Chasing Stars

Mean Papa?

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.

Niko has been working at Mike's diner for four months. Although the hourly salary is not large, but if you add tips from customers, enough to finance his daily life. Mike's diner is located on 9th Avenue, near his apartment. The owner, Mike, a 55-year-old fat man, has been opening his shop for fifteen years. And during that time the store is never empty of visitors.

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.

"Now you're so arrogant." Papa looked at his son in annoyance. "Papa wants to see when you can be like this. Don't expect papa to help you when you realize you've made the wrong choice and regret it."

Niko's upset not playing. "Papa take it easy. I'll never beg you for help."

"Stop you two." Mama stood up and mediated the two. Mama knows both are stubborn.

"Sorry, ma." Niko looked at mom and knew that mom's heart was sad to see her two most loved ones fighting. "I don't want to argue with papa anymore" Niko told papa. "Papa's better go now."

Papa stood up and looked at his son once more in frustration. "Come, let's just go!" he said to his wife.

Mama just sighed while taking a breath. She rubbed her son's face gently, then followed her husband out of the apartment.

Niko saw the backs of the two disappear behind the door. He was saddened by the fight. Anyway, papa is her parents. In the depths of her heart, Niko still loved her. Niko was afraid that if papa still forced her like before, her affection would be eroded slowly and replaced by hatred. Niko didn't want that until it happened. He really hoped that papa could understand his choice one day.

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Niko's activities the next day were the same as before. By evening when she reached the lobby in front of the apartment, she was waiting for her. This time without papa. Mom clutches shopping bag. Mama smiled looking at her son, and Niko smiled back.

"What do you want to drink?" niko asked after they were in her apartment.

"Tea alone," said Mama while looking around the room where Niko had been living for several months. Spacious living room, two bedrooms, and one kitchen." Your apartment looks very comfortable.

You feel like you're living here?"

Niko warms the water to make tea. "Yes. Papa didn't accompany mama?"

Mom sits on the white sofa in the living room. "Mama sure you guys will fight again if you meet.”

Niko decided not to comment.

The sound of boiling water distracted him. He turned off the stove and started brewing warm tea for mama.

Niko nodded. "I like it so much."

Mama put down her tea glass and looked at Niko seriously.

"You really want to be a jewelry designer?" "Yes," Niko answered for sure.

Mama saw seriousness in her son's eyes and finally nodded. "All mama supports your wishes."

"Thanks, ma," exclaimed Niko with a big smile.

"There's a part of my heart that still wants you to carry on the trail of mama and papa." Mama looked at Niko gently. "But, I realize you have to find your own way of life."

Niko took a deep breath. "I wish you could think like Mom."

Mama smiled a little. "Your father is just like you. You two are both stubborn. Mama's gonna try to talk to papa."

"Ma, I will still continue my studies, although until the end papa still does not accept my choice," Niko said solemnly. "I can't give up my dreams." "Mama understands." Mama took her shopping bag. He took out a thick black coat that he bought this afternoon.

"For you," he said. "Look, your coat isn't thick enough to withstand the cold in this town. So mom decided to buy this coat for you."

Niko mengamabil coat giving mom. "Thank you ma, I'll wear it this winter."

Mom approached her son and hugged him. "Take care of your health, and call mama often."

"I'll do it" said Niko, hugging her back. Mama let go of her embrace.

"now tell me about your gemology lecture at the GIA."

Niko smiled then told her everything from the beginning until now. Mama saw Niko's eyes shining when she told me about her gemology lesson. Mama was happy to see her son happy.

Two hours later, my mother decided to go home. And Niko escorted him to the front door of the apartment.

"Thank you for listening to me, ma." Niko took the mama's coat from her hands and helped mama put it on..

"Don't forget. Mom's phone" said mom. "And good luck, Niko."

"I'll call my mom often." Niko stops a yellow taxi in front of the street of her apartment, opens the door for her and sees her getting into the taxi.

Niko saw mom waving from inside the taxi. Niko waved her hand back. His heart felt lighter. At least one of his parents could accept his decision.

Niko went back to her apartment. He sat down on the sofa then looked at the sketchbook lying on the table. Page by page it opens. When free, he always took the time to draw the jewelry design in his mind. Now the sketchbook has been filled with dozens of plans. Niko came back on the first page. Sketch the star ring. His hand stroked the picture slowly. The picture made her meet Laura. At a later jewelry art lecture, he was determined to make the ring his first work. Seven stars with five angles. With two circles connecting one upper corner and two lower corners of the stars. Thirty-five diamonds will adorn the corners of the seven stars. Niko hopes that soon she can buy her first diamond and put it on the ring.

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Two months later, when the final exam of the grmology class was over, Niko was stunned to see the announcement in her class. His name is written as a GIA scholarship recipient. Niko could not hide her joy. He did hope to get it, but also knew that he had to compete with other students who were no less talented than him. He really did not expect the scholarship to fall into his hands.

Niko laughed off. His classmates congratulated him on his achievements. Except George Finley. He looked at Niko as if Niko had taken the most precious thing from him.

"You always have to win from me, don't you, Fareli?" lambasted.

Niko looked at George with annoyance. "Why do you always hate me, Finley?"

"You took everything away from me" George Finley said as he looked at Niko with hatred.

Niko thinks George's words don't make sense. Niko didn't take the scholarship from anyone. The GIA faculty board has made its choice and George should respect their decision.

"Your words don't make sense" Niko complained. He knew George had never liked his class lessons, his jewelry designs were not good, still far outclassed by his other friends.

"So you think you're more talented than me?" George challenged.

Niko looked at George sharply. He decided to end his fight with George. "I didn't get this scholarship because I'm more talented than you are, Finley." "What then?" george asked curiously and half annoyed.

"Because you are not at all talented in the jewelry field," Niko replied honestly. "I'm sorry if I said it frankly. Maybe you should admit it to yourself.”

George Finley's face was red. Around him, the other students fell silent to the dispute. "How dare you say that. Didn't you know that my father was a renowned jeweler?"

"I know," said Niko slowly. "Your father was one of the jewellers I respected. But sorry, I can't respect his son's work. Especially his behavior."

George remained silent.

Then Niko left him.

 

************************************

Inside the train that was taking her to work, Niko's HP rang.

"Congratulations," said someone's voice from his phone. I heard you got a scholarship from the GIA."

Niko smiled. "Thanks, Julien." - "Thanks."

"I never doubted you, Niko," Julien said across the phone. "Next week you'll get your gemology diploma, won't you?"

"Yes. I plan to use that scholarship money to go to the next college package."

"I can't wait to see you in Paris."

Niko heard Julien's laughter from her phone. "Yes, me too. But there's still so much to learn here."

"I know," said Julien slowly. "Hopefully succeed with your college."

"Thanks, Julien," said Niko, then hung up.

A week later, Niko got her diploma. It says Niko Fareli, G.G (Graduate Gemologist/germology graduate). He stared at his diplomacy with pride. That night Niko called to tell her about it, and she was happy. Niko did not know if papa's heart had softened, but she decided not to ruin her happy moment with mama by not asking papa's opinion.

The next intensive course starts from June to December. To fill the gap in time, Niko took a comprehensive course designing jewelry using the latest computer technology, which took seven weeks. Enough time before starting the next class.