CHAPTER 7
Disclaimer: Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir is own by ZAGTOON. I only own the story and some of the plots.
'words' - thought
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"I think the zoo visit can end here." Alya said. The other three nodded in agreement.
Marinette and Adrien turned to them.
"How about we try tracing our steps? We can find where this miracle of you both starts." Ivan said to help Adrien out with his little awkward situation just now.
"That is a great idea. We can start at the Le Trabendo, the place where we first meet you guys." Mylène beamed.
"But I thought we will be going to the-"
"Dude, your dad will be coming home in three days. If we can find any clue then you both won't have to be glued like this at the end of this week." Nino half-hugged Adrien.
'I don't want to be far from Marinette. I- No! She's stuck to me unwillingly. This problem will go away and I will let her choose me on her own.' Adrien thought with a new determination.
"You're right. Come on." He beamed.
They asked for Adrien's bodyguard to drive them there. When they arrived, the rain had lifted. They started to give the details to each other. The girls showed where they walked after the concert. It's not that far from where the boys sneaked out. The boys told them how they avoid people like they were some kind of plague. They all laughed to the funny reenactment the boys showed them. The girls reached the crossroad and the boys reached the bookstore. It was only a store away from each other.
"And that is where Marinette did his crazy stun." Alya pointed to the crossroad making the other laughed.
"And that is where Adrien collided to a lamp post with an iron neck of his." Nino added eliciting another burst.
Adrien suddenly stopped laughing and went to the post. Marinette followed after him with a confuse face. She saw Adrien stared at the post with all his attention.
"Adr-"
"It's not a lamp post."
Marinette turned to it and saw a birdhouse stood majestically on a white wood post. The birdhouse was in a shape of Chinese pagoda with Chinese-style carving all around it. Some small woods protruded from its wall like it was made for birds to perch outside of the birdhouse too.
The other noticed how intrigued Adrien was towards the birdhouse. Said person looked up and mumbled silently.
"What did you say?" Nino asked, coming closer to him with the other behind him.
"Fu's Healing and Therapy." Adrien said it louder.
"Oh, it's like a clinic. But based on the name and the store design, I can guess that this 'Fu' is a traditional healer. I've seen similar one like this when my mom brought me there once before." Marinette explained.
"Oh right. You're a daughter of French-Chinese mix parent, aren't you?" She nodded to Ivan.
"It's close for now and will open tomorrow around… 9.30 am." Alya squint her eyes to see the business board at the door.
"Well, I think we investigate enough for today. My stomach screams dinner." Nino's stomach grumbled a little too loud after he said it.
They slowly turned to him, gaping. He glanced right and left innocently. They burst out laughing and didn't stop until they reached a nearby café to fill the all-demanding Nino's belly.
After dinner, they went store by store to spend some more time outside before returning home. Adrien's mind was full with the image of the birdhouse and the healer place. He had this strong feeling of how those two were the clues they were searching. Marinette noticed the distance look he gave every now and then. He hid it well when they were watching him but not to Marinette's eyes.
They arrived home around 11 pm and soon went to bed to the exhaustion of today's fun and mischievous day. As usual, those two didn't sleep that instance. Marinette kept her eyes solely to Adrien while lying on her side on the couch. Adrien was having a thoughtful moment and didn't notice her. He turned to his side and immediately colliding eyes with her. The heavy thought gone, the remaining thing surrounding his mind was the soothing bluebell eyes of his crush.
"We'll go there first thing in the morning." Marinette said out of sudden.
Adrien focused on her words and blinked, "How did you know?"
She giggled, "You're easy to read than I thought."
"Ha. Ha. I'm not a picture book."
"But you are a person and a person is allowed to show their worry." She smiled simply.
He gaped in surprise. "You are amazing, my lady." He returned the smile.
"Better sleep now. The earlier we go, the sooner I'll see you."
Adrien looked weirdly at her. "I'm here am I? Are you teasing me?" He chuckled.
"Your mind isn't here and I refuse to talk to a puppet. I want someone to listen and give response. Not pretend to listen then give universal response." She stared seriously at him.
Adrien looked guilty to the TV screen. He didn't deserve to ask for an apology for his action so he didn't ask for it. His head was lifted, stunning him. Pleasant warmth seeped to his face. Gentle stroke to his head calmed him.
"I'm not mad so you don't have to say you are sorry. In fact, you have nothing to be sorry about. After the birdhouse, you look so lost and I don't know how to help you. I was frustrated when you converse with us half-heartedly. It means you have something on your mind but you bottled it up." She was quite.
Adrien turned to her face above him. He saw a troubled face of Marinette. She then smiled sadly.
"It means I can't help you. I don't want to force anything on you and just have to wait for you to open up. I was frustrated because I'm powerless when you are in trouble. Sorry." Marinette closed her eyes in regret.
