บท 29: 29: Absentminded
Adrien and Marinette did not talk all morning the next day. In fact, Nino and Alya noticed how the two brushed off several greetings and advances from their classmates, quietly drowning in their seats. It was odd enough that they had been distant and cold, even more that they both have the same sullen look on their faces.
Lunch break came and Alya was reaching her limit. She felt something snap in her head and her body instinctively pulled Adrien and Marinette out of their seats, locking them up in a supply closet.
"Alya! What the heck is this all about?" slammed Marinette from the inside.
"Nino, you out there? Get us out of here!" yelled Adrien.
Nino who went along with Alya, glanced at his frowning girlfriend. Obviously he was conflicted of what to do, until Alya scowled at her popping an eyebrow.
"Ack! Uhmm...Sorry dude." he stammers, "I-I think Alya's right. You both cool your heads in there." he said then glances back to Alya to affirm validity of his actions.
"Unbelievable!" groaned Marinette, leaning to the the door with both arms anchored.
"Well, at least it's not that cramped." commented Adrien, looking at the piled up boxes and several hung mops on the wall.
Mari turns to him, looking unamused.
Adrien half smiles at her, making her blush.
"I-I-I believe Alya and Nino have left." she crossed her arms, avoiding his eyes.
He leans over to the door with his ear sticking to it, "Yeah. And I don't think they'll be coming back for a while."
Marinette sighs and Adrien notices the dark circles under the girl's eye.
Truth is...both of them weren't aware of their unsociability today. They got too wallowed up in their thoughts that they failed to notice their surroundings.
"Hey," he initiates, "Since we're already here....wanna talk about..?" he shrugs. And of course with that, she tenses up realizing what he meant.
"I'm so sorry I did not reply. I had so much in my head that- I didn't know how to..no, I didn't know if it was right for me to. I was scared that―"
"Hey, hey," he chuckles, holding her shoulders, "Calm down. It's fine. I was expecting you were already asleep."
Her tensed shoulders eases in and her gaze instantly dropped to the ground. She felt her chest tighten remembering what had happened last night. She thought she was an idiot thinking everything was alright. It wasn't. She is glad that Chat Noir and Adrien are the same person and yet she also feels selfish for being a hypocrite when Adrien is dressed as Chatton. In the end, she will become the liar in this game of tag.
"I can't do this anymore, Adrien." she whispered.
Adrien's eyes lit up but not the brightest as he understood what Marinette is trying to say. He lifts her chin up with his hand, peering into her sad glistening eyes.
"I don't want to play dumb, Marinette," he spoke softly, "But I can not see reason for us not to stay being really good friends."
Marinette grits her teeth, holding back her real emotions, "Good friends? You think that's what I want?" her face forcing an angry frown.
However, Adrien could see right through her. He didn't need to ask her if she was lying like last time, because this time, it was written all over her face.
"I just..want your honesty, Marinette." his voice melting her heart.
She could feel her pulse on her neck, and the heat rising to her cheeks. Her face softens as she pulls Adrien's hand away from her chin. Both their hands drop to their side with Marinette looking down trying to compose herself with what she was about to say.
"I can't..." she whispered.
Adrien leans in, "What?"
Mari slowly lifts her face meeting his gaze, reaching for his cheek. Her eyes traveled to his as she caressed his hair, her thumb stopping at the base of his cheek bone.
"I can't have you..."
Adrien's eyes widen in shock and the door behind Mari had suddenly swooped open making them consciously step away from each other. He sees Alya and Nino on the other side gawking at them confused of the pose they were having. But before Alya or Nino or Adrien could even ask or explain the situation, Marinette storms out leaving the three in silence.
"SooooOooOooOo, have you guys made up?" said Nino which made Alya kicking him from behind.
Adrien sheepishly smiled, shrugging, "It's okay guys."
"I'm so sorry, Adrien. I thought Mari was acting weird and you were acting odd so-"
"It's okay Alya. I, too, thought that we were on the same page."
"The same page?!" Nino picks himself up from falling on the floor, "You guys are the protagonists of the same book!" he yelled.
Alya had never felt so proud. Nino might be thickheaded but he sure has the right words at the right time.
"Nino's right, Adrien. Mari had always.....admired you. There must be something going on with her."
"Plus, you got a girlfriend dude." Nino adds.
(A/N: Exactly! You can't expect Marinette to be all mushy with you knowing you're with Kagami! She ain't that cheap!)
Adrien stares at the two trying to find the words. He knew that. All along he knew what had to be done, but with everything that has been rolling over in his other life, it's been a hard time to be thinking selfishly when his partner is out there battling Hawkmoth's evil plan all by herself.
"Come on," Nino nudges his side, "Let's go back. Mari should have calmed down by now."
Adrien nods closing the closet before they leave. Alya and Nino had already walked ahead giving him space to think before they reach the classroom and would have to see the damage done. But as he pondered to his thoughts, his phone buzzes on his side and Plagg comes flying over to his shoulder.
"Hey, kiddo." Plagg greets, stopping him from walking.
"You okay Adrien?" Nino yells from the staircase.
"Yeah! You guys go ahead, I got a message to check." he yelled back.
"Alright! Don't be long now!" and they both went their way.
Adrien pulls out his phone wondering who might be messaging in the middle of the day. He decides to take it to the bathroom glancing at Plagg who had been hovering at his shoulder.
"And we're back at the bathroom. You guys sure love to take your thoughts into a room of tiled walls."
"You know I can't focus when you're around knowing how people might find out about you. And what do you mean by "you guys" anyway? Is master Fu the same way?"
"No," Plagg playfully swivels in air, "Of course not. Master Fu likes to take his thoughts into a game of mahjong and tea. It's you kids always dragging us at bathrooms."
"Ladybug takes you to bathrooms?"
"Yes. Although, I do find the women's bathroom a lot more..." he couldn't finish his sentence with Adrien glaring at him.
"Hmmm...if you like being with Ladybug so much, why are you still hanging around with me then? Aren't you supposed to meet with her today?"
"Your eyes are scaring me, kid. And no, that is not the case." Plagg crosses his teeny tiny arms, "I'm letting Waze sleep inside your bag so I'm the one in charge of you right now. Besides, Ladybug will meet me after school."
Adrien's eyes were still narrowed, staring at him. The suspicion could be smelled even from 5 miles away.
"Hey! Come on! Cut that out. Aren't you going to read that text message?" Plagg frantically changes the subject.
"Don't worry," Adrien mumbles, glancing at his phone as he slides in his password, "I won't bug you anymore about Ladybug's mission. I've come to understand the whole situation." He hasn't.
Adrien's inbox prompted two new messages. The first message was from Kagami and the other one from an unknown number. He opens Kagami's first reading: 'Can we meet by the park later?'
He instinctively replied: 'Okay, sure' knowing how he'd have to distract him from the chaos that had occured not too long ago. He also had felt he's been spending less time with Kagami when he's supposed to be with her in days he was free.
"That's a relief. I was worried you'd get careless and get all hyped over....Adrien? You okay?"
Plagg was so sure that Adrien had been looking fine just now. But suddenly his face turned grim as he read over to a text message on his phone.
"This..." Adrien trembled as the message from the unknown number flashes.
Plagg flies over to his phone and also felt the sudden horror of his partner reading: I know you're Chat Noir.
The two glanced at each other feeling curious and horrified of what they had seen. Curious of who it might be and horrified of the possible danger it will cause everybody around him. This wasn't the best time for this, but he just had to find out.
"Plagg, claws out!"
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