But does he know Hugh’s motive? Would it be okay for me to just tell him? There’s something else…Sirius’s memory temporarily returning… Maybe I should tell him about that.
“I got a letter…from a past version of Sirius.”
“…!”
If he took my words literally, they wouldn’t have meant much to him, but Derek understood what I was trying to say. That the letter was from a Sirius with his memory back.
Derek exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair. “I got a letter, too. Did he tell you where Hugh was sent?”
“No.” And if he asked that question, it must mean— “He didn’t tell you either, I take it?”
“I’m afraid not, though he did write a lot of demanding requests of me…”
But he still knew Hugh was moved.
“Did he tell you…anything about Hugh’s motive?” I asked.
“Only that he didn’t do it to betray Sirius, but out of loyalty.”
“I see…”
So our understanding is the same.
“I wish to know where Hugh was relocated. Don’t you, Derek?”
“Well, of course I’d love to know, if possible. But Sirius doesn’t seem to know anymore.”
Really? But Father said Sirius did know… No wait, he probably meant Sirius (with memories).
I renewed my resolve. The ideal fake boyfriend would also know about Hugh’s secret circumstances—it had to be Derek!
“My father said that once I formally introduce my beloved to him, he will tell me where Hugh was relocated.”
“Your beloved… Ah yes, I remember,” Derek smirked cynically. “So how many more days will we have to wait?”
He asked the right question, but he was slightly off.
“Simply passing the days until the formal meeting arrives will not fulfill the required conditions. I need to introduce my boyfriend.”
“…?” Derek gave me a clueless look. I sympathized.
To be honest, my courage flew out of my heart. Dropping a truth bomb meant exposing my lie not only to Derek, but to Klifford as well. But I’ve gotta make this omelet…so let’s break some eggs!
I took a deep breath.
“The boyfriend in question…does not exist.”
Holy crap, I finally said it.
“…” Derek froze, his brown eyes wide, staring at me. His lips parted slightly, as if he was about to say something.
Is it really that hard to believe, Derek? I mean, at the junior ball, weren’t you the one who told me about some friend of yours who thought I didn’t have a boyfriend? Surely you at least are aware of the fake boyfriend trope, my good sir!
But now was no time to waffle. I gave another push.
“So that’s why…I want you to be my fake boyfriend, Derek.”
There! I said it! Hoo boy, I said it!
And his reply?
“Are you sure…you don’t have a boyfriend?” Derek’s gaze wandered elsewhere, then snapped back to me. “You aren’t just keeping him secret because you can’t expose him for some personal reason?”
“No, I really don’t have a boyfriend. What makes you think I’m lying?”
“Well, because you—” Derek’s speech got muffled suddenly. “……I’d rather not say.” With a big sigh, he rested his hand on his forehead. Then, after a long shake, he looked at me…then he spoke again. “Okay, so—you want me to be your fake boyfriend?”
“That’s right. I wish to introduce you to my father formally on the designated day. And of course this would only be temporary. Once you found somebody…”
“Once you found somebody you loved, we would break up”—is what I was going to say, but it was then that I realized I had omitted a very crucial point.
Derek was not betrothed. When I asked him at the junior ball if he liked anybody, he even answered that romance “isn’t in the cards” for him.
But that was just his superficial answer…
If Derek actually did have a lover or a crush, wouldn’t that complicate things? I mean, if he were dating somebody, surely I would have heard rumors about it. But it was also just as possible that Derek was seeing somebody and was just doing a really good job hiding it…
“I don’t have a lover,” Derek answered, saving me the trouble of asking.
“But do you have feelings for anyone?”
“…” Derek fell silent for a moment before answering, “No, I don’t.”
He smiled softly, shaking his head. His voice sounded incredibly tender…which makes me wonder if he actually does have a crush on someone. Okay, Derek’s out. Better fall back on my safety boyfriend and ask Alec if—
“All right.”
Huh?
I was so startled, I snapped Blackfeather shut. The kallum blossom petals seemed to fall in slow motion all about us.
“If you’re all right with me, I accept your proposal. I will be your fake boyfriend, Octavia.”
Heck…
I clenched both fists.
He said yes…right?
“Do you…mean it?” I pushed.
Won’t you regret it?
“I mean it,” Derek nodded.
But…I need to make super duper sure.
“You…thought it all the way through?”
I mean, didn’t he say yes too quick? From Derek’s POV, this isn’t exactly the sort of deal he should take lightly. If it were me, I’d need at least a whole day, tops…
Derek burst out laughing. “It’s all right. I thought it through.”
Doubtful…
Derek suppressed his laughter and continued, a serious expression on his face. “Sometimes, the more serious a matter is, the easier it is to make a judgment call. The right choice becomes quite clear.”
Is that why he was so quick to say yes?
“So don’t worry, Octavia.”
And finally…it started to hit me that this was really happening.
I finally get to say what comes after “Heck”! Heck yeah!
I shoved the excitement back down inside of me and let the words that popped into my heart flow out of my mouth.
“Thank you, Derek.”