The next few days, Gurvinder remained at home, recovering under the strict care of Tom and Sabine. His body ached, his arms barely moved without pain, but he acted as if nothing had happened, brushing off concern with his usual wit.
Meanwhile, his video kept gaining traction online. At first, it was just people in Paris reacting—some in awe, some in disbelief, and others trying to twist the story into something worse. The whispers spread fast.
But Alya wasn't one to sit back and let the world misinterpret the truth. This time, she had a plan.
With her mom's connections as a journalist and her own mastery over social media, she flipped the narrative. She crafted posts, leaked the right details, and made sure the truth reached the right people.
"A boy fights off twelve armed men, risking his life—not for himself, but for his girlfriend's dream."
She emphasized how Gurvinder wasn't just some street fighter but someone saving his girlfriend's dress from being stolen before her big competition. The angle was perfect. Romantic, heroic, and undeniable.
Soon enough, people started admiring him rather than questioning him. Comments flooded in, praising his dedication and selflessness. News sites picked up the story. The entire narrative had shifted—now, Gurvinder wasn't just a fighter; he was a protector.
Marinette sat at her desk in school, her phone hidden under the table as she scrolled through social media. Comment after comment flooded in, reacting to Gurvinder's fight.
"He really fought 12 men just for his girlfriend's dress? That's insane!"
"Respect. This guy didn't care about himself, only about making sure she got her moment."
"This is the kind of love people dream about."
She felt her heart clench at the overwhelming support he was getting. Just days ago, she had been terrified—terrified of what could have happened, of how she might have lost him. But now, she saw how much people admired him for what he did.
Yet, even with the positivity, her mind kept circling back to that one thought.
"Would I ever be able to do the same for him?"
The bell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She quickly locked her phone and turned to face the front of the class, but her mind was still lost in the questions she wasn't sure she was ready to answer.
Ms. Bustier walked into the classroom, her usual warm smile present, but there was a certain weight in her expression. The chatter in the room died down as she stood at the front, clasping her hands together.
"I'm sure many of you have heard about the recent incident involving one of your classmates," she began, her eyes scanning the room.
Some students nodded, others looked at each other. Marinette tensed, gripping the edge of her desk. Adrien glanced at her, knowing exactly who she was thinking about. Nathaniel and Chloe, on the other hand, remained still, their expressions unreadable.
"I want to take a moment to address something very important," Ms. Bustier continued. "Courage is admirable, but recklessness is not. While Gurvinder's actions were brave, I hope you all understand that putting yourself in danger is never the only solution."
Marinette lowered her gaze, guilt creeping in. But he wasn't being reckless... he did it because he knew how much this meant to me.
Ms. Bustier then smiled softly. "That being said, it's heartwarming to see how much support he's receiving. It shows that kindness and selflessness are recognized, even in the hardest of moments."
Whispers broke out in the room, some students murmuring about the video, others glancing at Marinette, knowing how deeply involved she was.
"Let's all keep in mind," Ms. Bustier finished, "that true strength is not just in fighting battles, but in knowing when to seek help and protect ourselves as well."
Marinette swallowed hard, her mind still spinning. If only it were that simple.
As the class ended, Alya wasted no time pulling Marinette aside.
"So, how are you holding up?" Alya asked, concern evident in her voice.
Marinette sighed, tucking her phone into her bag. "Honestly… I don't know. Ms. Bustier made it sound like he was reckless, but he wasn't, Alya. He knew exactly what he was doing."
Alya nodded. "I get it, girl. And you're right. But at least the internet is seeing the real story now."
Marinette finally smiled, her eyes softening. "That's actually what I wanted to say. Thank you, Alya. For everything. If it weren't for you, people might have twisted the story against him."
Alya smirked. "Pfft, of course! You know I got your back. And his too, apparently."
Marinette let out a small chuckle, but her heart still felt heavy. She appreciated Alya's help, but deep down, she knew the real problem wasn't what people thought of Gurvi—it was the risks he kept taking for her. Risks that she wasn't sure she could ever take for him.
At lunch, the entire table was buzzing with excitement, the focus of every conversation being Gurvinder's fight.
