Chapter 101 - Issues With Tailoring
Amukelo sat back in the bath, still processing everything as the warm water eased his muscles. He had gone through an entire cycle of confusion, disbelief, frustration, and now, quiet acceptance. Bral and Idin, on the other hand, were still enjoying themselves far too much.
Idin, now adopting a more serious tone, leaned forward and said, "But now, being serious. The issue she wants to talk about with you is pretty serious for her. So you should buy her a gift or something. Something that would brighten her mood and make her open up to you more, so she doesn't keep anything from you."
Amukelo frowned. "A gift?" he asked, a little unsure. "Like... what kind of gift?"
Bral sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "You are so unaware." He turned to Idin, "How does this kid survive in society?"
Idin smirked. "Barely."
Bral continued, "Jewelry. A ring, a bracelet, or a necklace. Something simple. It's the act that matters, not the gift itself."
Amukelo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I don't get it, but... I'll just trust you."
Bral grinned, throwing an arm around him. "Good! That's the spirit. Just do what we tell you, and everything will work out."
Amukelo narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't sound reassuring at all."
Idin laughed. "Welcome to life, my friend."
They lingered a little longer, enjoying the relaxation before eventually drying off and getting dressed. As they stepped out of the bathhouse, Bao was already waiting outside, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"It took you long enough," she said flatly, "so now, let's finally finish this nonsense you put Amukelo through and get back to the facility. I'd like to use that place a little more before the proper class starts. I don't know what to expect, so I want to be at my best."
Bral clutched his chest dramatically. "Ohh... Don't be so rude. It's not nonsense—it's the future of two young people!"
Bao simply sighed, shaking her head as she turned away and started walking. "Whatever. Let's go."
Amukelo, still slightly on edge from the entire situation, followed after her, casting Bral and Idin a suspicious glance. They, of course, just smiled innocently.
By the time they arrived at the tailor shop, Bral pushed open the door, expecting to see the shopkeeper at the counter. But the counter was empty.
Bral frowned. "Huh. He must still be working on it."
Just as he finished his sentence, the tailor emerged from the back room, looking slightly frazzled. The moment he spotted them, he sighed and ran a hand through his graying hair. "Oh... It's you."
Amukelo immediately had a bad feeling.
The tailor shook his head apologetically. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to delay the cut until tomorrow."
Bral's eyes narrowed. "What? But we need it today."
The man let out a frustrated sigh. "I've been trying to get the cut right, but there's one spot that I just can't figure out. I've tried different methods, but customers keep coming in, so I keep getting interrupted. I haven't had time to sit down and solve it."
Bral exchanged a glance with Idin. "That's bad," he muttered. "We literally need it now."
The tailor gave them an apologetic look and shrugged. "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it."
Idin, however, was already stepping forward, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Can you show me the cut you're struggling with? Maybe I can figure it out."
The tailor hesitated, eyeing him skeptically. "It's not that easy..."
Then, he seemed to remember how effortlessly Idin had picked out the perfect fit for Amukelo earlier. He exhaled sharply and muttered, "I guess there's no harm in trying."
Turning to the rest of them, he said, "Can you keep an eye on the shop while we're in the back? If any customers come in, just let them know I'll be out shortly."
Bral nodded. "If it gets the job done faster, we'll do it."
The tailor led Idin into the back room, leaving Bral, Amukelo, and Bao standing awkwardly in the shop.
Bral turned to Amukelo and grinned. "You better appreciate this. Your whole 'not-date' is getting a lot of people involved."
Amukelo sighed. "I still don't get why this is all necessary."
Bral threw an arm around him. "Because, brother, tonight... could be special."
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Amukelo blinked. "But it's not a—"
Bral raised a finger to silence him. "Shhh... It's special."
Bao just shook her head, resigning herself to the chaos.
In the back room, the tailor led Idin to a well-lit workstation cluttered with fabrics, chalk markers, and measuring tools. A pair of half-cut pants lay across the wooden table, the fabric slightly uneven, with faint markings where the tailor had clearly attempted to make a precise cut but hesitated. The man exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as he pointed at the troublesome area.
"This is the issue," he said, frustration evident in his voice. "The fabric keeps slipping every time I try to cut it straight. I'm afraid I'll ruin the material, and if I pin it down too tightly, it'll damage the fibers and leave permanent marks." He shook his head. "I've dealt with this problem before, but it's rare, and I usually need time to sit and figure it out. But with customers constantly coming in, I get distracted, and I just... I haven't been able to get it right."
Idin leaned over the table, his sharp eyes scanning the material. He ran his fingers along the fabric, testing its texture and how it reacted to slight pressure. He murmured something to himself, then nodded as a thought clicked into place.
"Lay a thin sheet of parchment paper on top of the fabric before pinning it," he instructed, already reaching for a roll of the material from a nearby shelf. "It'll keep the fabric steady, protect it from getting marked, and you'll still see your chalk guidelines clearly through it. Then, simply cut through both layers—it will ensure a smooth, straight cut without damaging anything."
The tailor's brow furrowed as he considered the advice, then his face brightened with realization. "That... that actually makes perfect sense." He picked up the parchment paper, placed it over the fabric as Idin had suggested, and pinned it down carefully. Then, grabbing his shears, he hesitated only for a moment before slicing through both layers. The cut was clean—perfectly straight.
He blinked in surprise and let out a low chuckle. "Well, would you look at that... That was so simple. I can't believe I never thought of that before." He turned fully to Idin, his admiration evident. "I'm surprised by your knowledge about this, young man."
Idin simply smiled. "When I was younger, I absorbed a lot of it through my father. It was an interest that never really faded."
The tailor nodded, crossing his arms as he studied Idin with new respect. "You know, it's rare to see young people these days take such an interest in a craft like this. If they have a good example, it really makes all the difference."
Idin shrugged modestly. "I just enjoy learning. And tailoring is a craft that evolves, just like everything else. There's always something new to pick up."
The tailor chuckled and patted Idin on the back. "Well, you've saved me a lot of time today. I can finish this up in ten minutes now. You can head back to your friends."
Idin nodded and stepped out of the back room, returning to the front where Bral, Amukelo, and Bao were still waiting. The shop was quiet—no customers had come in, and the three of them were clearly growing restless, leaning against the counter in silence.
As soon as Idin approached, Bral sat up and asked, "So? Any progress?"
Idin smirked. "It'll be done in ten to fifteen minutes."
Bral grinned and clapped him on the back. "I swear, you could run your father's business without even breaking a sweat."
Idin chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess... But honestly, being an adventurer is much more fun. And who knows? Maybe while traveling, I'll learn something unique about tailoring that my father never knew."
Bral leaned back against the counter with a satisfied expression. "That's the spirit. You might be the only person I know who can talk about tailoring like it's some grand adventure."
Idin shrugged. "Every craft is an adventure if you care enough about it."
Amukelo, still absorbing the sheer amount of effort being put into all of this, sighed. "So, let me get this straight. You guys made me pick out new clothes, get them tailored, and now I have to buy a gift, all for what is supposed to be a simple conversation?"
Bral threw an arm around his shoulder with a laugh. "Oh, come on, rookie. You're looking at this all wrong. If it's just a conversation, then you'll at least be the best-dressed guy having one. And if it turns out to be something more? You'll thank us later."
Amukelo groaned. "This still feels like a trap."