Elesis's body went rigid at Callisto's tight embrace; the silver-haired girl's hold was so firm it was almost as if she was afraid the redhead would disappear if she were to let go.
"I couldn't tell you about my secret and thought I was such a fake friend because of it, so I ended up saying things I never should have said to you," Callisto said, her hold on Elesis tightened even more, her voice shaking with overwhelming emotions threatening to spill out of her eyes as she continued to speak. "I was wrong. I never wanted to push you away or keep a distance from you and everyone else. All I wanted was to get closer with you. With everyone. So please, forgive me, Elesis. Please keep being my friend."
"Calli..."
Elesis was at a loss for words. She didn't expect this kind of confrontation with Callisto. For all she knew, Elesis was the one who was supposed to offer her apology. But after giving Hinata a glance, which he returned with a nod, telling her it was her and Callisto's moment wordlessly, the redhead finally allowed her body to relax.
Her arms fell around Callisto's body; a gentle caress that was comforting enveloped the silver-haired girl.
"Of course, I'll be your friend. Always."
Like a dam opening its floodgates, tears finally flowed freely from Callisto's eyes as she allowed her emotions overtake her. She held on to Elesis harder; her sobbing was a mix of both regret and relief.
Regret for having said what she told Elesis back on the rooftop yesterday and relief that she no longer has to push her friend away again.
* * *
Eventually, Callisto's cries subsided. And as all three of them sat down on the tree next to one another, Elesis used the opportunity to voice her own apology.
"I'm also sorry about what happened on the rooftop yesterday." Elesis turned to Callisto beside her. "I tried my best to make sure you get to talk to a lot of people and with me, hoping it would help you open up to me and everyone else. When I asked you why you won't open up to anyone, I clearly had no idea if what I'm doing was right, and I never considered your own feelings. It was very insensitive and selfish of me. So, I'm sorry, Calli."
A smile of understanding and fondness fell on Callisto's lips as she leaned her head against the redhead's shoulder. "So that's why it felt like you always had something else in your mind even when you talked to me and the others the past few days. Well, I can't blame you for thinking about why I've been keeping a distance with everyone after knowing me for a long while now. Don't worry about what happened yesterday. Being here next to you is what really matters."
Elesis rested her head against Callisto's; their closeness was nothing compared to the distance they used to have when Calli was actively distancing herself from the redhead. "You're right. Thank you, Calli."
A brief moment of silence befell them, a silent appreciation of each other's company drifting through the air around them. Then, an audible growl of Elesis's stomach made the two girls and Hinata giggle heartily.
"Looks like someone's hungry," Hinata jabbed with a playful smirk on his face.
Elesis's eyes widened as she remembered what her friend handed to her before leaving the classroom.
"Oh, right. I have a burger with me."
The redhead pulled out the wrapped burger to show Hinata and Callisto, only for them to wonder if just one would be enough.
"It's fine," Elesis said as she opened the wrapper. "I plan to share some with you both."
"Are you sure?" Callisto squinted. "Won't you lose weight?"
"It's fine, I'll just buy another on our way back to class."
Callisto and Hinata watched the redhead's hands as she broke the burger in half. Then, she turned one half into two once more and gave one each to the silver-haired girl and the young man.
All Callisto and Hinata could do as they received their small piece was to smile in amusement. One same thought crossed their minds.
This was indeed Elesis.
While the young man was expressing his gratitude for the piece of burger, Callisto also brought out her half-finished lunch box.
"Would you guys like some?"
"Ooh! Thank you!"
Of course, Elesis didn't let the chance pass by and took one of the three rolled omelettes. On the other hand, this was the first time Hinata saw Callisto's lunchbox and couldn't help but wonder;
"Did you make this yourself?"
Callisto nodded earnestly. "I didn't want to buy lunch in the cafeteria all the time, so I looked up some recipes on my smartphone. It's not much, but I think I did pretty well with them."
The young lady offered one of the two remaining rolled omelettes to Hinata, and he gratefully accepted it.
He looked at it. No, he examined it carefully the same way a detective would in a crime scene to unravel the case they were given. He was observing every detail as if it would help him know more about Callisto.
Then finally, Hinata put the food in his mouth, and the flavors exploded. Hinata didn't need to explain himself; the way his mouth worked on the omelette with eagerness and the way his expression softened during the process told the whole story of how Callisto prepared them.
Once he swallowed the food in his mouth, his eyes landed on the remaining rolled omelette, but Callisto's fingers were already clinging to the toothpick holding it when she noticed his gaze.
"Ah," Callisto looked at the rolled omelette, then back to the young man. "Would you like some more?"
An audible gulp echoed from Hinata's throat before he answered, "If you don't mind."
"Then..."
Hinata expected Callisto to hand the toothpick holding the rolled omelette to him so he could eat it himself. But instead of that happening, Callisto leaned in closer, the rolled omelette in hand as she offered it to the young man.
"Here. Open up."