Three Hours To Be Unforgettable
Country: Aurivelle
City: Auremont
Alvara
I woke up before my alarm.
Not that it mattered anymore. I’ve gotten used to this routine.
It’s been a month since we arrived at the institute.
Honestly… it hasn’t been easy.
But we’ve grown.
A lot.
My hands don’t shake as much when I sketch now.
I still feel that little twinge of fear sometimes…
But I’ve come far.
Mila, Isabella, and I… we’ve become inseparable.
Mila is quiet, always observing.
I speak when I need to.
Isabella… Well, she never stops talking.
I honestly don’t know how her mouth doesn’t get tired.
I know the institute inside out now..the schedule, the lessons, the daily grind.
And a few days ago, the month ended…
We were given our monthly allowances.
Four hundred dollars.
I still can’t wrap my head around it.
The Hawthornes are rich, yes. But this?
This was unexpected.
I dressed quickly.
I grabbed my water bottle and stepped out of my room, just as Isabella and Mila were coming out of theirs.
“Well, someone’s getting used to this life,” Isabella said, grinning.
“Of course. A month in… what did you expect?” I rolled my eyes.
Mila just smiled quietly.
“Let’s go,” Isabella urged.
The field was already buzzing with students.
Some jogging.
Some stretching.
We joined in.
Thirty minutes later, we collapsed on the open field, gasping like we’d just fallen out of a tree.
“The more you do this, the easier it gets,” Isabella said, trying to catch her breath.
I laughed.
“Said by someone who's breathing like a lizard,” I teased.
“I don’t blame you. If it weren’t for me, who knows where you’d be now?” she shot back.
“Oh please. You did nothing, my dear friend,” I said.
“Oh really? Mila, remember how she used to sleep through everything?” Isabella teased.
“I remember,” Mila said quietly, smiling.
“Stop manipulating her, Isabella,” I laughed, standing up.
“Well, my good deeds speak for themselves. Breakfast before I collapse?” Isabella asked.
We laughed and headed to the refectory.
When we stepped into the refectory, most of the students were already there.
Not surprising.
Most people skip the morning exercise or workouts anyway.
We spotted an empty table by the glass wall and made our way over.
Sat down.
Just as we settled, the kitchen staff started bringing out the food.
Mila peered at her plate and said quietly,
“I can never get used to the food they serve here.”
“Me neither,” Isabella said, nodding.
“Honestly… if it weren’t for all the daily activities that drain you, I wouldn’t want to go back,” she added, almost wistfully.
I laughed.
“Why would you go back? You’ve always been a foodie. Always will be.”
She shot me a sly grin.
“Well… at least no one knows I’m a foodie. Or whatever you want to call it. Because I’ll always work out after eating.”
“And then complain about the exercise all day long,” I teased.
She opened her mouth to respond, then shut it. We just laughed and kept eating.
Breakfast done, we went back to freshen up.
I opened my wardrobe and pulled out a cream knit top, navy baggy trousers, tan loafers, structured tote, and pearl studs.
Hair in a messy braid.
Simple.
Clean.
Ready.
Today’s Friday.
The first Friday of the month.
The day of the monthly challenge.
For weeks now, I’ve been wanting to win this.
I haven’t… not yet.
But today?
Today, I’ll give it everything.
We got to the design studio a little early.
The instructor wasn’t there yet.
So we joined the other students, waiting.
Then, of course…
The troublesome girls showed up.
For weeks, I’ve been following Isabella’s advice..ignore them.
But… the more they came, the harder it became to stay quiet.
And honestly? God only knows how long I can keep that up.
“Look who we have here… the ‘exception,’” Helena said the second she saw me.
I ignored her.
Of course, they wouldn’t leave it at that.
“You must think this is the boutique, with Clara at your back,” she added, smirking.
I let it slide for a second… then I snapped.
“Cute assumption… but I don’t need anyone at my back to know exactly what I’m doing.”
She tilted her head, mocking.
“And if that’s the case… Why have you been trying to win the monthly challenge?”
“Trying?” I said, voice low and steady.
“No. I’m here to set the standard. You’ll catch up… or fall behind.”
Leonora scoffed, voice dripping venom.
“Oh… the poor little girl who thinks the world revolves around her ugly face finally finds her voice.”
I smiled coldly.
“Ugly? Sweetheart, that word isn’t in my vocabulary… only in yours. You’ve spent your whole life looking at me, realizing you’ll never be me. Keep talking..the more you do, the uglier you look.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“If not for the fact that the institute forbids fighting, I would have dealt with you. But don’t worry… I still have many things in store for you. And I promise… you’ll leave this institute when I’m done.”
I stepped closer, locking eyes with her.
“If you think threats impress me… think again. Save your energy, Leonora. You’ll need it, because it’s going to take more than words to rattle me. And when this is over… I’ll still be standing, while you’re busy regretting every step you took.”
“…And just so you know,” I added, letting my words land,
“Your obsession with me won’t make me any less brilliant… or any less unforgettable. Enjoy your little tantrum. It only proves how much you fear being outshone.”
She opened her mouth, ready to reply… but the instructors walked in.
“How can you out-talk three people at the same time?” Isabella muttered quietly.
I just shrugged.
I’d been keeping quiet because of Isabella… but now? Scratch that. From today, I will give it back… the way I want.
“Good morning, designers,” Mrs. Alexia, the head instructor, said, stepping forward.
“Today is Friday…the day of our monthly challenge.”
The room buzzed.
She raised her hand.
Silence.
“Here, you showcase your talent… your speed… and your creativity. At the end of the day, the best design will be chosen, and the designer rewarded.”
She listed the prizes.
Name on the Hall of Designers board.
Personalized designer tools.
Student of the Month trophy.
Luxury gift card.
Lunch with Mrs. Hawthorne.
Exclusive feature on the institute website.
Isabella elbowed me.
“Wow… I can’t believe this.”
Noise flared up again.
“This was added to make less serious designers take it seriously. Imagine a lunch with Mrs. Hawthorne, a luxury gift card, and a feature online. Do your best…because what you design today could open doors for you.”
She raised her hand again.
“Today, you will create a red carpet dress. Sketch it. Draft it. Construct it. Design it. You have three hours. “And once time is up… you don’t get a second chance.”
“You start now… and good luck.”
Everyone dove in.
Some sketching.
Some checking fabrics.
I stood still for a moment.
I stood still for a moment.
Noise filled the studio.
Fabric being pulled.
Pencils moving.
Voices low but urgent.
Everyone had started.
Everyone except me.
Three hours.
A red carpet dress.
And one chance to be seen.
My fingers tightened slightly around my sketch pencil.
What do I want this dress to say?
Not just beauty.
Not just elegance.
No.
It has to speak.
It has to command attention.
It has to be unforgettable.
Behind me, I could feel their eyes.
Helena.
Leonora.
Ally
Waiting.
Watching.
Waiting for me to hesitate.
A slow breath left my lips.
Not today.
I lowered the pencil to the page.
And then…
I started.