Chapter: 10
‘Ha….’
AP U.S. History class. The male teacher standing at the podium was holding a book in one hand, passionately explaining something.
But Lee Soo couldn’t focus on the lesson at all. His head was lowered, one hand pressed against the corner of his eye.
‘I’ve seriously lost my mind.’
Even though he tried to cover his eyes, there was no way he couldn’t notice the glances constantly being thrown at him like pebbles from all around. The reason was obvious.
“Right. I’m taken.”
When Lee Soo snatched the tie from Stella, Frederick—who had seemed to be quietly watching—immediately added that line and stepped closer to him.
At the voice falling near his ear, goosebumps had spread all over Lee Soo’s body. It felt like something had gone very, very wrong.
Stella, unable to hide her flushed face, untied the tie with trembling hands and handed it to Lee Soo.
The sticky sense of exhilaration receded like the tide, and as if left with bare skin, Lee Soo was helplessly swept up by the cold, chilling sense of reality.
He had practically thrown the tie at Frederick and fled to his next class.
And now—barely 20 minutes later—every student seemed to have heard about the hallway incident, exchanging looks and repeatedly glancing at him.
‘Was I always this easily swept up?’
Would Frederick Bastia really step in for something involving his younger sibling? He was the kind of person who only cared about himself.
Honestly, even if he could turn back time, he would probably make the same choice. But that didn’t make this situation any easier to handle.
‘…A girlfriend?’
Frederick Bastia being his “boyfriend.”
Even if it was fake—even if it was just for appearances—this connection felt overwhelmingly heavy to Lee Soo.
Beep—
As soon as the teacher signaled the end of class, students stood up and began gathering their things.
Lee Soo got up a beat later, packed his bag, and stopped at the door blocked by a crowd, frowning.
“Why—”
Why are they blocking the way?
But as the students stepped aside for him, clearing a path, and he saw the figure leaning against the wall across the hallway with arms crossed, Lee Soo immediately understood.
“Hey, Babe.”
Lee Soo grabbed his own arm with one hand. Even through his blazer, he could feel the goosebumps rising.
Frederick was leaning casually against the wall, as if he hadn’t attended any class at all.
“Did you pay attention in class? Or were you thinking about me the whole time?”
At that shocking line, all the students’ gazes snapped toward Lee Soo.
Frederick, whether he knew or not, simply smiled faintly with that annoyingly handsome face.
Frozen under all those stares, Lee Soo suddenly strode forward and grabbed Frederick’s wrist.
Without asking for permission, he pulled him along, heading toward a direction with fewer people.
He refused to become any more of a spectacle.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—despite his large build, Frederick obediently followed along.
Lee Soo led him to a tree-lined path between the high school and middle school sections. Only after confirming there was no one around did he stop and let go of Frederick’s wrist.
Turning around, Lee Soo faced him.
He had no idea what to say. Both of them were fake, and there was no audience here.
‘Isn’t it even weirder to treat him like a real boyfriend in this situation?’
But his thoughts were cut off by Frederick’s next words.
“People might think we came here to kiss. Haha. Don’t you think?”
Startled, Lee Soo’s voice rose.
“You think everyone’s like you?!”
That sly smile was infuriating.
‘What the hell is he even saying—’
Lee Soo huffed, trying to steady his breathing.
“What do you mean, ‘like me’?”
“Baby? Since when did I ever give you permission to call me that? Not everyone in the world is like you—some overly affectionate Italian throwing hearts around without hesitation!”
“You didn’t like the nickname? But that’s basic, isn’t it?”
That might be true for people actually dating—but that’s not us!!
Suddenly, Lee Soo recalled the true nature of the game they had started.
This was a bet: whoever exposed or got caught first would lose.
The goal was to deceive each other by pretending it was a real relationship until they got what they wanted.
There was no choice.
No matter what, he had to deal with this shameless Italian as his “boyfriend.”
Like it was real. Like he actually had a boyfriend.
“Ha… Frederick. Fine. I get what you’re saying. But maybe you’ll understand if I put it like this—maybe you’re used to women and think all this is normal, but I’m not used to getting involved with guys. It feels unfamiliar and awkward. So the nicknames you throw around so freely? They’re really burdensome. So could you please show some consideration and hold back a bit?”
