Liar and Liar - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

Naturally, Mari, who officially attended school, became the center of attention.

 

Because she was pretty, because she came from Italy, because she was Frederick’s relative. At first, those were the common reasons.

 

“She’ll definitely get along well with you.”

 

But Danielle came to understand the true meaning of what Frederick had said in the class she attended with Cove.

 

With one comment thrown out without warning, everyone’s attention focused on Mari in her lab coat. Mari was holding a beaker filled with distilled water.

 

“This water must be suffering. How terrible to be trapped in a beaker for life.”

 

Eyes widening, Danielle met eyes with Cove, who sat across from her at the desk.

 

The water is suffering…?

 

‘…What is this familiar feeling…’

 

The flustered teacher hastily tried to restore order to the strangely unsettled atmosphere.

 

“Um, Marina. Water can’t suffer. It’s an inanimate object. Now, let’s continue where we left off-”

 

Danielle didn’t miss how Mari, with a blank expression, cupped the beaker with both hands. She was covering the beaker as if blocking its ears.

 

“…”

 

Leaving Danielle speechless, Cove muttered quietly.

 

“Where did this blockhead roll in from.”

 

Even though she usually tried not to engage with him, she couldn’t just let him insult Mari slide.

 

“Don’t talk carelessly. Just keep your thoughts to yourself.”

 

Danielle deliberately kept her gaze fixed on her materials, even though she knew Cove was looking at her. She had no desire for further arguments.

 

“You don’t suit Frederick Bastia.”

 

As if aware that this wasn’t something others should hear, his voice was quiet enough for only Danielle to catch. Danielle finally looked up.

 

“What are you to me? It’s none of your business, is it?”

 

Starting with those words, Danielle shot back all at once.

 

“Why do you insist on talking to me, Blanton. You can say things like that to Frederick, your friend, can’t you? Well, I’ve never seen you say anything decent since we were kids anyway.”

 

Danielle still remembered the first question Cove had asked her back in Lower School.

 

“Korea? North?”

 

“What did I say.”

 

“Isn’t lacrosse a strategic sport? Then as captain, shouldn’t you be able to think quickly? Instead of asking others about everything.”

 

“You mean when I asked if you came from North Korea back then? When was that, ages ago.”

 

What. You do remember?

 

No matter how few ‘conversations’ worth calling that existed between him and her, she hadn’t expected him to remember their talks. That’s why she was surprised.

 

“Even you think your past self was pretty ignorant, right? Be more selective from now on. That money talk you had with me last time also looked really pathetic.”

 

“Frederick’s spotlight is pretty bright and reliable, isn’t it?”

 

Hearing his sarcastic tone, Danielle realized the point he was misunderstanding.

 

“Me dealing with you like this right now? It has nothing to do with Frederick.”

 

“You’d like to believe that.”

 

The reason Danielle was properly talking to Cove for the first time in about 5 years wasn’t because she had Frederick as backing, but because she knew Cove had been involved in the bet.

 

You bastard, I know what you are. You tried to play with me like a toy.

 

‘He’s starting to sound like Frederick…’

 

Enough to regret the momentary sympathy she’d felt, Cove Blanton looked like nothing but a piece of shit.

 

Danielle replied irritably.

 

“Hey. You guys think you’re so great, don’t you?”

 

At this point, that might certainly be true. They were trust fund babies who had everything students envied, ruling the top tier of this high school, while Danielle herself was just a poor scholarship student without even one proper friend.

 

But it wouldn’t be like that forever. That’s why Danielle worked herself to death.

 

“Just wait and see. It’ll be different in 10 years. I’m working hard for myself. Regardless of Frederick Bastia.”

 

“…”

 

Ring-

 

At the timely sound of the bell, Danielle cleaned up her flask without waiting for Cove’s response. She intended to go her own way, but Cove’s words stopped her.

 

“Consider breaking up with Frederick.”

 

Can’t you speak without using the word Frederick? Danielle glanced back at Cove with a glare.

 

“If you really break up, I’ll date you or something.”

 

He was staring straight ahead without looking at Danielle.

 

Look at how he talks.

 

Danielle took off her goggles and lab coat without any response. Mari approached like a bird, pattering over.

 

“Danielle, let’s go!”

 

Even knowing Cove’s gaze was following her, Danielle left with Mari without even a brief greeting.

