...date

Adrien just called me pretty. I'm sure he didn't really mean that, did he?

Wait, how many boys have called me pretty over the course of my twenty-one year old life? Let's see…

Roma always calls me pretty… But that's because we're childhood friends, so it doesn't really matter much.

Then there's dad. Of course he'll call me pretty. It's like complimenting your reflection in the mirror so he doesn't really count, too.

There was a very close friend of mine back in high school… What was his name again? Aaron? Or was it spelt Aeron? We have a tight-knit relationship like siblings so he doesn't count either.

So… Adrien… Adrien's compliment counts a lot?

Oh my god, what did I do to deserve being called 'pretty' by a handsome Parisian? And a model at that!

Sarabella meekly whispered, "Th-Thank you?" She looked away, gulping at the, once again, awkward atmosphere between them.

Adrien restrained himself from groaning audibly due to his major slip up. He realized how uncomfortable the foreigner might have been. He was never good with girls. Sure, he's got girl friends like Marinette, Alya and even Juleka, if she counts him as a friend, but that's different from his current predicament. That was back in Lycee and they were all a bunch of teens.

Here in University, Adrien knows that it's a different thing. He had heard all sorts of stories from Nino that University is a good place to look for hot girls and basically try for a fling - if he's more serious with love, then try for a relationship. The blond admits that he's been eyeing a lot of girls but that's only due to the fact that his standards have skyrocketed ever since his modeling career boomed at the end of his Lycee years.

However, it's true that Marinette's beauty is timeless, he must admit. Whenever he looks at her, he just can't seem to remove his eyes from her face whenever they meet… But as beautiful as Marinette may look, he just see her as a friend and she only see him as vice versa, right?

And Ladybug… His precious Ladybug has got the most amazing sky-blue eyes. Her smile always makes his stomach filled with butterflies. And no, not akumatized butterflies but butterflies of love. It's harrowing that, despite the years of partnership, Ladybug is still not prepared to show him her real self.

It's alright, he can wait forever.

It's Ladybug.

She's the most amazing woman he's ever met and he's not going to let her go so easily.

Adrien couldn't possibly try for a fling, right? Nino can't be serious. He's inlove with Ladybug. It has been for six years now.

But what is he doing with Sarabella?

Bringing her out in Hôtel Plaza Athénéé and calling her pretty? Isn't that called a fling already? Adrien wasn't so sure himself if he's still going on the friendly route with her.

Why is he being so bold and… very quixotic around her?

Shrugging the long thought, Adrien tried his best to create a small talk that might help lighten the situation up. "H-How do you find Paris?"

With a soft but still audible voice, Sarabella replied, "People are very graceful and elegant." The woman shyly looked at him for a second and her eyes quickly flitted down to her food. "I feel that presence on nearly every person here. It's very different from the cheery and out-going atmosphere that I feel whenever I spend time in Spain..."

"You went to Spain?" He blurted out in surprise. Spain has been one of his go-to destination ever since his father had once offered him a photo-shoot for Marinette's debut as an official apprentice of the famous Gabriel Agreste. It never happened due to personal reasons. Adrien pushed the thought aside, sighing with slight jealousy but he kept a light expression. "Ah, I'm envious! I've always wanted to go there!"

Sarabella gave out a humble smile, explaining, "My dad's half-Filipino and half-Spanish. Despite his busy schedule, he always brings me and my family to Spain every half of the summer to 'reconnect' with our roots."

"So that's why you know Spanish! That's so cool."

"Ahh, a otro perro con ese hueso." The ravenette shook her head inconspicuously, an action that made Adrien's heart flutter for a moment. He didn't understand what she said but the mere movement and expression from her face made him focus solely on her. (T: You're pulling my leg.)

What are you doing? He questioned himself. Was he attracted to his classmate? It can't be. The blond Parisian pushed the thought away, trying his best to focus on the conversation, not the person, not his weird erratic emotions.

Due to his somewhat sudden silence, Sarabella took this time to realize that she switched tongues infront of another person. "Oh, I'm sorry!" She apologized quickly, cursing herself for being too careless.
"If I switch languages every now and then, please forgive me. I'm very confused with my tongues."

Removing every inch of thought of attraction towards Sarabella, Adrien focused on the more pressing matters of his curiosity. "How many do you know?"

"I think I'm at my fifth one with French?"

Eyes wide from surprise, he exclaimed incredulously, "Those are a lot of languages…"

"I know…" Sarabella nodded, a blush slightly dusting her cheeks, "Having different ethnicities is hard but it's fun because I turned into a polyglot. I get to insult my enemies on their face without them knowing about it."

"Thanks for the tip." Adrien leaned forward while he laced his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands, an unconscious Cheshire grin made its way on his face, "Now I know why I shouldn't get on your bad side, Sarabella."

The foreigner laughed at his statement, "Oh... Well… I'm sure you're a nice guy. Despite you being the walking proof of my first fail here in France."

The blond leaned backwards and shrugged nonchalantly, "People get bad days, you had yours upon your arrival."

"Hey," The ravenette smiled lopsidedly but she raised her eyebrow in attempt to act like she took offense, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing, nothing!" The handsome Parisian chuckled, waving his hands in a dismissive manner. "Can we start over, classmate?"

"Sure, seatmate." Sarabella smiled humbly, her dark chocolate eyes meeting his gorgeous green eyes without fear or embarrassment from the past incidents.

"Nice to meet you, Sarabella Morin." Adrien said, offering his hand for a handshake.

To his absolute surprise, the black-haired foreigner stood up and pulled him towards her, giving him a faire la bise on each cheek, "Same goes to you, Adrien Agreste." The ravenette whispered, "It's a pleasure to be your acquaintance."

Adrien knew Sarabella is something for never in his whole life had he blushed so hard over a simple faire la bise. And that's saying a lot.

A/N:

MY LOVELIES, HOW CAN THOU FORGIVETH THY INACTIVITY IN UPDATING THIS FANFICTION? I haven't been updating since what? Three months ago?

You must've thought I'm already dead.

Well… I'm very much alive and I am sorry for the disappointing chapter. I did my best…. but I guess my best wasn't good enough- /shot Hahaha, just kidding.

Anyways, I have thrilling news! ((Because my life isn't that thrilling)) I recently joined a Miraculous network (ml-network from tumblr) and the people I'm with are amazing in writing stories and good in drawing fanarts so it's be very amazing if you check it out! Oh, and if people ask who brought you there, tell them Hime sent you out (*wink wink*). Mimi, our admin, might probably be the only one who'll recognize me, tho.

Okay, enough about me, have a good day and I hope you still enjoyed this short and somewhat rushed (?) chapter! I love you all and thank you for supporting! Byeebiiiii~~