Callisto's view seemed to follow her movement forward until it started tilting sideways.
"Ah," the word escaped her mouth just as she realized she was about to fall down.
Grab!
"I got you."
Luckily, Hinata was there to stop her fall, catching her and the bike in his arms.
"Take it easy," he advised, helping her steady her position as she put her foot on the pedal one more time. "Try to keep in mind your balance as you look forward. You got this."
"You got this, Calli," Elesis added encouragingly, pumping her fists in support of her friend.
She tried moving forward one more time. However, just after moving a very short distance, Callisto found herself struggling in keeping hold of the steering bars straight.
This time, Elesis was beside her and kept her from falling once again.
"That's it," said the red head encouragingly. "You're getting there, Calli! Just take it easy and slowly, okay?"
The silver-haired girl let out a soft chuckle at the red head's words. "Thanks."
Callisto tried one more time and failed.
"I got you, it's okay."
She tried it again.
"I'm right behind you, Calli."
And again.
"You're getting there, Callisto. I can see the way you're trying to balance yourself is improving. Keep at it."
With each attempt and failure, Callisto's determination to learn and not let both Elesis and Hinata's efforts go to waste only grew stronger and stronger.
And then, one more attempt later...
"I got this," Callisto said to herself as she prepared to push the pedal forward.
The two stayed beside her, holding their breaths in anticipation. After watching her countless attempts, Elesis and Hinata knew that at this very attempt, Callisto would be able to finally ride the bike properly.
Callisto let the weight of her leg push the pedal down. In that instant that the bike's wheels rolled forward, out of nowhere...
Glow!
"Ah!"
Callisto's sky-blue eyes turned into a shade of gold like the morning sun.
"What do you think, Babe?"
"It's all right, I guess."
"Let's play tag!"
"Then you're it first."
"Uwaahh!! Uwaaahh!!"
"Don't cry, Kevin. Look, it's your favorite toy!"
"Is that your new skateboard? Looks sick!"
"Yeah, I got it for cheap at a store near home."
Voices from both people and animals...
Chirp! Chirp!
Bark! Bark!
Meowww!
...both near and very distant, intermingle as they flooded all four of Callisto's ears.
Sniff, sniff...
Countless smells, both pleasing and unpleasant, familiar and strange, clogged Callisto's nose.
Step, step, step...
Grrrrrrr...
Swoooshh
Vibrations crashed against her skin.
Callisto closed her eyes, her forehead creasing. At the instant she realized she was tilting sideways, her eyes opened once again, the shade returned to that of a blue sky.
"Ah!"
A couple strong arms caught her before she fell down. Her gaze met Hinata's who caught her, concern etched on the young man's face.
"Are you all right?" He asked. "You stopped all of a sudden."
A nervous chuckle escaped Callisto's lips, trying to act normal. "I'm sorry. Something entered my eye, but it's gone now."
Relief washed over the young man, but there was still a lingering concern on his face. "We can stop now if you want. You don't need to force yourself."
The young lady shook her head at the young man. "No, it's fine. I think I can do it now."
"Are you sure?" Elesis appeared beside Callisto, guilt etched on her features. "I'm sorry if I forced you into it."
"You didn't," Callisto replied, a confident smile tugging her lips. "I can do it. I'm from barangay Silangan, after all."
One more time, Callisto attempted to ride the bike. This time, finally, she was able to ride it a few meters forward without falling.
Her face brightened as the gentle breeze crashed against her skin.
"You're doing it, Calli!"
"You're riding a bike!"
The two followed the young lady excitedly.
Callisto stopped, her left foot found the ground to support herself. She turned to Hinata and Elesis gleefully.
"I did it!"
Elesis nodded with enthusiasm, stopping right next to the young lady. "Yes, you did! I'm proud of you!"
Callisto's heart swelled with pride at the red head's words. "Now, I can start learning how to take a turn."
"We can show you how," Hinata interjected, holding two bikes from side to side as he approached the two girls. "It should be a piece of cake for you."
"Once you properly learn how to ride one, we can finally do a bike race." Elesis took one bike from Hinata's hold and mounted it.
Callisto could not help but chuckle at the red head. "Maybe bike racing can wait."
Just like Hinata said, learning how to make a turn was a piece of cake for Callisto. They were able to start riding the bikes together after a couple of attempts made by the young lady.
*
*
*
After about an hour and a half since Callisto rented her bike, they returned the biked to the rental shop and made their way towards the carnival.
The afternoon sky was slowly transitioning to early evening, and yet, the carnival only seemed to grow livelier.
Voices of people crash against one another as they either walk around to see or make a line for the rides.
"I feel kinda hungry," Elesis said, her hungry gaze searching for any source of sustenance.
"I feel the same actually," Callisto also started looking around as they walked forward.
"The food stalls should be just around the corner, you two," informed the young man as he led them towards the food stalls.
As soon as they arrived at the food stalls, Elesis' crimson gaze zeroed in on the steaming hot barbecue sticks from a barbecue stand.
"Isaw for ten, meat for twelve!" The retailer called.
"I need that meat," Elesis declared, drool spilling from the corner of her mouth. "I'm going in first, you two."
Hinata followed shortly and quietly. On the other hand, Callisto stayed where they all once stood. And instead, she looked at the palm of her hand, a frown caused by a feeling of uncertainty and concern gnawing at her inside.
"It happened again," she said in thought. "What's going on?"