20. Happy

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"I love seeing you happy"

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Anthony's POV:3

When I first met Marinette she was a very shy girl from Paris, she was, well still is pretty clumsy. However once we fought one another during practice I was shocked at how powerful she actually was, yet how she was so self conscious about her own strength.

As we began to become friends, I learned her story and I truly wanted to be a person that she could lean on when the time came, that she didn't feel alone because she knew she had me. And when that happened, for once in my life I actually felt needed, I felt important that someone needed me for comfort and affection.

As a kid I always looked like a delinquent which caused me to be a loner and made me believe that I actually was a trouble maker. People would avoid me like the plague and would never want to be near me, and when I met someone I thought actually loved me  only needed me to fight for them or be used to blame.

I felt unloved my entire life until I met Marinette.

Don't get me wrong I had an amazing mother that showed me the motherly love and somewhat of a fathers love, because my father sadly passed away at a young age, all my life. I just needed a friendship or someone I can relate to.

And that's what happened between Marinette and I, we helped one another through showing we loved and cared for each other like no one else did.

And knowing I have to leave her for a while is truly making me stress over the fact that she might change back into her old self once I was gone.

Today was my last day with my bub and I decided to take her out, it wasn't a date per say, but it wasn't a normal day where we went out and just had fun. I wanted to watch the new Conjuring movie and wanted to watch it with her. Also how Marinette has had her eye on this necklace that had a Purple Heart locket with pearls separating one another to connect. Marinette has never asked for anything in her life, she never asked for things she wanted but only things she needed, but as soon as I saw how her eyes always traveled to the store that held the necklace as we passed by always made me smile.

I didn't have as much money as everyone here since my mom is a single mom but due to my past winnings and small modeling gigs back in China I had enough money for a very large future. Knowing that Marinette has an interest in something other then Fighting and fashion truly amazed me. I'm going surprise her at dinner at a famous well known Chinese restaurant, and as we watch the sunset show her the necklace.

I would do anything to just see her smile.

"Is this a date?," Tikki asked getting me out of my train of thought as I put her in my pocket of my sweater.

"N-no," I mumbled nervously.

"Why are you so dressed up then?," she giggled.

"Mari-Mari went to go get ready and knowing how she is, she-she's going to l-look amazing, I just wanted to look good for h-her," I mumbled.

"So it's a date?"

It wasn't suppose to be a date, Marinette and I haven't really discussed this ourselves and knowing her she probably hasn't even thought of me in that way and even if she did, we could never work out. I live in China and she lives here in Paris, plus I have my own problems at home that leave me with no time to actually show Marinette how special she is to me dating wise.

"Anthony do you like Marinette?," Tikki asked another question.

"Of course I do," I sighed as I grab the moped out the store and turn it on.

"And she likes you," Tikki smiled up at me.

I stay quiet and pretend I didn't just hear her.

"Anthony?"

"Hmm?," I hum.

"Mari likes you," I take a deep breath and smile down at Tikki.

I knew Marinette and I had feelings for one another, but I didn't want to ruin what we have, plus it's not the time for us to be together.

We show one another affection that only couples do, as friends, I didn't mind it and neither did she. I didn't mind people confusing us nor did I mind the attention I'm receiving from her, I didn't mind her small kisses to my forehead or to my cheek and I didn't mind giving them back. I didn't mind her small body holding me tight, and I don't mind her always looking at me like I was something more to her than a friend.

Because Marinette for me is much more than a friend.

"Anthony? What's really going on?," Tikki frowned.

"It's just problems at home, as much as I want to be with Marinette, I can't break her heart like Adrien," I sighed.

"But if you both have feelings for one another why not act upon it, you'll be hurting her just like him if you don't take charge," Tikki mumbled.

"You don't understand Tikki, I'm protecting her by setting that boundary."

"I just don't want her to get hurt anymore."

"Me too," I began to ride to Alyas house.

"You know she's gonna have a nice dress and her hair done and everything? What if you want to confess to her tonight?," Tikki giggled.

"She's always beautiful to me, just seeing her smile makes me want to admit my feelings for her," I laughed lightly.

The rest of the ride was quiet as I stop near a bank to take out my paycheck and look down as I see that Tikki has fallen asleep again.

I get a call from my mom and quickly answer it.

"What time does your plane arrive tomorrow?," she asked.

"I'm leaving at 6 so maybe 7," I mumbled.

"We can make it to ..........," she sighed.

"I said I'm not going, I don't want to."

"Anthony they can...... you need to!." She yelled.

"No one ...........," I sighed "so please stop and deal with it."

"Have you told Marinette? You said you would."

"You know I can't do that mama, I can't just spring that up on her," I mumbled.

"She deserves to know."

"I understand..."

"I love you son," my mom whispered.

"I love you to mama."

—

As I drive up to Alya's house I see Adrien and Nino laying down on the ground looking like they ran miles, I laughed lightly and parked the moped.

I wasn't very fond of Adrien Agreste, especially since he likes Marinette and Marinette use to have feelings for the kid. But he wasn't such a bad choice, he's a very polite person and always does good in school, he may be just a dumb blonde boy, but in a way I knew he didn't mean no harm.

"Well Anthony ain't you looking like a complete dang snack," Nino laughed as he hugged me softly.

"Sup Nino," I turn to Adrien and side hug him "Adrien."

"Where's my bub?," I asked.

