Liar and Liar - Chapter 58

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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 58

“Still, doing something you don’t want to that extent probably isn’t easy…”

Chris, who seemed to be choosing his words carefully, slowly opened his mouth.

“When I lived with my grandmother, we were so poor that I thought I’d never become a baseball player anyway, so I deliberately avoided it. I regretted that a bit. So I decided to enjoy the present to avoid repeating the same regret. Whether I like basketball or not.”

“…”

There was no resentment or bravado in his tone. Just how strong of a person was Chris Fassbinder?

It should feel somewhat disappointing. Somewhat sad, resentful, and unfair.

‘Surely… it should feel that way…’

Danielle couldn’t bring herself to speak and just stared at Chris quietly.

“Shall we go in? Will you let me take you to the dormitory? It doesn’t feel right sending you alone at this hour.”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

‘So there was a reason he said he was a fan of Seonwoo Kang…’

“Oh, you have something here.”

Lost in thought, Danielle followed the direction Chris’s index finger pointed and brushed around her cheekbone with her hand.

“Should I get it off? Or do you want to check when you get to the dormitory?”

“What is it? Can you get it off?”

When Chris extended his thumb, Danielle unconsciously half-closed her eyes. His firm thumb briefly touched the area around her eyes and then pulled away.

“Done.”

“…”

Suddenly, Danielle felt like she understood what a ‘normal’ relationship was like.

No worries about the other person getting tired of you easily, feeling comfortable, having someone to rely on.

Sharing concerns, not having to struggle desperately to change yourself.

Wasn’t that what people called dating?

In contrast, when Danielle thought of Frederick, she felt like she had a piece of magma in her mouth. Sometimes lava would break off from the piece and flow down her esophagus, boiling her heart beyond its limits. It was killing her heart. It would be fortunate if it just broke down.

The sensation of his fingers faded, and Danielle looked at Chris in front of her.

I decided to enjoy the present. Whether I like basketball or not.

Whether her relationship with Frederick was an opportunity or a disaster, what mattered in the end would be her own attitude. In that regard, Chris seemed so admirable in Danielle’s eyes.

I wish I could be as strong as you. Then my heart wouldn’t be swayed by Frederick like this.

With that wish, Danielle smiled faintly at Chris.

* * *

When Danielle opened her eyes and saw the bright window, she immediately fumbled around the bed looking for her phone. Sure enough, there was already a text message.

Babe, you sleeping?

I completely fell asleep. Danielle sat up with a troubled expression.

Sorry. I fell asleep. I must have been really tired.

She remembered coming back to the dormitory, showering, and sitting on the bed. Then she opened her eyes and it was now.

After hurriedly going to the restroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, Danielle checked the new message that had arrived on her phone.

It’s okay. Did you sleep well? See you soon, babe 🙂

…Is he upset?

Objectively, it was a considerate message without any unnecessary words, but Danielle couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.

‘If he was upset enough, he would have called instead.’

Since he hadn’t called and had only left one text message, thinking he was upset seemed excessive. More importantly, getting ready for school was much more urgent. Putting in contact lenses was still awkward.

‘How did she say to do the eyebrows?’

The makeup artist who came to do Danielle’s makeup on Sunday had given her new cosmetics to take with her.

“You brought your uniform, right?! Let’s alter it right away!”

On the day she went to the boutique, Danielle had brought her uniform as Mari had suggested.

Scholarship students were provided with uniforms, but unlike other students, they received sample uniforms that fit reasonably well rather than custom-sized ones. Because of this, the size was subtly large, and Danielle’s skirt was long enough to cover her knees.

In the new semester of 9th grade when she moved up to Upper School, Danielle had to endure being a laughingstock with the derogatory nickname “Grandma” for quite a long time.

‘Apply these in order… Which brush was this for again?’

Danielle fumbled through applying makeup while recalling the makeup artist’s explanations. Since it wasn’t the typical style that worked in America but a makeup technique suited to Asian features, it wasn’t burdensome.

