CHAPTER 48

  Narrator: As they continued to talk late into the night, laughing and joking, they searched together for more scrolls in vain.

  The next day, October 17, 2035

  Narrator: Dav approached Elysia’s seat in class and asked if she would like to go shopping with him once the lessons were over.

  Elysia smiled brightly and accepted, while Fin, Leo, Gabriel, and Cedric, with long faces, asked if they could go too.

  Elysia: (Shouting with a funny face) Go on your own, jealous ones!

  Fin: (Imploring) Please, Master Supreme!

  Leo: (Cute face) Please, professor.

  Gabriel/Cedric: (On their knees) PLEASE!

  Dav: (Thinking) Look at these persistent brats, what do I have to deal with.. I suppose they'll give me more help.

  (Composed with arms crossed) Fine. Be at the exit after the lessons.

  If you’re late, I’ll be gone.

  Gabriel/Fin/Leo/Cedric: (With big, happy eyes) Yes, Sir!

  Elysia: (Irritated funny face) Tsk..

  Narrator: Dav left with a small smile as he turned, not letting it be noticed.

  He went to clean the van he had borrowed, asking the headmaster, and tidied it up, giving it a good cleaning and dusting.

  A small black van with seven seats and a cargo space for goods.

  After the lessons ended, Gabriel, Leo, Fin, Elysia, and Cedric looked at each other for a moment, slowly moving their feet without being noticed, and immediately started running to grab the seats next to Dav.

  Arriving at the gate, they saw Miss Valeria, very elegant and beautiful, with a stylish straw hat, a black dress, and her hair tied up.

  The boys looked at her with surprised and enamored eyes at her beauty.

  While Dav... seemed like a walking dumpster, covered in oil and stains everywhere after working on that old van, changing the oil and water, making sure it started.

  Valeria, with one hand on her face, a little embarrassed by her concern for dressing up properly, then looking at Dav who looked like the owner of some junkyard, chuckled with her hand over her mouth.

  Gabriel: (Laughing) Brother, you look like a bum..

  While Professor Valeria looks like she stepped out of some fancy place.

  Elysia: (Irritated but amused, thinking) I didn't expect the professor to be here..

  And she's really beautiful.

  Dav: (With a face like "huh?") Make fun of me all you want, it was the only one available at this hour.

  (A little irritated) We can skip if you want, you know?

  Valeria: (Comforting) Thank you for your hard work, Professor. (Smiling)

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  Dav: (Small smile) At least someone understands. Don’t worry, I have spare clothes with me.

  Fin: So, we'll wait for you to return–

  (Yelling) WHY ARE YOU CHANGING CLOTHES HERE?

  Valeria: (Embarrassed but laughing) I guess the important thing is to hurry, ah ah ah..

  Dav: (Raising an eyebrow) Never seen someone half-naked?

  Elysia: I want an ice cream when we get there!

  Dav: Fine. Get in, we’re leaving.

  (Thinking) I’m not forgetting anything, I suppose.

  (Looking at them while turning) It’s an hour’s drive, so behave and don’t make too much noise.

  Valeria: (Smiling) If you're tired, I can drive.

  Dav: (Smiling, raising his lip) If only that were enough to tire me out. (Gliding his hand through Valeria's hair)

  Valeria: (Embarrassed) Do you mind if I put on some music?

  Dav: Go ahead.

  Narrator: And so, the group set off, with Dav driving and Valeria trying not to laugh too much as she struggled to maintain her composure, despite the unusual company and the almost familial atmosphere developing between them.

  The road was long, but the relaxed pace of the journey and the little conversations sparked between jokes made it all more enjoyable.

  Gabriel: (Looking out the window, dreamy) I can't believe we're really traveling with all of you...

  It feels like a dream!

  Fin: (Serious tone, but visibly excited) So, where exactly are we going? We didn’t even ask...

  Dav: (Without turning, focusing on the road) More than shopping, it’s a little mission.

  We need to hurry and buy some things for an event tomorrow, but don’t tell anyone.

  Cedric: (Impressed, but curious) So... are we looking for some things while shopping?

  Dav: (Not changing expression) More or less.