 

* * *

 

Mari’s class schedule was surprisingly similar to Danielle’s rather than Frederick’s. Thanks to this, Danielle ended up sticking with Mari whether she wanted to or not.

 

Since PE was next, Danielle and Mari headed to the locker.

 

“Danielle, your lab partner’s name was Cove Blanton, right? Frederick’s friend.”

 

“Right.”

 

…Don’t tell me she heard? Danielle panicked silently.

 

“He said something like date him instead of Frederick at the end, right? Why is he so desperate? He looks decent enough. Is there something wrong with him?”

 

“You heard…”

 

Mari, who had been subtly showing off her airheaded charm until the previous class, suddenly had an arrogant expression.

 

“Does Ricky know he acts like this too? Should I tell Ricky?”

 

“…Tell him?”

 

“That he’ll lose his girlfriend if he doesn’t get his act together. Then he’ll get angry at him or do something about it.”

 

“I doubt it. There’s nothing to be angry about…”

 

“Ricky won’t get jealous? What are you talking about. There’s no way that’s true!”

 

Mari laughed and pointed at Danielle with her index finger.

 

“Danielle, you still don’t know Ricky well, do you?”

 

Isn’t that you who doesn’t know him well…

 

Since she had no intention of talking about the bet, Danielle decided to just change the subject.

 

“Mari, do you know the theory that people’s personalities are determined by their blood type?”

 

“Oh my, Danielle knows about it too! That’s how Ricky and I became close!”

 

It’s you, isn’t it. The source of that hopeless pseudoscience. Danielle pressed her forehead.

 

“When I was young, when I talked about my interests, everyone didn’t really listen, but Ricky was different. He would ask me about them first.”

 

“…Like germanium bracelets?”

 

“Oh, Danielle knows about those too? I organized all the effects by color for Ricky! But these days it’s frequencies. Frequencies that make your voice prettier~”

 

With her fingers interlaced, Mari smiled innocently. Finally, Danielle noticed the gemstone rings on each of her fingers.

 

‘No wonder she knew so much about it, it was strange…’

 

There was a command center after all.

 

Danielle thought she understood why Frederick said she and Mari would get along well.

 

“But he’s not interested in magic frequencies. Tch. He used to beg me to tell him about them first.”

 

Whether it was because she was a rich family’s daughter, Mari was simple and cheerful without Danielle having to worry about complicated considerations. She never pointed out Danielle’s weaknesses either.

 

It was a fortunate situation for Danielle, who was planning to ask Mari for an important favor.

 

“Anyway, I heard you’re going to watch the Sharks game with Ricky. Ricky deliberately called the merchandise team and prepared tons of stuff! You can come look at clothes with me!”

 

“What clothes?”

 

“Jerseys and t-shirts and stuff. Or have you already decided what to wear?”

 

“Oh, no… I didn’t know Frederick prepared things like that too. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

 

Perhaps because she had faced her emotions last night. Frederick’s actions, which she would have normally dismissed as excessive, made her heart flutter greatly.

 

…I can’t be the only one getting shaken up like this…

 

Suddenly she regretted that she shouldn’t have taken the book out of the drawer that night. She shouldn’t have opened the book, and she shouldn’t have looked at the photo tucked between the pages.

 

Because she had opened a box that shouldn’t be opened, something that had been hidden and trampled at the very bottom finally popped out. And then it led to thoughts she shouldn’t have.

 

The thought that she wanted to continue this bet just a little bit longer.

 

Was it because she had wished for it since childhood? The things that were so precious she had no choice but to hide them from herself were now in her grasp, and she simply couldn’t let go.

 

Even though she knew perfectly well how it would end.

 

‘I can’t believe I’m having these kinds of thoughts…’

 

Danielle forced herself to swallow a sigh as she thought about what lay ahead.

 

The kind of thing she had never once done before in her life, all to continue this game.

 

“Hey, Mari.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

Thanks to Frederick somehow managing to arrange a spot right next to Danielle’s locker, Mari’s locker was right beside Danielle’s.

 

Mari, who had been taking out her gym clothes from her locker, turned her head toward Danielle.

 

Danielle hesitated for a moment, then asked a question she never imagined she would ever voice in her lifetime.

 

“Do you happen to know what type Frederick likes? Like his ideal type or something.”

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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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