Chapter 244: Photograph
Chapter 244: Photograph
"P please accept these chocolates!"
"Oh, this is for me? How thoughtful of you."
Viel was walking as a red-haired woman handed him a gift, her face almost reflected her cherry-like hair as her sweet stutters echoed through the hallway.
"Oh," Viel hummed as he accepted the chocolate, "Is this from the new shop that just opened?"
"Y yes!", the red-haired woman was flustered as Viel placed the chocolate bar in front of his nose, "H how did you know!?"
"They have a very distinct smell."
"I see," the woman whispered, her words almost fleeting through the hallway as she stared at Viel's beautiful golden hair, "I thought you'd like it."
"Hm I owe you my thanks, then," Viel nodded as he adjusted his spectacles, his blind jet-black eyes seemed shining through the woman's eyes.
"Then Headmaster, is it possible to invite you for coffee?" The woman's face grew even redder than her hair as she looked Viel directly in the face.
"Coffee? We have a lot in the cafeteria, right?"
"N...no! What I meant was if you want to go out with me?"
"Like a date?" Viel tilted his head, his long golden hair slightly bouncing from his shoulders.
The woman's already volcanic face started fuming as every courage she collected started to hesitate. The other teachers, and some of the students that were watching the scene unfold also let out whistles and cheers as they watched their instructor confess.
Viel, however, could only let out a light sigh as he lightly tapped the woman's forehead, "You know I am married, right?"
"Aawww!"
The bystanders and gossipers all let out sighs and grunts of disappointment as they heard Viel's words.
"But but grandmother said that you--"
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"No buts, even if this is my last day in the school, I am still your Headmaster," Viel shook his head as he let out another sigh, "Your students are waiting for you, see?" Viel slightly chuckled as he waved his hand towards the onlookers, who quickly scattered away and sat on their desks as Viel noticed them.
"Can I at least escort you out of the school later?" The woman said, her bright words now replaced by sighs.
"I don't see why not, I think the others are seeing me out as well."
"O...oh, there are others?"
"Hm," Viel nodded, "Now go, you still have a class to teach."
"Okay" The woman said, her words now completely sedated, "Then, please take care, Headmaster."
"You too," Viel bowed his head before walking in the other direction. And as he walked down the hall, everyone was greeting him and bowing their heads towards him. It didn't stop until he reached his office his very messy office.
Viel once again let out a long and deep sigh as his feet almost swam through the ocean of garbage. "Sofi, where are you when I need you," he sighed, struggling a little bit as he tried to reach his desk.
Finally, after half a minute, he was able to sit on his chair. He then pushed out everything that was on top of his desk and placed a book on it.
The book almost had all of its pages filled in, with the first pages almost being unrecognizable, and there were also some missing pages here and there. Everything was almost filled in, except the last page.
Viel then took a pen from his pocket, clicked on it, and started writing on the last page.
'So I guess this is the last entry I will ever put here. It has been a couple of years since I last wrote something here. I've pretty much said all there is to say, I suppose it is fitting, as, after this, I can't write anymore.
Maybe if I practiced writing first when I was younger, half of the book wouldn't be scribbles. Although it seems to be fitting, it represented the chaotic part of my life.
Sometimes I wonder if some even remember the things I have done back then, or have they become like me, without any memories of my younger se--'
"Headmaster Viel!?"
Before Viel could continue writing on his book, a loud knock echoed through the room as an old man suddenly entered his office.
"May I come in!?"
"...You're already inside," Viel let out a sigh as he closed his book, "And you don't need my permission, you're already the mayor now
...Tell me, what can I do for you today?"
"Ah!" The mayor swam through the mountain of garbage before he could reach Viel, but still, he did not even seem to mind, "No, no. I am just here to congratulate you on your last day as the Headmaster."
"...Is that even something to congratulate about?"
"Haha!" The mayor let out a short laugh as patted his large stomach, "I know how much you didn't want this job, Headmaster Viel."
"...Did you just come here to tease me?"
"N no, not at all." The mayor cleared his throat and patted his shirt, "There are actually already people waiting for you outside. I just wanted to be the one to officially shake your hand."
