacier," Alya quickly interrupts, pointing to the famous ice cream vendor from Paris who is serving some nearby customers. Without giving Nino time to question her further, she grabs his wrist and drags him toward the stand.
"Ah! My favorite customers," Glacier says with a smile, recognizing them. "What can I get you?"
But before Alya and Nino can place their order, an alarm goes off on Alya's phone. "Sorry, I have to go. I have... things to take care of!" With those words, Alya runs off. "You can eat my share!" she calls out as she quickly disappears, leaving Nino alone.
"Forget the order," Nino says to Glacier in a dull tone, lowering his head as he walks away slowly. He's worried and somewhat frustrated. Just as he turns around, he sees Cat Noir leaping between the rooftops in the same direction Alya went.
"What if Alya is... No!" Nino thinks, trying to push those thoughts away, but he can't help it. Jealousy takes over, and no matter how much he tries to rationalize the situation, he can't shake it.
Nino starts running in the direction Alya went, worried and confused. Soon, he realizes she's heading to her house. "Ah..." Nino sighs, feeling a little more at ease as he sees Alya is just dealing with some family matter, probably. He considers going in to see her, to tell her he was worried about her, but decides to wait a while. He doesn't want it to look strange if he shows up almost at the same time as her.
Nino waits in his spot for a while, and when he thinks enough time has passed, he gets ready to go in. Just then, a very fancy car stops in front of Alya's house. Confused, Nino hides, watching closely. The windows of the vehicle are tinted, so he can't see who's inside.
A moment later, Alya exits her house, dressed more elegantly than usual, and walks toward the car. She talks to the person inside, but Nino can't hear their words.
[Image]
Nino's heart pounds in his chest. He wants to approach, say something, but the words get stuck in his throat. He can only watch as Alya gets in the car and disappears into the distance. Driven by confusion and suspicion, he tries to follow them, but soon loses track of the vehicle.
Clenching his fists, his face hardened with frustration, he silently promises, "I'm going to find out who that person is." He won't rest until he discovers the identity of the mysterious person who seems to have caught Alya's attention.
/-/
Alya watches as an elegant car parks in front of her house and smiles, already guessing who it is. The back window rolls down, revealing Aiden's face.
"Alya," he greets her with a calm smile.
"Hey!" she replies, a little nervous. The door opens, and he gestures for her to get in.
"Are you coming?" Aiden asks, patting the seat next to him.
Alya nods, not thinking too much about it, and gets into the car. Once settled, Aiden watches her with curiosity. "So, what do you have planned?" he asks, looking at her with interest.
Alya smiles as she pulls a notebook out of her bag. "I have it all planned," she tells him, showing him a list. "A complete tour of my favorite spots."
"Then, what are we waiting for?" Aiden says, excited, and signals to the driver, who starts the car smoothly as they head to their first stop.
Alya is enthusiastic as she shows him each location, from the iconic spots like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Palace, Place des Vosges, and the Arc de Triomphe, to personal places, like the restaurant Le Grand Paris where her mother works, and the Françoise Dupont High School where she studies. She also shows him several common places that, although they didn't seem special, had a particular meaning to Alya, especially those that had been the scene of akumatized attacks.
Back in the car, Alya sighs with a tired smile. "Uff... that was really a long tour."
"Oh, I almost forgot," says Aiden, pulling a small box from his pocket and handing it to Alya.
"What is it?" she asks, intrigued, looking at the box with curiosity.
Aiden opens it, revealing a simple but elegant bracelet. Alya looks at it, surprised, saying nothing as he gently takes her hand to put it on her wrist. She lets the moment speak for itself, a faint smile on her face.
"It's for luck," Aiden murmurs as he adjusts the bracelet on her wrist. "You'll be fine, I promise."
Alya looks down at the bracelet, a warm mixture of gratitude and surprise reflected in her eyes. "It's a lovely gesture... thank you," she responds, a smile she can't hide on her face.
Alya looks away, trying to avoid Aiden's gaze while blushing slightly. She hadn't expected to receive such a beautiful and meaningful gift. She gazes out the window, and suddenly something catches her attention.
"Oh, tell him to stop!" she exclaims, excited. "You're going to love this," she adds with a smile as she grabs Aiden's hand and leads him out of the car toward a nearby park.
She guides him to an ice cream stand she knows well and presents it with enthusiasm. "Ta-da! This is the best ice cream stand of Paris," she says with a bright smile.
Glacier, the vendor, hears her words and lights up, delighted. "Oh, hehe, thanks, Alya," he responds, clearly flattered and happy by the compliment.
Excited, Glacier hurries to prepare a special ice cream for them with a combination of colors representing both of them. "Here you go, for you two!" he says, handing over the ice cream and refusing to accept any payment. "This one's on me," he adds with a smile.