He slowly cupped her cheek, "Don't be. Thank you for respecting my way in coping with problems. I'm not ready to tell anyone anything. I'm not brave enough." He gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
"When this happen, when we're glued together" he chuckled in remembering Nino's choice of word, "I know I'm not alone. You are always there comforting me like now. I'm glad it's you."
Marinette opened her eyes to see shinning luminescent green eyes stared at her. It make her speechless to see those hypnotic look. Now she knows how oblivious she was. It wasn't just any friendly act, it's more than that. Marinette understands now that she was already falling for Adrien the moment their eyes met after their first chest pain.
Why did I have been denying it? It's always there, the warm feeling towards him.'
As time passed, she unconsciously acted more than friends to him; act more than any close friends she ever have. Marinette treated him like the love of her heart like she was doing now. Now she knows.
She stopped the strokes as her mind clicked her feelings together. Adrien slowly halted rubbing her cheek when he saw her troubled face.
"Marinette?" He asked worriedly.
She turned to him and just giggled, "I'm glad it's you too. Now sleep." She continued the caress on his head with a wide meaningful smile.
Adrien stared to her weird antics. She seemed to be in better mood. It's all he needed to know to have a peaceful sleep. He was then lulled to sleep because of the caressing.
Marinette looked to his sleeping face on her lap. She chuckled silently as the image of a cat taking a nap fit perfectly to his figure now.
"Sweet dreams, my lovely cat."
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'Huh? Where am I? Oh right, Marinette's apartment.' Adrien opened his eyes sleepily. He could see the others were still sleeping. It's early in the morning after all.
He groggily turned around facing the ceilings. He faintly heard a soft breath next to him. Frowning to himself, 'Strange, since when a couch makes sound?'
He glanced to the back of the couch and settled his eyes to the ceilings seconds later. Eyes wide, he slowly turned to the back of the couch again which was in the color of white now instead of yesterday's pink.
'Marinette!' He sat up fast silently to not wake the sitting girl. Adrien slapped his face, 'She sleep like this all night? I should wake up earlier. It must be uncomfortable for her. No wonder my head feels like it was laying on a cloud. My head is heavy too. Oh man~ Sorry, my lady.'
He cringed to himself. Suddenly, he noticed Marinette's hand searched something on her lap in her sleep. She frowned when she couldn't find it. Adrien's eyes wide to see the actions.
'She's searching for…. me? Well, my head on her lap before but still.' He thought happily.
He grasped her searching hand tenderly and she stopped moving. A content smile adorned her feature. Another smile followed suit but it's a loving one.
'This girl never stops to amaze me. Her courage's act, her antics, her optimism, her smiles. Her honesty to herself.' He chuckled when he remembered the first time he saw her.
Adrien slowly laid Marinette down without ever letting go. He made to pull his hand away but it wouldn't budge. He turned to her face. She frowned when the warmth in her hand retreating. So she held to it tighter and closer to her.
Adrien redden and slapped his face, 'Why she has to be innocently cute?'
He tried prying her hand gently in worry. He didn't want their friends to see them in this state; it would embarrass her. Don't need to make her avoid him now that he managed to make her close to him. It's not about the distance. It's about her little actions which slowly seemed like they were closer than mere friends.
"What are you doing?" Adrien whipped his head around.
He saw Nino sat up with a blur face. "No… Nothing." He stuttered with awkward chuckles.
Nino stared straight at him which unnerved him.
"You need to concentrate on her." He voiced out after a minute.
"Excuse me?" Adrien cocked his eyebrow.
"If you stay like that any longer, then Alya will tease you both."
"I don't-" "I know. Don't worry, I'm up just for toilet." Nino stood calmly.
Adrien stared disbelievingly to him all the way to the toilet. He focused back to his problem.
"She is stronger than I thought. It wasn't this hard to make her let go before." He mumbled.
He finally did it after few tries by replacing his hand with a part of the blanket. Nino got out and he stared back at him. Nino didn't register his stare, just went straight to the kitchen and sat on the stool. He finally looked to Adrien.
"Try harder."
"I manage to free my hand just now, thank you."
Nino sighed, "Not that. Your advances."
"Wha-" "The constant teasing, flirting and caring for her. Try harder or use different approaches. Be yourself and she'll notice you." Nino smiled warmly to a gaping Adrien.
"Adrien, you're up early." Alya's voice snapped him out of the shocking advice.
"I just woke up and saw Nino at the kitchen." He replied automatically.
Alya turned to the kitchen, "Huh? You're up and about before me." She smirked.
"I just want to help out with the breakfast." Nino grinned.
They teased with each other while preparing the food. Adrien move to the other side of the couch and sat in stupor. He sighed which caught Alya's attention.
"I see she sleeps on your side again. Sorry for her clumsiness." Alya said, chuckling, from the kitchen.
