Inside one of the rooms in a luxurious-looking hotel located not far from the Mandjet Medical Center's main hospital, in the bedroom was Raymond.
He was currently folding his clothes and putting them one by one inside a suitcase. While doing so, Raymond heard the doorbell connected to the outside of the building ring.
Tiring, tiring~!
When he went and looked at the camera, Raymond could not help the small grin on his face.
Raymond pressed a button on the camera and announced; "I'm coming down now."
With that, Raymond put the rest of his clothes inside the suitcase with swift hands.
After a short while, Raymond came down to the reception area to process his check out. And when he turned toward the lounging area, his gaze immediately locked on two familiar faces—Callisto and Adela.
They were chatting, smiling, and laughing with one another. There were obvious signs on their faces that they probably had a long crying session before coming to the hotel, but it didn't matter to Raymond.
It had been about a month since that incident at the hospital when they visited Callisto in her room after the operation.
Oh, how long had Raymond been waiting to see that sight again—Callisto and Adela sitting next to one another, just chatting away.
A tear would have come out of his own right now if not for Raymond not wanting to look so vulnerable in public. For him, that would have been kind of embarrassing.
After finishing his checkout, Raymond walked toward his wife and daughter.
"Thanks for waiting," Raymond said from behind, letting them know of his presence. "Ready to go home?"
"Papa," Callisto called excitedly, jumping out of the sofa and threw herself at her father.
Letting go of his suitcase, Raymond's hands rest on Calli's hips to support her weight. "Take it easy on me, Girlie. You might just break my back one day."
Callisto giggled at her father's playful words, nuzzling on Raymond's cheek like a cat looking for a rub.
"Calli said she's hungry," Adela interjected. "She wants chicken."
An amused chuckle escaped Raymond's lips. "Figures. Let's go."
Using Raymond's own car, the family headed to a nearby restaurant. As soon as their orders arrived, the three started digging in.
Callisto's silly grin never left her face ever since she and Adela came to pick up Raymond. She could not help the warmth and love enveloping her heart at the fact that she was sharing the same table with her mother and father again.
It was almost complete. But nonetheless, the young lady was glad that they were all together again.
"There's something we need to discuss," Adela's announcement paused everyone's dinner, especially Raymond, who still had his fork in his mouth. "It's about Calli's current situation, which we both discussed on our way to your hotel earlier."
Callisto informed her mother about her job at Selly's convenience store, the people she met and befriended, and her preparation for the EPT.
While Adela acknowledged Callisto's diligence with her work and her preparation for the EPT, as well as her trust with her friends, the fact remained still that the world was a dangerous place for someone like Callisto.
Adela feared that she or Raymond wouldn't be able to help Callisto out of trouble because she was out of their reach, out of the safety of their residence.
For that reason, Adela suggested Callisto to return to the Mandjet house. It wasn't too far from Oner's apartment. In fact, Callisto could just walk from her apartment back to their house if she so wanted.
Of course, Callisto refused her mother's suggestion.
She was well aware that she was being selfish, well aware about the concerns of Adela for her safety.
Callisto very much loved the idea of returning to the Mandjet house and be with her parents. However, watching that certain anime back when she was still confined in the hospital made her realize that she could not rely on her parents for everything forever.
"That's why I want to stay in my apartment," Callisto declared before her parents, her determination to become self-reliant shining through her sky-blue eyes. "I want to be able to depend on myself and make my own decisions."
"Basically, Callisto and I cannot make a compromise," Adela turned to Raymond, fingers running through her forehead out of stress. "So, it's on you to do it for us, Raymond."
Raymond suddenly felt like a heavy weight was thrown on both shoulders after listening to his wife's and daughter's words. But despite that, Raymond already knew what he was going to say and end the discussion.
He could see Adela already making an expression as if she was already sighing internally in defeat. She already knew Raymond's answer even before belting it out, and he can't help the small grin on his face because of it.
"Well, I get why you're concerned, Adela," he turned to his daughter after addressing his wife. "But I want to trust Callisto with her wish to be independent. She's been living in Oner's apartment for about a month now and I can say for certain that she's doing well on her own. And besides, if something bad were to happen, which I hope it doesn't, I'm sure Calli knows to get in touch with us. Am I right, Calli?"
Callisto smiled, a sincere expression on her face as she nodded in response to Raymond. "I know there are things that I can't do on my own. So, if I need help with something, I'll make sure to let you both know, Mama, Papa."
Raymond was pleased with Callisto's reply. Then, he turned to Adela.
At the very least, Adela seemed to accept that Raymond was supportive of Callisto's wish to live her life currently.
"If Raymond trusts that you can live independently, then I have no choice but to do the same," Adela exhaled as if expelling the stress off her body. "But as parents and you being only fifteen, we want you to take it seriously. Should you betray our trust, there will be consequences. Got it?"
Callisto's breath hitched in her throat, feeling the heavy responsibility in her mother's words. But instead of faltering, the young lady recomposed herself.
"I know," She responded, a glint of determination shining through her sky-blue marbles. "I won't let you down, Mama, Papa."
Finally, Adela's expression softened. "And don't forget to visit our house from time to time."
"Yes," Callisto's cat ears twitched happily. "Of course."