  Elysia: (With a subdued smile) And I really want my ice cream, okay?

  Valeria: (Laughing softly) How cute.

  Dav: (Smiling lightly) First the mission, then the ice cream.

  Narrator: The journey continued, with Valeria playing music to lighten the mood and the kids laughing about what they would do that day.

  The laughter and chatter, however, couldn’t hide the excitement that filled the air, an emotion that drove them toward a day of fun, hidden behind a mission.

  1 hour later

  Dav: (Thinking, looking ahead) I wonder if I’ll find everything Iris asked for.

  (Looking ahead) We’ve arrived. Behave, and don’t cause problems.

  You’re free to go wherever you want, but come back in two hours, please.

  Stay close and don’t leave Cedric behind with your excitement.. Cedric, I’m entrusting them to you, make sure they don’t do anything stupid.

  Cedric (Embarrassed but happy): Okay, professor.

  Dav: (Looking at Valeria) Valeria, we’re going to look for the things on this list.

  Valeria: (Hugging Dav’s arm excitedly) Okay, Professor!

  Narrator: Dav looked at her with calm eyes, peace in his gaze, as they walked together, looking for the items on the list.

  Sometimes they stopped to look at clothes, and Valeria would show them to Dav after trying them on like a model.

  Dav: (Thinking) How is it possible that such a beautiful woman like her has been stuck in a library all this time?

  She seems like a lively woman, happy to go to even simple places like shopping malls.

  Narrator: After two hours, everyone reunited at the agreed-upon spot.

  Elysia asked her father for the promised ice cream, smiling.

  Dav: It's already 7:30 PM, let's eat something and then head back.

  (Looking at a restaurant with tables) That place will do, let’s go there.

  (Ordering food after standing in line) Give me the menu, 7 sandwiches with chicken, fries with orange soda, 4 ice creams, 2 milkshakes, and a coffee, thanks.

  Cashier: 52.60€ Sir.

  We’ll bring your meal directly to the table, or you can pick it up if you prefer.

  Dav: I’ll take the first option, thanks.

  (Heading back to the table) Everything’s ordered, settle down and don’t get recognized.

  10 minutes later

  Waiter: (Smiling) Your order, gentlemen.

  This tray is for your wife, and this one for you.

  I’ll bring the others right away.

  Valeria: (Blushing) Th-Thank you..

  Fin: (Happy) So much food!

  Elysia: (Smiling) The ice cream is so good and beautiful.

  Valeria: (Still blushing while eating, thinking) What must he have thought? He seems normal looking at him.

  (Asking) Dav, aren’t you eating anything?

  Dav: I’m not really hungry, just a bit thirsty from the heat.

  If I get hungry, I’ll have some instant noodles later in my room.

  Valeria: (Finished eating, embarrassed, asked) Dav, should we take a photo?

  Dav: Only if you accept the fact that you’ll have to live with this ugly photo with my face cut off.

  Valeria: (Funny and irritated face) Don’t even try! I want you in the photo completely!

  Dav: (Smiling, amused) Alright, alright. Let’s do it quickly.

  Narrator: Valeria leaned even closer to him, hugging his arm with a beaming smile while raising her phone.

  The others, seeing the scene, rushed over.

  Fin/Leo/Gabriel/Cedric/Elysia: (Shouting) US TOO!

  Valeria: (With wide eyes) Huh?! Wait-!

  Narrator: And so, instead of a simple photo with Valeria, Dav found himself squeezed between his enthusiastic students who pushed to get into the frame.

  Click!

  Elysia: (Looking at the photo, satisfied) Perfect!

  Fin: (Laughing) Look at Dav’s face! He looks like he's enduring torture!

  Dav: (Sighing) Because it is...

  Valeria: (Laughing softly) Well, at least it’s a nice memory.

  Narrator: With full bellies and a photo as a reminder of the day, the group got up from the table, ready to return to the academy.

  Dav: (Stretching with a sigh) Let’s go

  Elysia: (Happily hopping) It was a great day!

  Narrator: And as the sun set, Dav knew that, despite the chaos, those moments were more precious than he would ever admit.

  END OF CHAPTER 48