Chapter: 09
“I promise. I’ll become the most devoted boyfriend in the world—one who only looks at you, only thinks about you, and only listens to what you say.”
Lee Soo once again failed to escape the binding force of Frederick’s gray eyes. His gaze was stolen helplessly.
Only look at you.
Only think about you.
Only listen to you.
What…?
Because he said it with such emphasis, the words carried even more weight—but to Lee Soo, they sounded like something absurdly ridiculous.
If it were anyone else, it might’ve ended with a simple “Wow, you’re really trying, huh.” But when Frederick Bastia said it, it felt like a contradiction to the laws of the universe.
Like saying the sun would rise in western California tomorrow morning.
Lee Soo let out a dry, incredulous laugh without realizing it.
“Frederick, maybe if I’d just met you today, I could believe that. But how am I supposed to believe you now? Don’t you think that’s a bit shameless, even for you?”
“Why?”
He smiled innocently, as if nothing was wrong. Acting all innocent—what a damn jerk.
“I don’t know if it’s because you’re Italian-American and lack self-awareness, but your usual behavior is the worst when it comes to dating.”
“You’ve been paying that much attention to me? I’m honored.”
Lee Soo bit down hard on his lower lip.
“I’m saying things would be completely different if you accepted me.”
So confident, huh…
At Lee Soo’s blunt remark, the entire hallway seemed to ripple like a wave. Everyone was watching closely, wondering how this confession would end—could it be that Frederick Bastia would actually get rejected?
“Why do you like me?”
Originally, Lee Soo had intended to reject him outright. But Frederick Bastia’s shameless attitude made his temper rise, and he ended up engaging a little longer.
Let’s see how far you can stretch this.
“Saying you can’t stop thinking about me—that’s such a cliché confession anyone could make.”
Lee Soo smiled faintly. He wanted to see that shameless face crack with embarrassment.
He wanted that mask to come off, wanted Frederick’s Italian pride to get crushed.
But contrary to expectations, not even a 0.1-inch crack appeared in Frederick’s smile. Still smiling, he leaned his upper body slightly toward Lee Soo.
“That’s too easy a question, Danielle. I could give you ten answers, a hundred answers—however many you want. But are you sure you want others to hear them?”
“What?”
“I was being considerate. But if you want to hear it, I can start listing them now.”
There was a soft smile on his lips, but his eyes were completely serious—like he really had dozens of reasons prepared.
A warning alarm rang in Lee Soo’s chest. His instincts reacted before his mind could catch up—as if he already knew what Frederick was about to say.
Before Lee Soo could stop him, Frederick continued.
“I started noticing you from the first day you transferred here. But what really stuck with me—the moment I keep going back to—was when you sat on that sofa in the library.”
Wait, hold on.
A strange sense of danger washed over Lee Soo, draining the color from his face.
“I sat next to you on purpose, but you didn’t notice at all. Did you really think it was just coincidence?”
“That’s enough, stop—”
But Lee Soo realized too late—there was no stopping an Italian intoxicated with love… or at least pretending to be.
“It was really quiet then. I remember how the sunlight came through the blinds, the way you were looking at your book. And the way you talked back to get a rise out of me—your expressions, your tone—I thought it was all so cute.”
KYAAAAAA!
Is he insane?! If you’re going to go crazy, do it alone!!
Lee Soo nearly screamed out loud, barely managing to stop himself by covering his mouth.
But the surrounding students didn’t hold back.
“What the…?”
“Is he talking about lower school? Geez.”
“Ugh, my whole body’s cringing…”
Lee Soo’s fingers and toes curled just like everyone else’s. He quickly raised his other hand, palm out, signaling him to stop.
“Stop, just stop!”
“That was only one. I still have a lot more. You know, we—”
The moment his raised hand was caught in Frederick’s large hand, Lee Soo’s gaze was pulled helplessly toward him.
Their eyes locked—like prey caught by a predator.
“We have quite a history. Seven years isn’t exactly short.”
