Callisto was inside her apartment, standing in front of her mirror as she tried to fix the wrinkles on her collared shirt she paired with her jeans.
She also fixed her long silver hair into a simple ponytail.
"All right."
Once she was satisfied with her appearance, simple and formal, the young lady grabbed the handbag Adela gave her during their recent visit to Leona's grave along with Raymond and let it hang over her shoulder as she left her apartment unit.
Waiting right at Oner's apartment parking lot were Hinata and Elesis. Both dressed formally for today as well.
As soon as they spotted Callisto walking out of the apartment building, small smiles formed from their lips.
"Calli," Elesis waved her hand at the silver-haired girl, carrying herself with her usual cheerful vibe. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Callisto returned a smile at the two. "Thanks for waiting."
"Did you bring a pen with you," Hinata inquired, his voice low and calm as he faced Callisto.
"Yes," Callisto tapped at her handbag. "I brought three just in case."
A chuckle escaped Hinata's lips. Then, he pulled something out of his pants' pocket.
A pen.
"I also brought mine just in case," He revealed, a look of surprise etched on Calli's face. "You can have it."
"Thanks," Callisto let Hinata's pen fall from his hand to hers, a grateful expression on her face. "Better to have more than nothing at all."
After more than a month of preparation, the day of Callisto's Educational Placement Test had finally arrived.
Hinata and Elesis led the way for Callisto toward the Silangan High public school.
It only took them roughly ten or so minutes of walking and they were already at the Silangan High main gate.
"Here we are," Elesis announced in a soft tone voice.
Hinata approached the gate to the side to talk to the guard and open it for them.
"Hey, Calli! Wanna see where our school building is for this year?"
"Why are you assuming I'm going to be in the same grade as you?"
Once the gate was opened, the two girls followed closely behind Hinata and went inside the school grounds.
"I'm not assuming," Elesis argued, her tone brimming with confidence. "I'm stating facts."
"Don't jinx it," Callisto nudged the red head's elbow with hers.
Elesis did the same to the girl with cat ears. "I'm not jinxing anything. Anyway, that building over there that's facing the main gate is where I went last year. It's one of the buildings grades 9 and 10 share."
Callisto's gaze panned around the building Elesis mentioned. Then her eyes shifted toward the covered court as they approached it.
"This covered court is where most events take place," Elesis explained, acting as a tour guide for Callisto. "While the outdoor activities happen in the track and field at the far end of the school grounds."
As they enter the court, Callisto noticed a lot of people at the covered court, either cleaning around with broomsticks and dustpans in hand or just chatting away with one another.
"So this is what Brigada Eskwela looks like," Callisto commented as the three of them head toward the other exit on the opposite side of the court.
"It's only a week left before the new school year starts, so the school's pretty busy already," Elesis responded, her face bright with excitement as she continued acting like a tour guide. "Speaking of which, you can join me tomorrow if you want."
"I'll do it probably with a different class."
"Aw, come on, don't say that! I'm sure we'll be classmates this year just like in kindergarten!"
A mirthless chuckle escaped Calli's lips.
Once they passed the exit, they strolled some more down a set of steps toward another school building.
"This one is where we will spend the coming school year, Calli."
Callisto faced the two story building with a deadpan expression. "You really don't wanna let me go, huh."
An amused smile was etched on Hinata's face while listening to the girls in silence.
Elesis waggled a finger in the air, clicking her tongue playfully as she bit back at the silver-haired girl's comment.
"That is how one manifest desires into reality."
"So you're jinxing my EPT after all."
Right then, some guy peeked down at where the three were from the second floor of the building, his eyes zeroed in on the red head as he recognized her.
"Hey, El," the young man called, his tone casual as he waved at her. "You're late! Come help us clean the chairs."
"I know," Elesis waved back at the boy. "I'll be there in a sec."
The red head turned to the young man and young lady, announcing that this was her stop. "Good luck on the EPT, Calli. I'll see you in our classroom tomorrow!"
With that, Elesis stormed off into the building, leaving behind Hinata and Callisto to their devices. All Callisto was able to do was to send the red head off with a smile.
"I'll walk you to the Principal's office," Hinata started leading the way back to cross the covered court once again, the shortest route toward the office.
Callisto followed shortly behind him with a nod.
"So, what did you say when he invited you out, Mina?"
"Of course, I rejected his invitation. He's way below my standards, you know."
"Figured."
"It's crazy to think he thought he even had a chance with you when most people know you only have eyes on one guy in this school."
At the Silangan High's main gate, a group of four girls, one of them standing out with a blonde hair, were chatting about with one another when one of them took notice of a young lady with silver hair and a handsome young man making their way to the principal's office.
"Hey, it's Hinata," one of the girls pointed in surprise at the two before they disappeared behind a building.
"Who's that girl with him," another girl asked condescendingly with a raised eyebrow.
"A girl," the one called Mina didn't get a glimpse of Hinata and Callisto, leaving her clueless.
Noticing the curious expression on Mina's face, the fourth girl made a suggestion to go to the principal's office as well. But before they could all agree, one teacher appeared from their left and called them to help clean the classrooms with everyone else.
Mina reluctantly followed everyone the opposite of where the principal's office were.