"Thank you!" they respond in unison, sharing a knowing smile. As they walk away, they start enjoying the ice cream, sharing it without realizing it's a dessert meant for couples.
Alya smiles and offers a bite to Aiden, enjoying the sweet moment together on a park bench. "What do you think?" she asks, taking another bite.
"It's great," Aiden replies, returning her smile as they settle together, savoring the ice cream and the peacefulness of the moment.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Aiden looks at her with a smile and asks, "Do you still have time to do something else?"
"Like what?" Alya replies, intrigued.
Aiden points to a nearby poster announcing a movie. "We could watch the new Ladybug movie."
"I'd love to!" Alya says, excited. "It would be great for my blog to write a review of the movie."
"Haven't you seen it already?" Aiden asks, curious, raising an eyebrow as he looks at Alya.
"Well… I saw the beginning," Alya confesses, laughing softly. "But I got distracted and missed most of it in the end, hehe."
"Then let's go," Aiden says, gently taking her hand. Together, they head toward the cinema. Once inside, they find some good seats, settling in and enjoying the anticipation before the movie starts.
The movie begins, and both Alya and Aiden focus on the screen, sitting next to each other. As the story progresses, Alya, without realizing it, leans more and more toward Aiden, letting herself be carried away by the closeness and the cozy atmosphere of the cinema. The softness of the lights, the surround sound—everything seems to envelop them in a bubble of comfort.
In an instinctive gesture, Aiden's arm slides around her shoulders, pulling her close with a warm, protective touch, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Alya feels his closeness and, though a little surprised, she feels comfortable, enjoying his company as the movie continues.
The romantic scenes on the screen seem to influence the moment, and Alya allows herself to rest her head on Aiden's shoulder, feeling at ease beside him. They enjoy the shared silence, with no need for words.
Aiden doesn't overlook the soft weight of Alya's head resting on his shoulder. With a gentle squeeze of her shoulder, he glanced at her sideways, seeking even closer contact, before softly whispering, "Alya…"
Alya turned her face toward him, and in the moment their eyes met, she realized just how close they were. Her face was dangerously near Aiden's, barely a few centimeters apart. The proximity of their bodies made her aware of how close they were. Something inside her skipped a beat, and suddenly, the air between them became thick, filled with palpable tension. Their breaths mingled, and for a moment, all Alya could hear was her own rapid heartbeat, echoing in her ears.
"I…" Alya tried to speak, her tone nervous.
Aiden didn't let her finish. Before Alya could react, his face came even closer, and his lips met hers in a soft, slow kiss.
As Alya felt his lips against hers, she stayed still. Her eyes widened in disbelief, unable to process what was happening. The world around her seemed to stop for a second, and all she could do was feel the softness of Aiden's lips on hers. She tried to pull away, but Aiden's arm, which held her firmly, kept her in place effortlessly. In a moment of desperation, she struck his chest in protest, trying to free herself, but as time passed, those strikes grew weaker, softening, one after another.
Unable to resist, a part of her gave in, and the tension in her body faded, leaving her surrendered to the sensation of the moment.
Her fists, which had been clenched, slowly opened, and her palms rested on Aiden's chest, as if seeking comfort in his closeness. Alya's eyes finally closed, and in that instant, she let herself go, responding to the kiss with a gentleness she hadn't anticipated. The warmth of his lips and the heat radiating from him seemed to envelop her completely, erasing any thoughts or resistance she might have had.
The seconds stretch, prolonging the moment, and Alya surrenders without reservation, feeling her body respond to his kisses. Her hands, once firmly placed on his chest, gently move up to Aiden's face. Her fingers caress his cheeks softly, exploring his features.
Aiden, noticing Alya's surrender, allows himself to respond with the same tenderness. His hands slowly trace her face, outlining the shape of her lips, caressing gently. Time seems to stop as they both lose themselves in the kiss.
Minutes pass before they finally pull away, their breaths shallow and uneven. The space between them feels heavier, but their gazes remain locked, as if everything else stopped mattering for a moment. The air feels thick, and each of them breathes irregularly, but they don't pull away completely.
Alya takes a breath, feeling her chest rise and fall quickly. Her mind is racing. She's not sure what led her to act this way, but something inside her tells her that the stress of the last few days has something to do with it. Maybe it was the darkness of the room, how close they were, or the warmth she always feels from Aiden.
Now, Alya needs advice, something to help her understand what to do in this moment. And there's no better person for that than Marinette. She closes her eyes for a moment, trying to find some clarity. In that moment, a voice crosses her mind, her friend's voice, echoing in her head: "It doesn't make sense to stop now that we've started. As long as Nino doesn't find out, it won't hurt him."
Without a doubt, Alya leans in again and kisses Aiden, this time with more passion. Their lips intertwine in a deep kiss, one she has never experienced with anyone else. Aiden responds instantly, his mouth opens, and his tongue searches for Alya's, gently pressing against her lips, asking for entry. Alya, still somewhat nervous but determined, opens her mouth, feeling Aiden's tongue invade hers in a slow dance.
