The Price of Revenge

At Luka and Juleka’s house, Marinette sat cross-legged on a worn but cozy couch, a mug of tea warming her hands. The soft strumming of Luka’s guitar filled the room, the melody soothing and reflective. She watched his fingers glide over the strings with effortless precision, the music lulling her into a temporary sense of peace.

“You’ve gotten even better,” Marinette said with a small smile as the song ended. “Not that you weren’t amazing before.”

Luka chuckled, setting the guitar down gently. “Thanks. Playing helps me think.” He tilted his head, his perceptive gaze settling on her. “Speaking of thinking… something’s on your mind, isn’t it?”

Marinette’s smile faltered. Luka always seemed to have a way of reading her emotions, no matter how hard she tried to hide them. She let out a sigh, her fingers tightening around the mug.

“It’s Chloe,” she admitted. “She… she said I should get revenge on Lila.”

Luka raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. “And what do you think?”

“That’s the problem,” Marinette said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to. I mean, Lila has done so much to hurt me—and not just me. She lies, manipulates, and gets away with everything. It’s infuriating.” She paused, staring down at her tea. “But… revenge? That’s not me. It’s not who I want to be.”

Luka nodded thoughtfully, his expression calm but serious. “You’re right. Revenge isn’t really you.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “But maybe it’s not about revenge. Maybe it’s about standing up for yourself.”

Marinette looked up at him, her eyes uncertain. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you don’t have to let her keep walking all over you,” Luka said gently. “You can set boundaries, call her out on her lies, and defend yourself—without stooping to her level. It’s not about hurting her back. It’s about protecting yourself and the people you care about.”

Marinette considered his words, her fingers tracing the edge of the mug. “But what if it doesn’t work? What if it just makes things worse?”

Luka smiled softly. “You can’t control how she’ll react, Marinette. All you can do is decide how you want to handle it—and who you want to be in the process. You’ve got a good heart. Don’t let her take that away from you.”

Marinette felt a warmth spread through her chest, his words resonating deeply. “You always know what to say, don’t you?” she said, her lips curving into a small smile.

Luka shrugged, his blue eyes twinkling. “I just call it like I see it. And what I see is someone strong enough to handle this—even if it’s tough.”

For the first time in days, Marinette felt a glimmer of hope. She wasn’t sure what her next move would be, but Luka’s support gave her the clarity she desperately needed.

“Thanks, Luka,” she said softly. “For everything.”

“Anytime,” he replied, picking up his guitar again. “Now, want to hear something new I’ve been working on?”

Marinette nodded, her smile growing as the familiar sound of Luka’s music filled the room once more. For a little while, the weight of her worries seemed a bit easier to bear.