Chapter 17: Awkwardness
"No!" Adrien and Nino said in unison as they glared at the two girls behind them.
"C'mon, why not?" Alya cooed poking the back of Nino's head.
Adrien looked at Nino for answers. Alya has asked them out this weekend and it's rare for Nino to refuse an opportunity to be Alya now that they started to date. Adrien then peeked at Marinette who he noticed was staring at him a while ago and now Marinette had her eyes closed.
"Because I don't have cash in me yet." Nino said with a streak of pink across his face. "It all went away because of that big sundae who kept me begging to buy last time."
By this Adrien began to snicker at Nino. "Is that your problem, I can lend you money for the meantime." He suggested with a slight tease in his voice. Nino looked at him then he noticed he was exchanging looks at Alya as he rolls his eyes at her direction. "By the way, what's the point of me tagging along again?"
"My wingman?" Nino said immediately.
"Have another wingman for the meantime." Adrien said looking away from the two. "I'm not in the mood of going out." He then glanced at Marinette looking at what her response is about the conversation they're having.
There was a moment of silence in the air until Alya broke it.
"Fine, suit yourself." She said as she shrugged. Alya took her bag and leave immediately with Nino.
Marinette and Adrien then followed them without a word to each other while the two keeps talking. It was awkward for Marinette and Adrien walking together with a sour attitude towards one another. They finally exited the building.
"Alright guys, I've got to rush see ya tomorrow!" Alya said as she waved and leave the group.
"You guys go ahead, Max and Kim are waiting." Nino said and leave as well, going to Max and Kim who's waiting for him at the sidewalk.
The two were left alone by their friends again. It was once again awkward. They just stood up there together without any word and even eye contact.
The Agreste vehicle arrived, it's time for Adrien to leave but as soon as Adrien is ready to open the door, the car window immediately slides down revealing Gabriel Agreste. Seeing the sight of his father, Adrien gulped with nervous and he don't know why. It's rare to see his father fetching him from school.
"Father," Adrien said under his breath with a rather surprised look.
Gabriel nodded and greeted his son. He then looked at Marinette.
"Good afternoon to you too Ms. Dupain-Cheng." He greeted.
"Good a-afterno-noon." She stuttered with a bow.
"I know this is sudden but will you us for today, I'd like to visit your household. I need to speak with you about something." Gabriel said with his normal frown and composed face.
Both teens were shocked. It's a surprise for them but neither said a word against it. They both got in the car and the driver drove them to the Dupain-Cheng household. It was a quiet atmosphere, while Gabriel is silently reading a newspaper, Marinette and Adrien was sitting at the car seat nervously, they're trying their best to avoid each other's touch and eye contact.
When they arrived at the local bakery, the father and son was greeted by the couple with warmth and pastries. Gabriel politely refuses while Adrien took a plate of cookies.
"Mr. Dupain, Mrs. Cheng," Gabriel began. "I'm sorry for us to intrude at this time but I see that your daughter have potential to work in my company in the future."
By this, the couple looked at their daughter with pride and happiness while Marinette looked very shocked yet happy at what Mr. Agreste had announced.
"So if you don't mind, along with my son Adrien, I want to answer the fees for your daughter's college years. I'm going to send her to the fashion school a friend of mine had established."
"Well, as long as Marinette is okay with it, it's fine with us!" Tom said putting his hand at his wife's shoulder.
"How about show Mr. Agreste your dresses and outfits sweetie." Sabine suggested.
Marinette couldn't control her happiness. It's her lucky day after all when it comes to something else other than about Adrien right now. She's lucky that Gabriel Agreste noticed her work and a good thing that because of the fight she had with Adrien, she removed every Adrien posters plastered all over her room.
She lead the two Agrestes to her room and began to show Mr. Agreste her sketched designs and already-made outfits while Adrien sit at her deskchair watching the two with the plate of pastry he had from downstairs.
"I see, these are marvelous!" Mr. Agreste said with a slightly happiness in his voice. "Marvelous at your age but you still need practice."
Marinette nodded happily.
"When I see the jacket in Adrien's closet, I managed to see your signature there. It's creative that you managed to hide it like that." He complimented.
At this, Marinette looked at Adrien warningly making the boy looked away by twirling the chair he was sitting and making himself busy by reading one of her notes in her desk.
"Umm…I'm just going to go to the bathroom downstairs." Adrien excused nervously as he headed down the stairs.
The two watched him leave and Marinette just realized her other sketchpad in the living room so she excused herself as well to get the said notebook. Marinette took her time scavenging her living room, long enough for Adrien to get back up.
"Adrien, look at this. This is quite interesting is it?" Gabriel said facing him as he flipped the pages of the sketchpad.
Adrien walked towards him. "What is it father?"
Gabriel pointed at the note lying at her desk. "I'm not a nosey person but have you been writing to Ms. Marinette?"
"Not that I'm aware of, why?"
"This is your handwriting is it?"
Adrien glanced at the said paper, it was stapled and all it was written was:
'Till death do us part.'
If his guess is correct, this is the poem he sent to Ladybug but he knew it's for Ladybug and not Marinette.
"Nah, maybe it's just a similarity."
The Agreste soon headed home after an hour and Marinette was now at her bed thinking her fight with Adrien while doing their project. She felt guilt at what she had done.
"Oh Tikki, I'm such a bad person, I shouldn't let my anger show in front of him." Marinette said regretfully.
"Oh Marinette, I'm sure he'll forgive you."
"But the way he's ignoring and giving me sarcastic words…I think he's mad at me."
"But you did ignore and give him sarcasm as well." Tikki said innocently which made Marinette looked at her.
"Not helping Tikki." Marinette said not amused. "I know, I'll visit him tonight and have an evening talk."
"Are you going to reveal your identity?"
"No, I'm just using Ladybug as a messenger to what I actually feel and maybe help him realize that he needed to go on that little get together Alya planned for the weekends. And I'll use that opportunity to apologize—Tikki, Spots on!"
Ladybug then finally reached the Agreste household. She looked inside from the large windows and Adrien was now lying at his bed wide-awake in his pajamas. He was starting at his ceiling. She then tapped the glass, hoping the young Agreste noticed and he did.
"L-Ladybug…" Adrien whispered under his breath.
Another chapter is out and managed to add an idea of yours.
Thanks to Queen Got Swag for this suggestion. Since Gabriel is Hawkmoth according to the famous theory that Gabriel is Hawkmoth, and I believed half-heartedly so thanks again! :D
Also, in the next chapter, we going to see some Ladrien since it's so obvious, so stay tuned for that. :)
Thanks for reading!
-det2x
