Forbidden Love That Wasn't

Adrien (part 5)

The upbeat tunes pulsating through the room did little to soothe Adrien's nerves. If anything, it only intensified the rush of blood in his veins. People, moving around, dancing, chatting, greeting him, filled the room with chaos, edging on a border of overbearing. Adrien looked around, searching for the person who was on his mind, both hoping and dreading to find her. How in the world would he be able to talk to her today, Adrien didn't know, but that had to be done.

"Hey, Adrien! Kagami! We are here," Nino called from one of the private niches somewhere to the side. Kagami grabbed Adrien's arm and pulled him in that direction. Alya, Nino and Luka were already present, sitting on couches encircling the niche and chatted. Nino stood up to meet them as Kagami, slightly nodding at the group as a greeting, proceeded to sit in one of the empty seats.

"Yo, dude!" Nino wrapped his arm around Adrien's shoulder and grinned. "I see you made yourself extra pretty today."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Adrien nervously chuckled, scanning the crowd around. If Luka was here, that could only mean that-

"Looking for someone?" Alya quirk an eyebrow, observing Adrien.

"Ah, no." Adrien snapped his eyes back to his friends, sitting down beside Kagami. "Actually yes. I was checking if any of the people I need to talk to were here already."

"Like?"

"Mostly Father's acquaintances and colleagues. Business relations. Why?"

"Someone I might be interested in?" Alya asked, sipping from her drink.

"Only if you want to write for a fashion section of your magazine."

"No, thank you," Alya puffed. "But do inform me if any of them will get involved in any kind of political intrigue or a scandal."

"Will do," Adrien nodded. Alya turned to Kagami and his eyes briefly returned to the crowd. This time he was more careful, though, switching his attention to his friends regularly and even somewhat upkeeping the conversation.

"I should probably go find Marinette," Luka said, standing up from the couch. "She's been gone for too long and might need help with those drinks."

"She'll be fine," Alya said, placing her glass on a coffee table in the middle. "Knowing her, she probably just took some extra time powdering her nose at the lady's room before getting to the bar."

"Speaking of drinks," Kagami perked up. "Adrien, would you mind bringing me Rose Cocktail?"

"Not a problem." He immediately rose up. "Does anyone else want anything?"

"Nah." Nino yawned. "We've got ours already."

"Marinette's getting mine," Luka added.

"Alright," Adrien said. "I'll be right back then."

With an eager stride, he headed into the bar's direction. The crowd got pretty thick by now, and he couldn't stop looking around, often stepping ahead without watching. So, it was no surprise that a dozen or so steps into his route Adrien bumped into someone. The woman gasped and tried to balance glasses in her hands. She didn't fall down herself only because Adrien had caught her on instinct just in time. However, whatever was the content of those glasses spilled all over her dress and his outfit.

"I'm so sorry," Adrien apologized as soon as he straightened them up and let her go. He reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and only then looked at the girl before him. His breathing halted because locked on his were the eyes of the sky colour, framed in the longest of the eyelashes, set on flawless porcelain skin, entrapped by the dark hair of the person he knew very well. Her lips were slightly parted as she blinked at him and whispered, "Adrien?"