Arriving at the barangay Silangan’s nature park, Callisto and her group were met by the cool, refreshing breeze. The trees dancing with the wind like an eager welcome to the park’s new visitors.

Nature presented itself before them, mesmerizing and relaxing. Even though she had already been in the park with Elesis and Hinata countless times whenever she needed a change of pace from their group study sessions, Callisto couldn’t help but get her breath taken away by its beauty. It showed just how the people taking care of the park was doing a very well job at doing so.

They wandered about, talked about things related to school, and laughed with one another. With each moment, the bond of the group seemed to thicken and get stronger. One wouldn’t think this was their first time meeting each other, on the first day of their school year together.

Through it all, Elesis was keeping an eye at the time on her phone. She was doing it secretly for Callisto. Elesis was making sure they still had some time left before her friend would eventually need to leave for her shift at the convenience store.

Elesis wanted to go through what they had planned today—to go to the park and visit the milktea shop afterward—with Callisto. Believing it would help her friend get closer with the others, the redhead bide her time for the opportunity to get everyone’s attention.

That opportunity didn’t take long to show itself. Everyone was sitting under a large tree, perfectly hidden from the heat of the sun as they kill time while chatting with one another. As soon as she found the chance to speak, Elesis stood up, attracting the eyes of the group and Callisto.

"Shall we head to the milktea shop? I kinda wanna see what the new shop have in them."

The group, having satiated their craving to bask in nature’s beauty, agreed with Elesis’ idea without a second thought. Of course, that included Callisto.

And with that, they head toward the park’s exit. But on the way, they happened to come across another group of students, grade 10 students like them.

The other group’s curious stares found Callisto’s figure. One couldn’t tell if they were entranced or bewildered by her sight. Perhaps both.

But one person from the other group seemed to look at Callisto with something else. Familiarity. Callisto felt the same thing when her eyes landed on him.

"You’re Callisto, right?"

The boy asked, his expression tells he already knew the answer even before he spelled his question.

"Oh, Adrian."

Adrian, the eldest son of Arnold who she met at the riverbanks a while ago, approached Callisto with an unmistakable excitement in his eyes.

"I knew it was you! I thought you were different a person because your eyes looked different from the first time I saw you, so I couldn’t approach you during the Brigada Eskwela. But I’m glad to know it’s actually you."

Callisto’s body flinched, her cat ears perking up in alert at Adrian’s mention of her eyes. She remembered meeting him and his father when she was trying to figure out if her powers had a negative after effects in the Riverbanks park.

She met and talked to them with her eyes shining gold unlike now with their normal sky-blue shade.

"Her eyes looked different?"

Elesis, who was beside Callisto and listening the entire time, leaned forward to inspect Callisto’s eyes from below. It took a strong will for Callisto to not recoil and act as normal as she could, just to not appear suspicious.

"They looked normal to me, though."

A soft chuckle escaped Callisto’s lips as she explained that, when she met Adrian, she was actually wearing a pair of golden contact lenses. That was the reason why Adrian thought her eyes were different from when they first met.

Elesis was quick to understand her friend’s explanation, trust her every word without hesitation. Meanwhile, Callisto let out an internal sigh of relief, glad that the explanation she literally came up with just now seemed believable to them.

Right then, the redhead remembered their group’s plan to head to the milktea shop, her plan to help Callisto get closer with their classmates.

"Calli, we need to go now."

Adrian raised a curious eyebrow at the hint of urgency in the redhead’s voice. He then turned back to face Callisto and ask;

"Are you guys going somewhere?"

Before answering Adrian, Callisto urged Elesis and the others to head out first, assuring them she would follow shortly after her conversation with the boy in front of her.

Elesis agreed, a hint of reluctance in her expression as she followed behind their group. She glanced at Callisto. Part of her was elated to see her friend talking to another student outside their class, but another part of her was worried that Callisto might not be able to join them in the milktea shop if she stayed behind for too long.

Once Elesis tore her gaze away from Callisto and Adrian’s direction, Callisto turned her attention back to the boy before her.

"Everyone wanted to visit the new milktea shop that opened recently. Have you guys been there?"

Callisto glanced behind Adrian where his group stood with a smile, letting them know she acknowledged their presence. That small gesture had both boys and girls left in awe, some of them even had a pink hue on their cheeks. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"We actually just came from there. Their cookies and cream are amazing. You should try it, Callisto."

A grateful smile played on Callisto’s mouth at Adrian’s offer. "I see. I will try it."

A brief pause. Adrian looked at Callisto, really looked at her, losing himself in thought as he drank in every detail of Callisto’s face.

She was pretty. The pounding in his heart brooked no argument with that statement.

"Is there something on my face?"

Callisto tilted her head to the side in wonder. Realizing he was caught staring, a pink hue creeped up Adrian’s face. He shook his head frantically in response.

"No, no. There’s nothing. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask, but..."

Adrian pulled out a smartphone from his pocket.

"Can I get your number?"

Callisto simply smiled as she took her phone out.

"Of course."

That exchange prompted Adrian’s group to pull their smartphones out as well.

"Please, let me get your contact info!"

"Me, too!"

"Can I get yours too?"

"Me, too!"

Callisto gladly indulged everyone’s request. Once they were done exchanging contact info with one another, Adrian spoke to the young lady again.

"Now then. Your friends are probably waiting for you, so we’ll head out now."

"Yeah. Take care, Adrian, you guys."

"You too."