Viel could not help but sigh as he stood up from his seat, he then also stood up straight as he stretched his hand towards the mayor.
"It has been a pleasure to have you here, Headmaster Viel." The mayor's once playful tone was completely gone, replaced by utmost respect and reverence as he shook Viel's hand. "Thank you for teaching us."
"Pft what's with that?" Viel let out a tiny chuckle as he heard the mayor's sincere words.
"And please," the mayor continued, "Don't tell anyone that I ruined the surprise. It was supposed to be a secret that we prepared a send-off for you."
"...Fine," Viel said as he picked up his book and proceeded to walk out of the office.
"W what about all this trash? Are you leaving it to the next Headmaster to clean it?"
"...Oh," as soon as Viel heard the mayor's words, he snapped his fingers-- and just like that, all the trash are gone.
"...Couldn't you have done that from the start!?"
"Well, I was waiting for Sofi to clean it."
"I I see."
The two continued to talk to each other about their past as they walked through the hallways, and as they reached the outside of the school, thunderous claps pierced their ears.
Hundreds of people were lined up outside of the school, bowing their heads towards Viel and clapping their hands continuously. Viel could only awkwardly scratch his head as he also bowed back towards the people.
"W wow, I'm so surprised," Viel said as he stepped forward, "You didn't really need to do any of this."
Bright flashes of light also flickered in the air, causing Viel's luscious golden hair to glow.
"Hey! We said no cameras here!" The mayor waved his hands as he covered Viel, "You know the Headmaster doesn't like his picture taken!"
The Mayor quickly reprimanded the people who still had their cameras up, but afterward, he also walked towards the crowd and fell in line.
"Thank you for your long service, Headmaster!"
Once again, all of the people bowed their heads towards Viel, some even kneeling, their tears trailing and marking the ground. There were no more claps, no more whistles, and congratulations. But still, their silent words reached the deepest parts of Viel's heart.
"No, thank you." He said as he too bowed.
It took almost an hour for the crowd to die down, and Viel could finally leave the school for one last time. He could feel and hear that some of them wanted him to stay, but not even once did he turn back.
As he walked the streets of the city, the people there greeted him once again.
"Ah! Headmaster, are you going home!?"
Viel then lightly stepped to the side as a bell rang behind him.
"Ah yes," Viel stopped walking as soon as he heard who it was, "Sofi is already waiting for me, I don't want her to get mad," he chuckled.
"Aysh, that's not good. Do you want to borrow my bicycle?" The man jumped out of his bicycle, shaking the flowers that were on the basket in the process.
"Do you want me to destroy it?"
"Hahaha! Right, right," the man could not help but chuckle, but afterward, he picked up the bouquet of flowers in his basket, "I still have one left, maybe you can give it to teacher Sofia?"
"This--"
Before Viel could even refuse, the man rode away with his bicycle, "See you tomorrow!"
"..." Viel could only stand in his spot, stupefied as he heard the bicycle's bell slowly disappearing to the distance, "Alright take care, Mr. Parker."
Viel then let out a long and deep sigh as he felt the flowers on his hand, "...Chocolate, and now flowers? Must be my lucky day."
Viel continued to walk through the streets until he reached a large white house. And once again, he let out a long and deep sigh as he stood in front of the door. He gathered his breath before a small smile crept up in his face.
"I am home, dear!" He bellowed as he entered the house. "I can't believe you weren't there for my last day but still, I guess it can't be helped."
"Here. I bought you some flowers," Viel said as he placed the bouquet of flowers on a nearby table.
"Oh, this chocolate? A young teacher gave it to me," Viel said as he let out a burst of laughter, "Are you jealous? You're jealous, aren't you?"
"Fine, you can have some," Viel sighed as he snapped a piece of chocolate and placed it in front of Sofia. The candles that danced and flickered beside her reflected on the glass that covered her and Viel's faces.
"Sofi" Viel looked straight in Sofia's eyes, forever unmoving stuck in time inside a photograph.
"...I miss you."