January

Chapter 10

It has became Erine's habit to attend school an hour before the starting ceremony. For her, there is just something really peaceful as she walks through the corridor, and it just emits a different kind of vibe.

One of the things she come to like now is the nostalgia screaming in every hallway. Somehow, it reminds her that she was a forty year old woman revisiting an old school from high school.

Those illusions, however, vanished into thin air as she finally get to see her class.

Erine's mouth opens. Standing by the doorway, she watched a large number of swarming students. There are some who carried a box full of materials, while some were busy trying the colorful dresses on.

"What's happening?"

Erine asked one student who happens to walk on her direction.

"Everyone is preparing for the program."

When she gets to see the student's face, Erine realized that they don't belong in her class, and probably other half of the student present at the moment are from different years.

Instead of remaining on the spot, she started to approach her desk which at the moment has pieces of scattered backdrop materials on top of it.

Erine left the materials untouched and placed the schoolbag on her seat.

And when she turns to her neighbor, Michelle was there as well, immersed into one of her writings.

"Erine, I'm sorry about the mess." Michelle's eyes are glued to the work at hand. "I will take that away later."

Erine shakes her head, "No, it's okay."

"Thanks," That was was all Michelle managed to say.

Erine checked Michelle's writing. The script seems to have some minor flaws, particularly to the narrators part. Michelle takes the role which is why there are so much decision done in the paper.

Being the playwright, scriptwriter, and even taking the part for casting, it was a already hard task.

This might be the very first that Michelle gets to experience directing, although inexperienced and probably not an official play, she was already quite serious about it. Especially because real film makers are involved.

"I'll help." Erine said.

"Thank you." Michelle only said and left her to search for something to do.

Erine glances over her shoulder to observe the surroundings.

Among the participants of the play there are also students who were minding their own business, reading a book, or just simply doing their homework.

Erine then sees another student carrying a bunch of materials. She pulled some of the items and offered to lend a hand.

"Where are you putting this?" Erine asks.

"At the fashion club."

The things they carried weren't that heavy, and it took only a while to get to the clubroom, which is filled with students, just like her classroom.

"Where have you been?" A student with upturned eyebrows demanded, pulling the box away, and was straight-up rude. "You could have been faster."

"Sorry." Was the only reply the student from earlier managed.

Other than the awkward conversation, there was nothing left for the girl to do but to stand by the corner. She was looking in the sea of people, seemingly lost for a while.

Erine had probably exited the room to look for more jobs but there was just something wrong at the situation. Especially when she became aware that the girl she helped earlier were being ignored by the rest of the members.

She approached the girl.

"What's wrong?" Erine asked.

The girl was a bit surprise by her sudden question, which she quickly got over with. "N-nothing."

Erine knew she was being nosy. Still, there was no way she could disregard what the girl is feeling at the moment.

"There must be something wrong." Erine still questions but with a soft tone, hoping not to sound like the girl was being interrogated.

Looking at the girl's face, Erine could tell that she was getting close to tearing up. It won't be good if such a scene will be seen so Erine tugged the girl by the wrist and draw her out of the crowd. 

When it's finally just the both of them, Erine meets the girl's eyes and asks again.

"What happened?"

It must be too much for the girl that it sent her bursting into tears. She's now sobbing softly as if she was afraid that anyone might overhear.

"I forgot the dress." She said in between tears.

"What dress?"

She was wiping every tears. "The props-- The dress that Margarita was supposed to wear."

Erine was taken aback.

Knowing Michelle, there was no way she would let this slide. She has probably been ignoring the girl right now. And Erine wouldn't blame her if she did.

Now that Erine seemed interested with problem, the girl might have her hopes up, expecting any solution for the situation. But when she just stands there, unable to do anything, or to even give any suggestions, the can't help but to cry even more.

This feeling, Erine understands. When someone asks what the problem was, she expects them to offer her help. Most of the time they were just there to listen, it helps but it doesn't solve the problem.

Even though she learned this lesson, she has forgotten all about it, making the girl more miserable than earlier.

However, Erine thought for a while. There was no way she would turn her back without trying.

She was leaning her back on the wall when she notices the curtain from the window. White cloth with beads and sequence on the bottom end of it.  The morning sun hits all of it, sun ray hitting her eyes as another set of image flashed into her mind.

It was a little hazy but it allows her to see ahead. It's as if her once empty head have been filled, like an explosion's of colors.

