Branch

Toxic

[Scene: A maisonette living room. Marinette, is sitting on a couch, holding her phone,her eyes watery from crying tears. She hears a knock on her door. She doesn't bother answering. She knows who's here. She hears the door knob swinging and the creak of the opening door. Adrien enters the room, a smile on his face, clearly not aware of the woman on the couch. His eyes move upon the room until he locks eyes with her frail body. ]

Adrien : Hey, darling . I'm home. Have you happened to see my phone?......

(She didn't respond. She just sat there quietly.)

Adrien : Hello, earth to Marinette? Are you in outer space?

(She still didn't respond. Adrien approaches her tentatively , holding his arms out to hold her shoulders)

Adrien : Darling , what's wrong? Are you okay?

(She shrugs her shoulders away from his embrace and turned her face, not wanting to see his eyes)

Marinette : Don't darling me.

(Adrien looks at her confused)

Adrien : What are you talking about? What is this about?

(He goes and tries to hold her again, but she swats his hands this time)

Marinette : DON'T TOUCH ME!!!!

(Adrien looks at her in astonishment. Marinette, upon realising her raised voice, looks at him straight in his eyes, the eyes that used to sap energy from her very being at one point in time. She wishes for the strength to resist that sapping energy again)

Marinette : Why Adrien ? WHY?!

Adrien : What is this all of a sudden? Tell me?

(Adrien keeping his voice level, tries to entangle his hand with hers, but she swats them too. )

Marinette : Of all people, why her?

(She begins crying again. Luka looks around where she sat, and saw his phone on the couch. Dread took over his mind but he dared not show it to her)

Adrien : Just say it for crying out loud, darling?!

Marinette : YOU CHEATED ON ME!!!!

(Silence. Adrien looked taken aback. Not by the truth, but how Marinette, for the first time, raised her voice at him. He quickly resumes his composure.)

Adrien : What do you mean? I cheated on you?

Marinette : Please stop lying to me......

(Her voice began quivering but she tries to hold steadfast, to not break down in agonising heartbreak. She puts some distance from him looking away in the direction of the balcony door. )

Marinette : You tried to cheat on me...... .with my sister, Adrien. My FUCKING SISTER!!!!

(Adrien still tries to not show the dread to her, lest she'd prove her right. His voice still level, he approaches her.)

Adrien : What? That's crazy. Where did you get that notion ?

(Marinette scoffs and laughs hoarsely. Adrien's thoughts are filled with terror. He knows there is not going back now, but he still kept calm.)

Marinette : Don't play dumb with me. Check your phone. In fact, check mine. [She shows him her phone.] This is a recording of you trying to hit on her, to your utter failure. You bastard!!!

Adrien :[He looks at the phone and laughs nervously.] That's not me. That's someone else.

Marinette : Someone else?! Someone else?! Who sounds exactly like you?!