Liar and Liar - Chapter 30

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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 30

 

Danielle headed to the gymnasium called ‘Vent’ that she had only heard about through rumors. It was a place tacitly considered off-limits to women within the school.

 

‘It’s bigger than I thought.’

 

The building was covered with a terracotta roof that matched the campus building design. The only difference was that it was a single floor with a ceiling as high as two stories.

 

But the moment she opened the door and stepped inside, Danielle felt like she had warped to a completely different place. Loud music could be heard from inside.

 

Danielle passed through the break room that served as a reception area and headed toward the open glass door inside.

 

Thud, thud.

 

‘…What’s that sound?’

 

It sounded exactly like someone lightly tapping something with a tool. Danielle quietly entered through the glass door without making a sound, then suddenly froze at the sight that caught her eye.

 

“How are you supposed to go up four at once?”

 

Cove muttered in a blunt voice. All four of them, including him, were looking at the same place.

 

She could see Frederick wearing tight black workout clothes, hanging from the silver bar of an exercise equipment that resembled a pull-up bar with both hands.

 

The exercise equipment was a Salmon Ladder, where you climb up by hooking bars layer by layer between two pillars that resembled a fish skeleton.

 

Thud.

 

Frederick moved his legs while using momentary core strength to hook the pull-up bar one level higher.

 

Danielle hesitated at the sight of Frederick’s upper body contours that caught her eye before she could look away. Even though he wasn’t undressed, the dark shadows were somehow more stimulating.

 

‘Was he just going through the motions during PE because it wasn’t at his level…’

 

Frederick’s movements, where his entire body seemed to be muscle, looked like those of a professional athlete. Or maybe a spy protagonist from a super-luxury action movie.

 

“Freddy, your girlfriend’s here.”

 

Frederick, who had been holding the pull-up bar with only one hand after letting go with the other, turned his head sharply. The moment their eyes met, Danielle’s heart thumped.

 

Frederick released his remaining hand and landed lightly on the ground, then strode toward Danielle.

 

“Babe, did you come to see me?”

 

Danielle automatically stepped back as the muscular giant approached her. Frederick had a smile on his face, as if he was truly happy that the wait hadn’t been too long.

 

“Do you have any plans after this?”

 

“No, I don’t.”

 

Then after this ends, let’s talk a bit…

 

Danielle’s words were cut off by Joshua’s loud voice.

 

“Come to think of it, Freddy. Who is this girl?”

 

Danielle and Frederick’s gazes simultaneously turned toward Joshua. Cove, Chris, and Mateo’s heads also turned to Joshua in unison. He was holding his phone. What was displayed on the screen was exactly that photo Danielle had received.

 

“The girls were asking me? Do you know who this girl is?”

 

Danielle’s gaze turned toward Frederick in front of her. Even while Joshua was smiling, there was no sign of agitation in Frederick’s expression. Even at this moment, the strange tension was Danielle’s alone to bear.

 

Eventually an answer came back. An answer with a faint hint of laughter.

 

“Wow, do I have a stalker? She’s my cousin.”

 

For a moment, Danielle felt like she had been punched in the solar plexus and almost collapsed on the spot.

 

Though she hadn’t intended to, she ended up glaring at Frederick. Even though she didn’t want to be caught having seen that photo, her gaze naturally went that way.

 

‘Crazy, Frederick Bastia.’

 

“She’s been making a fuss about wanting to meet my babe. Want to see her together next time?”

 

Danielle’s mind was on the verge of exploding as all kinds of emotions crashed over her like a tsunami.

 

‘Is this funny? Is this entertaining? What’s so funny?’

 

Of course, this time Frederick could be considered innocent. But this was truly an irresistible emotion for Danielle.

 

She couldn’t stand herself for being helplessly swayed by him. Even if his will wasn’t involved in it.

 

In short, right now Danielle was so furious at Frederick she felt like she might go crazy.

 

‘How has he not changed since Lower School.’

 

It had always been like this.

 

Everything always went according to Frederick Bastia’s will. The world always revolved around Frederick and everyone around him got swept up in it. Danielle had always been a direct or indirect victim of this principle.

 

“Are you sparring now?”

 

Danielle, who had barely suppressed her surging emotions, recognized the sparring gloves Mateo was holding.

 

“Yeah. There’s an octagon over there, but we just practice in the ring.”

 

“Can I try it too?”

 

Danielle could feel everyone’s attention suddenly focused on her. But she had no intention of backing down.

 

“Um, you and me?”

