Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

During Valentine's week, the horrible tradition of celebrating it had been established at school, according to Frederic's opinion. Throughout the weekdays, friends, couples, and admirers exchanged letters and chocolates. However, the game didn't end there. Unless it was between friends, once you discovered who had sent you the chocolate, it was expected to give them a kiss in return. Of course, since Frederic had never received anything, he categorized the celebration as a marketing strategy by chocolate shops and something completely silly because, if you truly loved someone, why would you need the excuse of a marketing invention to give them letters or chocolates? It was so crude and unromantic for his taste.

But that's because Frederic was like a grinch, and Lucile had already warned him that if he kept furrowing his brows, he would have wrinkles at a young age. The rest of the kids at school loved Valentine's Day and enjoyed giving and receiving chocolates.

Frederic had stayed in the classroom during recess because it was February and winter, and he didn't want to get sick again. Then he saw a group of girls entering amidst whispers and laughter, filling Liszt's desk with letters and chocolates. Frederic rolled his eyes and saved himself from making the biting comment, "Do they want to declare their love to Liszt or give him diabetes?"

Franz Liszt had become immensely popular at school since he played the piano during Mass. It hadn't been a particularly fantastic melody, and Frederic was sure he could play it with his eyes closed, and Liszt could also play something much more complex. But since Liszt was a handsome boy, he had become the favorite of the whole school. In Frederic's opinion, Liszt loved attention and was conceited. They used to be friends and close. Franz was undoubtedly a good guy, pleasant, and very talented, but they had started to grow apart a few years ago. Liszt enjoyed attending parties, meeting people (especially girls), and Frederic didn't keep up with the hormonal teenage pace. However, that was Frederic's perspective; for everyone else, Franz was a perfect charming prince.

After a few minutes of recess, Frederic decided to leave and took the opportunity to go to the bathroom before the next class. As he left the classroom, he crossed paths with Franz, who, on the contrary, was entering. Both almost collided trying to pass at the same time.

"Hey, Fricek," Franz greeted him cordially, stepping aside to let him pass. Frederic thought he looked nervous.

"Hi, Franz," Frederic murmured, lacking enthusiasm to continue the conversation, and walked past him to go to the bathroom.

As he finished and washed his face in front of the mirror, he took a look at his appearance. It was normal that he never received any treats during Valentine's Day with such an ugly nose, a skinny physique, and dull features. Besides, he didn't want them anyway; he was fine with his small circle of friends.

Upon returning to the classroom, recess was over, and all his other classmates had also returned. When he opened his pencil case to take out his supplies, he found a chocolate candy alongside a red note. Possibly, some silly girl had mistaken his desk and put the candy there instead of the intended recipient's. Well, tough luck for that person; he would eat the chocolate anyway. He took the note, crumpled it without even reading it, and threw it into the trash.

The candy was delicious, and it had a beautiful wrapper that revealed it was from a chocolate shop and not just any store. It was filled with coffee cream, which happened to be his favorite filling, so he was pleased with the coincidence. Then, as he pondered on the matter a little more, he thought maybe his friend Lucile had sent it to him. Since Lucile was in another class, he would have to wait to ask her.

During class, Franz had undoubtedly been the center of attention for everyone. There was disbelief and reasons to tease him about the mountain of sweets he had received throughout the day. Comments about sharing with the rest of the class or how they were all single because Liszt had taken away the girls were not lacking. Frederic ignored it all and didn't make any comments on the matter, even when they tried to guess together who had sent the chocolates and notes, despite Frederic having seen a couple of the culprits staying during recess.

Suddenly, a guy spoke up, "And Frederic, so quiet. Did you send him those chocolates?"

Frederic grumbled and restrained himself from turning around and confronting him. His classmates always teased him, doubting his sexuality, especially when they found out that Lucile was his best friend and not his girlfriend. They were a bunch of idiots.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Franz turned red while everyone burst into laughter.

At the end of the hour, Frederic finally wanted to escape the classroom, regardless of the cold. Besides, he needed to find Lucile to confirm if she had sent him a chocolate so that he could buy something for his friend in return.

