1000 Season of Dream Chasing

part 20's

Niko, 21.5 years old

Autumn has changed to spring. Niko had already completed almost all of the jewelry courses she wanted. Only one or two elective courses remain. Her jewelry designs had been part of Julien Bardeux's autumn collection the previous year. Julien was overwhelmed by the over hundreds of Niko's designs after the exhibition. Apparently Niko's design is much in demand by Parisians, especially the upper class. Julien says Niko's work looks elegant, simple, but has a classic value. Maybe the three combinations made the customers impatiently waiting for the next works of Niko.

Niko still works at Mike's store. This may be his last year working there. In the evening, Niko opened the drawer of the bed and opened her star ring box. From the proceeds of his savings as well as the sale of his jewelry designs, Niko could raise money. One by one Niko bought the diamonds, and there were already twenty diamonds filling the spot in the five corners of the four stars. Fifteen more. Three more stars to fill.

Niko's lectures are now centered more on the GIA laboratory on fith Avenue. There he learned how to make sketch drawings into real shapes. Niko loved every second she was there.

Today when he got to the front of his lab class, he saw the announcement of a jewelry designing contest. The organizer is a worldwide famous jewelry company, Tiffany & Co. The theme of the jewelry show is *Back to Nature*. The first winner of the contest race is entitled to a certain amount of money and the opportunity to intern for six months at the company. Niko was interested in following him. The deadline for her collection is one week away at one of New York's art galleries.

After college, Niko calls Mike that he can't work that day and decides to work all day in the lab because he has to make a draft for the contest.

When exhaustion enveloped her body after working nonstop for hours, Niko came out of her lab briefly to buy coffee. In the middle of the stairs down his body hit someone.

"Fareli!" said the man. "Never thought of seeing you back."

Niko looked into George Finley's eyes in annoyance. It's been almost a year since he met George. He thought George was out of the GIA, but the young man survived. "Not met for a long time."

"Last year I moved to GIA Carlsbad" George said. Niko had never seen him to date. "So you're back in New York?"

"Well," said George sharply. "Why? are you afraid of a competitor?"

"No. I'm not afraid to face you," said Niko calmly. "I think it's the opposite."

"It's still as arrogant as ever" George commented angrily. "Your nature is still there." Niko rushed down. His body was already tired, and he was unwilling to spend his energy arguing with someone who did not deserve his attention.

From the top of the stairs George Finley growled. He clenched his hands together and one of his hands hit the wall. After his anger subsided, he walked into one of the laboratories. There are several pictures on the computer. Niko's sketchbook is there.

At first George looked at Niko's plans with annoyance, but over time he fell silent. In the plan there is a long necklace in the middle of which there is a green leaf. Five small butterflies perched on the leaves. The color composition chosen by Niko increasingly shows the elegance and elegance of the necklace. George realizes that Niko will participate in a jewelry contest organized by Tiffany & Co. Niko titled the necklace *The Forest Dream*.

Without a second thought, George took the option to print from the computer program. ("You will regret for underestimating me, Fareli"), he growled.

 

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The following days, Niko worked relentlessly to make the necklace as she had designed it. Because in the contest mentioned the participants also have to prepare the real form of jewelry, it is permissible to use synthetic jewelry stones.

Just two days before the contest's final deadline, Niko rushed into the gallery to submit her draft. A pageant officer had Niko fill out a form. After completing the form, Niko is welcome to fill out the list of participants. On top of Niko there are the names of participants who have submitted the design along with the title of the design. When Niko was about to write her name, the ballpoint pen in her hand fell to the floor. His eyes saw the name George Finley. But it was not the name that surprised him. Title of George's show, *The Forest Dream*.

("How could he have the same design title as me?") Niko was completely confused. His mind goes back to the week before when he met George in the lab. ("Is it possible he saw my work there?")

Excuse me, sir," Niko asked impatiently at the contest officer. "Can I see George Finley's jewelry?"

The officer nodded. "I'm sorry, I can't show you the work of other participants."

Not out of sense, Niko took out the necklace she had made and showed it to the officer. "You don't have to show me George Finley's work. I just need you to check if the necklace design is the same as my necklace."

The officer seemed reluctant, but Niko insisted. His feelings said George had already taken his draft idea. "Please, Sir. I can't give you the exact same masterpiece as the person before me."

The officer finally gave up. He checked the picture of George Finley's design, then saw the necklace held by Niko. "Yes. Exactly the same as your work."

Niko could not hold back her anger. He went to see George at his apartment. When

George opened the door to Niko's apartment and approached her. "You stole my plans!" Goerge smiled without guilt. "What do you mean?"

Niko knew George was pretending not to know. “My work for Tiffany contest. The Dream Forest. You stole it from me."

"You can't just accuse me," he replied lightly. “You have proof that I stole it from you? I could have the same idea as you."

"Why are you doing this?" Niko challenged George fearlessly. "We both know you're using my designs for this contest."

George slowly closed the door to his apartment. "I don't have to explain anything to you. Besides if you have any evidence, I don't want to be accused of anything else."

Niko looked at George's closed apartment door. He knew he could not prove The Forest Dream was his work, because he never told anyone that he made the design. He is also unlikely to enter a contest with the same design work. The only solution is to create another. But it's two days left. Niko spent five days making her first necklace. He did not know if he could make another necklace within two days.

Niko entered her apartment building limply. His face looks not excited. As he looked at the papa sitting in the lobby, his face grew even more moody.

"Relic." Papa stood up to greet his son.

"What are you doing here?" Niko was too tired to argue.

Papa saw his son's fatigue. Niko's face was pale, under her eyes there were dark circles a sign of lack of rest. "You okay Niko?" ask papa to worry.

Niko decided not to answer. “Papa hasn't answered my question."

"Father was invited to attend a medical seminar in New York." Papa walked closer to his son. "Papa thought while papa was here, papa decided to look at you." "Mama's not coming?" ask Niko.

"No. Your mama's not coming. You sure you're okay? you look exhausted."

"I'm doing fine. It's just that today wasn't my best day. Papa's going upstairs?" "If you don't mind," replied papa.

Niko pressed the elevator button. Shortly after, the elevator doors opened. "Let's go up."

After they reached the apartment room, Niko asked, "what would you like to drink?"

Papa shakes. "Do you want to answer papa's question now? You okay?"

"I think, as a doctor, you can diagnose yourself." Niko sat in the living room chair facing papa. "I'm tired. I'm sleep deprived. Is my diagnosis correct?"

"You're still mad at papa." Papa asked the question of his son.

"Yes. Papa hasn't taken my calls in two years. Do you think I have no right to be angry?" Niko was upset.

"Papa still thinks you made a mistake. Look at you now." Papa actually wants to make up with his son, but the one that comes out is even anger. "You said you were happy with your choice, but right now you don't look happy at all."

Niko took a deep breath, trying to hold back. "Papa hasn't given up on it in two years? I can't fight anymore about this. Especially not at the moment. Papa better leave before we both regret our next words."

"All right." Papa stood up and walked out of the door of Niko's apartment with emotion.