His voice was calm, but it didn’t sound light at all.
It sounded like he had always been watching.
But to Lee Soo, it didn’t feel like a sweet confession.
This guy’s basically declaring he’s a stalker and trying to make it sound romantic.
At the same time, Lee Soo became aware of their hands. Frederick’s hand was large, now fully enveloping his.
“Stop talking! And let go of my hand. I never said you could hold it.”
“I gathered my courage and confessed in front of everyone. So I need something too—your support.”
You’re over six feet tall—why are you acting so pitiful?
Lee Soo’s irritation flared at Frederick’s shameless act.
“What kind of logic is that?! Take your ‘support’ and go back to Italy—do it with other Italians. This is America!”
“The place I want to be is next to you. Italy? I don’t really care, unless it’s for something like a honeymoon.”
Honeymoon? Is he seriously out of his mind?
“Ugh—just stop talking!”
Unable to bear the secondhand embarrassment any longer, Lee Soo clenched his fist and thumped Frederick’s chest. Of course, it didn’t move him even an inch.
What did he bet on? Or is this just his competitive streak?
Do you really have to go this far, you lunatic?!
Unfazed, Frederick gently grasped the wrist of the hand that had hit him. Now both of Lee Soo’s hands were captured.
“So… can I take that as a ‘yes’?”
“What?! Absolutely not! Don’t just slip that in—”
“There’s so much I want to do for you. Just accept me, okay?”
Not “do for me”—you just want something in return, don’t you?
As Lee Soo glared into Frederick’s gray eyes, something he absolutely couldn’t forget suddenly came to mind.
“Ah.”
His younger sibling.
The moment that thought surfaced, all emotion drained from Lee Soo’s face.
“Why?”
“….”
Though it was only a slight change in expression, Frederick’s eyes darkened instantly.
Lee Soo quietly stared at him, gauging his reaction.
I need to ask him about Eunho…
If he rejected the confession, it would become harder to ask for that favor.
And then his thoughts flipped.
…If I accept, maybe he’ll at least pretend to keep his word?
Since he’d already said it publicly, he’d probably stick to it—at least until he got bored.
The problem was how quickly that moment would come.
This was Frederick Bastia.
If it lasted a week, that would already be impressive.
Lee Soo had watched him since lower school.
Basketball—three months. Tennis—three months. Football—three months.
Violin—three months. Cello—three months. Oboe—three months.
Everything was like that.
Including people.
He got involved with countless girls but never dated any of them. And the moment they asked to define the relationship—it ended.
He perfectly lived up to his nickname: Heartbreaker.
For a high schooler to earn that nickname—it was entirely his own doing.
He knew it. He knew it painfully well.
Still—
“…Alright.”
For a brief moment, an indescribable emotion flickered in Frederick’s widened gray eyes. Then he broke into a radiant smile, bringing Lee Soo’s hands together and pressing a kiss to his fingers.
“Thank you.”
But Lee Soo pulled his hands away firmly. Then he turned his head, searching for someone.
The moment he found his target, he walked toward them without hesitation. The hallway fell silent.
He stopped in front of Stella.
“Hi, Stella. Can you give that back now?”
“…What?”
Lee Soo pointed at the tie Stella was wearing. Just yesterday, another girl had been bragging about Frederick’s tie on TikTok—now Stella was wearing it.
“You saw what just happened, right? I’m Frederick’s girlfriend now. So it doesn’t make sense for you to be wearing that. I’d like it back.”
Stella’s jaw trembled.
An indescribable thrill surged through Lee Soo, making him feel almost reborn.
When he turned his head, he met Frederick’s gaze—he was standing there with a strange smile.
Alright, Frederick Bastia. Let’s see how far this goes.
You started this.
Fake, con-artist boyfriend—I’ll make good use of you too.
He didn’t care if people called him cunning.
You’re not the only one who can deceive and play with people.
If you lie, I’ll do the same.
Let’s see who raises the white flag first—and who gets the last laugh.