"Dude, twelve guys? Armed? And he still won?" Kim leaned forward, his expression a mix of disbelief and admiration. "That's some straight-up action movie stuff!"
Alya smirked. "Told y'all he wasn't just some quiet tough guy. My girl's boyfriend is a whole warrior out here."
Marinette, sitting beside her, gave a small smile, but she remained quiet, still processing everything.
Nino shook his head, whistling. "Man, I always knew Gurvi was strong, but this is on another level. And all that just to save a dress? That's some serious dedication."
Adrien, who had been stirring his food absentmindedly, finally spoke. "He wasn't just saving a dress. He was making sure Marinette had her chance." His voice held a certain weight, an understanding of just how much Gurvinder had put on the line.
Rose clasped her hands together. "It's so romantic, though! Fighting for the person you love like that!"
Marinette felt the weight of everyone's words pressing on her. She knew they were right—Gurvinder was incredible, and what he did was beyond brave. But was it really something to celebrate?
Would they still be in awe if something had gone wrong?
Throughout the school, whispers and excited chatter filled the hallways.
In every corner, girls—both seniors and juniors—were discussing the now-viral incident.
"Did you see the video? He was fighting off twelve men alone!" one junior girl gushed, scrolling through her phone.
"And won!" another chimed in. "That's insane! I didn't know he was that strong."
Some of the senior girls leaned against their lockers, watching the clip on repeat. "He barely even hesitated… Just dodging and blocking like it was nothing. The way he took them down? It's like he knew exactly what to do."
A group of first-years huddled together, starry-eyed. "And it was all for Marinette! He really risked everything just to save her competition dress."
"I wish someone would fight like that for me," one of them sighed dreamily.
Not all the conversations were admiration, though. Some girls were more skeptical.
"He could've died," one senior pointed out. "Why would he take that kind of risk? It's just a competition."
"Yeah, but you don't get it," another defended. "For him, it's not just a competition. It was her dream on the line. And he'd do anything for her."
No matter the opinion, one thing was clear—Gurvinder Singh was now the most talked-about guy in school.
Meanwhile, the guys were just as caught up in the buzz, though their conversations had a different energy.
At the lunch table, Nino, Kim, Adrien, and a few others were watching the fight video again.
"Dude, look at this part!" Kim pointed at the screen, replaying the moment Gurvinder dodged a swing and countered with a brutal punch to the gut. "That is insane!"
"How the hell did he take on twelve guys with metal rods and still walk away?" Ivan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It's the training," Adrien spoke up, leaning back. "You guys don't get it. He's been doing MMA for years. And not just casual training—he fights in underground matches. His pain tolerance is… something else."
"Damn…" Max adjusted his glasses, analyzing the footage. "His movements are highly strategic. Every block, every strike is calculated. Even when he was taking hits, he was minimizing damage to his vital points. That's some serious skill."
"You're saying he let himself get hit?" Kim raised an eyebrow.
"Not let, but he knew what he could afford to take," Adrien explained. "He was prioritizing protecting that bag over himself."
The guys went silent for a moment, realizing the weight of what he did.
"Man's got loyalty," Nino finally said, shaking his head. "No wonder Mari's into him. He's literally built different."
Kim smirked. "Okay, but real talk… If he was in a fight club, I'd pay to see him go up against pro fighters. Dude's got main character energy."
The group chuckled, but deep down, they all had the same thought—Gurvinder wasn't just some guy in their class anymore. He was a force to be reckoned with.
Back at home, as soon as Marinette stepped through the bakery doors, she wasted no time. She dashed up the stairs, excitement buzzing in her chest.
"Gurvi!" she called out, nearly tripping in her hurry.
Inside his room, Gurvinder was sitting on the bed, his arms still wrapped in bandages, scrolling through his phone. He barely had time to look up before she practically threw herself onto the bed beside him, her eyes shining.
"You won't believe it!" she grinned, breathless. "The entire school is talking about you! And for once, it's good things! They're all in awe of you, Gurvi!"
He raised an eyebrow, amused by her enthusiasm. "Oh? And here I thought they were just waiting for a reason to call me a thug again."