Alya feels her heart beating faster and faster as their tongues meet and slide against each other. Aiden's hands stop caressing her face, drop down, and take her under the arms. This causes Alya to pull away from the kiss, surprised, and she murmurs, "What are you doing...?". But she falls silent as Aiden effortlessly lifts her from her seat and places her on his lap. No one in the theater notices, it's too empty.
Alya feels her face heat up with embarrassment, still sitting on Aiden's lap. "Aren't you moving a little too fast?", Alya asks, pouting. Aiden doesn't answer, he just kisses her again. Alya doesn't complain, she goes along with it. Now in a better position, her arms wrap around Aiden's neck, holding him close, not letting him pull away unless she allows it.
Aiden's hands slide down and wrap around Alya's hips. "Ahh...". A moan escapes her lips involuntarily as she feels Aiden hold her so intimately. Excited, Alya begins to move her hips slowly and softly over Aiden's lap. "Heh...". She pulls away from the kiss for a moment to laugh and watch Aiden's reaction as she teases him.
Alya notices his predatory gaze, and it's then that she feels Aiden's hands slide lower, grabbing her ass. She doesn't stop him, biting her lip as she watches him move closer. This time, not to her lips, but instead, he lowers a bit and licks her neck. "Ahh...," Alya moans, closing her eyes in excitement. She feels Aiden's hands playing with her ass, his lips licking her neck.
"I have to stop this," she tells herself, knowing she can't let it go any further.
Cough, cough, cough... A voice interrupts the moment between them, and they both jump. To their surprise, it's the theater usher. He's watching them with his arms crossed, a serious expression on his face. Alya and Aiden are still very close, their mouths barely apart.
"Dear customers," the usher says in a professional tone, "I must inform you that the movie has ended. I'll ask that you take your business elsewhere."
Alya and Aiden immediately separate, embarrassed by the interruption.
"Of course," Aiden replies, standing up while taking Alya's hand and guiding her toward the exit. Alya smiles, a bit embarrassed, realizing they've been caught in such an intimate moment.
Once outside, they head straight for the car. Alya is so embarrassed that she can barely speak.
"Alya," Aiden says, getting her attention.
Alya looks at him, still unsure of what to say.
"What happened in the theater... wasn't very professional on my part," Aiden says, noticing that Alya still avoids his gaze.
Alya doesn't respond right away, but eventually says, "It's okay, it was an accident, you don't have to apologize."
"I'm not apologizing," Aiden says, finally turning her face toward him. "It wasn't professional, but I don't regret what we did."
Aiden takes Alya's hand, looking into her eyes with a sincere gaze. "I know it's been a short time, but I really would like to get to know you better."
Alya stammers a little, hesitating. "I-I... need to think about it," Alya responds, not breaking eye contact.
Aiden smiles upon hearing her response. "That's fine," he says calmly. "Would you like me to take you home?"
"No," Alya says quickly, but then adds, "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to go to Marinette's house."
"Sure, no problem," Aiden replies, signaling to the driver. He immediately changes direction, and the car starts heading toward Marinette's house.
[Dupain-Cheng Bakery]
Marinette is on her balcony, enjoying a break while getting some fresh air, when she notices an elegant car stopping in front of the bakery. "I don't recognize that car," she mutters, more curious than ever. She leans out a little more, watching closely to see who gets out of the vehicle.
She's surprised to see her best friend, Alya, getting out of the car. "Hey—" The shout she planned to make to get Alya's attention cuts off abruptly when she sees Aiden also get out of the car. "Of course," Marinette thinks, unable to stop a small smile, although her curiosity grows. She's eager to ask Alya how her 'not-date' went.
But as her thoughts wander, her eyes can't help but focus on something she maybe shouldn't have seen. She watches as Aiden approaches Alya, takes her hands, and says something Marinette can't hear. Suddenly, a strange sensation forms in her stomach. What happens next leaves her completely shocked: Aiden moves closer and, with a fluid motion, kisses Alya.
Marinette covers her mouth with her hand, trying not to scream as she watches her best friend kiss someone who isn't her boyfriend." After a moment, they pull apart, and Aiden returns to the car, driving off quickly. Alya, on the other hand, runs toward Marinette's house as fast as she can, and Marinette hears her coming, the sound of her footsteps echoing as she rushes up the stairs.
"MARINETTE, I'M IN BIG TROUBLE!" Alya yells as she enters through Marinette's room's trapdoor.
-/-
Author's Note: What do you think? Too forced? Not forced enough? I'm looking forward to your comments. 4.5k words! Don't get used to it, I actually planned to split it in two, but oh well. I don't think I'll be posting anything over the weekend, so comment something, I love reading your comments and suggestions.
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