Work Text:
"Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. Anderson!"
53-year-old Todd Anderson, English teacher at Vermont High School, was taken aback by the high-strung voice that came from behind him. He turned around to see Julian, the tall, strapping, handsome head boy of the school, with a red rose in his hand, which he had brought for his favourite teacher.
"Oh! Thank you. Thank you so much, Julian! This is a surprise. A really pleasant surprise!" exclaimed Todd effusively.
"This is for you, sir," said Julian, extending the flower in his hand towards Todd.
Todd hesitated a little but ultimately accepted the rose offered by the 17-year-old kid who stood before him with an expression of intense emotions writ large on his angelic, beautiful face.
"Thanks a lot, Julian. Thank you for this. It's been a while, a long while, since someone gave me a rose on Valentine's Day," said Todd with a weak smile spreading on his face.
"How long has it been, sir?" asked Julian with genuine curiosity.
Todd didn't know how to answer this question. He was silent for a few seconds before he let out a deep sigh and answered. "36 years. It's been 36 long years now."
Now, Julian didn't know how to react to this. "You mean to say you had a Valentine when you were sort of my age?"
"Yes," Todd replied, "I had a Valentine when I was exactly your age. All of 17. And I've never had a Valentine ever since. Ever since I was 17."
"Who was it, Mr. Anderson? Who was your Valentine?" Julian was intrigued.
"My Valentine was exactly a boy like you. Exactly like you. You remind me so much of him. The same smiling face, the same unbridled zest for life, the same spring in his step, the same infectious enthusiasm, the same hyperkinetic energy, the same innocence, the same angelic beauty, the same handsome demeanour, the same slender frame of body, the same sharpness of mind, the same agility of movement, the same magnetism of personality, the same charismatic aura, the same high-spirited extroversion, the same high-strung voice, almost the same person," Todd's voice exuded so much of love and longing. His vision seemed to be getting clouded as his eyes were welling up.
"Oh, wow! Who was he, sir? What was his name and where is he now?" Julian asked affectionately.
"Neil," Todd said the name as if it was a holy name. "His name was Neil. Neil Perry. We were classmates and roommates, and best friends and constant companions, and, unknown to the world, lovers. And, suddenly, one freezing-cold winter night 36 years ago, he disappeared. Just disappeared. And I've been waiting for him since then. Waiting for him since I was 17. Waiting for him for the past 36 years. Waiting for Neil. Waiting for my Valentine. My one and only Valentine." Streams of tears rolled down from Todd's blue eyes.
And Julian just stood there looking at him, not knowing what to do or say.