However, since he didn't like joining the horde of monkeys rushing out for recess as if hell was after them, he stayed behind to organize his school supplies and leave more calmly. Now ready to leave, Franz, who had also stayed behind to organize his notebooks (and candies), stood in front of him, blocking his path.

Impatient, Frederic urged him, "Is there something wrong?" he questioned.

Franz cleared his throat and said, "So, you..."

Frederic furrowed his brow and immediately denied, "No, I didn't send you any chocolates, Franz. If that's what you're worried about, excuse me," he replied, eager to continue on his way out.

However, Franz seemed puzzled by his response and interrupted him again.

"Wait, Frycek, I was asking you about..." But Franz let the sentence hang, and Frederic didn't have the patience to try and guess what he wanted to say, so he urged him with a glance.

"No, forget it. I'm sorry," Franz apologized, and Frederic didn't hesitate to leave in peace.

"What got into him?" Frederic thought on the way, contemplating all of Franz's strange behaviors throughout the day.

When he met Lucile, he asked her if she had sent him any chocolates, to which she completely denied.

"I don't love you that much to buy you chocolate and give it to you instead of eating it myself, honestly," she said.

"How sweet," Frederic said sarcastically.

"You wouldn't do it for me either," Lucile reasoned matter-of-factly, far from being offended. "But then, do you have a secret admirer who sent you chocolates?"

Frederic almost burst out laughing at how absurd it was. "No, I suppose those little girls who come in during recess to leave chocolates just got the wrong desk," he pointed out as obvious. "Anyway, I ate it, and it turned out to be my favorite chocolate."

It wasn't as obvious to Lucile as it was to Frederic, and she let him know.

"I don't know... didn't it have any note?" she questioned.

"It did, but I threw it away," Frederic replied.

"I think someone wants a kiss from my Frycek," Lucile concluded, and Frederic rolled his eyes at the delusion. "I'm not ready to share my Frycek with a girlfriend or boyfriend."

Then, Lucile started hugging and cuddling him, despite Frederic's efforts to push her away. Frederic decided he had had enough of Lucile during recess, so he celebrated when the bell rang.

Upon returning to the classroom, a spark of curiosity made Frederic want to check the trash to retrieve the note he had thrown away. However, it was already filled with papers and food, and it seemed impossible to find it there. Or at least, it seemed unhygienic.

But then he noticed a group of guys in the back who couldn't stop looking at him and giggling. They were indeed making fun of Frederic. They always had many reasons to laugh at him, but now he had no idea what it was about until one of them read a paper out loud.

"For Frycek, from F. L. What is this, Chopin? Did your boyfriend send it to you?" he said in a melodramatic mocking voice. Frederic still didn't understand anything until he paid more attention to the paper being read and noticed it was the same crumpled red note that he had thrown away.

So, the chocolate was indeed meant for him. Surprised, it took him a moment to respond until he finally defended himself sarcastically, "You probably sent it yourself, or else I don't know why you took it out of the trash."

Despite his attempt to defend himself, they continued mocking and creating fictional stories about him and that supposed boyfriend, which Frederic completely ignored. As he wondered why the teacher was taking so long to arrive and shut those idiots up, he couldn't help but ponder on the matter.

In the classroom, the only "F. L." were Farah Lou and Franz Liszt. Farah had a boyfriend, so she was ruled out, and it couldn't be Franz, so it must have been a joke or someone from another class whose name he didn't know.

In the end, the teacher never arrived, and just a few minutes before the bell rang, his thoughts were interrupted by Franz's voice amidst the laughter.

"Why don't you accept that you're a bunch of monkeys that nobody likes instead of envying the fact that Frederic received a chocolate and you didn't?" he confronted them.

Frederick looked at him gratefully, and Franz smiled kindly. But Frederic's gaze wasn't shared with the hatred that one of the boys shot at Franz.

"Franz Liszt, aren't you the 'F. L.' who sent Frederic the chocolate?" he asked.

Franz didn't immediately deny it and instead looked at Frederic. Frederic didn't react at all because he knew it was nonsense. But then Franz didn't deny it at all; instead, he said, "Yes, I sent it."

