#noimatations | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

footballffbarbiex · 4 years ago

Text

Call Me Virgil.

Oh my gosh so teacher series! Got to noimate my boy Virg where he comes to the school on behalf of the LFC Foundation and has a PE session with the kids and it just so happens to be the school and the class his daughter is in so she makes a big show of introducing them and bam! Sparks are flying!

_____

Virgil wouldn’t say he was nervous, but he was certainly feeling something. Excited? A tinge of nerves perhaps because this wasn’t like playing. He could prepare for that. Being on that pitch was something he lived for. But being in front of a whole class of eager children wanting to learn? That was something else entirely. He could control his language, put the biggest smile on his face but trying to get small children who were so innocently and harshly honest to like you? Now that was something else. Virgil would rather be out there on the pitch doing what he did than try to convince children to do something as simple as form an orderly line, put your left foot forward and pat your head while rubbing your stomach. Because all it takes is for one child, one, not to and the others begin to waiver too.

Virgil took his hat off to any teacher for controlling a whole class the way they do. He truly gave them respect, more so, since his daughter had come into his life. That very daughter that he watches now on the field, sitting with her legs crossed as she picks at blades of grass. She doesn’t know that he’s coming here, but she’d been excited this morning while eating her breakfast that daddy’s club was coming to school to lead their PE class. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how he was. He won’t be better than you though,” she’d told him confidently, almost talking into her spoon of cereal as it was so close to her mouth for minimal drips.

The sun beats down on them, a bright and sunny morning to lift their spirits and hopefully keep them in a good mood. They’re all talking animatedly, excited to see who will be coming in but the look on his daughter’s face as he heads across the grass with her teacher makes it all worthwhile.

The class pulls together, hanging off every single word that comes from Virgil’s mouth once he starts speaking. A camera crew is there, filming everything with the consent of the parents and any who did not consent had the right to pull their child from the PE class. Pictures are taken throughout the afternoon and Virgil manages to make them laugh, talk, join in with his conversations and do exactly as he wants.

He participates, jogging beside them as they go about their routines. Virgil tries his hardest not to keep looking over at his daughter but he’s so proud of how far she’s come along. His divorce hadn’t been easy, with her taking a lot of it on her shoulders while thinking she was to blame. For a 6-year-old to blame herself for the breakdown of his marriage, that was a tough pill to swallow. To see her retreat into herself, swallow up that bubbly personality that she had was hard to deal with.

Only recently had she begun to open back up, a glimmer of her previous persona was coming back out and it was a joy to see. She was relaxing, becoming more like herself rather than the guilt ridden version he’d seen and this right now, surrounded by her classmates as they get to see her daddy for who he is, not just the football star that they see on the TV. Of course, they see the way he performs with them, sometimes letting them win, sometimes beating them as well as showing off a few tricks. But they mostly see Virgil for being Virgil.

They see his soft side, the side that speaks openly and honestly with them. The one who answers all kinds of questions as he sits on the grass with them and never once makes them feel as though he’s speaking down to them. But Virgil wasn’t anticipating the way his daughter pays attention. She may be young, but she’s far from silly. She’s far more observant than she’s given credit for and the way she takes his hand and leads him over to her teacher at the end of the session.

The two of them have spoken throughout the afternoon, the conversation had flowed easily, her laugh had made it so that he’d wanted to hear it again. Virgil had found himself turning the charm, doing it more so when she reacts well to the tone and not only reacts but also responds in a similar fashion. She returns the comments he makes in the same manner and when she flashes him a playful smile, he has to pull himself back, try and control his facial expressions to not give himself away completely but it’s been a long time since he’s felt this comfortable so soon. Of course, she could just be being polite, but he knows when there’s chemistry and there’s certainly chemistry here.

“Miss? This is my daddy.” She proudly declares while fluttering her long eyelashes innocently. She leads him over to her teacher once the afternoon is over and he’s taken photos with those who wants them. She holds their joined hands out and tries to push Virgil before her, but he stands his ground.

“I do see the resemblance.” Her teacher comments with a broad smile and his daughter beams with pride, “it’s brilliant of you to come and do this today. The class really seemed to enjoy it.”

“Of course. It’s bee-”

“He kept this a secret.” His daughter says with such accusation as her arms fold over her chest and she tries to paint a pissed-off expression. She has his pouty face down to a t and it unnerves him at times, this being one of them. “He made me think that someone else was coming.” She says.

“Oh, did he now? And what did you think when you saw him walk across the field?”

“Happy, he got to see my friends and teach us.”

“Would you have me back again?” Virgil asks as she begins to swing their hands between them.

“And let them like you more than me?” She asks, visibly offended at the thought of this. “No.” She tells the two of them.

“Hey, do you know what I think?” Her teacher says, pulling the attention away from something negative. “I think you have scored some major cool points today.”

“You do?”

“Uh-huh, who else can say Virgil is their daddy?”

“That is true.” She agrees with a nod. “Can I go play with my friends before we go home?”

“Of course.”

“And so,” her teacher begins once she’s out of ear shot, “it’s us. Again.”

“Again. You make it sound so bad. I can head over there, hang with the children. Make polite conversation if that makes you feel better?”

“Discuss the weather and politics?”

“Exactly, all the small talk. You know how it is.” He grins and she laughs. “She likes you, y’know.” Virgil tells her. “I can see why.”

“She’s a good kid. A fast learner, challenges herself. It’s nice to see her come back out of her shell.”

“Seeing her with everyone makes it easier for me to see why that is. She looks comfortable here.” Virgil replies, his eyes fixed on his daughter.

“She is. She’s friends with everyone and doesn’t like leaving anyone out.” She really was making him proud. “You’re raising a good child Mr Van Dijk.”

“Please, call me Virgil.”

“I will.” She grins, a dimple popping on show as she turns to look at him properly and his knees damn well nearly buckle beneath him.

And in that moment, he wishes she was calling him both in name and via his number.

________

crossed out means that tumblr can’t link you or you’ve changed your blog name. let me know if you’d like to be added :)

_______

60 notes · View notes