Just because you act like that doesn’t mean I’ll develop feelings for you. Not at all.
Lee Soo barely swallowed those words.
“Hmm… well. If you hate it that much.”
Just as Lee Soo inhaled in relief—
“Then you call me something affectionate. I’ll compromise.”
“What…? What kind of nickname?”
“Anything. Want to use my middle name?”
No thanks. Why would I?
Seeing the answer written all over his face, Frederick started counting on his fingers.
“Baby, honey, darling? Too basic?”
Ugh. At the string of cringe-worthy words, Lee Soo quickly thought.
“I’ll just call you Rick. That works, right?”
Students who were somewhat close to Frederick called him “Rick.” Of course, Lee Soo was not one of them.
He didn’t like it either, but it was the most he could tolerate.
But of course, for a born-and-bred Italian like Frederick, it wasn’t acceptable.
“No. What’s that? That makes my confession meaningless.”
“Aren’t you busy? Do you really have time to argue about nicknames with me here?”
Just go somewhere already! Go home, or join a club like everyone else! Why were you even waiting for my class to end?!
Lee Soo’s silent outburst was completely crushed by Frederick’s flawless smile.
“That’s my advantage. I’m not on any sports team, so I have plenty of time.”
“….”
“At first, girls date guys because they look cool playing sports, but have you ever seen those relationships last? Practice, games… the girl always ends up coming second. It never lasts.”
Unlike them.
As if to add that, Frederick pointed at himself with his index finger.
“I’m perfect, right? As boyfriend material.”
Why is this so irritating?
“No, you should at least—”
As Lee Soo thought, he quickly realized why he was so annoyed.
‘Is this guy insane? He actually thinks he’s good boyfriend material.’
Just then—
“I know you don’t like people interfering in your business. But…”
Frederick trailed off as he suddenly stepped closer.
“I’ve been waiting for this. For the moment when your eyes would be completely on me.”
At the unexpected words, Lee Soo was momentarily speechless.
His mind became complicated, and the resistance that had risen to his chest was pushed out of his awareness.
Their gazes locked.
Lee Soo found himself staring into Frederick’s gray eyes.
Frederick took something out of his pocket and handed it to him.
A small silver key.
“…What’s this?”
“I put a new lock on your locker. No one will mess with it again, so you can use it comfortably.”
Lee Soo couldn’t bring himself to take the key immediately. He just stared at it in Frederick’s palm.
When he finally spoke, it wasn’t gratitude.
“Even without you… I could’ve handled it myself.”
“I know. I just wanted to do it.”
You skipped class for this?
Everything about this key was absurd to Lee Soo. It wasn’t even that urgent. He never asked for help.
‘How did he even know about my locker…?’
Why are you acting like you’ve been paying attention to my life?
Lee Soo snatched the key from his hand.
He didn’t want to take it. He didn’t want to touch him.
But he had no choice.
The brief contact, the warmth that instantly transferred—it all felt unbearably uncomfortable.
“How could I just sit back when it’s my girlfriend’s problem? It’s been bothering me for a while.”
Frederick clenched the hand left hanging in the air.
His grip tightened, veins and lines standing out clearly.
His physique didn’t make sense for someone who wasn’t on a sports team.
Lee Soo looked away and bit the inside of his mouth.
‘…Get it together.’
Even if he couldn’t act naturally, he at least shouldn’t look flustered.
If Frederick was this immersed, then he had to match him for the game to work.
So Lee Soo accepted one fact.
No matter what—Frederick Bastia was, for now, his “boyfriend.”
Still, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing that Frederick was taking the bet seriously.
It made it easier to bring up what mattered most.
“We haven’t even been dating for an hour, and you’re already doing so much for me—thanks.”
Even he couldn’t tell if that sounded sarcastic or sincere.
“Actually… there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Why did it have to be Frederick Bastia?
No matter how much he thought about it, the lingering doubt and frustration wouldn’t disappear.
‘…I said I’d use him as much as I could.’
But even saying it was difficult.
Maybe because this entire situation stirred up memories he didn’t want to recall.
Still—he had to say it.
He had no choice.
“My younger sibling… was a candidate for a clinical trial at Providence Hospital, but they got excluded. The medical costs, and getting access to the new drug—being selected for that trial is really important for my family…”
It felt like pulling the trigger on himself.
