Gurvinder stood in front of the mirror, the morning light barely illuminating his dimly lit room. His fingers hesitantly reached for the hem of his shirt before he slowly pulled it off, exposing the scars that mapped his body—old wounds, fresh cuts, reminders of pain he had long since learned to endure.

He stared at his reflection, tracing one of the deeper scars near his ribs. The raised, jagged line mocked him, whispering the same thoughts that had haunted him for years.

"Why is she like this?" he muttered under his breath.

Marinette… the way she looked at him, the way she cried for him, fought for him—it didn't make sense.

"Why would someone like her… fall for someone like me?"

He clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into a fist. Marinette was bright, full of life, full of dreams. She had a family that loved her, friends who cared for her, a future that stretched far beyond anything he could ever imagine for himself.

And him?

He was an illegal immigrant, living in a foreign land under the mercy of a cruel uncle. His life was a cycle of fights, bruises, and survival. His body—marked with scars, proof of the torment he endured—wasn't something to be loved. It was something to be pitied.

"She's making a mistake," he told himself.

But then… her voice echoed in his mind. The way she held his hands last night, the way she cried when she spoke about him, the way she confessed to her parents without hesitation.

It wasn't pity.

It wasn't obligation.

It was something else. Something terrifying. Something he wasn't sure he deserved.

His breath hitched. He shut his eyes, his hands gripping the edges of the dresser as he fought the emotions rising in his chest.

"I can't let her ruin her life for me."

And yet, deep down, he knew—no matter how much he told himself to push her away, no matter how much he tried to convince himself he wasn't worthy…

A part of him wanted to believe.

A part of him wanted to be loved.

Gurvinder gripped the edge of the dresser tighter, his knuckles turning white. His breath was uneven, shallow. A massive lump formed in his throat, suffocating him with emotions he had buried for so long. His reflection in the mirror blurred as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

"Why am I still here?"

The thought clawed at his mind, venomous, relentless. He had endured so much—pain, humiliation, loneliness. But Marinette… she was suffering because of him. Because she cared too much. Because she saw something in him that he couldn't see in himself.

He hated it.

He hated how she cried for him. He hated how she fought for him. He hated how she held onto him like he was something worth saving.

Because he wasn't.

His fingers trembled as they brushed over the deepest scar on his stomach, the one that still ached. His uncle's words echoed in his head. "You're nothing. Just another worthless stray."

Maybe he was right.

Maybe if he just—

His breath hitched. His eyes darted to the room—silent, empty, but filled with Marinette's presence. The scent of her perfume still lingered from last night. The warmth of her embrace still burned on his skin.

"She would cry."

That thought alone made his stomach turn.

Marinette would cry. She would blame herself. She would suffer even more.

His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, pressing his forehead against the cold floor. His body shook as silent tears finally fell, soaking into the wooden surface beneath him.

"Why is she like this?" he whispered brokenly. "Why does she care so much?"

His heart ached, not from the physical pain, but from the realization that no matter how much he wanted to disappear…

He couldn't do this to her.

Not to Marinette.

Gurvinder's head snapped up as he heard Marinette's voice, sharp and raw, echoing through the house. He quickly wiped his tears, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

He stepped out of his room, following the sound of her voice.

"You don't get it, Alya!" Marinette's voice cracked, filled with frustration and something even deeper—desperation. "None of you do! None of you ever saw him the way I do!"

Gurvinder froze just outside her door. His breath caught in his throat.

"You think I'm obsessed? That I've lost myself?" Marinette continued, her voice trembling. "You don't know a thing, Alya! Do you know what he's been through? Do you know how much pain he hides every single day?"

There was a pause—a heavy, suffocating silence.

Then, Marinette's voice dropped, but he could still hear every word.

"I love him, Alya."

The world stopped.

Gurvinder's fingers clenched into fists. His chest felt too tight, his body frozen in place.

"I love him so much that it hurts to see him suffer!" Marinette's voice cracked again. "I love the way he fights for everyone, even when no one fights for him! I love how he acts like nothing hurts him, but I can see right through it! I love him because no one else does, because he deserves to be loved—"

She choked on her own words.

Gurvinder felt his legs weaken beneath him. His nails dug into his palms, his breathing ragged.

She loved him?

No. No, she couldn't.

She shouldn't.

His scars, his past, his reality—none of it was worthy of love.

Yet, there she was, screaming it for the world to hear.

His heart pounded so hard it hurt. His hands trembled. He wanted to run, to hide, to pretend he hadn't heard anything.