"She's upstairs with Alya and Chloe putting the last touches on her."

"Mind if I go inside?," I asked.

"Oh yeah no let's go inside we were gonna go get some drinks to cool ourselves off," Nino smiled.

As we sat down having small talk I hear the girls giggling down the stairs as I see Marinette in a pink dress and a white tight thing on her waist as her long dark hair shapes her body perfectly, smiling from ear to ear as soon as she sees me. I feel weak at my knees at her sudden appearance and almost lose balance as I hold onto whatever was close to me. Marinette giggled at my action and I quickly turn away blushing.

I've always said the truth to my bub about her beauty, that she would have everyone's attention as soon as others saw what I saw, and as we all stand in that room with Marinette smiling so brightly I knew finally everyone could see what I see.

Her happiness blinding everyone.

That was my biggest joy in my life as soon as Marinette opened up to me, it was her happiness, that's all that matters to me.

But I knew as soon as everyone saw what I saw in her they would want her to, I turn to Adrien and see him blushing making it quite obvious that he found her beautiful.

Jealous I stand in front of him and wrap my arms around Marinette "well aren't you a site for sore eyes bub, I might be falling for you," I smiled.

Marinette blushes and hits my chest softly "stop it," she giggled.

"Have fun you two, don't do anything too crazy out there," Alya smiled and started to push us out the house.

"So what first?"

"Movies, I got the tickets and then after we go look at some hair clips," I said as I take her hand and lead her to the moped " your chariot my lady."

"Why thank you kind sir," she began to laugh.

You would think you could get tired by someone's smile and laughter, not Marinette's.

I sat down and quickly she hugs me from behind and rubs her head against my back softly.

—

After our movie we rode around town looking at jewelry and hair accessories, when I see Marinette distracted by a sales woman I quickly slip away and head into the store that held the necklace she was so fond of.

"Welcome what can I help you with sir?," the young girl smiled.

"Ah yes I'm looking for a necklace that has like a Purple Heart locket with pearls?," I mumbled.

"Come this way," her face grew a smile as she pulled out the necklace Marinette has had her eyes on for a while.

"This is called Last Cyclamen's, the pearls around the necklace represent balance between a great love, the great love is symbolized by the color of the heart in the middle. Cyclamen means the Flower of love, Flower of art, and it is considered the color purple which also means that purple represents strength, transformation, power, and royalty."

"How much?"

"Really? Sorry it's because we've seen so many people look at this necklace but not being able to afford it," she smiled nervously.

"The price please?," I smiled.

"Yes sir."

After buying the necklace I look outside and run towards Marinette who was still preoccupied by the salesperson trying to sell her a butterfly hair clip.

"You don't have a ladybug by chance?," Marinette frowned.

"Actually I have one more left including these small hair pins," the old lady smiled at Marinette as she pulled out a beautiful Ladybug hair clip and some pins.

"How much?," Marinette began to grab her purse before I hand over money quickly to the older woman.

"Anthonyyyyy," Marinette mumbled.

"Here bub," I smiled and placed the bag in her hands as she pouts at me.

I could never get tired of this, I could never get tired of her.

Marinette wraps her arm around mine as we continue our walk until she turns to the shop wear I bought her necklace.

"I just want to go see it," she smiled nervously.

Crap.

"O-okay," I stuttered as she pulled me towards the store.

"Oh welcome bac-," I quickly do a sign to tell the worker not to finish her sentence "w-welcome how can I help you guys?," she laughed nervously.

"That Cyclamen necklace you guys have," Marinette smiled at her, the young girl looks at me nervously asking me with her eyes what to do.

"Don't tell her I bought it," I mouthed and she nods softly.

"It was sold," Marinette frowns and sighs.

"Oh really? By who if I may ask?"

"U-uh an older gentleman just an hour ago," the worker sighed.

"I knew it wasn't going to stay here long, after all it was a beautiful necklace, I hope who ever has it in the end cherishes it," Marinette mumbled and smiled lightly at the worker "thank you though have a good day."

Marinette pulls away and walks out.

"Was it for her?," the worker asked as I turn to follow Marinette.

"Yes," I smiled lightly.

"I think she'll have a really large smile once she receives it from her boyfriend," the worker giggled.

"More like she'll kill me for spending money on her," I joked "have a good one."

"You didn't deny that you were her boyfriendddddd Anthony," Tikki laughed from inside my pocket.

"Well that makes me smile Tikkkiiiiii," I mumbled as I turn the corner to see Marinette sitting on a bench swinging her feet back and forth.

I come up from behind her and kiss her head softly and grab her hand. Marinette laughs lightly and turns to me.

This is what I want for the rest of my stay, only to see her smile, to only see her with joy and laughter before I leave back to China.

I didn't want her to think about what might happen in the future and neither did I, I just wanted to live in the present as I had her for just this time. That I have her smile just for me, that I knew the real Marinette before anyone did. That she was mine for this time we had together and she didn't want anyone else except me, she was happy with just me and only me.

I didn't want to leave her.

"I love you," I mumbled in her hair as I hugged her from behind.

I just wish I can see her smile for this entire day till I depart.

(Am I crying because I adore Anthony yes yes I am, also fun fact about Anthony's personality!

He is actually based off my boyfriend since in full honesty my bf is a kind, and gentle soul.

I will be starting school tomorrow wish me luck I might actually just be writing chapter 21 since ick if we'll be doing anything LMAO)