Liar and Liar - Chapter 9

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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 9

“I promise. I’ll be the most devoted boyfriend in the world who only looks at you, only thinks of you, and only listens to you.”

Danielle couldn’t escape the binding spell cast by Frederick’s gray eyes once again. Her gaze was helplessly stolen away.

Only looks at you.

Only thinks of you.

Only listens to you.

‘What the…’

Those words, spoken with emphasis and thus carrying more weight, became fresh nonsense to Danielle.

If it were anyone else, she might have just thought ‘nice try, tsk tsk tsk’ and left it at that, but when Frederick Bastia said those words, it was sophistry that went against the principles of the universe.

Like saying the sun would rise from West California tomorrow morning.

Danielle unconsciously let out a hollow laugh.

“Frederick, if I had just met you today for the first time, maybe I could believe that. But don’t you think you’re being way too shameless even by your own standards?”

“Why?”

He smiled innocently as if asking what the problem was. Where does he get off acting innocent, this damn dog.

“I don’t know if it’s because you’re Italian American and lack self-awareness, but your usual behavior is the worst when it comes to being dating material.”

“You’ve been watching me that closely? I’m happy.”

Danielle bit down hard on her lower lip.

“I’m saying it would be completely different if you accepted me.”

How confident of him, really…

At Danielle’s blunt statement, the entire Hallway stirred like a tsunami was rolling through.

Everyone was watching intently to see how this confession would conclude, wondering if they were about to witness the unprecedented ending of Frederick Bastia getting rejected.

“Why do you even like me?”

Originally, Danielle had planned to cut him down with one blow. But Frederick Bastia’s shameless behavior made her blood boil, so she ended up engaging with him more.

Let’s see just how far, how much he can make excuses, she thought.

“Saying you only think of me is such a cliché confession that anyone could make.”

Danielle smiled sweetly. She had said this hoping to see that shameless face turn red with embarrassment.

She wanted that mask he was excitedly performing behind to be ripped off, and his Italian blood pride to be thoroughly trampled.

But contrary to her expectations, Frederick’s smile didn’t crack even 0.1 inches. He leaned his upper body toward Danielle with that same smiling expression.

“That’s too easy a question for me, Danielle. Ten reasons, a hundred reasons, I can give you as many as you want. But are you okay with the other kids hearing?”

“What?”

“I was being considerate of you. If you want to hear them, should I start listing them one by one now?”

A gentle smile played around his lips, but his eyes were serious without a trace of laughter. As if he really had ten, a hundred reasons prepared.

Danielle’s heart sounded an alarm. Her instincts activated before her mind could process, as if she had already sensed what would come out of his mouth next.

Before Danielle could stop him, Frederick continued speaking first.

“I’ve been concerned about you since the day you first transferred here. But what really stays with me and keeps coming back to mind is when we sat on that sofa in the Library.”

‘No, wait a minute.’

Danielle turned pale with an unidentifiable sense of crisis.

“I sat next to you on purpose, but you didn’t notice that at all. Did you really think it was just a coincidence?”

“That’s enough, stop…”

However, Danielle realized only after the situation unfolded that there was no way to stop an Italian intoxicated with love—though it was probably an act.

“It was so quiet then. I remember how the sunlight came through the blinds and the way you looked while reading your book. And I thought all of your responses trying to get back at me, your expressions and tone, everything was so cute.”

‘Kyaaaaaaah!’

Is he crazy? If he’s going to go crazy, he should do it quietly by himself!! Danielle almost let out a real scream. She barely managed to stop herself by covering her mouth with one hand.

However, the students around them were not so restrained. Each of them let out unfiltered reactions.

“What the…”

“Is he talking about Lower School right now? Geez.”

“Ah, why are my hands and feet like this. Ugh.”

Naturally, Danielle’s fingers and toes had also become worse than an octopus’s. Danielle urgently held up her other palm toward him, meaning for him to stop immediately.

“Stop it, stop!”

“I’ve only done one so far? There are still so many left. As you know, we—”

The moment her raised hand was caught by his large hand, Danielle’s gaze was helplessly drawn to him.

Their eyes met. Like being snatched by a predator.

“Have a deep history. Seven years is definitely not a short time.”

It was a calm voice, but it didn’t sound light at all.

It sounded like he was saying he had always, constantly been watching. However, to Danielle, it couldn’t become a particularly sweet confession.

‘What is this guy doing, declaring that he’s a stalker while pretending to be sweet.’

At the same time, Danielle became conscious of her captured hand. Frederick’s hand was large, and now it was holding her entire hand as if embracing it.

“Stop talking! And let go of my hand. I never said you could hold it, did I?”

