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~Still Author's pov~
The bustling city street was alive with chaos, the faint aroma of food vendors mingling with the exhaust of passing vehicles.
The sun barely strained through the thick haze of clouds as it was getting gloomy and filled enough with rain casting a muted golden glow over the scene.
The crowd was dense, a sea of restless bodies moving in conflicting directions, their voices blending into a cacophony of indistinct chatter.
Among the throng, Vale maneuvered cautiously, her heart pounding as her eyes stayed fixed on the figure ahead—the unmistakable blonde beneath the cap.
"Could he be bunking school? Or.... Why?" She silently spoke to herself.
She started following him swiftly but gently like a spy, because she was curious,
'If he was doing something wrong I could stop him, or maybe he's the one..... No.no..he wouldn't do that.'
Adrien walked further away from school and so did Vale, he pocketed his hand in his coat.
'where did her get that coat?'
Vale's breathing grew shallow as she tightened her grip on her phone.Thoughts were rumbling in her head, her fingers trembling slightly.
Vale sidestepped a vendor pushing a cart laden with fruits, her shoulders brushing against strangers as she attempted to keep up.
Her pulse quickened, a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest with each step Adrien took further away.
The scent of "Faraway" perfume clung to the air, unmistakable and uniquely his. Vale's heart skipped a beat.
'It's him!.', she thought, her suspicion solidifying.
The soft whiff of the perfume, crafted exclusively for him in favor of appreciation, it is a signature she couldn't mistake.
It was a luxury scent which cost millons of dollars,, known for its long-lasting allure and association with Adrien's impeccable brand. No one else could possibly be wearing it.
'Well id he's doing something wrong or by any chance illegal he would lie right?'
An idea popped in Vale's head so she decided to try it out, she brought out her phone from her pocket and decided to text him and see his response.
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Chat Log
(🧠) Adrien 💘🙈
(❄️): Hi Adrien
(🧠): How are you, Vale?
(❄️): I'm good thanks. You?
(🧠): Well I'm still living 🙂
(❄️): 😂
(🧠): 😂
(❄️): Are you in class already?
(🧠): yeah, I'm with Brian
(❄️): oh really?
(🧠): yes.
(❄️): wow!
(🧠): Where are you?
(❄️): You would know if you're in the class
(🧠): I don't understand you...?
'Why is he lying?'
Vale's suspicions were true, so he is doing something bad because if he went out to just get something, he would not lie right? What was he going to do that he had to dress up like that, leave during break and even lie.
The lie stung Vale like a needle, sharp and deliberate. Adrien had never lied to her before...at least not like this
'Why is he lying now?' she thought, her stomach twisting with unease. If he was just getting something, why wouldn't he say so?
'oh no could he be in danger?'
A terrible thought began to creep into her mind. What if he's in danger? Her breath hitched as scenarios played out in her imagination. What if someone's threatened him? What if he's being blackmailed? Or worse, what if something's happened to his mom?
Her brow furrowed as her thoughts churned her stomach.
Vale kept following him because it it were true at least she could hide and call the cops.
Vale's gaze darted between the screen and the figure in the distance.
His coat swayed slightly as he maneuvered through the crowd, his cap pulled low to obscure his face. .
Her grip on her phone tightened, and she quickened her pace. She couldn't leave this alone, not when there was a chance Adrien could be in trouble.
"Adrien!" she called, her voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. She caught a fleeting glimpse of him through the throng, the back of his blonde head and the edge of his coat standing out.
He didn't stop.
"Adrien! Adrien! Wait!" Vale shouted, her voice laced with desperation. She pushed through the crowd, her shoulders bumping against strangers who barely acknowledged her.
The press of bodies was overwhelming, the noise a disorienting blur, but she didn't care.
Adrien moved with purpose, ignoring her completely. The distance between them seemed to stretch with every step, no matter how hard Vale tried to close the gap.
'Why won't he stop?' she thought, frustration and worry battling within her. 'Why won't he at least look back?'
'He was already lying, I'm sure he would lie again if a ask him'
'Is he ignoring me on purpose?'
"Wait! Where are you going?" she screamed again, her voice cracking slightly.
A vendor's tray bumped against her side, and she stumbled slightly, barely catching herself.
Vale pushed the bodies squeezing their way through, this place was so crowded and she doesn't think she has ever been to a place like this before, so many people angrily pushing people to find their way, she was been shoved here and there and Adrien also did the same.
The crowd seemed endless, and Vale felt like she was drowning in it. Her heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of questions.
Vale's legs felt heavier with each step, her initial determination fading into an uneasy hesitation. Her arms swung stiffly at her sides, one hand gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
The rising unease in her chest made her breathing shallow, and she could feel her pulse thudding in her temples. Every time Adrien's figure moved further ahead, her mind spiraled deeper into doubt.
Her steps faltered for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to turn back. But the curiosity, the gnawing need to understand why Adrien was acting so strangely, kept her moving forward.
'Why is he lying?, is there something more to this?' she wondered, her brows knitting together in frustration and confusion. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she stared at his retreating back.
'Why is he dressed like that, why does he keep avoiding my questions and me, he knows I've caught him Why is he still walking?'
~End of Author's pov~
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