Winter Fashion Competition Part 5

Alcane, or rather, Kiro, didn't skimp on the budget for the Winter Fashion Competition.

Everyone who entered the venue felt like they dive straight into the heart of the ocean.

The room was dark and the light that illuminate the space are the bioluminescent jellyfishes swimming within the reinforced glass aquarium which served as the stage for the day's show.

Such capriciousness can only be the idea of the man.

One must know that jellyfish lives in the optimal temperature of 25-30℃ so it's normal to see ocean infested with it during summer. But now, one can see myriads of this species in the middle of winter and even managed to capture those that lived in the ocean twilight zone.

Given that it lives in the twilight zone, it's easier to actually care for it during winter.

Focusing on the event itself, in fact, Alcane took this opportunity to also introduce their junior designers.

So the stage was not only for the 10 main pieces but also for those who participated but got eliminated in the earlier round of the competition.

Music started playing.

Colored lights mixed into the atmosphere.

One by one, models walked into the stage to flaunt the grandeur of the designs.

On the backstage, a few hours before the start of the show, everyone is busy making final adjustments and fittings.

Kafi was already in awe when she first saw the draft but now she can't help but to further admire the final creation of the outfit.

She can't believe that the dress was made for her.

She can't believe that she helped made such dress.

She can't believe she'll be the one to wear and show the dress to the world.

No, the dress is more beautiful that her, how can she ruin the dress by wearing it.

But Kafi can't help but to reach for the dress.

It's like there's a strong attraction that's calling her to wear it because it is meant for her.

From that moment, it's like all her fear had been thrown away.

The feeling was so magical that she Kafi felt like she's dreaming.

"You'll know when you wear it, it's yours" Yue knew how Kafi felt at the moment, like when she wore the dress Ker made for her.

It's like destiny.

Inexplicable.

Mysterious.

You just knew without any deep thoughts.

They removed the dress carefully from the mannequin.

The dress was surprisingly light to touch despite the intricate details and dense articles attached.

Before Yue can help Kafi in wearing the dress, they heard a series of knock on the door.

Yue opened the door and saw a petite woman holding a heavy makeup case.

"Hi, I'm Mikana. Today, I'm responsible for the makeup and hairstyle of Ms. Kafi" the woman introduced politely.

Yue nodded and let the Mikana enter the room.

Yue was already informed that some personnel will be assigned for each participant to help them complete the overall look of the model.

This will avoid sharing room with other competitors before the show, minimizing incidents, petty clash with other people.

But can this really avoid those who wanted to do malicious works?

Despite some doubts, Yue let Mikana do her thing.

Yue thought it is better just to highlight some of Kafi's prominent features instead of applying an overall heavy makeup.

Fortunately, Mikana seemed to have the same idea and few comments is needed to be said.

Yue watched the whole process to ensure that no incident will happen.

The makeup artist doesn't seem to mind her attitude as if she's used to it, and even conscientiously tested the makeup in small amount on Kafi's hand to test for any allergic reaction.

Kafi was nervous but excited at the same time.

Ms. Yue had the mirror covered so she can keep the suspense for her.

Kafi wanted to know if she had the right to stand on the stage.

The work was simple but tedious.

Everything still took almost two hours to finish.

"Thank you for your hard work" Yue really appreciated the skill of Mikana.

"No, I seem to stumble upon a secret that will blow everyone's mind. It's my pleasure to be a part of such event" Mikana didn't think much at first when she saw the model. In fact, she found it unusual that they will choose a girl such as her to join the competition.

At first look, one can already see that designer Yue is at a disadvantage.

But as Mikana continued to work on the girl at a closer distance, she was able to too see the sleeping potential.

Mikana had been in the industry for quite some time and had seen all kinds of faces and temperament.

It's not wrong to take her words to heart.

And it was not until she saw the full look, after the dress was worn, that she can't help but to sigh in amazement.

Before leaving, she took one last look at Yue.

She always found her a bit familiar.

She also felt that such person should stand on the stage, like that's where she always belongs.

"Please get into position, we have five minutes before entering the stage" the director had been reminding from time to time.

They have come to the point that everyone had convened and about to expose themselves to the audience.

More or less the participants are nervous since they're not really professional models.

The audience that they will face not just include the employees of Alcane but also the prominent people and critics of fashion industry.

But unlike Kafi, these people are still used to mixing in the social circle.

They are not restricted to move like professionals. This is a freestyle runway.

This way, less error is committed.

"You just needed to do like we had practiced during the rehearsal. I'll be in the audience. You only needed to look at me when you start to feel nervous. Don't mind the other people and flashes. Just enjoy the feeling and always remember that you're beautiful" Yue keep on encouraging Kafi but only she knows how worried she is. Right now she felt like a mother hen letting out her chick.

But how could Kafi not feel her care.

The girl had been maturing at an incredible phase without the two of them knowing.

Nature is, when people feel that others had more intense emotion that them, they tend to appear more calm or rational.

"I will do my best Ms. Yue" Kafi can now confidently say.

Hearing such words, Yue was relieved and left for the audience.

Focus.

Kafi had gone through a lot of stigma over the years.

Her parents always say that she looks like a doll when she was still a kid.

In her photos as a kid, she had always had a clear bright smile.

When did she started to lose this?

Back when she was in primary school.

The boys in the class always tease her piggy piggy.

Just because she eats a little more than other kids.

Why does the world prejudice just because she's a little fleshier than what was found to be aesthetic by society nowadays?

In fact, her BMI had always been normal and she's healthy.

But how would Kafi know, that in fact, those kids didn't tease her because she was fat but because they want her to notice them.

The jealous girls didn't help as well.

It is a simple tragic fate that lead her to be more introverted and unconfident as time passed.

Fortunately, she met Yue.

The moment Kafi wore the dress was the time she felt so comfortable and free.

Like all the shackles of her previous years had come undone.

When Kafi saw herself at the mirror, she felt like she was the caterpillar who eventually turned herself into a butterfly.

She can now freely fly in the sky.

This kind of mentality was brought into the stage.

With her gaze determined, her expression relaxed, her body like floating while she glides through the stage.

Like a fairy submerged to the sea.

Synchronizing with the movements of the jellyfish.

The dress hung like a second skin, following her every move.

Excess fabric flutters tickling through every heart of the audience.

Normally, if you're a bit heavier, you would like to hide your limbs or parts that can make you look big, but in fact, it just adds weight visually.

But what Yue did to the dress was to expose and give emphasis to this parts and show the beautiful proportion of Kafi.

You don't need to abuse yourself to be thin just to look beautiful.

You can be beautiful with just you.

You have to wear the dress and not the other way around.

Although this may go against the concept of a fashion model, since you have to be a natural hanger so you could show every dress in the crowd, but this is not a stage for that.

Yue's goal as a fashion designer, is to make a dress that can make a person be confident about his/herself.

Kafi had almost hypnotized herself, like she's in her own space, but one thing was she suddenly heard some gasp on the surroundings.

The audience witnessed how the sling of the dress slowly unravel and was about to fall.

Kafi froze in her steps and started to panic.

Although it has yet to manifest on her face, but her eyes started to search for the person who she can rely on.

And there, she saw Yue's tranquil face and her heart was at peace.

Then she saw Yue motioned her fingers in circle.

Without thinking of the consequence, Kafi did a 360 spin and this time a louder gasp was scattered throughout the hall.