1000 Season of Dream Chasing

part 17's

"Spaghetti ala carbonara and tagliatelle with tomato sauce and ricotta. Please enjoy." Laura thrust the two plates in front of her at Antonio.

Antonio enjoyed the first dish and was amazed. "You're really making great progress."

While tasting the dishes on the second plate, Antonio tried not to shed tears. "I don't know what to say. Cuisine's perfect. Alberto has really taught you well."

Antonio grabbed Laura's hand and grabbed it. "You're a pasta chef now. I'm proud of you."

Laura held Antonio's hand back. "Thank you." Their eyes meet. Laura managed to become a pasta chef thanks to the opportunity Antonio gave her. He will never forget it in his entire life. Antonio and Laura have something in common. They share the same teacher.Alberto.

"I wouldn't have made it without your help" Laura said again as she looked at Antonio in seriousness.

"You succeed because you have talent and courage. Two rights that I admire about you" Antonio replied. Then look at his men. "You don't just shut up. Come on, taste Laura's cooking."

Without being told twice, the servants scrambled to retrieve the spaghetti cooked by Laura.

Laura was happy. The food was eaten by those closest to him. And they like it.

Niko, 19 years old

NIKO FARELI shivered in the cold. Details of January snow in New York City fell on his coat. Niko enters the GIA building located on Madison Avenue. Inside the room, he took off his coat and let warm air flow through his body. It's his first winter. His body was not used to the cold that was below ten degrees Celsius.

The first time she entered the GIA, Niko felt a little nervous. But his teachers and classmates were really nice to him. Almost all. Except one man, George Finley. Niko had no idea why George disliked her so much. Especially after Niko got a lot of praise from her teachers in the first months. Niko felt the possibility of George envying because Niko got the attention of many people, while George, as the son of Elliot Finley___famous jeweler in New York, was, whose name is legendary and has dozens of Forever Jewelry___ branches can not match the footsteps of his father.

It takes more than just talent to survive in jewelry. Niko noticed it after entering the GIA. There is so much to learn about jewelry as a hobby.

The GIA divides its lessons into two main courses. Gemology and jewelry. In the gemology science program, Niko learned how to judge diamonds and precious stones, based on their color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. In addition, she was also taught how to use the latest equipment to analyze, assess, and identify jewelry stones.

 

Currently Niko began her studies with gemology, and after getting her diploma she will continue it on the art of jewelry. In the field of science he can learn how to design jewelry using the latest computer technology and make the model become real.

Niko stepped into her class. GEM 2500S. Teacher, Dr. Patrick Evans, a geologist who loved jewelry stones and astronomy since he was ten years old, was the same age as Niko when Niko first became interested in jewelry.

Niko really likes the teaching method of Dr. Evans, who really loves jewelry and expects his protege to like it as much as he likes it. The other teachers are also really experienced in their field and Niko loves every lesson she goes through.

Niko could not imagine if she had gone to medical school. She would definitely despair and hate him in the first year.

The streets of New York City are still covered in snow. When she first came to New York, Niko became interested in the city. While on the bus, a yellow taxi passes through it all the way. Niko closed her eyes for a while and then reopened them, looking at the New York City scene. New York has it all. Broadway theaters, museums, restaurants, and hundreds of art galleries.

Niko will finish her first gemology lecture in March. He has applied for a scholarship program awarded by GIA. He hopes to get the scholarship, competing with dozens of other students who also want it. Especially George Finley. Usually Niko likes someone easily, but George's behavior to her makes Niko can not tolerate it. Niko does not like George who always carries his father's name on every occasion. Like when applying for the scholarship, George was very confident he would get it because his father was Elliot Finley. Niko believes George will be disappointed if the scholarship falls to someone else.

Niko stepped definitely towards the subway. He enjoyed his journey. The train stopped at a station. The train door opened and Niko got off. Shortly after, he arrived at a food store. He entered the shop, greeted the servants who were there and entered the room. He changed his clothes with a white shirt and black pants.

From there, he had brought a pen and a notebook. Ready to take orders. Niko smiled kindly at one of her customers and read out a special menu that day. Afterwards, he recorded the order and then gave it to the cook in the kitchen.

Mike's shop is open daily from 08:00 until 02:00. Full menu is available, ranging from penchakes, omelets, sandwiches, egg benedict, to burgers, tacos, macaroni and cheese. Niko works in Mike's shop almost every day, after completing her studies at the GIA.

In early December, Niko decided not to return to Indonesia. She did not want to face the same quarrel about the choices she made with her parents. He eventually chose to continue working in Mike's shop during the holidays. Mike came home early to celebrate Christmas with his family. There are no GIA lectures during the Christmas and new year holidays. Mike gives bonuses to waiters who work during those days, and Niko needs the money to finance her next jewelry course.

Despite living in Julien's apartment with no rent, Niko still needs the money if she does not receive the scholarship she has applied for. Some of them he set aside to save. He wanted to buy his first diamond with his own money.

The next eight hours Niko took turns with other maids and ended her work that day. He changed his clothes and put his coat together. The distance between her apartment and Mike's shop is only two blocks, and Niko is walking to her apartment. His hand was clutching tightly onto the sketchbook that Laura had given him the year before.

Niko still felt a deep sadness at the thought of Laura. He did not know until when the sadness would continue to haunt him. Laura has helped him realize his dream. Right now Niko wishes the girl was by his side, cheering her on. She really wants to meet Laura someday.

Arriving in front of her apartment, Jack, the apartment's doorman, smiles at her. "Good night, Jack," said Niko.

"Good night, sir," said Jack. "There are people who want to meet you."

Niko frowned in astonishment. "Thank you, Jack."

Niko walked into the front lobby of the apartment. A couple of men and women were sitting there. Niko sighed. Papa and mama.

"Niko!" My mother was happy to see her son coming.

Niko approached her parents and sat across from them. "When are mom and dad in New York?"

"It was just this afternoon" said the mother with a smile. "You don't go home on vacation, but mom misses you. Mama persuaded your father to come here."

Niko looked at the silent papa since his arrival. He felt papa was still angry at him.

"Mama's been really cold since then" said Mama again. "You can't stand the cold in this town either."

Niko smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm not used to it either. Maybe next year I'll just get used to it."

"So you still want to study here?" cut papa out suddenly.

Niko looked at papa's eyes seriously. "Yes.Of course. I like what I'm learning now."

Papa looked at Niko with annoyance. His son had dared to defy his wishes last year. He thought that as time went on, his son would not stick with his choice. But Niko's choice not to go home during the holidays makes papa doubt it. Niko never asked for his help and never contacted him. "If you want to go to college here, papa can arrange it. There are many good medical schools in New York. You can still go in next semester."

"Papa still hasn't given up?" said Niko loudly. His heart was really upset. "I'm not going to go to medical school, not here, not anywhere, until anytime. Why has Papa never appreciated my choice? I love jewelry and I'm not gonna let go of my dreams."

Papa clenched both his hands holding in anger. "You won't last long. Someday you'll be begging your dad and asking for help."

"I don't think so, pa. I've been able to survive until now without papa's help. It should be an indication that I will never realize my dream of becoming a doctor" Niko said firmly. His memory goes back to the past. At the age of twelve years, papa had Niko memorize the Latin name of the entire anatomy of the body. Every day, at breakfast, papa always held a quiz to find out the development of his son's memorization. If he makes a mistake, Niko has to memorize it from the beginning. Niko never liked the quiz.