But he couldn't.

Because for the first time in his life, someone had said the words he never thought he would hear.

She loved him.

Gurvinder stood frozen, his body tense as Marinette's sobs filled the air. Each cry felt like a dagger straight to his chest, twisting and tearing at something deep inside him.

She was crying because of him.

His fingers twitched at his sides, unsure of what to do. He had seen her frustrated, seen her nervous, seen her happy—but never like this. Never broken. Never sobbing so hard it physically hurt to listen.

His feet moved before he could think. He stepped forward, his breathing uneven, and slowly pushed open her door.

Marinette was curled up on the floor, her face buried in her hands, her body shaking with each sob.

His chest ached at the sight.

"…Marinette." His voice barely came out.

She flinched, then looked up. Her eyes were red and swollen, her lips trembling. Tears streamed down her face, but when she saw him, her expression twisted with something even more painful.

"G-Gurvi…" she whispered.

His throat was dry. He wanted to say something—anything—to make this stop.

But before he could, Marinette scrambled to her feet and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, holding him so tightly it nearly knocked the breath out of him.

"Why?" she sobbed into his chest. "Why do you keep hurting yourself like this?"

He stood stiff, his arms hovering awkwardly in the air. He wasn't used to this—to being held.

But when she trembled against him, when he felt her warmth despite his ice-cold skin, he couldn't stop himself.

Slowly, hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her.

"…I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marinette gripped his shirt tighter. "Stop apologizing."

His eyes stung. His hands trembled against her back.

He wanted to push her away—to tell her she deserved better, to tell her to forget about him.

But he couldn't.

Because right now, in this moment, he needed her just as much as she needed him.

Gurvinder flinched the moment Marinette's arms wrapped around him. His body tensed, instinct screaming at him to pull away.

But she didn't let go.

She held him tighter, her warmth sinking into his cold, aching skin. For a moment, he stood there frozen, his breaths shallow, his heart hammering. He wasn't used to this—to being held, to being wanted, to feeling something other than pain.

Then, slowly, something inside him cracked.

His hands, trembling, hesitantly gripped the back of her shirt. His forehead lowered against her shoulder, his body giving in to the comfort she offered.

And suddenly, the weight of everything crashed onto him.

The pain. The exhaustion. The years of loneliness.

A shaky breath escaped him, his arms tightening around her without thinking. He felt the fabric of her shirt dampen as his eyes burned, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

Marinette didn't say anything. She just held him.

For the first time in his life, Gurvinder allowed himself to drown in the emotions she gave him.

The next day at school, the whispers followed them like shadows.

"They're totally dating, right?"

"I saw them together yesterday… she was hugging him."

"Ugh, what does she even see in him?"

"Maybe it's just pity."

Marinette heard every word, but for once, she didn't shy away or fluster. She walked beside Gurvinder with her head high, her heart steady. She wasn't ashamed. She wasn't embarrassed.

If anything… she wished it was true.

She glanced at Gurvinder from the corner of her eye. He walked with his usual indifference, his expression unreadable, as if none of this affected him. But she knew better now. She knew how much words could cut, how deeply they could bury themselves into his skin.

She wished she could silence them all.

But for now, she walked beside him—unwavering.

As they stepped into the classroom, the atmosphere shifted.

"Hey, Marinette!" A few classmates greeted her cheerfully, as if nothing had happened.

"Yo, Gurvinder! Feeling better?" Kim asked, his voice unusually casual.

Gurvinder hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying, "Yeah… I'm good."

It was subtle, but Marinette noticed—his tone wasn't as cold as before. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to realize he wasn't completely alone.

She made her way to her seat, settling beside Alya. Unlike the others, Alya didn't speak. She didn't even look at Marinette. The weight of yesterday's conversation hung between them, heavy and unspoken.

Marinette sat down, gripping her pencil a little tighter. She wasn't sure if she was ready to talk to Alya again, but she also knew they couldn't ignore this forever.

Marinette let out a quiet sigh, glancing at Alya from the corner of her eye. She was still silent, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. It wasn't like Alya to be this quiet.

Finally, Alya spoke, her voice softer than usual. "Mari…" She hesitated before continuing. "I'm sorry."

Marinette stayed silent, waiting.

Alya sighed. "I messed up. I shouldn't have said all that. I didn't realize how much he was going through. I thought I was helping you, but I was just being ignorant."

Marinette clenched her jaw, trying to keep her emotions in check. "You didn't just mess up, Alya. You spread that sleepover thing around, and you acted like Gurvi was just some distraction to me. Do you even know what that did to him?" Her voice wavered, but her anger held strong.

