Liar and Liar - Chapter 76
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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 76
Frederick’s hand was already gently gripping the ankle of the foot that had ‘committed such an act.’
At the same time, Danielle realized that once Frederick decided to use his physical strength, she would never be able to resist.
‘I… right now…’
What landmine did I step on…
But there was no time to ponder this. Danielle hurriedly turned both knees and planted her feet firmly on the floor. Fortunately, the restraint holding her ankle was easily released.
Seeing Danielle trying to get up from the bathtub, Frederick likewise raised his upper body and stood mysteriously close to the tub. Both knees were still kneeling on the floor.
Only after Danielle had completely stood up did Frederick rise from his position and grab both her arms from behind.
“Mmh.”
Frederick’s whisper from behind her back settled on her ears with burning temperature.
“That was good, honey. Thank you for allowing me. I’ll just clean up a bit and come out.”
Frederick’s hands pushed Danielle’s arms, directing her path. Danielle was made to go straight to the door without being able to see Frederick.
Thud.
As soon as Danielle left, the door closed with a thud. It finally felt like she had returned to complete reality.
“Haa…”
Danielle covered one cheek with her hand while fanning her neck with the other.
She wondered what there was to clean up, but for now it was enough to have escaped the typhoon’s range. The problem, if it was a problem, was being left barefoot without shoes.
“Fred-“
No, let’s not. Danielle gave up on her shoes and crossed the room barefoot. The juice that had spilled under the desk was cleaned up completely, even the glass fragments, as if it had never happened. He said he called as soon as he entered the bathroom, but he already cleaned that up?
‘Were we in the bathroom that long…?’
Thinking to check the time, Danielle looked for her phone in her bag. There was a text message.
‘Huh?’
If it had been from someone else, she would have just passed it by, but the sender was Mari. Danielle pressed the screen to check the content.
Dani. If possible, check Ricky’s desk drawer.
Without Ricky knowing.
…Desk?
Why?
There was no reason given anywhere in the text. And “without Frederick knowing” at that.
What could be in the drawer?
Danielle turned her head toward the bathroom where Frederick would be. The door was still firmly closed, though it seemed like it could open at any moment.
Danielle’s hazel eyes rolled around. It was such a perfect opportunity and it was hard to suppress her curiosity. What on earth could be there that warranted sending a separate text like this?
Danielle, who had been perched on the armrest of the armchair, suddenly stood up and approached the desk. Her gaze was still fixed on the bathroom door, in case it might suddenly open.
‘What should I do?’
If I get caught rummaging through drawers carelessly, it would be the worst…
Is it right to do to others what I wouldn’t want done to me… If Frederick were to open her drawer without permission, it would be grounds for breaking up for Danielle. She couldn’t tolerate it.
‘Why, why, why. Why are you telling me to look?’
Frederick’s ash wood desk surface was simple. There were no laptops, assignments, or school materials at all, just metal crafts and books. He really has no interest in studying. Danielle sighed silently.
‘At least he reads books, I guess.’
Dante, even? Danielle casually scanned the books on the bookshelf. Next to Dante’s Divine Comedy, she saw the words ‘Nausea.’
【Nausea (La Nausée)】
-Jean Paul Sartre
‘What kind of book is this?’
But this wasn’t the time to examine books. Danielle’s gaze finally reached the drawer. There was no lock.
‘Should I just take a peek? Without rummaging through it.’
Mari must have had a reason for specifically telling her to look. Glancing at the bathroom door again, Danielle quietly swallowed.
Steeling her resolve, she slowly pulled the drawer.
“…Huh?”
As she pulled the drawer further, the contents became clearly visible. What was in the drawer were a few sheets of paper.
Surprisingly, the paper that came into view had Korean written on it. Realizing what it was, Danielle burst into laughter. Puhaha.
“What is this…?”
Since she had to close the drawer immediately if there were any sounds, she couldn’t take the paper out. Danielle lowered her head to examine the paper more closely.
‘Isn’t this something kids do…?’
Ryu Ryu Dan Ric ielle ky
3 3 5 2 6 3
6 8 7 8 9
4 5 5 9
9 0 4
9 4 % ★★
‘Are you an elementary schooler?’
Isn’t this that thing? Name compatibility?
Even so, she never expected to see her own name. Ryu Danielle. And the other name was.
[Pfft. No, what the-]
Danielle, who had laughed out loud, quickly covered her mouth with one hand. Fortunately, the bathroom door showed no signs of opening. What on earth was he doing in there?
‘This is crazy, really…’
Ryu Ricky? What are you, a Korean-American?
‘What’s with using my surname too?’
The area around her solar plexus felt tight. A tickling sensation spread over her chest. What’s so special about this playful piece of paper? What’s so remarkable about having my surname written on it?
Danielle knew Frederick’s handwriting well. This definitely wasn’t his handwriting.
‘This looks like a girl’s handwriting…’
And this kind of name ‘compatibility’ thing was obviously Mari’s interest. ‘Ricky’ was also the nickname Mari used when calling Frederick.
Was this what she wanted me to see?
She was surprised and amused, but it wasn’t worth rummaging through someone else’s drawer.
‘I’ll just tell her it was something like this.’
I didn’t really want to open someone else’s drawer carelessly. Even while thinking this, Danielle was swept by the impulse to take a photo with her phone since she had discovered it anyway.
But at the sound of the bathroom doorknob turning, Danielle was startled and gripped the drawer handle tightly. She was about to close it quickly.
At that moment, another piece of paper’s edge caught Danielle’s eye. Because the paper with the name compatibility was smaller, she could see the text written on the top of the paper underneath. Was it a logo?
O.L.R
There was no time to think about what it meant. Danielle immediately pushed the drawer closed.
At the same time, the bathroom door opened wide. Startled, Danielle reflexively turned around, backing against the desk and sitting awkwardly.
Frederick, who appeared after opening the door, walked straight to Danielle.
“Sor~ry. Left you alone, honey.”
Frederick, who had placed Danielle’s shoes on the floor, gently held both of Danielle’s cheeks with his hands. Didn’t he notice? He didn’t notice, right? It wasn’t obvious, right? Danielle smiled awkwardly.
“What were you doing in the bathroom?”
Frederick’s blonde hair, seen up close, had moisture on it for some reason.
Frederick’s answer came back a beat slow.
“Thinking about you.”
“That kind of evasion doesn’t work on me, you know?”
“It’s true. Not surprisingly at all.”
Frederick smiled gently and lifted Danielle up, seating her on the desk. Then he brought wet wipes from the table and quickly cleaned Danielle’s feet. He completed his task by putting shoes on her now-clean feet.
He looked as if he had regained all his composure as if nothing had happened. Danielle quietly watched Frederick’s face. Her heart plummeted aimlessly again. She barely managed to resist the urge to bite her lip.
Even though such things had happened in the bathtub, now it all seemed like fantasy and delusion.
‘…In the end, it was all just playing around…’
Even though she was the one who had refused, Danielle had to endure the feeling of her heart crumpling.
Disappointed, or upset…
No matter how much she repeated that she shouldn’t attach such names to these current emotions, it was useless.
‘I know. I know it all too well…’
“Frederick.”
Who’s the coward, me or you?
Under Frederick’s gaze created by his gray eyes, Danielle suppressed her trembling and opened her mouth with difficulty.
[…I actually don’t know how to play piano…]
But even so, I just played the beginning of that coal briquette song with you. Do you know what that means?
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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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