“Was my uniform really that bad before…?”

Without time to carefully examine her appearance in the mirror, Danielle tied her striped necktie, grabbed her blazer, and rushed out of her dormitory room.

As soon as she opened the door, she made eye contact with a female student leaning against the opposite wall. The female student’s eyes widened enormously and her mouth even fell open.

“…”

“…”

It’s not like I’m in some horror movie.

Frowning, Danielle simply greeted her and hurriedly walked down the dormitory hallway almost at a run, going down the stairs. She walked with quick strides to the main building, but something was strange.

“…Woah.”

“What?”

“holy moly~”

Every student she encountered while walking blatantly stared at Danielle. And they always added an exclamation of admiration.

‘What the heck?’

Did I do my makeup wrong? Did I get something wrong on my face?

She wanted to look in a mirror, but she’d have to go to the restroom for that.

Someone placed a hand on Danielle’s shoulder as she was about to enter the main building, stopping her.

“Hey, pretty.”

Joshua approached Danielle’s side with a grin, acting friendly.

“Even if you take off your glasses and become pretty like this, you can only be a queen.”

“What nonsense. Do I have something on my face?”

“Everyone’s staring because you’re pretty. You still don’t believe me?”

Danielle was speechless and stopped walking. Though he was grinning the same way, there was no trace of mischief on Joshua’s face.

At that moment, some male student ran over, messed up Danielle’s hair, and passed by.

“Pretty Tax!”

Startled, Danielle covered her hair with one hand.

“What?!”

“You have to pay tax because you’re pretty. Hahaha!”

What kind of nonsense is that? Danielle was dumbfounded.

‘Isn’t that something only Lower School kids do? And that too…’

Isn’t that only done to pretty girls…? With a flustered expression, Danielle first fixed her hair, which was surely messy. She tried to calm down, but couldn’t find the time because Joshua stuck his face close to hers.

“Amazing, amazing~ Still amazing even looking again~”

Danielle scrunched up her face.

“Why are you crumpling up such a pretty face like paper? Smile for me, pretty girl~”

Joshua repeated things he had said before. She thought he was just deliberately teasing her.

“…You kept calling me pretty, pretty recently. Wasn’t that just said randomly? I was wearing glasses.”

“I had seen you without glasses.”

…So it wasn’t a joke?

Danielle became ten times more flustered. To the point where she thought being annoyed would be better.

“You’re quite an important person to me these days.”

Anticipating his next words, Danielle’s face scrunched up. What nonsense is he going to say now?

“Thanks to you, my days have been really fun lately.”

Of course. Danielle coldly turned away from Joshua.

“I wouldn’t call it compensation, but.”

Joshua grabbed Danielle’s arm and leaned his head toward her ear.

“Should I help you make Frederick angry?”

When she turned to look at Joshua, he was making an expression she knew.

Back in Lower School, he always made that expression before pulling off some major stunt.

Like before pouring candies that would explode when put in a container of cola.

It was truly the expression of a little devil.

“What would I gain from making Frederick angry? Why would I do such a thing?”

Though she had hoped Frederick would get angry not long ago, Danielle’s goal had changed somewhat now.

“Ah, right. Let me rephrase that. I can help make him jealous.”

“….”

Danielle bit her rolled lips.

“Tempted? You look tempted.”

“…How would you even do it?”

Joshua had casually put his arm around her shoulders, but Danielle forgot to even push it away as she waited for Joshua’s next words.

“So basically… Oh.”

Danielle had been walking at the same pace as Joshua, but when he stopped walking, she naturally stopped as well. Looking straight ahead, she could see stares directed at them.

And at the end of those stares, Frederick was standing with his back against the locker. With his arms crossed.

“…Hm?”

Joshua loosened his arm around her shoulders and muttered just loud enough for Danielle to hear.

“What did you already do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Frederick looks angry?”

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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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