Now, Frederic was almost choked with surprise, unable to stop staring at Franz in astonishment. Franz didn't meet his gaze directly and appeared embarrassed. At first, Frederic tried to reason that maybe he was saying it to defend him, but in reality, not only did the initials match, but so did Franz's strange behaviors. Moreover, during that recess when they bumped into each other at the door, and Frederic went to the bathroom, Franz had stayed alone in the classroom and had the perfect opportunity to leave the chocolate that appeared during the next hour.

However, it sounded unreal or like a fantasy that Franz had sent him a chocolate. I mean, Franz is the perfect and conceited Franz, and Frederic... well, Frederic is Frederic.

Luckily for Franz, the bell rang, and the idiots were more eager to go home than to make fun of Franz. Liszt hadn't moved from his spot, and Frederic waited, playing with his pen, until everyone left before turning to Franz. However, Franz, who also seemed to be waiting for that opportunity, spoke first.

"So, you hadn't read the note before," he stated.

"No," Frederic denied, but with the uncertainty of not touching on the right topic.

"That explains why you didn't understand me during recess," Franz began to ramble until Frederic interrupted him to ask, "Why?"

Without understanding, Franz counter-questioned, "Why what?"

Frederic started making gestures in the air, as if to say "this," but since Franz was still waiting for his response, he had to answer, "Why did you send me a chocolate?"

Franz laughed, perhaps more out of nervousness than the situation itself. "Well, because I like you," he said as if it were obvious. "I mean, I like you as in I'm attracted to you, not just that I like you as a friend."

At some point, Franz had gotten closer to Frederic's spot, and Frederic blushed as he felt his hands sweating. He had even more questions to ask Franz than answers.

"Ah..." was all he managed to say.

"And did you like the chocolate?" His neutral and cordial tone was at odds with the nerves of both.

Frederic took the opportunity to get one question out of his mouth: "How did you know it was my favorite?"

Liszt smiled triumphantly. "I remembered," he said. With his words, silence returned, until Franz gathered his courage and tried again. "And so... do you know now?"

"Do I know...?" Frederic questioned.

Franz cleared his throat and shifted his weight. "A candy for a kiss."

Frederic blushed even more than he already was, looking at Franz as if he were joking or waiting for him to say that he was just playing around. But Franz looked very serious and determined to claim his kiss.

Before he could regret it, Frederic grabbed Franz by the tie, bringing him to his height, and planted a quick kiss, squeezing both his eyes and lips tightly.

"Was it okay?" he asked, extremely embarrassed.

Franz had a foolish smile and took some time to react and respond, "For now."

The idiot even winked at him, and Frederic didn't know if he wanted to hit him or kiss him again.

Chapter Text

Un bombón por un beso.

Durante la semana de San Valentín, se había instaurado en el colegio la muy horrible costumbre de festejarlo, a opinión de Frederic. En los días de la semana, los amigos, las parejas, y los enamorados, se regalan cartas y chocolates entre sí. No obstante, el juego no terminaba allí, a menos que sea entre amigos, una vez que descubres quién te había enviado el chocolate entonces correspondía darle un beso por el bombón. Claro que como Frederic jamás había recibido nada, categorizaba el festejo como una estrategia de marketing de las chocolaterías y algo completamente tonto porque, si realmente querías a alguien, ¿por qué necesitabas la excusa de un invento de marketing para regalarle cartas o chocolates? Era tan burdo y tan poco romántico para su gusto.

Pero eso es porque Frederic era como un grinch y Lucile ya le había advertido que si seguía frunciendo las cejas le quedarían arrugas a joven edad. El resto de los chicos de la escuela amaban San Valentín y disfrutaban regalando y recibiendo chocolates.

Frederic se había quedado durante el recreo en el curso porque era febrero y era invierno y no quería volver a enfermarse en lo absoluto. Entonces vió entrar a un grupo de chicas a los murmullos y a las risas que básicamente llenaron el pupitre de Liszt con cartas y chocolates. Frederic rodó los ojos y se ahorró el comentario mordaz de “quieren declararle el amor a Liszt o matarlo de diabetes”.

