Rejoice

The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the Salem Fashion Designing School in soft amber hues as the chartered bus finally pulled through the grand iron gates. The sign that read "Welcome to Salem Fashion Designing School – Where Dreams Take Shape" seemed to shine brighter under the fading daylight, welcoming each student to the place where their futures would be shaped.

Rejoice leaned forward in her seat, her eyes wide with awe. The school grounds stretched ahead like something out of a dream. Lush, manicured lawns bordered elegant stone buildings that sparkled under the warm twilight. The dormitories stood tall to the left, each with ivy crawling up its walls, and to the right, the towering central building with arched windows and a domed roof housed the lecture halls and studios.

The bus came to a smooth stop in front of the main building. Instructor Henry stood and clapped his hands twice to get everyone's attention.

"All students, please grab your bags and step out in an orderly manner," he said. "You'll be directed to the dormitories for room assignments and then escorted to the dining hall for dinner."

One by one, students filed out of the bus, collecting their luggage from the storage compartment beneath. Rejoice clutched her duffel bag tightly, her heart pounding with excitement and nervous energy. Sonia stood beside her, letting out a long breath.

"We're really here," she whispered. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Same," Rejoice said, smiling.

Elizabeth and Grace trailed behind, not as awed but still curious. Elizabeth was already texting someone while Grace took out a compact mirror to reapply her lip gloss. The stylish girls they had bonded with on the bus were busy filming TikToks by the school gate.

A group of student volunteers in black-and-gold uniforms stood waiting by the dormitory entrance with clipboards in hand. One of them, a tall guy with dreadlocks and a friendly smile, raised his voice to address the group.

"Welcome to Salem! I'm Denzel, a second-year student and the boys dorm leader. You'll be staying in Dormitory A, which is just behind this main building. Let's go!"

While an average height girl on low cut with a smart looking face approached the girls.

Hi girls welcome to Salem, I'm Divine, a third year student and the girls dorm leader.

You girls will be staying in Dormitory B, which is directly opposite Dormitory C.

The the male students followed him in a cluster, wheeling their suitcases over the cobbled path while the female students followed Divine to Dormitory B. The dormitory looked like a mini castle—red brick walls, arched windows, and balconies wrapped in flowering vines. Inside, the reception area smelled faintly of lavender. Marble floors and elegant light fixtures gave the place a luxurious yet comforting feel.

Each student was given a room card with their assigned roommates' names.

Rejoice and Sonia squealed in delight when they realized they were in the same room.

"We got lucky!" Sonia exclaimed, hugging Rejoice.

Grace and Elizabeth were assigned to the room directly across the hall.

"Guess we're neighbors," Grace said, yawning. "Just don't snore."

"You wish," Elizabeth muttered, already peeking into their room.

While Crystal and Queen room was just behind theirs.

The rooms were cozy, painted in pastel shades, with two twin beds, individual wardrobes, desks, and a shared balcony overlooking the school garden. Rejoice and Sonia unpacked quickly, marveling at the high ceilings and soft, lavender-scented sheets.

A bell chimed at the end of the hall, followed by a voice over the intercom.

"Dinner will be served in the main dining hall in fifteen minutes. Please proceed downstairs."

The dining hall was buzzing with life when they arrived. Long wooden tables filled the grand space, chandeliers casting soft light from above. The scent of fresh bread, grilled chicken, and creamy pasta filled the air.

Rejoice, Sonia, and Zion sat at one of the corner tables, savoring their meal as they watched students from different backgrounds settle in. Some had already clicked with others, chatting and laughing. Elizabeth sat with Crystal and her new group, their table loud and flashy. Grace stayed quiet, picking at her food, clearly uncomfortable among the exaggerated personalities around her.

"I can't believe the food here is this good," Zion said, stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth.

Rejoice laughed. "I know, right? I thought we'd be eating dry rice and water."

"Gourmet life," Sonia added, twirling her pasta.

After dinner, they headed back upstairs, and while most students took the opportunity to shower or rest, Rejoice had other plans.

"We should study a bit," she said, glancing at them as she she'd stuffed in her bag. "There's an exam and interview tomorrow which determines whether we remain or we go back home . I don't want to look unprepared.

"Yeah," Sonia agreed. "Let's use the reading lounge downstairs. It's quiet."

Zion perked up. "I'm in. I brought my sketchpad too."

"Great," Rejoice smiled. She crossed the hallway to knock on Elizabeth and Grace's door.

Elizabeth opened it, still in her dinner outfit. She raised a brow. "What's up?"

"We're heading down to the lounge to study a bit," Rejoice said. "Want to come along?"

Elizabeth blinked, then scoffed. "Seriously? It's the first night."

"Yeah," Grace added from her bed, scrolling through her phone. "We're not nerds."

Rejoice smiled politely. "Just thought I'd ask."

As she turned to leave, Elizabeth called out. "Good luck with your... studying."

Sonia rolled her eyes. "They'll be begging for answers in the hall tomorrow soon enough."

Downstairs in the lounge, the atmosphere was peaceful. The room had plush chairs, shelves of books on design history, and soft jazz playing in the background. A few students were already there, quietly studying or sketching.

As the three of them settled into a table by the window, they were soon joined by a tall boy with deep brown skin, braided hair, and a long beige coat.

"Mind if I join you guys?" he asked.

"Not at all," Rejoice said. "I'm Rejoice, this is Sonia, and that's Zion."

"I'm Malik," he said, placing a sketchpad and a fashion magazine on the table. "You guys looked like you had good energy. Thought I'd say hi."

A few minutes later, two girls walked in and made their way toward them. One had short, platinum-blonde hair and wore oversized glasses, and the other had shoulder-length braids and a camera slung across her shoulder.

"Mind if we sit here?" the girl with the camera asked. "Everywhere else is full."

"Sure," Sonia said. "The more the merrier."

"I'm Daphne," said the platinum blonde. "This is Tilda."

"Tilda's obsessed with taking pictures," Daphne whispered playfully.

Tilda rolled her eyes. "Photography is an art."

"And you two are?" she asked, nodding at Rejoice and Sonia.

Introductions passed around again, and soon the group of six settled into a comfortable rhythm. They talked about their dreams—Malik wanted to start a fashion line for plus-sized men, Daphne dreamed of styling celebrities, and Tilda wanted to become a fashion photographer for magazines.

Zion, though shy at first, opened up more as the conversation flowed. He showed them some of his illustrations, and the others reacted with genuine praise.

"These are amazing," Daphne said, flipping through his sketchpad. "You've got talent, Zion."

Rejoice grinned. "Told you."

Sonia turned to Rejoice. "I'm glad we came down."

"Me too," she replied. "Feels like we've already made lifelong friends."

As the night deepened, the lounge began to empty. Students stretched, yawned, and slowly made their way to bed. The group packed up too, exchanging numbers and promising to meet again in the morning before the exam.

Walking back to their room, Rejoice felt a warm sense of belonging she hadn't expected this early. Her heart was light, her steps easy.

Sonia unlocked their door and flopped onto her bed. "First night down. So far, Salem feels like magic."

Rejoice smiled and pulled the curtain aside to look out the window. The school grounds shimmered under the moonlight. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear laughter and music, but it was soft and peaceful.

She pressed a hand over her chest.

"This is where it all begins."

And she meant it. Tomorrow would come with challenges, new lessons, and maybe even heartbreak because some will fail the exam and will have to go back home—but tonight, it was enough to just be here, surrounded by possibility.

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