Halfway Down There

Chapter 09

"Down to 5... or more."

Although it's a small number, I couldn't sigh in relief. Those five clothes will still need more hours of work and it can take too much time for designing by details which we're not even sure if we have in the first place. The competition is tomorrow, so there are 18 hours or less left!

"We can get it done even before the show starts," Delilah reassured.

Humagikgik si Antonette. "The only challenging part of the process is when it's detail by detail."

"Also, the sizes. We wouldn't want to end up with asymmetrical designs because of rushing."

Palipat lipat ako ng tingin sa kanila. Mas lalo lang tuloy akong kinabahan. Kahit na sabihing kaya nga namin matapos sa remaining time, hindi masisigurado ang quality. It might be compromised if we all are nervous and in a rush! Umiling ako at dumiretso na sa pag-gather ng mga tela. Nagsimula na rin kumilos ang lahat after I initiated first.

So far, magaganda ang nagawa namin. As in! It looks remarkable and sophisticated! Anim o sobra pa sigurong oras ang lumipas na simula nang mag-start kami sa paggawa. Those who were assigned with stitching kept up kaya kahit papaano, nakakahabol kami sa oras.

Bumaling ulit sa'kin si Antonette. "What if we visit the venue?"

"Now?" kunot-noo kong tanong dahil hindi pa kami tapos. Three more to sew.

"We have enough time for the other three," ngisi niya.

Napatingin ako sa hawak kong fabric. Mamaya na nga 'to. "Bene, andiamo!"

"Where?" sumulpot si Giulia sa usapan.

"To the venue, Jul."

She squinted her eyes. Napatingin din ang ibang members sa amin. Pumayag din sila dahil masyadong nakaka-out of energy naman kapag straight 14 hours kami nagtatrabaho. I was also beginning to feel lazy, but I wanted to sketch more and assemble our garments. My arms have been moving extensively the past few days of last week and this week!

Hindi sa nagrereklamo ako. I like it—the progress and process—but it's as tiring as staying in the sun all day, farming.

Open ang venue sa lahat ng students ng Marangoni. Pwede naman kaming bumisita roon pero ang bawal ay 'yung papasok kami at mananatali ng sobrang tagal. We plan on taking a simple peak para hindi kami magulat sa araw ng event. Ngayon na lang kami nagulat!

"Sbrigatti! Noelle, mettine un po' qui! Oddio," rinig namin mula sa loob ng hall.

I looked around and noticed that there weren't many changes yet. May stage na pero I think they're focusing on the ceiling at the moment. Wala pang mga upuan. Sa likod kaming mga designers at mga ten or fifteen models lang yata ang magsho-showcase ng designs from all teams.

"Checking the venue rin kayo?" tanong sa akin ni Euna. "Nando'n ako sa may side na 'yun when I saw Giulia."

Tumango ako at nilingon siya. "Wala talagang plano si Signore na magpractice muna? Here in the venue, I mean."

"The models will be the ones who'll practice, Adriana. Tayong mga designers, hindi na."

I nodded again. Bahagya akong lumapit sa kanya sabay tapik sa braso niya. "Anong theme niyo?" I jokingly asked, grinning a bit.

"Huy! That's bawal!" She chuckled and glanced around us. "Color theme ba? Ano muna sa inyo?"

I stepped back and stifled a smile. "Secret. Pero... neutral monochrome."