Chapter Text
The sound of the party popper being popped was heard in the room, and echoes filled the whole area. Loud cheers can be heard as it reveals the color of the smoke. Blue, a boy! Nino and Alya are having a boy!
A bunch of "thank you" and "congratulations" are exchanged between the couple and their other friends. Cheers and smiles are seen and heard in the crowd, but there seems to be something bothering Marinette because as much as she's trying to give out her best smile, it falters. She wants to be happy, and deep down, she knows she is because of how excited Alya, her best friend, but she also knows the hurt she is feeling as if she is being left out.
At first, it was just marriage announcements, starting with Alya and Nino, followed by Juleka and Rose, and even Adrien and Kagami. Then before she knows it, she's the only one in their batch who hasn't been engaged to. Not that she was not trying, she'd been on countless dates that led to countless heartbreaks, no one ever sticking with her. She can't blame them too, she has lives to protect, people to look out for, and a city to keep safe.
Then it was getting to their weddings, Marinette coming with a different date every time, wanting to not be the only one with no plus one. It was getting pathetic in her opinion, always introducing a new guy to everyone. It started to get lonely, seeing how her friends had all been settling down, starting to build their own family.
Now here she is again, this time only her, surrounded by friends who all got their significant others, and celebrating a new member of their family. Having a family was once Marinette's dream, already thinking of how many kids she would want, the type of pets, and the number of pets they would adopt. She had always planned it and daydreamed about it, but right now she can't even envision having someone to date. She feels like she is destined to be alone, maybe that is what being the guardian is, sacrificing your happiness for the sake of the city and the people.
She feels her tears welling up at the side of her eyes, which she quickly tries to wipe as she sees Alya coming to her.
"Mari!" Alya called out to her, waving her hands as she navigated through the crowd.
"Hey, Alya! Congratulations on having a baby boy!" Marinette greeted as Alya managed her way toward her.
"Thanks, girl." She said softly, feeling something off from her BFF. "Are you okay? You weren't crying, were you?"
"No, no, I'm fine, I was just very happy for you, Als" Marinette answered, trying to dismiss the subject, keeping this day happy and light for her BFF.
"I'm very happy too, Mari. I never thought this day would come." Alya said, knowing that her buff might not be ready to tell her anything tonight.
Marinette looked at her friend, then hugged her tightly. "I'm so happy for you, Alya"
"Thank you," Alya said softly, hugging her best friend back tighter. "I'm here for you too, okay?"
"I know, but I got to go, Als," Marinette said, letting go of the hug and walking out the door without looking back, afraid they might see her already crying.
Now that she is outside of the party, she truly feels alone. She has no one to come home with and deep down she's missing the comfort of someone.
She started walking down the street, unsure where her feet would lead her but knowing that she didn't want to stop moving. Why? She doesn't know, she just hopes it will stop her from fully crying as she feels her eyes brimming with tears.
She didn't want to stay at the party, she wasn't in the right headspace and was afraid she'd ruin the mood for all. They're all having fun and celebrating, she feels happy for them but it doesn't erase the bitterness of the situation in her heart.
Hearing the cracking of grout and cement underneath her shoes she walks through the streets along with several people going on in their daily lives. Envy continues to bubble in her mind, wishing she could be like her friends, living what seems to be their perfect lives with their partners and incoming new family members. Wishing that she could just be at least someone else and not herself, for loneliness is something she has been carrying for a while.
Ignoring the burning of her legs, her strides never faltered, unknowing where her feet would take her but trusting that it would be a place where she'd find solace and peace. She has been running around the place until she's right in front of it.
Le Grand Paris.
Standing tall right in front of her, it suddenly brought back memories she wished wouldn't come to her right now. Not when she's feeling alone, not when she wishes she has someone by her side, preferably making a family with. However, her feet betrayed her and brought her back to the place where the memories she treasured the most were made.
Her knees were starting to feel weak, as the adrenaline from her running through the busy streets of Paris brought her here. She slowly backed down from staring at the hotel to sitting on the benches near it.
It was getting late, everyone was going home, except her. She didn't want to go home so she stayed at the hotel. Enveloped by the cold air that hugs her lonely soul.
Rummaging through her bag, she reached for her phone. Feeling the cold metal against her skin, she tapped a number that felt too familiar.
She's looking at her phone, waiting for the numbers to flash indicating that her call has been picked up. She had promised herself that she would stop dialing her number at every inconvenience she faced. But her lonely heart can only be sated by the voice on the other side of the line. She knows that she can only be truly understood by the person she's trying to reach.
"Mari?" The person answered the call.
"Chlo? Are you busy? Are you doing anything? I don't want to intrude but I just need to hear you right now." Marinette said in quick succession, the panic in her voice heard as she asked away.
It took a while for Chloe to answer but with a heavy sigh, "I'm here, tell me everything," she answered.