For a moment, there was only silence in the principal's office as Edmond gave the young lady a scrutinizing look. Then his normal expression turned into a small smile as he made a playful response.
"If that's your intention from the beginning, you should have said so way earlier."
Callisto could not help the shy pink coloring her cheeks. "I was kind of debating with myself whether I should aim to be at grade 11 with a friend or stay at grade 10 with another friend. Then I ended up wanting to see how far I can get with my current knowledge. Sorry about that, Mr. Principal."
Edmond chuckled, shaking his head in amusement at the young lady's response. "You're interesting, Callisto Mandjet. You truly are Raymond and Adela's child. Just so you know, the two retakes you did aren't actually grade 12, but are college level test papers."
"Huh?" Callisto's cat ears stilled in shock. "Is that true? No wonder it felt more complex than the first time I took the grade 12 test. But why didn't you tell me earlier, Principal?"
"Just call it a selfish thought," Edmond responded. "But anyhow, the fact that you were able to finish one of them with a perfect score and with the same duration as those high school level tests you took means you are more than qualified to be admitted to a university. I strongly believe that you should go to college, but I know I don't have a say on what you want to make of this assessment. So I called the person who could pursuade your decision instead."
"Huh? Who?"
The person Edmond was referring to was none other than Callisto's father, Raymond Mandjet.
* * *
That time when Edmond made Callisto take a break for a while during the EPT, he took out his mobile phone and contacted Raymond's number.
"Hello. It's Edmond. We need to talk about Callisto Mandjet. Your daughter."
"Calli, huh? What's the matter?"
During this time, Raymond was taking the day off with Adela in the Mandjet residence, just drinking coffee and watching the television while sitting side by side on the couch.
"I just made your daughter take a college level test and finished it with a perfect score like nothing just like the rest. Do you even know what time it is today? We're not even half a day yet. Just what kind of tutoring did you do to her?"
Raymond turned on the speaker so Adela could also hear their conversation. The husband and wife turned to each other once, then Adela's attention returned to the TV, leaving it to Raymond to answer one of their old friend's query.
"We didn't really do much though. During the past month, she only studied with some of her friends."
"Not much, huh."
Edmond pinched his nose in frustration. If it wasn't Raymond saying those things, the principal wouldn't believe such a thing.
But it was Raymond. Knowing him, Edmond felt more inclined to trust him.
"I guess your kid's really just that incredible," Edmond commented, his voice calm and understanding. "Probably even more so than you two."
A proud grin was playing across Raymond's face at Edmond praising his daughter, even urging him to keep doing that.
But rather than doing so, Edmond wanted to voice out the reason why he called his friend instead.
"I called you because I believe Callisto should be admitted to a university instead of Silangan High—"
"But since you don't have a say on what the test taker wanted to do after the EPT, you want me to convince my daughter to go to college instead," Raymond interjected, speaking what Edmond had in mind.
"Yeah. What do you say, Ray?"
"Sorry, I can't help you with that. Only you and a few others knows the truth, so you should be able to understand where I'm getting at."
Edmond sighed as his body deflated on his chair. "I understand. I just think it's a shame for her to not go when she could have. Not many people get an opportunity like this, you know."
"I get what you're saying," Raymond responded, his voice calm and understanding. "But at the end of the day, it's Callisto's choice to make. Although, if you really think she's passing an incredible opportunity to enter college at her age, then I give you permission to convince her yourself."
Edmond thought about it for a second before asking Raymond; "Are you sure?"
"Why not," Raymond answered nonchalantly while putting half of his attention back to the TV. "It's your suggestion to begin with. I can't guarantee Calli will agree to it, but at least you tried, right?"
* * *
With Raymond's permission, Edmond intended to let Callisto know that he wanted her to consider going to college after giving her the final test papers, which was made of college level material.
However...
"You gave me your answer before I could even speak my mind," Edmond sighed in defeat as he slumped on his desk.
Callisto smiled awkwardly at his slumped form. "Uh... Sorry."
Edmond nonchalantly fixed his sitting posture on his chair, waving a dismissive hand at the young lady and her apology. "Don't apologize. You simply made your choice. That's not something to feel sorry for or anything, so don't be. Understand?"
Callisto was quick to set aside the awkward expression on her face. "Yes. I understand."
"Good," Edmond continued with a nod, his voice taking on a dignified tone, one befitting a principal of a public school. "Now then, since you offer not to take the test further, we can now conclude that today's Educational Placement Test is officially over."
Callisto bowed in a silent agreement with the principal's statement, affirming the conclusion of the EPT.
Having already brought the necessary requirements to enrol to Silangan High with her, all that was needed for Callisto was to complete the enrollment form given to her by Edmond himself, and hand it all to the principal.
And with that, Callisto Mandjet is officially enrolled to the Silangan High.
"Thank you for all of your trouble today, Mr. Principal," Callisto said politely to the principal, a warm smile of gratitude playing across her face.
Edmond shrugged in response. "It's hardly any trouble at all. I was expecting the test would take an entire day, but who knew the one taking the test is a prodigy?"
Callisto could not help the chuckle rumbling through her chest at the principal's playful quip. "I still got a lot to learn, but I appreciate the compliment!"
With that, Callisto finally left the principal's office, grabbing the smartphone in her handbag to let Hinata know she was on her way to the restaurant.