True selves

Chapter One

Marinette watched from the window as they passed by the sea. The sea was sparkling under the morning sunrise. The view took the little girl's breath away.

After driving through a few more green traffic lights, the twelve-year-old bounced up and down on her seat when she saw a familiar road. Her mother, Sabine Dupain-Cheng laughed softly at her antics. Tom Dupain smiled at her from the rear view mirror but quickly returned his gaze back to the road.

At the last red traffic light, the car stopped for a moment before taking a left turn, entering a quiet neighbourhood. The houses there looked like beach houses but with an atmosphere of coziness. But Tom simply continued driving on until the last house at the corner.

An old house appeared with a beautiful garden. The paint on the walls were the colour white and the roof blue. Even with its age, the house was still in good condition. The car came to a stop in front of the rusty gate.

Clicking off her seatbelt, Marinette got out of the car with her parents. She was wearing a red polka-dotted sundress that reached her knees. She pushed open the unlocked gate before running towards the door. Sabine was helping Tom with their luggage from the boot of the car.

Little Marinette knocked the wooden door three times and pressed the buzzer. Footsteps sounded and a voice called out hurriedly, "Hold on! I am walking as fast as I can."

The girl giggled before noticing her parents a few feet behind her surrounded by backpacks.

Sabine and Tom were breathing heavily while drinking water from the mineral water that they had bought for the trip.

The door opened, letting a short and chubby figure out of the house. It was Grandma Cheng! She had an apple-printed apron over her clothes. Her face was red from cooking and there was flour on her apron.

Her brown sandals crossed a few steps before eloping Marinette into a bear hug as well as her daughter and son-in-law. Squealing, she marveled at Marinette who was as tall as her but not Sabine who was taller by a few inches.

There stood Tom who towered over them all, carrying bags in his hands. Grandma Cheng knew she made the right decision by giving her blessing to the both of them when they decided to get married. Sabine loved baking and so do Tom, and of course Marinette inherited some skill from the both of them. But she knows her heart was for fashion. Marinette however has a few problems about being honest with herself. Sometimes she's energetic from day to night and then shy when she sees a stranger.

I have the perfect solution. Thought Grandma Cheng, while the rest of the family carried their bags into their respective rooms.

She shouted from the staircase, "Hurry up, all of you! Breakfast is almost ready."

Marinette smiled before running towards her room, which had pink walls and a big window. The heavy bag slipped off her tired shoulders before falling to the carpeted floor. She sighed in content before lying down on the comfortable bed in the middle of the room. It smelled like dandelions which was probably because of the potted dandelions on the window sill.

After putting everything away in a nearby dresser, the girl heard a knock on her door. It was Sabine who had a troubled look on her face. When she saw Marinette staring at her, she quickly relaxed which convinced her daughter that nothing bad happened. She reminded her to be on her best behavior and not to run around the house too much.

The obedient daughter bobbed her head up and down, making her mother smile before joining Grandma Cheng and Tom in the small dining room.
It was a squeeze but they managed. The room was full of pots and china as well as antiques.