Liar and Liar - Chapter 6

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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 6

Muscular arms slowly crossed. Danielle, who had lost her sense of reality, couldn’t even distinguish whether this was a dream or reality.

That’s why it happened. Despite this being the opportunity she had been waiting for all along, one she couldn’t afford to miss, she ended up saying such strange things first.

“You’re the one who’s defenseless…”

He tilted his head to the side with a faint smile, as if asking what she meant.

“You must be exhausted. Having flings with every girl in California while giving them each a gift.”

“Ah.”

The moment his eyes curved softly, his expression became remarkably gentle. It was an angelic face.

“Well. I don’t give away anything important. How could I?”

Danielle’s gaze fell on his crossed arms. A car key ring was wrapped around his index finger.

‘But why isn’t he going home and staying here…’

This is a dream, right? As Danielle pressed her eye area with one hand, Frederick straightened up from the window sill.

“So you shouldn’t give it away either, Danielle.”

…What is he saying?

“If you completely leave the game, I’ll probably chase after you.”

Wherever that may be.

His quietly murmured voice echoed in her ears.

It was an incomprehensible story. She must definitely be dreaming.

Having two private conversations with Frederick Bastia in just one day was impossible. Until now, it had been natural and ordinary daily life to never exchange words with Frederick at all.

…Though it wasn’t like that from the beginning.

“Why do you keep staring?”

“Well… You must have that kind of power. Making people keep looking at you.”

‘Ah…’

Tearing through her thoughts, Danielle was swept up in impulse.

She wanted to say it so badly.

Danielle’s mouth twitched. Since this was a dream, wouldn’t it be okay to just say it? Her weak rationality applied the brakes, but her inner feelings pounded. As if they would burst at any moment.

Hey, who are you to talk to me?

Frederick Bastia, I really hate you. Just because everyone around squeals about how great you are, do you think every woman in the world falls for you and likes you?

The clearer her criticism became, the sharper her mind grew.

“…”

The moment she realized this wasn’t a dream, Danielle shut her mouth.

It was fortunate beyond measure that she hadn’t spoken aloud. However, Frederick burst into laughter while looking at Danielle.

“Hahaha.”

“…What’s so funny?”

He laughed dryly and languidly. Though he laughed, it wasn’t a loud voice.

But perhaps because of that, it sounded even more like mockery.

“Danielle, you seem to think you hide your emotions well.”

“…”

“You believed that if you covered it coldly, if you acted equally frigid to everyone, it would be hidden, but not at all.”

Danielle’s heart turned cold. In fact, even her breathing had stopped.

“What exactly is the reason you despise me and the people around me so much?”

Ironically, there was no malice or hint of reproach in his tone. Strictly speaking, his face showed only a faint trace of amusement.

Danielle’s heart, which had frozen instantly, soon dropped with a thud. Though invisible to the eye, she could feel it completely shattered into pieces.

‘Calm down.’

Frederick Bastia is, no-

‘White people are originally like this.’

I know this, I’ve known it very well since I was young.

Even while thinking this, Danielle unconsciously pressed her fingernail into her finger hidden under the table, out of Frederick’s sight.

Being fake when others would be honest, and conversely, stabbing like a knife with their unfiltered thoughts when they should add pretense and courtesy. That was the characteristic of white people that Danielle had concluded after immigrating to America in 5th grade.

It was a fact she knew to the point of exhaustion. So there was absolutely no reason to be hurt by the smile he wore.

“…It’s excessive self-consciousness. I don’t think anything about you guys.”

Danielle barely managed to speak in a voice without trembling.

“Really?”

The smile he showed readily proved that he didn’t actually believe Danielle’s words but was just taking a step back.

Danielle bit the inside of her mouth. What should she say…

“No, actually I’m starting to have some thoughts. I’ve become a bit interested.”

“Hmm.”

Frederick leaned his shoulders and head forward with his arms crossed. Danielle looked straight into Frederick’s gray eyes.

“Not you, but Chris.”

“Ah, Chris?”

“Yes, Chris.”

Chris Fassbinder. The basketball team captain and the only one among the Center Table Boys who hadn’t spoken to Danielle all day.

In Danielle’s eyes, he was relatively serious among the Center Table Boys. The only time they had properly talked was when they did a team project together in Middle School.

“You already have a lot on your plate. I’ll handle it from here.”

“Is your bag heavy? Should I carry it for you?”

How grateful she had been for those small kindnesses back then.

‘Though it probably didn’t mean much…’

As if he knew what Danielle was thinking, Frederick immediately interjected.

“Why?”

“…What do you mean why?”

The conversation kept flowing in unpredictable directions. Danielle wanted to stop talking about this topic. It was all lies anyway. Chris Fassbinder? She wasn’t interested at all.

