Liar and Liar - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11

Danielle had no idea what she should say.

Don’t you have a relative who’s an executive at that hospital? Could you ask them for a favor?

‘What would I say if he asks how I know about the relative?’

That I heard it from my mom?

Danielle felt it all seemed both pathetic and cunning at the same time. I’m a person, not a piranha.

‘…Whatever. What does my situation matter.’

What pride do I have to worry about in my position. It is urgent, after all. Just as Danielle had organized her thoughts and was about to speak.

“I understand.”

Frederick’s calm voice interrupted first. Danielle found herself staring at Frederick with her mouth slightly open.

“…You understand?”

“You don’t need to say more. I’ll handle it properly.”

“…”

He’s really good at acting thoughtful. Even while thinking that, Danielle said what she felt she ought to say. With just a little bit of sincerity.

“…Thank you. If things really work out well, I’ll be truly more grateful.”

“You don’t need to think about it so seriously. It’s nothing big for me.”

You really are consistently annoying. The momentary gratitude was instantly covered by other emotions.

Even knowing it was a considerate remark, Danielle’s heart twisted sourly. In truth, whatever he had said would have displeased her.

“This much is natural for a girlfriend. But it’s not really a reward, but.”

See. Your true colors are showing. Danielle shot a sullen glance at Frederick.

“If you won’t call me by a pet name, let me call you one.”

That much is okay, isn’t it?

Seeing Frederick’s gentle smile, Danielle silently sighed.

“Do whatever…”

Baby? Honey?

‘Ugh…’

Lucky you’re Italian. You can launch oil and cheese attacks on others without taking any damage yourself.

However, Frederick’s strike wasn’t just oil and cheese level.

“Dani-Pie, shall we go on a date now?”

“Da, Dani what?”

What was that supposed to be?

It was a bizarre word combination that made her doubt her ears.

Even as Danielle frowned with disgust, Frederick didn’t stop. His smiling expression was affectionate, as if he found this situation very amusing.

“Dani-Boo.”

“Stop it…! There’s no one else here. Why are you saying such cringeworthy things?!”

“Other people why? Other people don’t matter though?”

You just like seeing me horrified.

Then not reacting would be the right answer. But even though she knew it logically, the physiological rejection was unavoidable. From her solar plexus throughout her entire body, she felt uncomfortably itchy inside.

‘Dani-Boo.’ Even kindergarten boys wouldn’t talk like that. They’re old enough to know what’s embarrassing.

“…If you want to be laughed at by other kids, go ahead. It’ll be your own fault, so you won’t have anything to complain about.”

“You usually act like you don’t care about your surroundings at all, but you actually care a lot. Are other kids’ opinions that important?”

“…”

It’s not that they’re important…

‘Let’s stop this. Why am I wasting my time dealing with him.’

Being left-handed, Danielle raised her right wrist to check the time on her watch.

“This doesn’t seem like a conversation to have standing on the street. Call me whatever you want. I’ll put up with that much. So we’re good now, right?”

“Give me your phone number.”

I don’t want to…

However, refusal wasn’t an option Danielle could choose. Having no choice, Danielle obediently entered her number into the phone Frederick handed her.

“You live in the dormitory, right? Should I pick you up starting tomorrow?”

Danielle couldn’t hide her horrified expression and stared at Frederick’s face while showing it completely.

“No, I’ll decline. Even a Lower School kid can walk that distance alone.”

“If I don’t do that, you won’t make time for me.”

He had merely leaned forward, but to Danielle it felt like dominoes falling on her. The kind of dominoes that would definitely suffocate her to death if they fell on her.

‘Should I say let’s see how my brother’s situation goes first, then talk again later? Would that be too obvious…’

Because Danielle pulled her chin back as much as possible and shrank, their positioning became like a cat and mouse.

“We’re definitely a couple though.”

“I know that without you having to point it out…! What do you want? Tell me without being too cringeworthy.”

Even though she felt like she was constantly being swept up and entangled in the black hole and storm that was Frederick Bastia, she had no choice. She had to pay the price.

“Haha.”

“What’s so funny??”

“I was thinking it’ll be nothing but cringeworthy things from now on, so it must be a big problem for you.”

Do you think I’m a cat’s plaything?

“You could just restrain yourself! Don’t do it on purpose just to see me freak out!”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but I should. Now that you mention it, it’s a good idea.”

“Hey!!”

Danielle ended up raising her voice, but Frederick, with both hands in his pants pockets, just laughed calmly and genuinely happily.

Danielle, who was furious beyond measure, glared at Frederick instead of snapping at him.

But then he said something completely out of the blue again.

“I should have done this earlier.”

“What?”

“I should have asked you out much sooner.”

Danielle was completely speechless.

Am I…

‘Going to be swayed by words like that?’

If it were any other female student at school, one hundred out of one hundred would have been thrilled to hear those words. But Danielle steeled her heart.

“I wonder. Do you think the old me would have accepted your confession? You’re free to delude yourself though.”

“That’s true. The current me was lucky.”

When you’re only doing this because of a bet anyway—

‘Why is he smiling like that…’

Though she had spoken as if she didn’t remember, Danielle actually remembered Lower School vividly.

Sometimes Frederick would look at Danielle and smile like that. That’s why it was painful.

Danielle gripped the end of her blazer tightly.

* * *

Having barely shaken off Frederick, Danielle’s steps headed toward the dormitory.

As Danielle sighed and ran her hand through her hair, she recognized a tall figure walking toward her from the opposite direction.

It was Chris in a gray hoodie.

With no trace of gratitude for the towel he had given her, Danielle coldly turned away from him.

‘I was stupid to think he was even a little bit of a good person.’

In the end, you also went along with that kind of bet.

She hadn’t properly seen who was in the Swimming Pool Room, nor had she heard Chris’s voice, but Danielle lumped Chris Fassbinder together with Frederick’s group.

After all, Chris was hanging around with them too, so she figured birds of a feather flock together.

‘You might as well not pretend to be nice.’

The reason she was particularly cold in avoiding Chris was because of the very small expectation she had harbored toward him. The image of him speaking kindly to her in Middle School had left a deep impression.

Even while thinking it was her own fault for being deceived, the sense of betrayal toward him hardened Danielle’s expression coldly.

As the distance grew closer, Danielle tried to pass by Chris with quick steps. But Chris’s voice, as he stopped in place, caught Danielle’s ankle.

“I heard you decided to date Frederick.”

Danielle couldn’t ignore Chris’s words. According to Danielle’s memory, this was the first time Chris had spoken to her in this way. There had been a few times when their eyes met by chance, but…

“…That’s right. Why?”

Their gazes met briefly like some day in the past, but Chris lifted his gaze to the air. Just looking at his blue eyes made Danielle feel slightly embarrassed, as if her feet were tingling.

“Did you originally like Frederick?”

His question was premised on normal confession and dating. He should know better than anyone that wasn’t possible.

‘Does he think I’m being deceived?’

Whether I’m being deceived or not isn’t any of your business. Danielle answered in a voice that could be called prickly.

“No. He confessed, so I thought I’d give it a try and accepted.”

“Really?”

Danielle couldn’t quite interpret Chris’s expression. Chris, who had a fundamentally calm expression, was known as a serious captain even in the basketball team.

She felt him turn his gaze that had been directed into the air. Breaking the momentary silence as if choosing his words, Chris’s low voice was heard.

“Then would you have accepted if I had confessed too?”

Danielle, who was about to go her way, found her feet stuck again and froze in place.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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