Callisto's wide eyes fluttered at the short-haired woman's voice, her mind still processing the information she just received.
"Hired? Just like that?"
"Yeah," Selly nodded, taking a relaxed position on her chair. "You convinced me to hire you, so you're hired. Simple as that."
"I-I see," Callisto stuttered, still in disbelief. "Thank you, Aunt Selly."
"Boss," Selly corrected the young lady. "From now on, you're calling me Boss. Think you can start tomorrow?"
"Yes," said Callisto, a dignified expression on her face. "I'm looking forward to working with you come tomorrow, Boss."
"Likewise. I'll see you tomorrow, then."
After what Callisto would call a successful job interview with her now Boss, Callisto left the office and went back to the main part of the store to meet up with Elesis.
Her sky-blue eyes searched the red head as she walked through the aisles. Eventually, she reached the dining area of the convenience store and found Elesis occupying a table, browsing the net with her smartphone whilst sipping on a carton of Moo Moo Choco Milk.
Another carton was sitting on the table, probably for someone else. Unless Elesis intended to drink that one, too.
For some reason, Callisto felt relieved to see that the red head was patiently waiting for her. Considering she took a lot of her time since they met each other a while ago, the young lady was certain the red head would have opted to leave and went on with her own day by now.
But she was proven wrong.
"I'm back," Callito uttered, approaching the red head's table. "Thanks for the wait."
Elesis turned her attention to Callisto as soon as her first word entered the red head's ears.
"Welcome back," Elesis replied, a curious and optimistic expression spread across her face. "How did it go?"
The young lady shot a thumbs up at the red head. "I got the job."
A pleased smile sprung up on Elesis. "I knew it! My gut feeling told me so!"
With her smartphone still in hand, Elesis gestured at the young lady to come sit down across her.
"Come on, I bought you a drink."
"Thanks," Callisto said gratefully, sitting down on the chair in front of Elesis. "Pure milk..."
"I figured since you're a cat girl, you'd prefer just milk over chocolate milk," Elesis explained. "So I bought you Moo Moo Pure Milk."
"Thank you," Callisto's voice was filled with appreciation for the red head's consideration.
"You're most welcome," Elesis responded, taking a sip of her Choo Choo Choco Milk.
As Callisto stabbed the straw into the carton and took a sip of her own drink, she couldn't help but notice the smartphone in Elesis' hand. Her jaw dropped ever so slightly as she was struck with an idea.
"Elesis," She spoke. "Wanna exchange contact info?"
Elesis' eyes turned immediately to the silver-haired girl, seemingly stunned for a moment. A delighted expression spread across her face afterwards.
"Yes, I'd love to."
Callisto pulled her smartphone out and they began exchanging phone numbers with one another. They sent a message to each other to test it out.
"To tell the truth, I was thinking about asking for your contact info when you gave yours to the cashier in the bookstore," Elesis typed and sent to the young lady's number. "I didn't think you'd be the one to ask me instead. Thank you."
Callisto did not realize that simply exchanging contacts with someone would mean so much to Elesis.
"I'm glad I did it," Callisto replied to the message.
However, she also felt sorry for the red head.
"I think you're a good person, Elesis," Callisto muttered in thought. "Probably a bit of a glutton, too. But... I don't have it in me to completely trust you just yet."
And yet, she wanted to be friends with Elesis. For that reason, Callisto decided that she wanted to get to know Elesis better. She wanted to keep hanging out with her.
"I hope we can become classmates this year," She uttered, her eyes sparkling with hope.
An affectionate smile played on the red head's lips. "Yeah."
*
*
*
The next morning arrived. Callisto fiddled with her oversized hoodie in front of a mirror in her apartment.
Today, she was feeling rather nervous. She had never felt so much anxiety since the time before she underwent the Mutated DNA Fusion.
The reason, because she couldn't stop thinking about going to work for the first time since last night.
After fiddling with her hoodie for no reason at all, Callisto combed her silky silver hair with her bare fingers. Feeling satisfied with how her hair fall over her shoulders, she turned away from the mirror.
Closing the door behind her as she left her room, she could feel the tense muscles in her body with each heavy footstep.
As the distance between the door to her room and herself widened...
"Good morning, Callisto."
The young lady's cat ears jolted at the mention of her name by a middle-aged man. Callisto found Oner standing a few meters away from her, carrying an empty bucket with one hand and a dipper with another.
He seemed to have just finished watering the plants around the building.
"Good morning, Uncle Oner."
Oner took notice of how Callisto responded as well as how she was carrying herself just now.
"You look so stiff like a rock. Nervous?"
Callisto gave Oner a sheepish nod. "I didn't think it would be this nerve-wracking. I envy the main heroine so much for her confidence."
A mirthful laughter escaped the older fellow's lips.
"I get that feeling," Oner revealed. "Trust me when I say that everyone's gone through the same thing, including me and your main heroine. But you'll be able to overcome that anxiety just like everyone."
Oner's experienced words drew a small smile from the young lady, inspiring confidence in her.
"I see. Thank you, Uncle Oner. I feel a little confident now."
The apartment owner nodded approvingly at the young lady.
"Good. Keep that confidence and go out there. I'm rooting for you."
"Yes. I'm heading out."
Callisto waved goodbye at Oner before embarking on a journey towards the convenience store, taking the quickest path possible.
Before long, she arrived at the front of the establishment. She took a deep breath.
"Now then..."
Pushing the glass door open and triggering the chime...
"Hello! Welcome!"
Callisto entered the convenience store.