Dear Bugaboo

The Shallows

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   Marinette stared at Celine and Sabine.

The younger bluenette tried to decipher the baker's words and accumulate more of an explanation through facial expressions. Yet, neutral looks and thin lips are hard to translate like visually telling a story with a blank canvas.

   "My...dad?" Marinette questioned in disbelief before remembering Sabine's words from earlier.

   "I know Marinette's not my daughter, but I'll always treat her as if she were my own!"

   Marinette's eyebrows knitted together in thought, trying to connect the dots. She didn't want to believe what she heard on the other side of the door is true. It could've been her mind messing with her, mishearing what Sabine said.

   "...or, you're denying the truth," a voice in the depths of her head spoke up. Marinette forcefully pushed the voice back, ignoring its words. There is no way they would keep something so...important from her...

   Would they?

   "Dad as in...baker dad, right?" Marinette asked, wanting it to be true. She is expecting an "Of course, he is your dad" or something to confirm it. Yet, her only response received—her vividly excruciating answer—is dead silence. Marinette watched as the two women's faces instantly turned pale—horror-stricken.

   "Right?" Marinette desperately asked again, tears bubbling on the rims of her eyes, "My dad is my dad, right?!"

Sabine bowed her head in shame, guilt gnawing at her very essence. She bit the bottom of her lip, holding in her tears as she pathetically shook her head side to side. Celine is unable to keep eye contact any longer and stared at the floor, ashamed for keeping the truth in for so long.

Everything beneath Marinette crumbled away like gravity is dragging her down into the depths of the earth. The weight of it all crashing down on her body. Marinette wanted to run but couldn't move. She stared at the two, many different emotions swirling within her. Marinette is unsure which one she feels at the moment.

Is she angry? Yes.

Is she irritated? Yes

Is she devastated? Yes.

Is she in shock? Definitely.

Is she terrified? Absolutely.

The bluenette's hands began to tremble.

"Who is my real dad?" Marinette seethed, anger beginning to bubble a little.

"Marinette..." Sabine nearly trailed off but continued anyway, "...your father...he isn't a good man."

"Like you're any better of a parent?" Marinette shouted, standing up and glaring down at her so-called "mother."

  "Are you even my real mom?!"

Sabine's heart shattered into fragments and a knot in her stomach tightening, making it ache even more. She shrunk under angry bluebell orbs, trying to burn holes into the woman's head. Marinette stood over the baker, making her sit within the teen's shadow.