Back to the beginning of break. . .
"Marinette, you have to tell me what's wrong. Right now."
Alya was very worried about Marinette. She hadn't spoken all of break. Marinette had been doing the only thing she aware of herself doing. Staring at Adrien. He was about as agitated as Marinette.
Alya looked at Nino. Nino shrugged and pointed at Marinette. Alya frowned at her boyfriend.
Alya said to Marinette, "Did something happen with. . .him?"
Marinette's eyes began to water, and tears began to flow. She put her head in her hands. That's when Alya noticed Adrien running off. She gasped. Marinette looked up, puffy-eyed.
"W-what is it?" she mumbled.
Alya looked at her and told her the. . .honest truth.
"Adrien ran off when he saw you were sad."
Marinette perked up gloomily. "You're just saying that to make me feel better. . ."
"No joke, Marinette!" answered Alya. "Do you see any Adrien Agreste's around here?"
"Yeah," groaned Marinette. "Walking with Nino towards the boiler room." She slumped back into her depressed position.
Alya's eyebrows creased inward as she tiptoed, following Adrien and her own boyfriend into the secluded room. She opened the door, but it creaked. She heard Adrien say something to Nino, and she inched close enough to listen in on their conversation.
"I won't, buddy. Never."
Alya heard Adrien's sharp inhale. "I'm Cat Noir, Nino."
Alya wanted to scream. She walked really fast and made her exit, inhaling and exhaling very worriedly.
What am I gonna tell Marinette? thought Alya. What if she asks what I heard? Oh no, what if I actually can't be Rena Furtive anymore!!
She returned to Marinette, wide-eyed and looking stressed.
"So what did you hear?"
Alya's lips tightened. She thought to herself. Play dumb! Her answer was, "I didn't hear anything." Alya frowned to herself. Not that dumb. . .!
Marinette looked at her with narrow, inspecting eyes. "You. . .sure?"
Alya nodded. A squeak of unsure replies escaped her mouth. She clamped her hands to her mouth and ran to the restroom.
"Trixx, what am I supposed to do?!" she whispered. "I can't know both of their identities!"
Trixx said, "Well, you can ask Sass to turn back time. Fix your mistake."
"Doesn't that cause hallucinations and weird past figures to appear-?" recalled Alya.
"Whatevs," answered Trixx. "But if Marinette found out-"
"Trixx!" shouted Alya. "Don't stress me out like that! Marinette won't find out. I'm just going to talk to Nino. Casually. Ya know. . .bf gf talk. . ."
Trixx nodded. "Sure. . .bf gf talk. . .casual."
Alya shrieked, "Stop it!"
