January

Chapter 15

Today is Monday. And this is the first slow Monday that she has ever encountered. Waking up without the help of the alarm, attending school just to hand the resignation with her name written, all was this was accomplished by a finicky Erine. 

Just like that certain Monday, the class seems to be moving slowly, that she envisions the whole class being the shell of the turtle, being dragged on the back.

That's why when the last period ended, Erine fixed her things right away, shoving them in a set.

"What's the rush?" Michelle asked. Unlike her, both friends seem like laid-back snails as they fix their things.

"Oh," Erine said. "I was just about to go to the club."

Michelle may have not heard the news, that's why her eyebrows rose up at the mention of the club. Before she could ask, Elizabeth was the one who answered.

"Erine was invited to join the fashion club," Elizabeth said, sounding very proud.

Michelle's eyes went wide. 

"And you joined?"

Erine smiled enthusiastically. "Yes, I just passed my registration this morning."

"I am proud of you but--" Michelle smiled. "Are you sure that's not a scammer?"

Elizabeth laughed but Michelle only snickered while being pushed by Erine.

"Wanna come?" Erine suggests, swinging her shoulder bag over her arm.

"Sure," Elizabeth said, gathering a bag and a file case from the table. "Mich, you coming?"

Both looked at their friend, expected that she may fail to come, but hopeful that she might have the free time.

Michelle shrugged. "I have a club meeting. But I think I could spare some time walking you to the fashion club."

After they heard this, the trio excitedly went to the fashion club, laughing and teasing each other on the way there. And when they are finally by the door, Erine's friend gave her an encouraging smile.

Taking a deep sigh, Erine knocks on the door softly.

The door opened, revealing the leader, Liliane holding a file with one hand. Upon seeing her, the others raised their eyebrows in recognition.

"Miss Harper, glad you came!"

Erine waved an arm. "H-hi."

Liliane nodded her head and opened the door widely, urging her to come in. Once inside, Erine noticed that there were two other students in the classroom, sitting one seat apart from each other.

Erine nodded her head on the two, greeting them sheepishly.

Once settled, Liliane sat at the chair opposite theirs.

"Hi, good afternoon everyone. I am your leader for the fashion club. We do various activities and participate in some of the school's events. We widely practice our skills and expertise by also selling some of the works pre-ordered by the students inside of the school. At times, we do online selling where buyers bid for a price. Of course, the designer of the product would get half of the profit while the other half goes to the club donations."

Erine listened to all the upcoming activities that Liliane mentioned, as each was given, she felt like some part of her memory has begun remembering some details of what had happened at those times.

"So, can we start with the test?" Liliane asked, after clarifying that there is no question to be asked. "We are not jumping on making dresses right away. What I need you to do is...," She pulled three pieces of bond papers and pencils on the teacher's table and places one in each of the new member's desks. "...to draw a design. I am not looking for any type of dresses, I just need you to draw the type of style you wanted to make. I give you about...five to ten minutes. Your time starts now."

Erine picks up the pencil.

Just like the other new recruits, they didn't start with the drawing right away. Must be brainstorming of a design. But it didn't take long for them to actually draw something on the paper, while Erine was left still staring at her desk, unable to think of any design.

Three minutes have passed with still nothing to draw at the moment. Turning around, she peeks into the work of the other members, who were now in the process of doing the waistline of their designs. And a very good art on top of that.

While Erine could only draw some very rough outline of a female's body with zero artistic skills to boot.

Liliane was walking all over the room, waiting for their work to finish, occasionally checking on them for progress. When she gets to Erine's paper, she didn't say a word but continued walking towards the other member.

Erine sees this as a bad sign, making her think that it may not be a good impression.

What if they changed their mind?

With these thoughts in mind, Erine began to feel pressured. Her mind was in complete disaster at the moment, making it harder to come up with anything creative.

Last time was very easy that Erine didn't expect it to be a hard task just by brainstorming an idea.

When the given ten minutes is up, the two passed their design on Liliane. Not wanting to feel left behind, Erine just came up with a few simple designs and passed her own.

Liliane looks at the designs, nodding for the first two but the nodding stops as she gets to Erine's design. But again, she didn't make any comments.

Setting the designs down, Liliane faced the new recruits.

"You must be wondering why I've made you draw for our first meeting?" Liliane leaned on the teacher's table with both arms crossed over her chest. "Drawing is one of the skills that a designer should possess. You don't have to be that good to the point where you should draw realistic arts, remember we design. As long as your design can be understood by others, then that level would be okay."

Liliane walked towards one of the long tables. Pulling a sketchpad at the drawer underneath, she flips through the pages as she made her way back in front of the three recruits.

"I want you to take a look at these designs." Liliane held the sketchpad up, revealing an illustration of a blue dress.

