You're my dearest lie || Miraculous Adult

Chapter 16

JUL- Martin Kohlstedt

Marinette

The next few days went as planned. I still dreamt about Luka's joystick that night, but that was just a single time. I didn't write him (especially as I didn't even have his number) and he didn't write me either. As if it had never happened. Which only confirmed my theory of a situational romance.

At the bell, I gathered all my history stuff and walked with Rose towards the auditorium.

Today was the graduate planning meeting for our Bac party. However, I had little hope that enough motivated people would get together. After all, Chat and I didn't get rid of the depressing atmosphere in Paris.

We took a seat in the third row and, to my surprise, half of us were already there. This was only possible because Alya had to entice our classmates with cake and coffee, which also took extra work. But the only advantage was that only half of an average graduates were left.

"Okay!" Alya said with a raised voice as the last people trickled in. The noise decreased and there was only quiet murmuring.

"Well, we've called a meeting to gather ideas and plan things so that at least our prom will be awesome."

If the oppressive, bored mood intimidated Alya, she hid it pretty well. I can't imagine how hard it must be to act settled. But maybe she wanted to appear so confident because Nino was sitting just two rows away from us.

"I'll do the catering, my mother used to be the chef of the Grand Hotel Cuisine, so with a bit of sponsorship we could get it for a good price."

Suddenly someone snorted contemptuously.

I turned my head jerkily to Khai, who was sitting at the other end of the row.

He sat there with his arms crossed and his short brown hair, his mouth twisted bitterly as if someone had told a bad joke. Perhaps the pain was still deep since Alya had to dumb him a few weeks ago. Although they had once kissed drunkenly at a party, she had no feelings for him.

Apparently he still couldn't get over it.

"You've set yourself up well," he said with a sneer.

"You didn't want to tell us  that your mom is now helping out at a rancid chip shop, did you? Because the hotel is no longer running, you thought you could take the money out of our pockets that way?"

I had never seen Alya look so pale. She blinked several times, but was too much in shock to say anything back. The other classmates were also almost holding their breath.

This made Khai grin with satisfaction.

"Well, the truth hurts."

"Shut up, Khai."

I immediately looked at the person sitting two rows behind him.

Nino.

He avoided both Khai's and Alya's gaze, but his inner rage was written all over his face.

Amused, Khai turned to him. He looked at Alya's ex almost pityingly.

I could feel the atmosphere heating up with every passing second.

"How sweet."

Khai's tone couldn't sound any cornier. As soon as he turned back to Alya's front, his face became almost hostile.

"My family went bankrupt with their restaurant because of this shit. I sure as hell don't feel like supporting your family with the overpriced seat tickets when no one here has any money to pay for it all."