35. Chapter 35 - Reset

The Lycèe department of Françoise Dupont organized a summer field trip not only for educational purposes but also for recreational ones. It was arranged as a consolation to the seniors before they start preparing for their le bac, and at the same time, the best distraction to unwind and enlighten those who were still in the bind.

When a black limousine parked outside the school entrance, Nino couldn't help but run towards it.

"Yo, Adrien! You're finally here!" the future DJ greeted when an obviously excited blond-haired model emerged from the vehicle. Like him, his friend was carrying a big, traveling bag full of clothes and other necessities.

"Salut, Nino!" Adrien replied with a high-five. "Have you seen Marinette?"

His bespectacled friend blinked. It wasn't odd for the model to be thoughtful on his friends, but he wasn't a type that would single-out a person's name before his bro. And the way his addled eyes loomed around the place told him that something wasn't right.

"No. Not yet," he answered, curiosity all over his face. "Why?"

Green eyes enlarged, and with a hand on his neck he replied. "Ah, no. It's nothing. Sorry, I only slept like four hours."

"Mine's three, dude." Nino gave him a stony look. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to start picking up on Alya."

"I told you it's nothing." his friend groaned, crossing his arms in defense.

The DJ shrugged. "Whatever you say, dude."

Adrien exasperatedly sighed. For some unknown reasons, he woke up thinking about Marinette. It wasn't the first time his mind got preoccupied with a girl, but those were always about Ladybug. He had no idea how his Princess entered the scene.

His Princess, he mused. How fitting.

"Don't give me that face. You're creeping me out." Nino commented with feigned shudders.

"Oh, shut up." he rolled his eyes, then lightly punched his shoulder. "You know, I thought I'll be late."

"I'm glad your father finally agreed to give you a break. One was supposed to start working after they finished school, you know."

"I'm surprised that he allowed me to join here. He even told Natalie to clear my schedules for two weeks." the model remarked then shrugged his shoulders. "I just consider my work as some sort of helping our family business."

"Hey, guys! Over here!" Alya called them while waving her hands in the air. She was carrying a matching traveling bag with a video camera on the side.

"Salut, Alya. Seems like you're totally prepared for this trip." Adrien's greetings earned him a smirk.

"Of course, I can't miss this for the world!" she replied enthusiastically as she looked around. "But I think we might be missing one."

That moment, Adrien was expecting to see a petite, dark-haired girl running towards them, carrying a large traveling bag with a small box tucked in her arms. But none showed up.

Not even a slight commotion.

"She's late," he muttered, unable to conceal his worries.

"Geez, It's okay, Adrien. I've been expecting this, that's why I gave her a fifteen-minute leeway for our meetup." she began fiddling her inbox. "Since when did Marinette arrives on time?"

"My dude here was so concerned he immediately asked me about her whereabouts."

The brunette's brows shoot up with knowing eyes glinting behind her glasses. "Oh? The sunshine boy was scared of leaving our Sweet Mari behind?"

"O - of course!" the blond stammered. Mon dieu, why am I so nervous?!

He could feel Plagg's sneers inside his shirt pocket, provoking him to swat the god with two hands.

He didn't appreciate the early teases that he received not only from his kwami but also from his friends. Not that it was uncomfortable, but he couldn't see the malice of having a concerned feeling towards a friend.

Friend.

Marinette.

Two words he felt paled with each other.

His subconsciousness told him that Marinette was more than just a friend.

I need to see Marinette.

"All students, please gather at the Parkway for further instructions!" Miss Bustier made an announcement using a megaphone.

Everything felt like a déjà vu as if he already knew what would happen next. Or was it jamais vu? That it was something that happened already but he couldn't remember?

Impossible, he thought. He was starting to incline towards presque vu. That his answers were on the tip of his tongue.

I need to see Marinette.

The school's head Mr. Damocles stepped to the podium and cleared his throat. "Before we begin, I would like to inform you that -"

Everything was starting to fall into places. It was all familiar. He had heard it before. He knew that an Akuma -

" - this educational trip was arranged because not all lessons can be learned inside the classroom."

His mind blanked out.

Wait, what?!

"That we are expecting you to..."

He couldn't hear the entire speech anymore. He felt like his world swirled and swallowed by a large sinkhole, and that his entire soul was dragged into the deepest pit of Hell.

He knew something was wrong. He had told Plagg about it, but the god wasn't helpful. It wasn't a surprise though - because deep inside he knew he wasn't making any sense.

"It's just a dream, Adrien." the kwami consoled him. "All but an elusive dream."

If that was true, then he should've stayed asleep.

I need to see Marinette.

"Are you okay?" his best friend grasped his shoulder. "You looked like you've seen a ghost."

He gulped, clearing his parched throat. "Nino, I - "

"I have a water here. Drink. " Alya said as she handed him a bottle.

He never realized how clammy his hands were, and how his body trembled until he accepted the item. With a gratitude, he unscrewed the cap and emptied the contents.

"Take a deep breath, Adrien. Okay, inhale, exhale."

"Just tell me if you need to go to the infirmary -"

"I'm fine, guys. No worries." he waved his hand, thankful that Alya's back rubs eased his breathing patterns. "I must've eaten something, but not bad enough to upset my stomach."

"Aww poor child, you must eat proper meals other than sandwiches or salads. Just wait until Marinette arrives here with some snacks."

His hope perked up upon hearing the word 'Marinette'.

"You think you caught a bug?"

"I'm not sick..." he trailed off then began to ponder on his friend's words.

Marinette.

Bug.

Buginette.

Maribug.

What a per - no, purr-fect name.

"..but I think I caught a Bug." his toothy grin made his friends paled with mortification.

"Oh shit, are you burning with fever?! Wait - you're not." Alya withdrew her hands after touching the model's forehead. "Feeling chills? Sweaty? Dizzy?"

"Maybe it's a sort that inflames internally?" Nino freaked out then gave his best friend an apprehensive look. "You shouldn't work yourself out, dude. I know this is your first field trip, but c'mon!"

"And here I thought only babies get sick due to over-excitement."

"What do you think of this man?"

"Hmm, definitely considered a baby." her sneers earned an offended look.

"Why am I friends with you again?" Adrien pouted with crossed arms.

"Seriously, man. We're worried." the DJ replied. "If you're that concerned about Marinette not making it - "

"All students, please go to your respective vehicles now." their teacher announced again.

" - Crap."

"We'll be leaving shortly."

The trio froze up realizing that their missing friend might not be able to make it.

I need to see Marinette, Adrien chanted in his head.

I need to see my Princess.

I need to see my Lady.

"WAIT!"

Adrien instantly caught a familiar voice, and when he turned his head around, he saw the raven-haired girl in pigtails running towards their location. Despite her disheveled look as she carried her large traveling bag and a pastry box alone, she was still angelic and gorgeous in his eyes.

His heart skipped a beat.

But when he finally met her bluebell eyes, everything crashed down.

This wasn't the world wherein Marinette and him got left behind.

A world wherein they fought the bad guys in Gare St. Lazare and the drunkards in a pub somewhere in Evreux.

A world wherein they met a mother and son stranded on a road and led them to a wedding in Argentan.

A world wherein they became ridiculous cosplayers and fought on a piece of pretzel.

A world wherein he almost lost her when a gun was aimed at her head, and again when he fell over the tower of Notre Dame.

And the worst of all -

This wasn't the world wherein Marinette was Ladybug.

That was the world of fantasy.

This was the world of reality.