Callisto arrived at the recently opened milktea shop, her sky-blue eyes found the group inside who just received their orders.

Elesis’ gaze landed on Callisto right away as she entered the establishment, a flash of relief on her face as she stood up and ran at her.

"Calli," she waved at her eagerly. "I got the cookies and cream you requested!"

"Thank you."

Elesis watched Callisto sit down across from her, easily joining the conversation as though she was there with them the entire time.

The redhead was certain that it would take more than just a visit to the nature park and the milktea shop to make Callisto open up to her and their classmates. To really open up. The events today was simply a step toward that goal.

Elesis was determined to reach that goal, one step at a time. And so, she made a silent vow to herself.

"I’ll make you open up to us. To me. Just you wait, Calli."

After a short while, Callisto looked at the time on her smartphone and announced her departure.

With some playful banter with Elesis and the others, Callisto left the milktea shop before everyone else with a smile on her face. However, once she was out their field of view, that smile faded like it was nothing. Replaced by something dark.

* * *

Arriving at the convenience store, Callisto was met by her colleagues.

"Good afternoon," Josephine greeted, shooting Callisto a small grin. "Feels weird, doesn’t it? Coming to the store for your new shift schedule."

Callisto chuckled softly.

"You’re right. It still feels like I’m here because of my usual study sessions with Hinata and Elesis."

Patricia came out of the personnel door, looking pretty and fresh with make up as one hand held on the strap of her bag. Soon as her gaze landed on Callisto, she approached her with a bright expression on her face.

"Calli! The uniform looks good on you! How was your first day of school?"

"It was fun. I met a lot of people and they’re all really nice. We went to the nature park and checked out the new milktea shop before I came here."

"Sounds like you’re having a lot of fun already! That’s good to hear. Did you meet some who are into reading novels?"

"Yes. There’s a few in our class who reads books."

"Really now?"

"Calli’s not bringing them here just so you could talk to them about your weird books."

"My books aren’t weird, they’re exquisite!"

Just as Josephine interjected between Callisto and Patricia’s conversation, drawing a light chuckle from the silver-haired girl, Francis and Lewis came out of the personnel door in their store crew uniform. They were followed shortly by Shino and Hugo, looking all neat and ready to go out.

"Oh, Callisto’s here. Hey," Lewis greeted once his gaze landed on the silver-haired girl. "You look good in your uniform."

The three guys who appeared with him agreed in unison. Callisto looked at them fondly as she accepted their compliments sincerely.

Right then, the door chime sounded, drawing the attention of the entire staff present to the person who entered the store.

That person was one of them, Hinata, also in a school uniform.

Callisto and Hinata’s eyes met. They exchanged smiles and greeted one another before the young man turned to greet the others.

Patricia stepped up to speak with Hinata.

"Hina, you’re late by... not really. How’s school? Calli actually got here before you. Did your teacher gave you homework already?"

"Not yet. I went out with my friends for a bit before coming here. That’s all."

Callisto’s breath hitched. Hinata’s words reminded her of that moment when Mina Minana mentioned she was meeting up with Hinata and the rest of their group. And again, just like when she talked with Mina, thinking about Hinata meeting up with the blonde girl seemed to evoke a rather strange feeling from Callisto.

The thought of Hinata being with Mina seemed to make something twist tightly inside Callisto.

"Why do I feel like this?" She asked herself as she looked down at her chest, at her heart, the part where she could feel it the most.

Callisto’s gaze returned at the ongoing conversation between Hinata and Patricia.

"I see. It’s a good thing you get to hang out with your friends. Grade 11 and 12 is going to be a lot busier than in grade 10. Trust me, I’ve been there."

"You’re right. I heard our teacher is pretty strict, too. So my friends are thinking about actually putting effort into studying."

Hugo approached Patricia to the side, adding; "Your teacher is Miss Sherly, right? She was also my teacher when I was in grade 11 in Silangan High. She’s not gonna let you pass even if you’re only short of one point in your grade."

"Well, that’s how it should be anyway. And it’s not like grades are a problem for Hina."

Callisto and the others watched as Pat stood next to Hina smacking his back like a proud big sister as she spouted good words about him.

"This guy tutored Calli until her EPT. He also helped me once to study for a test even though I was supposed to be his senior. Isn’t he amazing?"

"Don’t act so proud while saying that."

Callisto looked down at herself once more. Hinata, feeling flattered by Pat’s words, noticed how the young lady seemed to be in thought about something. She looked troubled. Perturbed. And Hinata could not help but wonder to himself what was going on inside her head.

What was she thinking?

"You lot... I didn’t hire all of you just for me to act like your parent and tell you to stop dilly-dallying all the time."

Selly’s words echoed like thunder around them. Francis felt it the most because he was supposed to take over Selly who was manning the eatery after changing to his store crew uniform with Lewis.

They all stood in front of Selly like cadets before the commanding officer, singing their words of agreement with their boss.

Francis didn’t wait. He went straight to the eatery. Hugo, Shino and Patricia told Josephine they would wait for her in the eatery so she could change. And Lewis took Josephine’s spot for the cash register.

Josephine turned to Callisto and Hinata. "Let’s go, you two."

"Yeah." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Callisto put on a smile as she matched Josephine’s pace toward the personnel door. Hinata followed shortly behind the two girls, his gaze never leaving Callisto’s form. Thinking, wondering to himself.