Franz Liszt había tomado una popularidad inmensa en el colegio desde que lo hicieron tocar el piano en las misas. No había sido ninguna melodía muy fantástica y Frederic estaba seguro de que podía tocarla con los ojos cerrados y que Liszt también podía tocar algo mucho más complejo que eso, pero como Liszt era un chico lindo ahora era el favorito de toda la escuela. En la opinión de Frederic, a Liszt le encantaba llamar la atención y era un presumido. Antes habían sido amigos y cercanos. Franz sin duda era un buen chico, agradable, y muy talentoso, pero desde hace unos años se habían empezado a distanciar. Liszt disfrutaba asistiendo a fiestas, conociendo gente (chicas sobre todo) y Frederic no le siguió el ritmo de adolescente hormonal que había tomado. Sin embargo ese es el punto de vista de Frederic, para los demás era un perfecto príncipe encantador.

Pasados los primeros minutos del recreo, Frederic decidió salir y aprovechar a ir al baño antes de la próxima clase. Saliendo por la puerta del curso se cruzó con Franz que, al contrario, estaba entrando. Ambos por poco chocaron al intentar pasar a la misma vez.

–Hey Fricek –lo saludó Franz cordialmente mientras se hacía a un lado para dejarlo pasar. Frederic pensó que se veía nervioso.

–Hola Franz… –murmuró Frederic sin mucho ánimo de seguir la conversación y pasando de él para ir al baño.

Ya terminando, mientras se lavaba la cara frente al espejo del baño le dio una mirada a su aspecto. Es normal que no tuviera nunca ninguna golosina durante San Valentín con una nariz tan fea, una condición física tan escuálida y rasgos tan insulsos. De todas formas tampoco las quería, estaba bien solo con su pequeño círculo de amigos.

Al volver al aula, el recreo había terminado y todos sus demás compañeros también habían vuelto. Cuando abrió su cartuchera para sacar los útiles, se encontró con un bombón de chocolate junto a una nota roja. Posiblemente alguna tonta niña se había equivocado de mesa y puesto el bombón a él en vez de al verdadero destinatario. Pero bueno, mala suerte para esa persona, se comería igualmente el chocolate. Tomó la nota y sin siquiera leerla la arrugó y lanzó al basurero.

El bombón estaba rico y tenía un lindo envoltorio que delataba que era de una chocolatería y no de cualquier almacén. Era de chocolate relleno con crema de café, cual era de hecho su relleno favorito así que se alegró por la casualidad. Luego, mientras le daba unas vueltas más al tema, pensó que a lo mejor fue su amiga Lucile la que se lo había enviado. Como Lucile iba al otro curso, debería esperar para preguntarle.

Por otro lado, durante la clase, Franz sin duda había sido el centro de atención de todos. Pues iba de incredulidad hasta a razón para burlarse la montaña de dulces que había recibido Franz en lo que iba del día. No faltaban los comentarios de que compartiera con el resto de la clase o de que si todos estaban solteros es porque Liszt los había dejado sin chicas. Frederic lo ignoró y no hizo ningún comentario sobre el tema, ni siquiera cuando intentaban adivinar entre todo el curso quienes le habían enviado
los chocolates con las notas siendo que Frederic había visto a un par de las culpables por quedarse en el recreo.

Un chico de pronto largo:

–Y Frederic tan callado, ¿no le habrás enviado tú esos chocolates?

Frederic rezongó y se contuvo con todas sus fuerzas para no darse la vuelta y enfrentarlo. Sus compañeros siempre se burlaban poniendo en duda su sexualidad, sobre todo cuando se enteraron que Lucile era su mejor amiga y no su novia. Eran grandes imbéciles.

De reojo notó que Franz se había puesto colorado mientras todos estallaron en carcajadas.

Al finalizar por fin la hora, Frederic ahora si quería huir del aula sin importar el frío. Además, debía buscar a Lucile para sacarse la duda, pues si ella le había regalado un chocolate entonces él también debería comprarle algo a su amiga.

No obstante, como no le gustaba sumarse a la horda de simios que salía al recreo como si el infierno los buscase, se quedó guardando los útiles para salir más tranquilo. Ya dispuesto a irse, Franz que también se había quedado guardando sus cuadernos (y golosinas) se le puso enfrente interrumpiendo el paso.