Alya looked down, guilt flashing across her face. "I know… and after hearing everything, I—I feel awful. I thought I knew what was best for you, but I didn't even try to see things from your perspective. Or his."

Marinette swallowed hard, emotions swirling inside her. "It's not just about me, Alya. Gurvi… he's barely holding himself together. And now, on top of everything else, he thinks he's ruining my life. That he's dragging me down. You have no idea how much he's suffering, how much he's trying to survive every day while everyone just—just ignores it!"

Alya's eyes widened, and for the first time, Marinette saw real regret in them. "I do now," she admitted. "And I want to fix it. I don't know how, but I do."

Marinette studied her for a moment, searching for sincerity. Finally, she sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't need you to fix anything, Alya. I just need you to understand. I need you to support me without trying to control me."

Alya nodded. "Okay. I get it now." She glanced toward Gurvinder, who was talking to Nino across the room. "I'll make it up to both of you."

Marinette didn't answer right away. She wasn't sure if things could go back to how they were, but at least Alya was trying.

For now, that was enough.

Marinette let out a deep sigh, her anger slowly settling into exhaustion. She glanced at Alya, who still looked guilty, nervous even. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and placed a reassuring hand over Alya's.

"It's okay," she said softly. "I was angry… I still kind of am. But I know you didn't mean to hurt me. Or him."

Alya looked up, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Mari. And… I really am sorry."

Marinette gave a small nod. "Just… next time, trust me, okay? If I care about someone, I have a reason."

Alya smiled slightly, squeezing Marinette's hand. "Got it."

The tension between them eased, and for the first time in days, Marinette felt like maybe—just maybe—things could start falling into place.

Marinette let out a deep sigh, her anger slowly settling into exhaustion. She glanced at Alya, who still looked guilty, nervous even. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and placed a reassuring hand over Alya's.

"It's okay," she said softly. "I was angry… I still kind of am. But I know you didn't mean to hurt me. Or him."

Alya looked up, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Mari. And… I really am sorry."

Marinette gave a small nod. "Just… next time, trust me, okay? If I care about someone, I have a reason."

Alya smiled slightly, squeezing Marinette's hand. "Got it."

The tension between them eased, and for the first time in days, Marinette felt like maybe—just maybe—things could start falling into place.

Nathaniel's grip on his pencil tightened as he furiously scribbled across his art book, his usually smooth strokes turning rough and erratic. His jaw clenched as he glanced up, watching Marinette and Gurvinder talking so effortlessly.

His heart ached—no, it burned.

For years, he had admired Marinette from a distance, hoping that maybe one day she'd notice him the way he noticed her. She was always so full of life, so kind. And now… now she was getting so close to him.

Some new guy comes along, acts all pitiful and soft, and suddenly she is his? Suddenly he is the one she cries over, fights for, loves?

Nathaniel's hands trembled as he tore out the ruined sketch, crumpling it into his fist. He hated it. He hated how easily Gurvinder had walked into their lives and stolen the one thing Nathaniel never had the courage to reach for.

He felt sick.

Because no matter how much he hated it, no matter how unfair it felt… he knew.

Marinette had never looked at him the way she looked at Gurvinder.

soon enough the teacher came in handing over each of them project papers, As soon as the teacher announced the couple project, a wave of excitement and murmurs spread across the classroom. Some students grinned at their assigned partners, while others groaned in disappointment.

"Alright, listen up!" the teacher continued. "I'll be assigning partners myself, so no switching!"

Marinette leaned forward, waiting anxiously. A part of her hoped she'd get paired with Gurvinder, but she knew that was unlikely.

"Gurvinder and Adrien."

She blinked.

Gurvi turned his head slightly towards Adrien, who gave him a friendly nod. It was an interesting pair—one that had never really worked together before.

"And... Nathaniel and Marinette."

Marinette's breath hitched. She turned towards Nathaniel, who sat stiffly in his seat, his eyes dark with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

He didn't look happy.

She forced a small smile, trying to ease the tension, but he only gave a curt nod. Something about his expression unsettled her, but before she could dwell on it, the teacher moved on to the rest of the pairings.

Meanwhile, across the room, Gurvinder stole a quick glance at Marinette, watching as she hesitantly turned towards Nathaniel. He wasn't sure why, but something about that look on Nathaniel's face… made his stomach twist.

Gurvinder shook off the strange feeling and turned to Adrien with a smirk.

