As the class settled down after the self-introduction, their teacher, Novelyn Nalicia, began scribbling words onto the blackboard.
Written on the blackboard was the class schedule, patting the board so the class adviser could direct everyone's attention on it.
"Everyone, this will be our class schedule for the whole year. You may take a picture or write them on your notebook as a personal reminder. If any of you has any concerns, please speak up now."
At the teacher's soft spoken command, a couple students raised their hands in the air. One of them explained how he was missing one of the books that was supposed to be distributed with everything else, the other had two of the same math books while missing english.
Novelyn had the concerned students follow her out while the rest were given permission to go home.
A few people grabbed their bags and went out of the classroom in small groups. The rest were drawn toward one seat—toward Callisto. They flocked around her like insects flying around a light bulb at night, bombarding her with questions, expressing their admiration, and their desire to connect.
"Is it true that your parents are Raymond Mandjet and Adela Mandjet?"
"Did you really do a special exam and aced everything?"
"You're so pretty. You might be even prettier than Mina in grade 11."
"The silver hair and cat ears looks so real. Can I touch them?"
"We heard about your situation. We're glad to see you're doing well."
"Hey, wanna hang out with us?"
"Let's exchange contact info!"
Though feeling a little overwhelmed by everyone engaging with her, Callisto was glad that her classmates were actually talking to her.
Meanwhile, Elesis was watching quietly from the back, a contented smile wash over her features at the sight of her friend enjoying her interaction with their classmates.
It kind of reminded Elesis of that time in kindergarten after Callisto introduced herself in the class.
* * *
"Callisto! You're super duper cute! Can we be friends?"
"Yes."
"Yay!"
Elesis was the first to approach Callisto, earning the right to be the girl's first friend by pulling her into a tight hug.
Not long after that, the other kids began crowding at Callisto and expressed their desire to be her friend.
Elesis ended up getting pushed aside, but she didn't mind it. Rather, she was taken aback by the sight.
All Callisto did was introduce herself, and she got the whole class vying for her attention.
It was at this moment that Elesis thought;
"She's so cool!"
* * *
A few years later, they met again in the streets of Silangan. Callisto continued to command attention, pulling them in with the simplest of gestures. Elesis wondered how someone could tug at people's strings so easily, to command attention so effortlessly like Callisto.
Unable to grasp the power Callisto possessed, Elesis found herself even fearing it at one point during their reunion.
However, that moment of fear was also the time when she had a hunch about her friend. Somewhere in her mind, Elesis believed Callisto was a good person.
That belief urged her to try and maintain the connection she made with Callisto when they were little, to continue being friends with her.
After spending a lot of time with Callisto since they reunited, El felt grateful to see that her hunch was true.
When she did, the fear she had was replaced by fondness and a desire even greater than the one she previously had years ago, a desire even greater than when they met each other again after a long time. Elesis also came to realize that the answer to her question was presenting itself right in front of her, surrounded by people like her who craved the same connection she had.
Elesis felt nothing but satisfaction at the answer she had reached, at the fact that Callisto could do it because it was her, plain and simple. And in that answer, Elesis found herself repeating her thoughts from years ago.
"She's so cool."
Elesis wanted to join in with the others, to crave her friend's attention just like everyone else, as if the connection they already had would crumble so easily without a proper maintenance.
Of course, that would never be the case. Because Elesis believed so.
But even so, the redhead chose to stay back and just watch Callisto and the class get to know one another. Because they had every right to do so. That, and Elesis figured her friend would want nothing more than to get to know a lot of people now that she was free from her illness.
Unbeknownst to Elesis, her choice would provide a front-row seat at something only she seemed to take notice.
"Huh? Something feels off. The way Calli talks to our classmates is nothing compared to when she talks to me or with Hinata," Elesis thought to herself.
On the surface, it seemed as though Callisto was engaging with her classmates normally, matching their vibe and everything. It looked like she and the others were getting along really well.
But from El's crimson eyes, it looked like Calli was being reserved. It was almost like the silver-haired girl was putting up a barrier between herself and the others.
"Ah!"
Elesis's eyes widened slightly as she came to recognize the wall Callisto put up between herself and their classmates. When she found Callisto with the woman called Karen and came running at them, when she had the urge to touch her cat ears but didn't do so in the end, Elesis could feel that same wall between herself and the silver-haired girl.
There could be no doubting it. It was definitely the same. And to be honest, the redhead couldn't blame Callisto for shielding herself from people or from Elesis back then.
There Elesis was, running at them after pointing a finger at them with wide eyes as if she had seen a ghost, acting all excited because of a cosplay before she could introduce herself. Anyone would put their guard up after that kind of encounter, even Elesis.
However, compared to the wall Callisto built between herself and her classmates, tall and sturdy, the one between her and Elesis was a lot smaller than it was back then.
Yes, it did not disappear completely, a clear sign that Callisto hadn't completely open up to Elesis. Still, the fact that it shrunk down was proof that the two of them had grown closer since they reunited.
Once again, Elesis decided to just watch from the sidelines, recognizing that it was unnecessary to do anything. Elesis believed that Callisto would eventually lower the wall she built for their classmates, just like she did for Elesis. Even if not by its entirety.