Cómo tardó en hablar, Frederic lo apuró:

–¿Sucede algo? –Le cuestionó.

Franz trás carraspear su garganta dijo: –Entonces tú…

Frederic frunció el ceño e inmediatamente empezó a negar. –No, yo no te he regalado ningún chocolate Franz. Si es lo que te preocupa, con permiso –contestó muy dispuesto de seguir su rumbo a la salida.

Sin embargo, Franz parecía perdido por su respuesta y lo volvió a interrumpir.

–Espera, Frycek, te preguntaba por… –pero Franz volvió dejar la frase al aire y Frederic no tenía la paciencia para intentar adivinar qué quería decirle así que lo apuró con la mirada.

–No, olvídalo. Lo siento –se disculpó Franz y Frederic no dudó en irse en paz.

´Que le había picado´ pensó Frederic en el camino meditando en todas las extrañas actitudes de Franz durante el día.

Cuando se encontró con Lucile, le preguntó si ella le había enviado algún chocolate, lo cual ella negó completamente.

–No te quiero tanto para comprar un chocolate y dártelo a tí en vez de comerlo yo, sinceramente –le dijo.

–Que dulce –dijo con sorna Frederic.

–Tú tampoco lo harías por mi –razonó como obvio Lucile lejos de ofenderse. –Pero entonces, ¿tienes un admirador secreto que te envía chocolates?

Frederic casi se echó a reír de lo absurdo. –No, supongo que esas niñitas que entran en el recreo a dejar chocolates se confundieron de banco –apuntó como evidente. –De todas formas me lo comí, resultó ser mi chocolate favorito.

A Lucile no le había parecido tan evidente como a Frederic y se lo hizo saber.

–No lo sé… ¿no tenía ninguna nota? –Le cuestionó.

–Si, pero la tiré.

–Yo creo que hay alguien que quiere un beso de mi Frycek –resolvió Lucile ante lo que Frederic rodó los ojos negando el delirio. –No se si estoy lista para compartir a mi Frycek con una novia o un novio.

Entonces, Lucile empezó a abrazarlo y apapacharlo a pesar de que Frederic se empecinará a alejarla de él. Frederic decidió que ya había tenido demasiado de Lucile en un recreo así que festejó que el timbre sonará.

Al volver al aula, una pequeña chispa de curiosidad lo hizo querer revisar la basura para recuperar la nota que había perdido, sin embargo esta ya estaba llena de papeles y comidas y parecía imposible encontrarla allí. O al menos poco higiénico.

Pero entonces notó a un grupo de chicos en el fondo que no dejaba de mirarlo y tentarse. Efectivamente se estaban riendo de Frederic. Siempre tenían muchas razones para reírse de él, pero ahora él no tenía idea de cual era hasta que uno leyó un papel en voz alta:

–Para Frycek, de parte de F. L. ¿Que es esto Chopin? ¿Te la envió tu novio? –Dijo con una voz burlesca melodramática. Frederic seguía sin entender nada hasta que prestó más atención al papel que estaba leyendo y notó que era la misma nota roja, ahora arrugada, que él había tirado a la basura.

Así que el chocolate si era para él después de todo. Por la sorpresa, tardó en contestar, hasta que finalmente se defendió mordazmente:

–Seguramente me la enviaste tu, o si no, no sé porqué la sacaste de la basura.

A pesar de su intento por defenderse, se siguieron burlando creando historias ficticias de él con ese supuesto novio que Frederic ignoró completamente. Mientras se preguntaba por qué tardaba el profesor tanto en llegar y callar a esos imbéciles, no evitó darle vueltas al asunto.

En el curso los únicos “F. L. " Eran Farah Lou y Franz Liszt. Farah tenía novio así que descartada, y Franz no podía ser, por lo que debía tratarse de una broma o de alguien de otro curso de los que ya desconocía el nombre.

Al final, la profesora nunca llegó, y a sólo unos minutos de que sonará el timbre, sus pensamientos fueron interrumpidos por la voz de Franz en medio de las risas:

–¿Por qué no aceptan que son simios que no les gustan a nadie en vez de envidiar que Frederic recibió un chocolate y ustedes no? –Les echó en cara.

