Adrien gets off the sofa and puts his shoes back on his feet. He writes a quick note for Marinette before he leaves. He might as well go back to his place. He can not stay here not any longer.  Not when she makes it clear she does not love him.

        Marinette leaves the kitchen when she notices how quiet the house is now. She thinks that is so strange. She goes to the living room with the thought he is asleep. She does not see him, but when she turns to walk away sees a slip of paper as it falls to the floor.

     "What is this anyway?"  Marinette asks. She looks at the paper. She thinks, oh, so that is how it is huh?

     "Marinette, what is that and where did he go?"  Tikki asks.

   "Tikki, goodness, you scared me,"  Marinette remarks.

  "Sorry, Marinette, so what is that you hold in your hand?"  Tikki asks her.

   "Oh, it is just a note from Adrien,"  Marinette says.
   
"What does it say?"  Tikki asks. She thinks, the boy loves Marinette. 

   "Here, you want to know, then, go ahead read it,"  Marinette remarks. 

      Dear Marinette,
     
        I appreciate your help when I was sick.
  
    Now, we are even and you do not owe me anything.

        I thought for once, you would understand my feelings since my mother's death, but I suppose I was wrong.

     It is okay. I  will try to understand, but it will not be easy.

      The dream felt so real because of part of it similar to the events that took place where you almost drowned.  Only in my nightmare, you died and I could not handle it.  If anything ever were to happen to you, I do not know what I would do.

     I never meant for any of this to happen.  I never meant to discover the truth that Luka was a heartbreaker who took your heart and ripped in half.  I found out he was with Kagami before you saw him.  I know I should have warned you, but in some selfish way, I was glad he hurt you. 

   I never meant to get close to you.
   
    I did not know Luka would come after you.  I am sorry, okay.  

  I am sorry, he betrayed you not once, but twice. I am sorry, I did not stop him from throwing you into the ravine.  I am sorry, my shoulder broke when I jumped into to rescue you, I am sorry I got sick and you had to help me get better, but most of all I am sorry for loving you.

   I am sorry for the fact I love you when I know it is impossible for you to ever love me.

  I am sorry Master Fu was wrong and we can never be together.

   I am sorry, I am sorry, so sorry.

    Love,
   Adrien

PS. I am sorry,  I  left, but I could not stay when I knew I would kiss you. I know you did not want it, so I promise not to let myself kiss you. I promise no matter how much it kills me.

   

 "Marinette, that has to be the saddest confession note ever,"  Tikki says.

    "Confession note, what do you mean?" Marinette asks.
 
   "Look, Marinette he confesses that he loves you, he wants to kiss you and promises not to because he knows you do not love him,"  Tikki explains.

      "Tikki, how can he love me? I mean he barely even knows me,"   Marinette says.
  
      "I have no idea, but he does,"  Tikki responds.

      " Oh, no!  What have I done to him?"  Marinette blurts out. She looks like she might punch something.

      "Marinette, calm down!  You do not want to cause an akuma.  Besides, it is not your fault, you do not love him,"  Tikki says.
   
       "Tikki, why does he blame himself for Luka's  attempt on my life?"  Marinette asks.

      "Marinette, he does not,"  Tikki protest.
  
   "Yes, he does because he says, 'I am sorry, I did not stop him from throwing you into the ravine,'  It is not like he could know that was Luka's intentions, until after it happened, right?"   Marinette replies.

       "I know that and so do you, but that does not stop Adrien from feeling guilty about it,"  Tikki says.

     "Why should he feel guilty when it is not his fault?"  Marinette asks.

     " I honestly do not know,"  Tikki says. She thinks, his love for her is so stronger it makes him think that he should have done something to keep Luka from tossing her into the water.

   Tikki's  POV:
    She thinks I can not tell Marinette that Adrien saw Luka try to choke her and told him to let her go.  I can not tell her that Adrien almost did not reach her on time.  

      Marinette's  POV:
     The whole thing before I almost drowned is a blur, the last I recall is hearing Luka laugh as he drops me and Adrien's  shout, " No, Marinette!"  

     She thinks I am sorry, Adrien.  I am sorry, you feel guilt over it.  



      Adrien's POV:
    Adrien feels bad that he did not protect Marinette from Luka's grasp on her.

     He knows he should done something to get her away from him before he could hold her above the water, then let go.  He thinks, if it had not been for me, maybe she would not have almost drowned.

     He thinks I love her!  I love her, but she will never love me.

  Plagg's  POV:

 He shakes his head.  He eats some cheese silently and feels bad for Adrien.

  He knows Adrien feels hurt at the reaction Marinette had to Adrien's gentle touch of her face.

    


Master Fu's  POV:

   Adrien should not give up.  It might not seem like it now, but one day she will return his love. I am sure she will because she is the one he loves and he can not let her go.

    Marinette is just afraid to let him get close to her because Luka betrayed her twice. The first time when he breaks her heart with someone else, and the second when he almost kills her.


     Adrien's  POV:
     Marinette, I will hold to the promise.

    I mean it.  I might love you, but I will not kiss you against your will.

     I  need you to love me because you do and not because I seek it.

     
 Find out more when the story continues in Chapter  11