"Alright, golden boy, just don't slow me down, yeah?" he teased, nudging Adrien's shoulder.

Adrien chuckled. "Me? Slow you down? Please, I model, fence, and play piano—multitasking is my thing."

"Yeah? Well, I fight people in a cage for fun, so let's see who keeps up with who."

Adrien laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! I'll do my best not to disappoint, coach."

The lighthearted banter between them eased the weight in Gurvinder's chest. Whatever weird feeling he had about Marinette and Nathaniel, he decided to ignore it. It was just a project. No big deal.

Right?

Marinette was lost in her own thoughts, replaying the events of the past few days in her mind. Everything felt like a blur—the way the class suddenly noticed Gurvinder, the whispers, the way people were finally paying attention to his pain. She still wasn't sure how to feel about it all.

"Marinette?"

She snapped out of her daze and turned to see Nathaniel standing in front of her, holding his bag over his shoulder. His expression was calm, but there was something... off about his eyes.

"Can I come over to your place to work on the project?" he asked, his voice neutral.

Marinette hesitated. It wasn't unusual for classmates to work together at home, but something about his tone made her uneasy. Maybe it was because she hadn't spoken much to Nathaniel in a long time, or maybe it was because she could sense the subtle frustration in his posture.

"Um... sure, I guess," she replied, trying to shake off the strange feeling.

Nathaniel gave her a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Great. I'll walk with you, then."

As they left the school together, Marinette couldn't help but wonder—why did it feel like something was off?

Marinette stepped into the bakery, the warm scent of fresh bread filling the air, but something immediately felt different. A man in a formal suit was sitting across from her parents, speaking in a low, serious tone. Her parents' faces were tense yet hopeful.

As soon as they saw her, Tom and Sabine motioned for her to come over.

"Marinette, come here for a moment," Sabine said gently.

Marinette turned to Nathaniel. "Wait here for a bit. I'll be right back," she said before heading toward her parents.

As she approached, she could hear snippets of the conversation.

"—starting the process, but it will take time. There are legal complications given his current status, but with the right paperwork and testimonies, it's possible."

Marinette's heart pounded. She looked at her parents in confusion. "What's going on?"

Tom exhaled deeply, his hand resting on her shoulder. "This is Mr. Laurent. He's a lawyer. We've been discussing the process of adopting Gurvinder and gaining legal guardianship over him."

Marinette's breath caught in her throat. "A-Adopting him?"

Sabine nodded. "We know how much he means to you, but more than that, we can't just stand by and let him suffer. We want him to be safe, to have a future here. But the process won't be easy."

Marinette's eyes burned with emotion. She felt an overwhelming mix of relief, gratitude, and anxiety. This was the first real step toward giving Gurvinder a secure life, but it also meant confronting his past, his uncle, and the uncertainty of the legal system.

She clenched her fists. "What do we need to do?"

Mr. Laurent adjusted his glasses. "First, we need to gather as much evidence as possible about his situation. Any documents, testimonies, or proof of mistreatment. Then, we'll need to petition for guardianship and fight against any legal claims his uncle might have."

Marinette swallowed. "And if his uncle fights back?"

"Then it becomes a battle in court," Mr. Laurent admitted. "But don't worry. If we build a strong enough case, we can give him the protection he deserves."

Marinette nodded firmly, determination setting in. "Then we'll do whatever it takes."

Sabine squeezed her hand. "We will, sweetheart. We're all in this together."

Marinette wiped at her eyes, a small smile forming. "Thank you... thank you so much."

She suddenly remembered Nathaniel was still waiting for her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back. "I'll be upstairs if you need me."

As she turned to leave, her heart felt heavier. This was just the beginning, and she knew things were about to get much harder.

As the day passed, Marinette and Nathaniel worked on their project in her room, discussing simple things—school, art, and their assignments. The atmosphere was light, but Nathaniel's mind was elsewhere.

He wasn't really focused on the project. His eyes kept drifting to her—how she absentmindedly twirled her pen when she was thinking, how her brows furrowed in concentration, how she laughed softly at a silly mistake.

For years, he had admired her from a distance. He had watched her chase after Adrien, stumble over her words, and pour her heart into her dreams. But now, there was someone else. Someone who, in just a few months, had become the center of her world.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in soft orange hues, he finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Marinette..." he started hesitantly, setting his pencil down.

She looked up from her notes. "Yeah?"

He took a deep breath. His heart pounded in his chest. "There's something I need to tell you."

