DAY FIFTEEN: SATISFIED

It had taken until Thursday for Alya to finally stop pestering her about Adrien.

Marinette knew that really she ought to have told them about her revelation that she was no longer in love with him, but she wasn't ready yet. She hadn't fully realised it herself, and she wanted to be fully sure that this was the right course before she shared it with others.

So, as far as they were aware, she was just taking a break from romantic schemes. She was just concentrating on being his friend. Rose, who had seemed particularly distraught over the idea her ship 'Adrienette' might be sinking, still held on hope that this was just a phase and that deep down she still loved him.

Mylène was surprised and a little concerned but respected Marinette's decision.

Alix just didn't care.

And Juleka...Juleka also seemed uncharacteristically unbothered by the entire ordeal. If anything, she might have been relieved.

Not that Marinette had ever been particularly good at reading Juleka's emotions. That was something only Rose and Luka have ever been able to do.

Speaking of, Luka had been rather quiet all week too. After bumping into him on Monday, she had neither seen nor heard from him. She had half-expected a text on Tuesday or Wednesday, asking how her plans had gone.

Nothing.

Perhaps he'd taken her up on her proposal and had asked out the girl he liked, and perhaps he'd been rejected. Still, she had at least expected acknowledgement of the bag of sweets she'd given Juleka to deliver to him.

Several times she had started composing a text, but never finished. After all, if he had been rejected then it would make sense to blame her; she was the one pushing him. Or maybe there was something else; he hadn't looked particularly happy on Monday.

Whatever it was, she decided it would be best to give him space and time.

The grey and green teddy bear remained on the bakery counter all week as it had proved popular with customers and Marinette's parents were usually able to continue selling Valentine's themed goodies until a few days after the event.

Marinette was surprised, however, to wake up on Saturday morning and find the bear sitting on her desk. The notecard was gone, but in its place was a small cellophane bag containing three pink macarons and a card.

Happy Valentine's, our darling girl

With all our love,
Maman & Papa

There was another addition too. On the bear's chest, over where its heart would be, someone had embroidered a tiny red flower with green leaves. Marinette smiled as she reread the note then found a new spot for the bear amongst the toys on her bed.

Next, she turned her attention to the myriad of pictures covering her walls. Adrien smiling; Adrien pensieve; Adrien leaping with abandon; Adrien leaning against a wall with a 'too-cool-for-school' pout. Photos ripped out of magazines; photos printed from websites; photos taken candidly at school…

The Marinette who had first pinned up these pictures now felt like a stranger. Someone separate from herself. Someone she'd moved on from.

The pictures came down. One by one, Adrien's faces fluttered to the bed and floor, revealing clean, bare wallpaper underneath. As she worked, Marinette felt like she was cleaning her heart as well, decluttering it from the messy feelings and obsessive love she had once felt. Then, she brushed the pictures into the bin. She even went into the photos on her phone and deleted all of the pictures she'd surreptitiously taken without his knowledge.

Scrubbed clean.

The only pictures remaining were the group photos. She and Alya having milkshakes; Rose and Juleka wearing matching berets at a street fair; Alix trying out a new roller-skating move; Mylène and Ivan eating ice cream; Nino and Adrien posing in front of a fountain.

The only candid ones she had kept were a couple of Luka playing guitar, just because she thought they were quite artistic and he might want them if he ever got somewhere as a musician.

He also had a tendency to pull a particularly serious expression when he was playing, one which was equal parts attractive and funny on his usually chill face.

With her walls cleared, Marinette pinned the card from her parents up next to the photo of Kitty Section's concert taken on the Liberty. Her eyes alighted on Luka again.

Enough was enough. She pulled out her phone and sent off a text before she could stop herself.

Marinette: how was your week?

M: you feeling any better since monday?

Nothing serious, just a check-in.

She slid her phone back into her pocket, clambered down to the main floor of her room, and opened up her little bag of macarons. Strawberry—her favourite. She broke one in two and offered half to Tikki, who had been reading a magazine all morning. She then popped the other half in her mouth, chewed slowly, and sighed. Happy, contented.

Satisfied.


Luka: Sorry I disappeared
L: Week was pretty boring so not much to report!
L: Thanks for the chocolates by the way
L: They were so good I might have eaten them all in one go

M: you glutton

L: I'm a growing boy!

Well, he certainly seemed in higher spirits. In fact, if he hadn't revealed the hopelessly unrequited nature of his crush, she wouldn't have guessed anything was wrong.

L: Juleka said you didn't go through with your plan?

Ah, so that's why he hadn't asked; he already knew. At least, he knew some of it. Clearly Juleka hadn't told him everything.

M: nah
M: it wasn't right

There was a long pause in between him reading the message and replying.

L: How do you mean?

M: it wasnt right anymore
M: i dont think hes right for me anymore
M: you know?

Somehow, despite keeping it from her friends, it felt wrong to lie to Luka about it. Then again, he'd been so supportive without ever pushing her or making her uncomfortable; she knew he'd accept her decision without pushback.

M: can you not tell juleka tho
M: i havent told the others yet
M: i want to wait til im sure

L: My lips are sealed

M: ive even redecorated my room!

Marinette took a quick photograph of her de-Adrienised wall and sent it too. A few minutes later he responded.

L: Hang on, when did you take those pictures on the left?
L: I don't remember them
L: You sneaking pics?

M: maaaaaybe
M: i liked your guitar face

L: Thanks?

Tikki, clearly bored, sneaked across the desk to peer at the phone screen. "Who are you talking to?"

"Just Luka," Marinette replied, searching for the original guitar pictures to send to him. "I'm trying to work out if he's okay."

"Why wouldn't he be okay?"

"I don't know. I just thought maybe he'd be...sad?" Marinette sighed, idly grabbing a pencil to tap against the desk. "When I was after Adrien, it's not like I knew he was in love with someone else. But this girl he likes, he knows that she is and…" Running out of words, she shrugged and sighed again. "Maybe I'm overthinking again."

L: When did you take those?

M: last summer i think
M: theyre good!
M: you look so serious

L: I'm a very serious person

M: clearly

"He seems fine to me," Tikki said. "And if he isn't then, well, maybe he just needs a friend? To distract him?"

Marinette mulled this over. He did seem fine now, but she couldn't imagine that he truly was. The pain had been nearly unbearable when Adrien had gone on a date with Kagami. She also recalled Chat Noir's heartbroken expression when she, as Ladybug, had told him she loved someone else.

Not that that had stopped him from flirting with her for more than a week, but…she still felt sorry for him. And any time she rejected him afterwards and reminded him of the fact she was in love with someone else, he'd never reacted...well.

The more she thought about it, the more she realised Tikki was right. Whenever she was upset, she had found hanging out with friends worked as an ample distraction. So really, if she wanted to help Luka, what she needed to do was...hang out with him more.

And why not? She liked hanging out with him. No matter what they did, she being with him always put her in a good mood and made her forget her troubles. Maybe he felt the same? He was always smiling and laughing with her.

And on Monday he'd looked as if he was having a crisis, but within ten minutes of bumping into each other he'd returned to his usual cheerful self.

M: you free tomorrow?

L: Think so
L: Unless I'm working
L: Which I'm not
L: So yes

M: you wanna hang out or something?
M: you can show me more of your music?
M: maybe you can teach me some guitar ;)

The winky face was a mistake—it was meant to be a smile. Fortunately, he didn't mention it.

L: Sounds fun :) When do you want to come over? 2-sh?

M: that works :D