“I courageously spoke up in front of everyone with great difficulty. So I need your support too.”

Where does he get off acting pitiful when he’s over 6 feet 2 inches (188cm) tall.

His shameless act of pretending to be weak made Danielle’s lid start to lift. Whenever she got entangled with Frederick, her ignition point became like this.

“What kind of logic is that?! Support or whatever, go to your homeland and do that with other Italians. This is America, you know?!”

“The place I want to be is by your side. Italy? Well, I’m not really interested unless it’s for a honeymoon or something.”

Honeymoon? Is he really crazy?

“Argh, ugh, I said stop!”

Danielle finally couldn’t bear the cringeworthy sensation and made a fist with the hand that had been covering her mouth, punching Frederick’s chest. Of course, her opponent, who was no different from a wall, didn’t budge even an inch.

What did he bet on this? Or is it because of his competitive spirit?

‘Does he really have to go this far? This crazy bastard!’

Unaware of Danielle’s inner thoughts, Frederick gently grasped the wrist of the hand that had hit him. Now both of her hands were captured.

“So, can I take that as a ‘Yes’?”

“What?! Absolutely not!! What are you trying to slip by—”

“There are so many things I want to do for you. Accept me, please?”

Not things he wanted to do for her, but things he wanted to get from her, probably. It was then, as Danielle glared at Frederick’s gray eyes, that something she should never have forgotten came to mind.

“Ah.”

Her younger brother.

The moment that thought occurred to her, all emotional color drained from Danielle’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

Even though it was a very small change in expression, Frederick’s eyes darkened as he didn’t miss it.

Danielle quietly looked at Frederick, who was gauging her reaction.

‘I need to ask him about Eunho…’

If she rejected his confession, it would become harder to ask him for a favor.

And at the same time, her thoughts turned in the opposite direction.

‘…If I accept his confession, would he at least pretend to keep his word for now?’

Since he had publicly said certain things, he would keep the words that came from his own mouth at least until he got tired of it. The question was how quickly that moment of ‘getting tired’ would come.

This was Frederick Bastia, after all. It would be fortunate if it lasted a week.

Danielle had been watching him since Lower School.

Basketball team for three months. Tennis team for three months. Football team for three months.

Violin for three months. Cello for three months. Oboe for three months.

Everything was like that. It was no different when dealing with people.

He got involved with all kinds of girls but never actually dated any of them. Then when a girl couldn’t stand it anymore and demanded to define their relationship, that relationship would end that very day.

He perfectly lived up to his nickname ‘Heart Breaker.’ The fact that he had earned such a nickname as a high school student was entirely Frederick’s own karma.

She knew this. She knew it painfully well.

“…”

“Please say yes, Danielle. Not even giving me a chance is too harsh, isn’t it?”

It was a surprisingly humble attitude. If the coaches had known earlier that betting and competitive spirit were the most effective ways to motivate Frederick Bastia, they wouldn’t have suffered so much.

Danielle thought of the people who had clung to Frederick. God had bestowed too many talents on him, and several coaches had quite patiently coaxed and cajoled him while clinging to him. It was the same with instruments, and with women… it was the same.

She still remembered all the faces of those people.

Danielle’s breathing became calm.

“…Alright.”

A brief, indescribable emotion flickered across Frederick’s widened gray eyes, then he smiled more brightly than ever before and gathered Danielle’s hands in front of him, kissing her fingers.

“Thank you.”

However, Danielle forcefully pulled her hands away. Then she turned her head, looking for someone.

The moment she found her target, Danielle’s steps headed toward them without hesitation. The hallway fell silent.

Danielle stopped in front of Stella.

“Hi, Stella. Could you give that back now?”

“…What?”

What Danielle pointed at with her index finger was the necktie Stella was wearing. The necktie that Frederick had given to another female student who had bragged about it on TikTok just yesterday was now somehow around Stella’s neck.

“You just saw what happened, but I’m Frederick’s girlfriend now. So it doesn’t make sense for you to be wearing that. I’d like you to give it back.”

Stella’s jaw trembled violently. Proportional to that, an indescribable rush of satisfaction washed over Danielle, making her feel as if she had been reborn.

When she turned her head, her eyes met Frederick’s, who was standing there with a strange smile.

‘That’s right, Frederick Bastia. Let’s see how this goes.’

You started this first. I’ll make good use of you too, my fake con artist boyfriend.

She didn’t care if someone called her cunning.

‘You’re not the only one who can deceive and toy with people.’

If you lie, then I’ll do the same.

Let’s see who raises the white flag first and who’s laughing at the very end.

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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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