Frederic lo miró con agradecimiento y Franz le sonrió gentilmente. Pero la mirada de Frederic no era compartida por el odio con el que lo fulminó uno de los chicos.

–Franz Liszt, ¿no serás tú el “F.L.” quien le envió el chocolate a Frederic? –Le preguntó.

Franz no lo negó inmediatamente y en cambio miró a Frederic. Frederic no se movilizó en absoluto porque sabía que era una tontería. Pero luego no lo negó en absoluto, en cambio dijo:

–Sí, se lo envié yo.

Ahora sí Frederic casi se atraganta de la impresión, no dejando de ver a Franz atónito. Franz no lo miraba directamente y se lo veía avergonzado. Al principio buscó razonar que capaz lo estaba diciendo para defenderlo, pero en realidad, no sólo las iniciales coincidían, sino también las actitudes extrañas de Franz. Además, en ese recreo que se toparon en la puerta en el que luego Frederic fue al baño, Franz se había quedado solo en el aula y había tenido la oportunidad perfecta de dejar el chocolate que apareció en la otra hora.

Sin embargo, sonaba irreal o de fantasía que Franz le hubiera enviado un bombón. O sea, Franz es el perfecto y presumido Franz, y Frederic… era Frederic

Por suerte para Franz, el timbre sonó y los simios tenían más ganas de irse a sus casas que de burlarse de Franz. Liszt no se había movido de su sitio, y Frederic esperó jugando con su lapicera hasta que todos se fueran antes de voltearse hacia Franz. Sin embargo, Franz que también parecía esperar esa oportunidad, habló primero:

–Entonces no habías leído la nota antes –afirmó.

–No… –Negó Frederic pero con la inseguridad de no estar tocando el tema correcto.

–Eso explica porqué no me entendiste en el recreo –empezó a divagar Franz hasta que Frederic lo cortó para preguntar:

–¿Por qué?

Sin entender, Franz contra preguntó –¿Por qué qué?

Frederic empezó a hacer gestos en el aire como diciendo “esto”, sin embargo como Franz seguía esperando su respuesta tuvo que responder:

–¿Por qué me enviaste un chocolate?

Franz se río, capaz más de los nervios que de la situación. –Bueno, porque me gustas –dijo como obvio. –O sea, me gustas de que me gustas no de que me agradas como amigo.

En algún momento, Franz se había acercado mucho al sitio de Frederic, y Frederic estaba colorado mientras sentía que sus manos le sudaban. Tenía aún más preguntas que hacerle a Franz que respuestas

–Ah… –Fue lo único que logró preguntar.

Ambos se quedaron callados en un silencio incómodo. Franz se veía abatido. A veces suspiraba como para empezar a hablar pero luego se retractaba. Finalmente preguntó:

–¿Y te gustó el bombón? –El tono neutral y cordial en el que preguntó desencajaba con los nervios de ambos.

Frederic aprovechó para sacarse una de las preguntas de la boca: –¿Cómo Sabías que era mi favorito?

Liszt sonrió triunfante: –Lo recordé –a sus palabras volvió el silencio, hasta que Franz reuniendo coraje volvió a probar: –Y entonces… ¿ya sabes?

–¿Ya sé…? –Cuestionó Frederic.

Franz carraspeó la garganta y cambió su peso de lugar. –Un bombón por un beso.

Frederic se puso más rojo de lo que ya estaba mirando a Franz como si le estuviera haciendo una broma o esperando a que dijera que se sólo estaba jugando, pero Franz se veía muy serio y decidido a cobrar su beso.

Antes de arrepentirse, Frederic tiró a Franz de la corbata hasta su altura y le plantó un rápido beso apretando tanto los ojos como los labios.

–¿Bien? –Le preguntó sumamente avergonzado.

Franz había quedado con una sonrisa de tonto y le tomó tiempo reaccionar y responder:

–Por ahora.
Y el estúpido le guiñó un ojo y Frederic no sabía si quería pegarle o besarle otra vez.

Chapter Text

wersja polska autorstwa Emogej, thanks 🫶
https://archiveofourown.info/works/49551505