Marinette shook her head quickly. "No, no! Alya made sure of that! She turned the whole thing into how you saved your girlfriend's dress from actual criminals before her biggest competition." She smirked, nudging him teasingly at the word 'girlfriend.'
Gurvinder scoffed, leaning back. "Tch. You mean to tell me it took me nearly dying for them to stop treating me like an outcast?"
Marinette faltered for a second, her smile softening. "I know it's frustrating… but at least now they see you for who you are. They respect you, Gurvi."
He looked at her for a moment before sighing, shaking his head. "Well, if nothing else, at least you're happy about it."
She grinned. "Of course, I am! Because for once, they're seeing what I see in you."
Gurvinder let out a chuckle, rolling his eyes, but his lips curled into a small, genuine smile. "You and your optimism, Marinette."
Gurvinder huffed, shaking his head with a smirk. "You just want to see me suffer through all the attention, don't you?"
Marinette pulled back slightly, grinning up at him. "Oh, come on, Gurvi! Be positive for once!" She wrapped her arms around him again, squeezing him tight. "I can't wait to see their faces when you walk into school tomorrow!"
Gurvinder sighed dramatically, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Great. First, I fight twelve armed guys, and now I have to fight off an army of fanboys and fangirls. Just my luck."
Marinette giggled. "You better get used to it! Because after tomorrow, everyone is going to want to know Gurvinder Singh."
He rolled his eyes but let a small chuckle slip. "As long as they don't expect me to sign autographs."
As they all sat together at the dinner table, the atmosphere was warm and filled with casual conversation. Sabine made sure Gurvinder was eating properly despite his injuries, while Marinette sat close to him, occasionally glancing at him to check if he was okay.
"So, how are you feeling now, son?" Tom asked, his voice filled with concern.
Gurvinder, still chewing, shrugged slightly. "Better than yesterday. Arms still feel like bricks, though."
Sabine shook her head. "You need to rest more. No unnecessary movement."
Marinette smirked. "Good luck keeping him still."
Tom chuckled but then his expression turned serious. "But... who could have done this to you?" His voice was firm now, his protective instincts kicking in. "This wasn't just a random mugging, was it?"
Gurvinder paused for a second, his jaw tightening. He had been thinking about it too. Someone had set this up—but who?
Marinette also stiffened, her mind flashing back to the competition, to how conveniently the bag had been switched. Her fingers curled into a fist under the table.
"It wasn't random," Gurvinder finally admitted. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "It was planned."
Sabine and Tom exchanged worried glances. Marinette's heart pounded in her chest.
"But why?" Tom asked, brows furrowing. "Who would go this far to stop Marinette from competing?"
Gurvinder exhaled, leaning back slightly. "That's the question, isn't it?" His dark eyes flickered as he thought about it. "Whoever did it wasn't after money. They wanted to ruin Marinette's night. They wanted her to fail."
Marinette's grip tightened. Chloe… Nathaniel… The thought was eating at her. Could they have really done something this extreme?
Sabine reached out and placed a hand on Gurvinder's. "No matter who it was, you were incredibly brave, Gurvinder. But this isn't just about Marinette's dress anymore. This was an attack on you. And that worries me."
Tom nodded firmly. "We need to be careful. If someone was willing to go this far once, they might try something again."
A heavy silence hung over the table for a moment.
Then, Gurvinder scoffed. "Let them try." His smirk returned, but his eyes were sharp. "They'll learn the hard way that I don't break that easily."
Marinette let out a dramatic groan before dropping her forehead onto the table with a thud.
"Ow," she muttered, rubbing the spot where it hit.
Gurvinder raised an eyebrow, amused. "What was that for?"
She lifted her head, giving him an exasperated look. "You're doing your tough guy thing again!" she accused, pointing at him.
Gurvinder smirked. "I am a tough guy."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "No, you're an idiot who almost got himself killed! And instead of, I don't know, being a little shaken up like a normal person, you're sitting here like, 'Oh, let them try again, I'll just break a few more bones next time!'" She mimicked his voice, crossing her arms.
Gurvinder chuckled, clearly entertained. "That was a horrible impression of me."
Tom and Sabine exchanged glances, trying not to laugh, while Marinette just huffed and muttered, "Tough guy idiot," under her breath before taking a bite of her food.