"It's okay, I don't mind actually. Just feeling tired. I don't want to move her around when the sleep is that deep." He joked.
Alya giggled saying lowly "What a girl."
Adrien heard it. He smiled, "What a girl indeed." The mumbling was to his ears only.
One by one woke up. Marinette was the last one and just in time when the breakfast was done. With the help of Nino, the table had varieties of food; banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, mix pancakes, sausages, mashed potato with gravy and coleslaw.
"I hope the pancakes aren't burned." Ivan teased since Nino was the one who cooked it. Nino glared lightly while others chuckled secretly.
"Burned or not, Alya's mix will always taste good. But surprisingly, they aren't burned at all." Alya grinned to the offended staring from Nino.
"Looks like we have a pair of chefs in here." Adrien teased more eliciting chuckling except the two.
"Ah, right. I want to suggest that we go to the healing store yesterday." Marinette said.
"The one with the birdhouse in front of it?" Marinette nodded to Mylène.
"Sure. You think it has something to do with you guys?" Nino asked.
"I think so." Marinette answered.
"I know so." Adrien suddenly said seriously while not looking to anyone.
They turned to each other and nodded silently. They got up and begin to prepare themselves. Adrien looked weirdly at them; even Marinette forced him to get up and changed to an outing attire.
"Where are we going this early?" Adrien was already wearing new clothes.
"We are going to the healing store now. It will be open around 9.30, right? It's almost 9 now. We better hurry up or someone will show up before us." Mylène said while cleaning the kitchen with Alya and Nino.
"But, breakfast-" "I'll pack them up. We can eat in the car or later like a picnic." Ivan smiled warmly to him while packing all the food and put them in paper bags.
"But-" "No argument." Marinette cut him off with a grin.
"Call your bodyguard." She added.
Adrien stood stun on his place. After a few seconds, he finally registered his phone in front of him which was held by Marinette. He called his bodyguard, followed all of them into the car and stepped out of it in autopilot mode. They arrived there around 9.45 am but the store wasn't open yet.
Adrien laughed out loud, attracting the pedestrian and his friends. He was quite all the way there. No wonder they looked weirdly at him.
"You guys are something." He wheezed. "Let- me- breath- a minute." He said as he saw the confused staring from them.
He settled to chuckles once in a while. With a fond face, he hugged them all. The best he could that is. He released his stunned friends.
"Thank you." He finally said. He never meant the word as much as this time before.
"Good to know you aren't going crazy. Dude, you almost make me have a heart attack with the laughing." Nino punched his arm, the uninjured one, with a smile.
He smiled sheepishly while rubbing his sore arm. They sat on the stairs of the healing store and finally ate their breakfast. They finished 30 minutes later but it still didn't open. They decided to roam around near it, in case it opens for business.
The time was almost at noon. Adrien was restless but he was more in guilty feeling because their friend had to stay with him when they could be somewhere else. They had been with him without failing when this problem arose. He received all the support from them without them questioning it one bit. They were the most loyal person he had. Besides his distant father. He gave off a determined face.
"Guys." He called out. They soon scattered around him.
"Go on a date." He smiled warmly.
"With you? No thank you." Nino joked making others laughed.
Adrien just shook his head, "I mean you four." They quieted at the words.
"You can spend today with each other instead with us. So, go on." He shooed them away.
"But-" "No argument. Like Marinette said." He cut Ivan off and grinned.
They walked away from the two slowly; eyes still on them.
"I'll be here with him. Don't worry." Marinette assured them.
"That's what I'm worry about." Alya teased making Marinette pout while others chuckled to it.
"But I suppose we can leave him in your hands." She added with a caring smile.
The other three approved to it and they were out of their sight minutes later. Marinette was glad to see her friends were pairing to nice guys. They were meant for each other; she can see that before they become a couple. Alas, she didn't notices the longing stare next to her.
"Sorry you have to be here with me." She turned to the defeated chuckling. "I bet you want to go somewhere entertaining than waiting here. How about-"
"This is my problem too." Adrien stared to her calm face. She giggled, "We'll deal with this together. We're practically a team now."
Marinette held her hand up in a fist. Adrien looked to it then to the beaming face. He was grinning and fist-bumped her gently but firmly.
"Thanks. Somehow I feel like I bring bad luck to someone. Maybe the black cat from our logo really does suit me." He gave a solemn smile.
"Then, I'll stay by your side." He focused on her, "You said I'm your ladybug. It's known to be a lucky symbol. I'll be there when you need something lucky in your life." She grinned then blushed to her own word.
'What am I saying? He's going to think I'm weird or-' "Thank you, Marinette."
Her thought was stopped by the smooth voice. It makes her melted inside. She stared to Adrien's charming feature. She noticed every bit of his gestures and she like all of them.
"Marinette?" She snapped out of the long staring and giggled awkwardly.