She tilted her head, curious. "What is it?"

Nathaniel swallowed hard. "I—" He hesitated, then forced himself to continue. "I like you, Marinette."

A brief silence filled the room. Marinette's eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in surprise.

Nathaniel clenched his fists. "I've liked you for a long time. Before Gurvinder even came to this school, before everything. I just... I never said anything because I was scared. But seeing you with him now, seeing how much you care about him... I realized I can't keep this inside anymore."

Marinette's breath hitched. She wasn't expecting this. Not now.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. How could she respond? He had been her friend, someone she trusted. But her heart already belonged to someone else.

Nathaniel forced a chuckle, his voice shaking. "You don't have to say anything. I already know your answer."

Marinette frowned. "Nathaniel, I—"

"It's okay," he interrupted, looking away. "I just... I needed to say it. Even if it doesn't change anything."

The room felt heavy with unspoken words. Marinette wished she could take away the pain she saw in his eyes, but she knew the truth would hurt him no matter how gently she said it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Nathaniel exhaled, giving her a small, sad smile. "Yeah... me too."

And with that, the day ended with a bittersweet silence between them.

Nathaniel clenched his jaw as he walked down the dimly lit streets, gripping his sketchbook tightly. His confession replayed in his mind over and over—her silence, her hesitation, the quiet apology. He had lost before he even had the chance to fight.

He thought about how things used to be. How Marinette used to laugh with him, how she was once so open and bright. But now, everything was about him. Gurvinder. The outsider who had taken everything without even trying.

As he walked, his thoughts drifted to Chloe. He remembered their last conversation—the way she smirked, the way she leaned in close and whispered, "I can help you ruin him. You just say the word."

At the time, he had scoffed. He wasn't like that. He wasn't cruel.

But now?

Now, standing in front of her mansion, staring at the heavy iron gates, he realized something. He didn't just want to hurt Gurvinder. He wanted to hurt her. Marinette. He wanted her to feel the pain that had been tearing through him ever since that boy arrived.

His finger hovered over the intercom button for a moment before he pressed it.

A few seconds later, Chloe's voice crackled through the speaker. "Ugh, what now?"

Nathaniel took a slow breath.

"You said you could help ruin Gurvi's life?" His voice was cold, steady.

There was a pause before Chloe responded. "Mmm, finally coming to your senses?"

Nathaniel's grip tightened around his sketchbook. "Forget Gurvi."

Chloe scoffed. "What?"

"I want to ruin Marinette." His voice was sharper than he expected.

There was silence for a moment, then the gate buzzed open.

As he stepped inside, Chloe greeted him with a wicked smile. "Now this is interesting."

Marinette sat on the balcony railing, her legs curled up as she stared at the dimly lit streets of Paris. The cool evening breeze brushed against her skin, but her mind was far away. The lawyer. The legal guardianship. Everything was happening so fast.

She had spent the whole day thinking about it, picturing how his reaction would be. Would he smile? Would his eyes light up with that rare, genuine happiness she barely ever saw? She wanted that. She wanted to see him relieved for once.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she imagined his face. He'll finally have a home. A real home.

She checked the time. He should be back by now. She glanced toward the street, waiting for the familiar sight of his tall figure.

Then, as if on cue, she heard the sound of the bakery door opening.

Her heart skipped. He's here.

She hopped off the railing, smoothing down her clothes, trying to calm the nerves bubbling inside her. This was big. Maybe the biggest thing she had ever done for someone.

She took a step back toward her room, waiting for him to come up.

Waiting to tell him he didn't have to fight alone anymore.

A soft knock came at the door, pulling Marinette from her thoughts.

She turned just as Gurvinder stepped inside, his usual tired yet composed expression on his face. His hoodie was slightly wrinkled, his bag slung over one shoulder. He looked at her and gave a small nod, the kind that said I'm back.

Marinette smiled. "How was the project?"

Gurvinder sighed and walked further into the room, dropping his bag onto her chair. "Adrien is too slow. I did most of it." He ran a hand through his hair. "But at least he didn't get in the way."

Marinette chuckled, shaking her head. "Sounds like you had fun."

Gurvinder gave a dry scoff but didn't argue. He looked at her then, noticing something in her eyes. There was an energy, an excitement—like she was holding onto something big.

"You look suspiciously happy," he muttered, crossing his arms. "What happened?"

Marinette took a deep breath, stepping closer. She looked up at him, her heart pounding in anticipation. This is it.

"Gurvi," she said softly, her hands clasping together. "I have something important to tell you."