"So, what's their plan?" Erine asked, slowly turning her head. "What's your name?"

The girl blinks, thinking why her name would be relevant at the moment but she still replied. "Lana."

"Lana." Erine asked if she got it right. When Lana nodded Erine continued. "Okay, Lana. I think I got an idea."

The changes was so fast that Erine couldn't tell if she was just crying minutes earlier. That is except for the traces of tears over her cheeks.

"Really?!"

Erine did not reply, instead, she pulled Lana so that both of them could head back to the fashion club.

Approaching the rude student earlier Erine catches her attention by tapping her shoulders.

She might have thought it was Lana, but when she finds out it's just someone else, her facial features softened but remained formal.

"We are busy at the moment, if you want to request for--"

"I want to know what it is you're going to make for the character's costume."

The girl stopped for a while. "You mean Margarita's costume design?" Erine nodded. "We are just recreating the original design we made yesterday."

"And it was two designs, right?"

"Yes, but how do you know this?"

Actually, Erine didn't know why she even know about the details. Sure, this play happened in the past, which is what's happening now. But the details, she don't fully know.

Right now, it just like magically appeared in her mind, as if she was remembering a distant memor.

"This character, Margarita, the main one." Erine said. "She has two sides, the dark side and white side, and there is one scene where she has to change to his dark side in front of the male...dude."

"Look," The girl seem to be irritated. "We know these datails, and please talk to us later--"

"No, wait." Erine says as she gets two paper containing of two dresses designs. One is black, one is white. "Instead of making two dresses, which you won't be able to finish in time, why not make it into one?"

The girl seem to not get the idea at all. "What do you mean?"

"Do you know that transforming dress?"

"What?" This doesn't seem to ring a bell.

Erine's eyes almost came out from her eyes.

"Seriously? You don't know the transforming dress? Which age are you from--"

Then it suddenly clicked in her mind. Yes, it was at the age where transforming dress wasn't introduced in the public yet, so there was no way they would know what it is.

Composing herself, Erine then starts to explain.

"The idea of a transforming dress is that you could put two designs in one dress. Like for example," Erine sets the two designs on the table. "You put the design of the white dress on top of the black, or the other way around, whatever you see fit. You can accomplish this by installing some things in the dress, like a string over the bodice that if you pull it will reveal the other side."

Erine was drawing on another piece of paper of another set of design, with the details of how it could transform written unorganized but still easy to understand. When Erine was done explaining, she found out that the rest of the club members were already listening at her, looking at her design curiously.

Then the girl, who seems to be the creator of the club grabs her designs, quietly admiring every details of her drawing.

"I think this will be a good idea." It was moments later before she said this. "However, we don't have a fabric that has black and white on different side."

"I know one." When Erine said this, all of the members looked at her direction.

Walking out of the club room , she pointed at the curtain by the window, on the opposite wall to where the room is.

"The school curtain." The girl from earlier gasped. "Are you out of your mind?! We re going to be sewing ruffles, meaning there is going to be laces and ornaments hanging around the skirt."

Erine nodded. "I know. That is why I changed the design so we won't be sewing anything on it but still managing to portray Dark Margarita's elegance which is a complete contrast to White Margarita's purity."

The members went from staring at the desing and exchanging glances later, it's as if they finally came to an aggreement.

All of them smiled, nodding their head.

"Okay, then. we will be using your design." The decision was made without any formal announcement, considering it was in a dire situation. "A group of four must return to making the final preparations for the rest of the costumes." Then she looks at me. "I will be in charge of making Margarita's dress, but I will be needing a hand. I was thinking of you to help me."

"Oh, me?" Erine asks in surprise, pointing at herself. "No, I have no experience. But..." Erine looked at Lana and pulled her by the hand showing the leader that Lana was there along with them. "Lana can help you. Isn't she a member of this club?"

The leader seem to harbor bad feelings to Lana, but having no choice, she didn't say anything to refuse but instead motioned for Lana to help her.

"Then I will be calling the one playing Margarita's role." I said before heading out of the room.

But before Erine could go out, she caught Lana staring while the leader explains the details to her.

Erine only nodded, encouraging Lana to go on.

When Erine turns on her heel, facing the hallway, students were now arriving, with laughter and stories that didn't make any sense at all.

However, just as their voices began to narrow into messy whispers in her ears, Erine thought that the path  ahead, where she once walks blindingly was now becoming clearer.