The design was simple with only little accessories on them but the added fabrics make it a very attractive and unique piece. There are some ruffles and some folds when it gets to the skirt. If Erine could describe the design, it would be controlled but strong.

It was one of those that doesn't want to show off but eye-catching nonetheless.

The rest of the designs has the same feel, very consistent and significant.

When Liliane thinks it was enough for a showcase, she sets the sketchpad down and placed it on the table.

"As you have noticed, the designs have the same feel to them," Liliane said. "Just like an artist, designers also have their styles. Or it's what you call a signature piece. It's the feel and overall personality of your product. Have you ever happen to see a book written by a different author whose writing style feels the same as your favorite author? It's something like that."

Erine felt left out about this. As a beginner, sauntering without any experience with the field, there was no way she could relate to any of those, or at least it was in her case.

But Liliane had come up with an understandable way to say the idea in her words. "If you don't get it--"

"We get it already." One of the new recruits interrupted while raising a hand. "There is no need to repeat."

Liliane looks intently, "Then how did you know that the others understood? Did they tell you?"

Realizing that she might have done a mistake, she shuts her mouth and lowered her hand to the desk.

With a controlled face, Liliane turns her gaze away and continued with the explanation.

"Again, if it's still unclear to you, I will give you another example." Liliane continued. "Let's say you have a crush. Personality, intelligence, popularity, social status, and so on, something in them makes you develop this huge crush. And when you see another person, possessing the same attributes, doesn't it remind you of them?"

Erine felt a little embarrassed by the thought that couplings would be the easiest way to understand an idea. Nonetheless, Liliane holds no prejudice by the thought.

 "It's just like your identity as a fashion designer. It will build your reputation. Well, as a beginner, it's hard to find your own style. It might take quite a time, but that's normal. With various amazing styles out there, there is no way we could only settle for one. Take your time, this is not college yet, so it's a perfect way to discover yourself first." Liliane heard the bell rang, indicating that thirty minutes has passed since the meeting.

The school rings the bell every thirty minutes.

"Okay, the meeting ends here." Liliane said, looking at her wristwatch. "Tomorrow, bring your own fabrics and equipment. It's okay if you don't have the sewing machine at the moment. You can use the machine provided by the school. Same time and meeting place. It will only be a trial, to see how much you know about sewing and how perfectly can you make your designs come to life."

The two recruits had already left the room but Erine was left walking by the door as the leader calls her name.

"Erine, can I talk with you for a minute?"

Erine sighs.

She had expected this but wasn't prepared for it.

Liliane was standing by the desk, looking at the drawing she made. She lays it out and draws it near her.

"What happened with this?"

"I'm having trouble making up any design," Erine said honestly. "I don't think I fit to be in this club."

"You can't tell that if you didn't try again," Liliane said.

"You know, it's my first time discovering something I might be good at. I spent my childhood dreaming of fairytales, and I never really had an interest in designing in the first place. I just thought that maybe I'll be able to relate with others now. That's why I am not eligible to be in this craft."

Liliane was dead silent as she allowed Erine to talk, just staring at her with a serious face. When she finally thinks that she got nothing else to say, she heaved a sigh.

"When I was a kid I dream of becoming a doctor," Liliane said out of the blue.

Erine angles her head, "Why don't you?"

"When I attended elementary, everybody phrased how good I draw. I decided then that I'll become an artist."

Erine did not comment anything to this, feeling a little confused for a moment.

"During my first-year high school, everyone praised the first complex dish I made, I decided I'll be a chef then." Liliane was fixing the papers on the table. "But in my second year, I became fascinated with a dress I saw in a boutique. It was expensive and if I save up my daily allowance, it wouldn't be enough. So, I gathered all the old dresses that my mother and I used to wear. I sew it for weeks through trials and errors."

Liliane paused, probably thinking of the memory.

"When I'm finished, I showed it to my mother, who liked my dress very much." Liliane opens her mouth once more, looking like she wants to say something more but decided on it.

Thinking that it's already enough, the leader faced Erine and said. "What I was trying to say is talent, interests, and skills don't come since birth. We developed them, an influence by our surroundings. Vincent Van Gogh starts painting in his late 20's. And still, he was able to make his famous masterpiece Starry Night. So, it's never too late to find your own career."

Liliane holds Erine hand, a gesture that surprised her. "I won't force you if you don't really like it. But, Miss Harper, I see talent in you. And I think you'll be great in them. You just have to try for few more times. Who knows but maybe one day, you'll be able to create more wonderful things with this hand."

Erine almost caught her breath at the beauty behind the words of a person rich in dreams and determination. It was a wonderful sight. Their eyes were full of glimmer as they gaze upon a road of million possibilities. It may be long and full of struggle, they are aware of this, but they knew that at the end of it, will all make those sufferings worth it.

"Thank you."

Feeling overwhelmed, Erine squeezes Liliane's hand as the words of encouragement burned into her mind.