Chapter 69: New Development III

"Hmmm, then I guess you won't find out about that in this school," Gabriel replied.

"Is it because we are about to graduate?" Luca remarked.

Gabriel frowned before once again putting down his book.

"Sometimes I wonder if you really are a jack-of-all-trades."

Luca clutched his chest, looking offended.

Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"It is obviously because most of you are keeping quiet about your real identities. Though the school is keeping quiet about our backgrounds, anyone could try and look into it. It's just that most of us have equal standing, so no one bothered befriending us unless we met at parties."

He then slapped Luca's hand away from his chest because he kept up with his act.

"The only ones people would try to befriend are those from the prominent families in City S. Meaning you, and maybe even Harmony, whom they look down on—"

"Shhhh, why are you announcing this now?"

Luca covered his mouth and looked around.

Gabriel once again slapped his hand away, "No one is here. I am not that stupid."

"But you really think she is part of those families?" Luca asked after sitting back down.

"Her name does not come up anywhere. It was hidden quite well," Gabriel replied without batting an eyelid.

"You looked into her?" Luca asked in shock.

"No one told us not to," Gabriel replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"And she does not come up anywhere?"

"She is using a fake name, which is quite normal. But most of us don't—unless she is just like you, someone from City S."

Luca looked enlightened.

Gabriel was close to hitting his own face. What happened to this person?

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Why?" Luca asked.

"You seem stupid at this moment."

"Hey, that hurts," Luca complained.

"What I'm saying should not enlighten you," Gabriel pointed out.

"Oh, yeah, it doesn't. It was just a reaction," Luca shrugged.

Gabriel picked up his book and started reading, ignoring him completely.

"I'm joking! I'm joking!"

Luca slowly pulled the book away from Gabriel's face.

"Let's seriously talk now," he looked at him pleadingly.

Gabriel sighed, "Anyway, because of the identities, I don't think you could say you are genuinely befriending her."

Meaning Gabriel accepted him as his friend because he told them who he truly was. And that he was simply an acquaintance to Beatrice and Kathrine, whom he kept his identity from.

Luca realized this little detail and thought hard about it.

"If you really want to become her friend, you need to introduce your real identity to her."

"I guess you are right."

"But most importantly, it will only work out when she accepts you as her friend," he added at the end.

Picking up his book and bag, he started walking out of their room, intending to go home.

Luca sighed at his last words. That was right—Harmony needed to accept it first.

Then he realized that Gabriel had left.

"Hey, wait for me!"

…

With that, days passed, and the day of their graduation came.

"Have a picture with us," Beatrice and Kathrine approached Harmony.

"Later," Harmony replied, gesturing at the people waiting to take a picture with Beatrice.

And some with Kathrine.

"You promise," Beatrice squinted her eyes.

Harmony gave a nod of affirmation.

After a while, seeing that the group was busy with the students who wished to keep in contact with them or take pictures, she chose to step away for a bit.

There was a place she needed to be at this moment.

Other than this group, there was one person she needed to show her gratitude to, no matter what.

"Oh, why are you here?"

"I'm seeing your face one last time," she replied.

Larissa raised an eyebrow, "Should I feel grateful?"

Harmony shook her head, "I am here to thank you."

Larissa was a bit stunned.

"I was able to rest comfortably during my last months in this school because of your help. That is why—thank you so much for everything."

From behind her, she pulled out a bouquet of blue hydrangeas with deep pink roses.

She had gone to her locker to take this out.

Larissa blinked in pleasant surprise.

"For me?" she couldn't help but still ask.

Harmony walked closer and handed her the bouquet.

"I don't have much right now. But someday, when I can, I will return with a better gift of gratitude," Harmony said.

Larissa pursed her lips and slowly placed the bouquet on her table before pulling Harmony into a tight hug.

"Then come back. Be sure to come back and show who you will become. I will wait for you—that will be the greatest gift you could give me as a teacher."

Harmony blinked before she slowly stretched her hands and returned the hug.

Larissa felt it, and she couldn't help but feel emotional.

Soon, Harmony bid her goodbye. Beatrice had messaged her, asking if she had left without taking pictures with them.

After the door closed, Larissa couldn't help but tear up.

"Seriously, I never thought I would get attached to any student here. I only came to work here for that nephew of mine, but here I am, getting emotional over a student I spent time with for just a few months."

She sniffed before picking up the bouquet.

"You really are a great person. To have such genuine actions in returning the small favor I was able to give you."

She took in the scent of the flowers before sighing in contentment.

"It smells good."

After some thought, she made a call.

"Hey, sister?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you help me preserve some flowers?"

"Oh, could it be from a guy you're dating?"

"No, of course not. I am not dating anyone."

"It sounds important, though."

"It is a very special one," she answered with a smile.