“I’m curious why it’s Chris Fassbinder and not me.”

What is this narcissism?

After being momentarily speechless, perhaps because her disbelief had disappeared, the answer came flowing out.

“I like men who only look at me. Not men who casually dabble with this girl and that girl, this sport and that sport. Oh, but I’m not talking about you right now, Frederick.”

“Right. I’m not that playboy type.”

…But I am talking about you?

“Again?”

Frederick Bastia definitely had a talent for getting on Danielle’s nerves. Rarely, Danielle’s words grew longer.

“I don’t get along with the type who lives carelessly, without knowing what they’re thinking. Chris Fassbinder is serious about basketball and his attitude toward basketball is earnest too. I thought that aspect was cool.”

Danielle was amazed at herself for how smoothly these words came out. A fleeting thought from long ago had transformed as if it were a long-cherished sincere feeling.

“Ah. So it’s not a matter of appearance.”

Contrary to expectations, when Frederick’s reaction was calm, Danielle ended up going one step further.

“…Appearance too. Chris Fassbinder is my type in terms of looks. I… like blue eyes.”

Blue eyes are a privilege in high school. Like super rich people who own their own blue and brilliant private beaches.

Danielle truly felt like biting her tongue, but she couldn’t take back words once spoken.

Saying she liked blue eyes was really the worst. I said something only empty-headed people would say…

“Hmm, really? That’s hurtful to hear for these gray eyes.”

Frederick leaned forward and suddenly brought his face right in front of Danielle. Their gazes met at barely a span’s distance. Danielle’s startled hazel eyes wavered.

“What are you doing?”

“I wondered if you’d properly look and evaluate them at least once.”

“I’m not interested in your eyes!”

Danielle wanted to avoid his gaze but couldn’t. As if she were captured by his gaze alone.

Frederick Bastia’s eyes were like glass marbles. Because they were such a clean, pale gray color, his pupils stood out instead.

When he stared intently, the other person would be captured. That was the magic power his gray eyes possessed.

“Not interested? But I am.”

“…Right now, you’re… too close?”

When Danielle’s face, having lost her composure, cracked and contorted, he finally pulled his upper body back.

“I didn’t know you were the type to waver when pushed, Danielle.”

“What?”

“You and them? That won’t work.”

With his arms crossed, his finger tapped against his forearm.

“I find your situation boring. This, that, all of it.”

“Want me to explain it so you can understand?”

“They don’t care anyway about what kind of hardships you’re going through or how difficult your school life is.”

Heat rushed to Danielle’s face. Her whole body seemed to tremble with shame.

In this moment, Danielle recalled another rule of high school life.

Just because I’m not watching others doesn’t mean others aren’t watching me.

Especially being humiliated and mistreated wasn’t the kind of thing that could be hidden just because you wanted to hide it. Word had clearly spread throughout the school already.

“Watching you get looked down on for being a scholarship student isn’t fun, and watching you get pity or pathetic attention from other guys isn’t fun either.”

Danielle shot up from her seat. She felt so cold and rigid that even her teeth seemed to be chattering.

“I never asked for pity, and I’m not your TV show.”

“Oh, did I make you angry again?”

I was just stating facts.

Just as Danielle heard his quiet muttering and was roughly shoving things into her bag, it happened.

“What do we need to do to go back to how we were in Lower School?”

Danielle’s hand stopped dead while packing her bag.

“I want to go back, so could you tell me how?”

Spilled water can’t be taken back, Frederick Bastia.

No matter how much money you have, no matter how amazing your parents are, no matter how much everyone craves and likes you, words once spoken can’t be taken back.

Completely swept up by Frederick, Danielle forgot even what she was originally supposed to say to him and answered as her heart burst forth.

“There isn’t one. There’s no way, and I hate you. It was so long ago that I don’t even remember anymore.”

Danielle slung her zipped bag over one shoulder.

“Since you spoke however you wanted, I’ll say this one thing however I want too.”

Her hesitation was brief. Danielle raised her head and met Frederick’s gaze.

“Not every girl automatically likes you and tolerates everything you say and do. At least I don’t. Whenever I talk with you, I always—”

“Why won’t you answer?”

Without a single exception.

“Feel disgusted.”

Without waiting for an answer, Danielle turned and strode toward the door. His hand, still standing in place, reached back to grip the windowsill where he had been sitting.

A moment later, when he turned his head to look down at the window, Danielle’s figure appeared on the path crossing the Quad. She was pressing her palm against her eyes.

And on the opposite side, familiar faces he knew were walking toward her.

At the anticipated scene, Frederick’s eyes instantly darkened.

Tendons bulged in the hand gripping his car keys and keychain.

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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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