"Oh, my. Its lunch hour. No wonder I feel hungry. Let's go." She turned away from him to hide her uncontrollable blushing and smiling.
Adrien tailed her, chuckling to her antics. But he didn't saw the hidden one. They went to a café nearby. The mood gradually turned better and they laughed to every conversation they made.
After lunch, Marinette wanted to go to the bookstore next to the healing store to buy some sketchbooks. Adrien was impressed to hear some of the designs she told her as they were walking on the side of the road. He even complimented one which was a derby hat. He could imagine his father approving to it.
"He definitely needs to see the design. Then, I will be wearing it as a model to show how great it is." Adrien exclaimed.
She giggled, "I don't think you want to wear it. Some of the part will have feathers."
He widened, "I think I'll be sneezing all the time when we take pictures."
"Then don't wear" "I will. It's your awesome design after all." He grinned.
Marinette turned away with a fond smile, 'He'll do that for me.' She thought gleefully.
SHREESH!
"Oh dear."
They looked to the sound and the desperate voice immediately. An old man with a small builds, wearing a red shirt with white Hawaiian-flower around it, was on the ground. Plastic bags and their contents scattered in front of him. An antique-looking cane was in his hand. No one seemed to notice him except the two.
They dashed to help out. They both supported him up slowly and carefully. Marinette kept supporting while Adrien cleaned the mess back to the bags.
"We'll send you home. Where do you live?" Marinette asked as Adrien finished.
"That store with the birdhouse in front of it." He pointed.
Marinette and Adrien stared to each other. They've been waiting since morning for the store. They walked to the store and helped the man inside. The old man told Adrien to put the bags down as they reached what looks like a healing room. He asked if they wanted something to drink as gratitude but they refused politely.
He insisted by going to the teapot on a cabinet across the room. Marinette quickly got up to help him out. Adrien was nearby too. He brought along a chair for the old man to rest. He then turned to Marinette if she needed any help. The old man smile knowingly but it went unseen to them both.
"So, what brings you here?" He said when they all settled down on a cushion each on the floor.
"I don't say anything yet." Adrien answered in surprise.
"Ah, but you are about to." He smiled simply.
Adrien and Marinette glanced to each other. She encourages him with the looks she's giving. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"I want to ask you about the birdhouse you have in front. Is it… magical?" He hesitated.
"The one who doesn't believe wouldn't question it in this serious manner. So young one, do you believe it?" The man kept that smile of his.
"I do." Adrien didn't even blinked this time.
"Then tell me the story. I believe what you believe to your true heart." He relaxed more.
Adrien told him about the little accident at the crossroad, Marinette added once in a while. The occurrences at the hospital especially the chest pains. How they concluded to be stuck together and couldn't stray far from each other more than two meters. He told about the investigation from yesterday and the realization that he hit the post of the birdhouse; not just some normal lamp post. How he was absent-minded all night after seeing it. The strong feeling he gets to come back.
"So tell me, please. What is really happening to me? To us?" He ended tensely with a pleading face.
"Why do you think you are the problem here?"
"What-" "You asked what really happen to you then corrected to the both of you."
"I-I-I'm not sure." Adrien lost his tense to a frown.
The man closed his eyes, still smiling. "What is your name, young one?"
He widened, "I'm sorry for my rudeness. Aaa… My name is Adrien Agreste. This is Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng." He indicated to her who nodded her greetings.
"I am Fu. People usually called me Master Fu. Feel free to do so too. I'm more comfortable with it than Mr." He chuckled lightly.
The two smiled to the friendly greeting.
"You already know the answer to your question." He spoke again.
"But, I don't. That's why I asked for your help, Master Fu." He pleaded again.
"You seek far when it's near. The answer is very close yet you see only a part of it. Feel it with your heart, Adrien, not just your mind." He riddled, smiling wisely.
He was stumped. Marinette could only sit on the sidelines, she didn't know what to say or do. Master Fu saw their troubled face. He stood and approached them. Adrien's shoulder was touched firmly yet caring. Adrien faced the man with so many uncertainties written clearly on his features.
"Take a walk. Your mind will be in a fresh run. Come back when you find something but not today. Give yourself sometime; your own time." Master Fu patted his shoulder.
Adrien looked to the floor and nodded in solemn. Marinette followed as he walked to the door, only to be stopped by Master Fu.
"Do what your good at; be Marinette." He gave a small knowing smile. Then he pushed her lightly indicating to follow Adrien.
Marinette nodded with a determined face. She bowed slightly and took off. Master Fu tenderly kept his eyes on the two young visitors from his store's window, walking away side by side.
"They are made for each other." He mumbled quietly to himself.
To be continue…
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So, can you guess what's the answer to Adrien's question?
I have been saying this but I want to say it again. Thanks for the support to all of you awesome readers.