The Cat's Tail-Chapter 32: Too Kind

"Woah," Callisto exclaimed. "It's big all right."

Hinata chuckled softly. "There's a reason why Marikina city is nicknamed the "Shoe Capital of the Phillippines."

"Want me to take a photo of you with the giant shoes, Calli?" Elesis asked, taking out her smartphone as she stood next to the young lady.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! It will be a good profile picture, you know."

Callisto smiled gratefully at the red head. "All right. Make sure to get a good one for me."

After taking a photo of herself and another one with Elesis and Hinata, they continued their exploration in the mall. Eventually, they found themselves at the very far back where the Phillippine Science Centrum was located.

It was a museum where visitors, especially younger ones, could interact with their educational and engaging exhibits.

Elesis grabbed the van de graff with both hands. "Look! My hair's standing up, aren't they?"

"Wanna try it, Callisto," Hinata turned to the silver-haired girl, drawing a chuckle and a worried expression out of her.

"I don't think it will work on me, though."

"It will, don't worry," He assured, his voice a melody tugging the young lady's trust.

"Okay... I'll try it, then."

Callisto reluctantly joined Hinata and Elesis, their hands held on to the sphere. In that instant, strands of hair from Callisto and Hinata joined Elesis' as they stood up in the air.

A wide smile played on the young lady's lips. "You're right. They're up!"

"See? I told you it will work."

After checking out other exhibits present in the science centrum, exchanging smiles and laughter with one another, the three finally left the mall through the back exit.

Right then, the Riverbanks Plaza presented itself before them.

Callisto's eyes feast upon a rather incredible sight.

The big outdoor amphitheater, although no event was being held at the moment, were filled with people.

Some were taking a leisure walk with someone along the Marikina river. Others were strolling with rental bikes or playing with their skateboards.

On the other side of the river, where the park was located, families had set up camp. The adult ones enjoying the fresh air with food and drinks while the little ones take advantage of the wide open field.

"Before we go to the carnival," Hinata faced the direction where the entrance to the carnival was at, just a couple minutes away from where they were in the amphitheater. "Do you guys want to try riding a rental bike?"

Life seemed to surge within Elesis upon hearing the young man's suggestion, a gleam of excitement in her crimson eyes.

"Yeah, we can do that!"

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.

"Sorry," Callisto interjected, a remorseful expression on her face. "I can't ride a bike. But, if you two really want to do it, I can just stand by and wait."

The red head looked at the young lady with concern. "What? We came here to have fun after studying for weeks. There's no point if we can't enjoy it all together, don't you think?"

"Well, there's nothing wrong with learning how to do it now," Hinata pointed a finger at the bycicle rental stand nearby. "They should have a rental bike with training wheels over there. You should be able to learn and ride one using that."

A slight blush creeped up the young lady's cheeks. "But... isn't it kinda embarassing? Training wheels are for little kids."

Elesis' snaked an arm around the silver-haired girl's, not giving her a chance to let go. "Then, Hinata and I will help you. We'll be your training wheels instead."

A troubled sigh escaped Calli's lips. "But..."

"We can help you," Hinata interjected. "But only if you want our help. We won't force you into it if you really don't want to. And besides, there's so many other things to do here."

"Er..."

Callisto appreciated their willingness to support her. But, at the same time, she felt like she had already taken more than enough time out of them in helping her study for the EPT.

She looked at both them. There was hope in Elesis' eyes and nothing but patience in Hinata's.

Though she felt guilty for troubling them, Callisto also figured it would be wrong to turn them down when they were being so kind to her.

"Then," she said sheepishly. "I'll be in your care."

With smiles on both Hinata and Elesis' faces, the three of them went straight to the bike rental shop.

The owner of the bike rental shop took notice of the three approaching and stopped himself from cleaning a bike. He stood up and faced them.

"Bike for three," he asked.

"Just one for now," Elesis gestured at the man. "My friend wants to learn how to ride a bike, so."

The man raised an eyebrow at the red head's words. "A first timer? I have bikes with training wheels for the same price as the regular one, 50 pesos per hour."

"I want just the regular bike," Callisto interrupted, her cat ears facing the sides.

The rental shop owner looked at the young lady and was taken aback at her unique appearance. But he didn't give too much thought into it.

Business is business.

He pointed his finger at one of the bikes sitting on the far side of the front row of bikes. "You can use that one. It should be perfect for you."

Callisto took the bike the rental shop owner hand-picked for her.

With Hinata and Elesis standing from both sides, she put her foot on the pedal and the wheels moved forward.