IV

school days

II

contemplating

after that conversation. they all got home. Miyu, although happy and contented, is somewhat bugged about her friend Georgia's questions. she said to her self, "what if my parents are still together? would that make me happier? would that be better? do i really need someone to be with? if ever, would that someone be there for me whenever i need him to?". then her phone rang. it was a call from her mother. "miyu, i just called to tell you that i have ran into your professor Ms. France yesterday. she told me about how well you are doing in school. and i am so proud of you." miyu responded, "well, she has been a great help to me. she gave me a list of good materials to read. and she teaches well." Yumi said, "well i hope you continue on doing great in school. i love you doll. i miss you". Miyu responded, "i love you and i miss you too".

school days

III

college ain't easy I

3 years passed and still, Miyu managed to do great in school. best in design for street wear (her favorite), best in cocktail party styling, best presentation in colors and prints. who would not be best in such things? fashion is her passion. though she excelled in almost everything in school, she still kept her feet on the ground. she helps her friends in school papers. she did mentoring. she even joined this school organization where they would visit different places to donate clothes to little children. as she says, "dressing up other people will be our future occupation, so why not start now and put our skills and creativeness into something useful and of great help to others?". she served as a good example and inspiration to others. from college freshies to seniors.

she is now in her fourth year of college. her school life and all gets a little bit stressful since there are more school papers, more designing projects and more styling stints. then came her internship. her professor ms. france once bumped into her before class and said' "Miyu, you should start doing your internship hours so as to finish right in time before this trimester ends. i can recommend you to this company in New York. my good friend has been working there for years and I think they need someone like you. they need your creative ideas there. it is a fashion merchandising company. and you can work really well with their designing team." Miyu, thinking of how many designs she can share with the company got really thrilled and said, "yes, pls, i would love to do my internship there!". ms. france said, "ok, no problem, i will send you an e-mail with all the details you need". miyu responded, "thank you so much ms. france"

all illustrations by nancy zhang

III

just after several months. Miyu got over her parents' separation. well, she tried to forget about it. she did what she thought was best to get over it. sketch. coffee chill out. shopping. ate at fancy restaurants. took photos. and then sketch some more. she also spent time with her friends. had fun. like nothing went wrong. she never pretended to be strong and careless. she really is, strong. she is not careless. she just does not want to dwell on negativity. 

school days.

I

then came the start of classes. yes, it's the start of her college days. no, more of years. she is so excited to enter the Instituto Marangoni.  it is a school of fashion in Milan. she wanted to pursue her dreams so she decided to take up a course of fashion designing and styling as well. it is something that she considers a habit, a passion, a job, a leisure. it is her life. fashion is, has been and will forever be her love and life. her mom actually was the one who inspired her since her mom was once a model turned into a designer. growing up with a mom like Yumi inspired her and totally influenced her. being glamorous and all is totally in their blood.

One friday afternoon. Francesca  (classmate turned into best friend) and Miyu went out for a girly bonding along with some of their friends Georgia, Selena and Maria. as usual, they went shopping, talked for hours over some gelato, had dinner and then went shopping again. while heading home, just walking and taking beautiful photos of them and the romantic classy streets of Milan, georgia asked Miyu, "i wonder how you could take all of these. and by these i mean your parents' separation, school's stress and crazy guys going gaga over you? how could you care less about having someone to be with when you really need someone to be there for you?" Miyu answered "well yes, it is somehow stressful and all, but believe me, the fact of being together with someone is more stressful than all of which you said". all of them laughed. then Miyu said, "i have you. i have all of you. i am now pursuing my dreams. i have my mom. i have my dad. everything is all good. i have everything and everyone. all that i could wish for. i do not want to stress it more just because my parents are not together".

II

her parents separated. she was in fourth year high. it was a gloomy saturday night. they went to have dinner at a fancy restaurant.. Ristorante Cracco. it was perfect. cold night. sumptuous dinner served at its finest. she was wearing her favorite little black lacy dress. black pearl earrings. black diamond cocktail ring. and of course, her favorite expensive black open-toed pumps she got as a gift from her mom. the whole black ensemble was not her choice. it was her mom who got it all mixed and matched together. she did not care. as long as her mom chose her look for that family dinner. she did not know what is in for that night. family time was all in her mind. until after having dinner and she was about to pick up her black purse.. her mom said, "my beautiful doll, your father and i have something to tell you". Miyu, clueless of what her mom is going to tell her, is somewhat nervous and startled. suddenly, their perfect dinner night felt not so perfect. she felt like there's something wrong. Miyu said, "yes, mom. what is it?". Yumi, her mom, started explaining to her how she and her father's relationship have been cloudy lately and everything is just not working between them. yes, they were telling Miyu they would want a legal separation. Miyu, still in shock, was totally confused that time. "what is wrong? nothing felt like imperfect. nothing seemed wrong all of those years that i have been living with my mom and dad." though she wanted to ask a lot of questions to her parents, she remained calm and responded "ok, i guess i just have to deal with this. i hope i could do something to make things better but you already made your decision. i think i can not do anything anymore. for now." 

I

6.19.11

it was that night when she almost regret of everything. well, yes. she regret of one thing. they should not have gone out. they could have just stayed home and not see each other. it felt hopeless. it felt like.. why try when nothing will ever change?

Summer.

the wind. the sand. the little waves of the ocean water running through her toe fingers. it was a bright and sunny summer. she was sun bathing in the stretch of Costiera Amalfitana (Italy).  sipping her favorite peach iced tea. she could not think of any other way to drive away her stress from that internship in New York where all she did was sort different fabrics. that was not what she had in mind when her professor told her about an internship in the city. she considered it as hell. a task of an intern who's taking up a degree in business or nothing at all.

Miyu who is a daughter of Mrs. Yumi Yuuto and Mr. Robert Miller is a college student taking up a degree in Fashion in Milan, Italy. she takes fashion and all the other world connected to it seriously. all her classmates, even her schoolmates ask for her fashion advice.

her name Miyu was given to her by her mom which means beautiful and gentle. it definitely suited her. long black curly hair. gorgeous fair skin. japanese doll eyes. long legs. curves. glamorous clothes. perfect shoes and accessories. who would not want to be her? add up her brain filled with great knowledge and funny spontaneous spirit. she's totally the it-girl every guy would want to be with. but being all-that does not matter to her. her top priorities are: to design and have her own clothing line in all major fashion districts and have her parents reunited.

yes, her parents separated just a year before she went to college. but that did not ruin her dream of becoming a fashion designer. it actually made her stronger. unlike those who rebel and get really depressed of their parents' separation, Miyu stayed happy. because she knows for a fact that the separation was for her parent's well being. for their family's well being. and that in time, they will eventually be reunited.