 

“Since I’m here anyway, I wanted to try it once.”

 

“Frederick isn’t exactly a good coach-”

 

Mateo tried to dissuade her, but Danielle didn’t listen. She had only one purpose in mind.

 

“Then I’ll just hold the mitts for you.”

 

“Do you have women’s gloves?”

 

“If we look around, there should be one small size. I think I saw one last time.”

 

Despite Danielle’s sudden action, everyone cooperated without much complaint. However, what Danielle wanted wasn’t soft punching at mitts held by Frederick, but real sparring.

 

“No, you put on proper gloves too.”

 

“Whoa.”

 

Mateo and Joshua made eye contact. A beat later, Frederick slowly nodded with a smile on his face.

 

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

 

Danielle went to the restroom, changed into the spare workout clothes Frederick had brought her, and tightly tied her hair back with the hair tie from her pocket.

 

When she came out of the restroom, everyone’s gaze was uncomfortably fixed on Danielle in her workout clothes. They were looking at her exactly like they would a ‘Tomato Can’ (fighting world slang meaning a very weak fighter, like a pushover brought in to boost someone’s record).

 

“Hey there, Little Tomato. You think Frederick is slow just because he’s big? Not at all. If he gets serious, you won’t be able to hit him even once.”

 

“I know.”

 

Danielle answered Cove’s words coldly. Danielle already knew from the incident in Malibu that Frederick’s speed and agility were at an athlete’s level.

 

‘He’ll probably go easy on me anyway.’

 

The fighting ring was a mix of red and black. Danielle bent her upper body and entered between the four-rope barrier. Frederick, wearing black gloves, was already standing in the ring.

 

“Seeing you in the ring is refreshing, babe. Do you know what mixed martial arts is?”

 

“I’ve watched videos briefly.”

 

Of course, they weren’t wearing the headgear they should have, and there was no referee. It was obviously a playful setting. The rest of the group positioned themselves around the ring. Their expressions were all different.

 

Joshua was smiling, but Chris was frowning. Mateo had an awkward look that said ‘is this really right?’

 

Meanwhile, Cove had one hand on his hip with a look that said ‘what kind of nonsense is this,’ his brow furrowed and his mouth twisted. It was mild contempt.

 

“Really? Then let’s see how you do.”

 

Danielle instinctively dodged her head to the side at the sudden incoming punch. It was weak enough that it wouldn’t have left a scratch even if it hit her directly, but Danielle’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Are you really going to hit her?”

 

Chris shouted, but Frederick completely ignored him as if he couldn’t hear Chris’s voice at all.

 

Everything was disadvantageous. From height to build to skill. However, Danielle recalled something she had seen in a video once and threw a jab at Frederick’s face level.

 

“Too short. At that distance, with your arm length, it obviously won’t work, babe.”

 

Frederick didn’t dodge to the side like Danielle, but easily avoided her punch by just tilting his head back slightly. Something inside Danielle flared up.

 

The heat that had been boiling her heart all along roared like a car engine that had slammed on the accelerator.

 

‘The most annoying person in the world.’

 

So annoying I could go crazy, really.

 

Just how many years of resentment was this? Since there hadn’t been a single day he didn’t irritate her from the first day they met, that would be a full 7 years.

 

“Frederick, do you want to die?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Danielle threw punches repeatedly while observing with her eyes how Frederick avoided or defended against attacks.

 

Frederick casually avoided attacks by bending his upper body or pulling back, while precisely pushing his gloves into Danielle’s openings. However, he completely relaxed his strength, using about as much force as a cat’s gentle push.

 

Danielle had planned not to give even 1g of sincerity during her fake relationship with Frederick.

 

But at this moment, she had to give her all. For strategic reasons.

 

“Who told you to flirt with girls like that.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Can’t you understand? You’re always sprawled out like a jellyfish, not even listening in class, so that’s why you’re like this?

 

“Don’t you get it? I’m jealous right now.”

 

Suddenly, Frederick’s eyes became unfocused and dazed.

 

‘An opening.’

 

The opening she found was his face, which was problematic, but Danielle’s straight punch had no hesitation.

 

Thwack!

 

And so Danielle accurately struck Frederick right in the center of his face with her glove. Everyone surrounding the ring gaped in shock.

 

‘You’re the problem, Frederick Bastia.’

 

From the moment we first met until now, you’re driving me crazy.

 

Danielle lowered her arms and took a deep breath. Frederick’s upper body leaned back.

 

* * *

 

6 years ago.

 

Danielle recalled the day she first met Frederick.

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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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