Rejoice

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Day of the Exam and Interview



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The morning sun spilled through the high dormitory windows, throwing golden streaks across the beds. Rejoice Christie sat upright with a start, her heart racing. Today was the day—the make-or-break moment that stood between her and her dreams.

"Rejoice," Sonia whispered from the other bed, "are you awake?"

"I can't even sleep," she murmured back.

Sonia pulled the covers over her head. "Same. I feel like I'm going to throw up."

Across the room, Elizabeth sat before the mirror, applying a subtle layer of foundation with the calm of a queen. Her polished uniform and perfectly brushed hair made her look like a catalog model. Grace hovered near her, anxiously fixing her own outfit. The other girls, including Queen and Crystal—two of Elizabeth's new fashionable and sharp-tongued friends—were busy trading beauty tips.

Rejoice watched them silently. Something in Elizabeth had shifted. Her steps were more precise, her words colder. She didn't even glance toward Rejoice and Sonia anymore.

At 7:00 AM, they joined the other first-years in the dining hall. A buffet of bread, scrambled eggs, fruits, and tea was laid out, but nerves dulled everyone's appetite. Rejoice's fingers trembled as she clutched her tray.

Zion waved them over. "Morning warriors," he grinned. "Sleep? Or nah?"

"Definitely nah," Sonia groaned, dropping into the seat beside him.

Joining them were Daphne and Tilda—the two girls from the library who had quickly bonded with Rejoice and Sonia—and Malik, the tall, quiet teen with a sketchbook always tucked under his arm. Daphne was her usual vibrant self, bouncing with nervous jokes, while Tilda kept her observations to herself, calmly sipping tea.

"Anyone else feel like they're about to walk into a fashion battlefield?" Tilda asked.

"Totally," Malik muttered. "I heard two girls crying in the hallway earlier."

Grace walked past their table then, laughing a little too loudly at something Crystal had whispered. Elizabeth trailed behind, her expression unreadable. She caught Rejoice's eye for a split second before looking away.

"She's acting like we never shared a childhood," Sonia said, shaking her head.

Rejoice stayed silent.

By 8:30 AM, students lined up outside the grand exam hall—a sleek, modern structure with glass panels and a rotating digital banner that read: Salem Fashion Designing School Entrance Examination – Welcome, Future Designers!

Inside, rows of white desks and chairs gleamed under bright lights. The clock on the wall ticked steadily.

A firm voice rang out. "Phones off. Bags to the side. Pencils only. Three sections. Three hours. Begin."

Rejoice sat at desk A183. Her breath caught as she flipped open the exam paper. The first page: Sketch a ready-to-wear outfit for teenage girls during the rainy season. Include accessories. Her fingers flew to her pencil. She sketched a waterproof trench dress with bold stitching, matching boots, and a transparent umbrella with hand-painted designs.

The second page tested creativity: matching textures, identifying fashion eras, correcting design flaws.

The third, an essay: "What does fashion mean to you?"

Rejoice paused, then wrote from the heart. She wrote of her late mother's handmade clothes and word to her, of how fashion became her form of escape and expression. Every stitch, a memory. Every outfit, a message.

When the timer buzzed, she had just finished her last sentence.

"Pens down!" barked the instructor.

The tension in the room broke like a wave. Rejoice leaned back in her chair, drained.

Zion appeared beside her as they filed out. "I think I gave that paper my soul."

"You and me both," Sonia said, catching up.

They were given an hour break before the interview phase. Rejoice and her friends found a shaded spot under a tree near the interview building. The tension was thicker than ever.

"I'm scared," Daphne admitted. "I have stage fright. What if I blank out?"

"You won't," Tilda said gently. "Just be real. That's what matters."

They looked up as a long black car pulled into the school compound. Out stepped Mrs. Happiness Scott, the head of first-year admissions and also a staff. She wore a dark green power suit and stiletto heels, her hair coiled elegantly atop her head. Beside her were two assistants, one of whom held a folder labeled A–F: Top Candidates.

"She's terrifying," Daphne whispered.

"She's the one who helped build this school's name," Malik added. "She's a legend."

Mrs. Scott stood at the entrance, eyes scanning the students like a hawk. Her presence silenced the courtyard. Even Elizabeth seemed rattled as she adjusted her collar.

"I heard she has final say on who gets in," Zion muttered.

Soon, the first set of names was called. Students began disappearing behind the glass doors one by one. Some emerged relieved, others shaken.

Elizabeth was called in with Queen, Grace and Crystal. Rejoice watched as the four strutted inside like models on a runway.

Minutes later, murmurs erupted. Crystal had raised her voice in the interview room. A staff member stormed out. One girl claimed she heard Queen say something snide about Mrs. Scott's outfit.

Sonia's eyes widened. "This is not going well for them."

When Grace came out, her face was flushed, and she wouldn't meet anyone's gaze.

Rejoice's group was next. She, Sonia, Zion, Daphne, Tilda, and Mailk were ushered into the waiting hallway.

Rejoice's name came first.

The room was cool and brightly lit. Three interviewers sat behind a semi-circular table. Mrs. Scott was at the center.

"Rejoice Christie," she said, glancing at the folder. "Excellent sketchwork. Interesting writing."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Tell us about your design."

Rejoice spoke with as much passion as she could. She described the function and beauty of her piece. She referenced culture, comfort, and courage. When asked why she wanted to join Salem, she mentioned her dreams, her mother, and how the school represented everything she longed to become.

Mrs. Scott leaned forward. "If we don't pick you, what happens next?"

"I'll try again," Rejoice replied. "And again. Until someone sees what I see in myself."

There was a pause. Mrs. Scott's eyes were piercing.

"What makes you different from the 700 others applying?"

Rejoice hesitated… then said, "Because I won't compete with others to shine—I'll shine from within."

The woman's mouth twitched—was that a smile?

"Thank you, Rejoice. You may step out."

Outside, Sonia clutched Rejoice's hand. "How did it go?"

"I don't know," she breathed. "Mrs. Scott is… intense."

Each of them took their turn. Zion joked his way through. Daphne froze once, but recovered. Tilda impressed everyone with her calm responses and her knowledge of fabric types. Malik showed some of his art and received curious nods from the panel.

By evening, the sun dipped low behind the school buildings. The mood in the dormitory was mixed. Some girls danced with joy. Others cried quietly.

Rejoice sat by the window, her sketchpad resting on her lap. Sonia sat beside her, looking lost in thought. Zion was nearby, humming to himself.

Across the room, Elizabeth packed her makeup into her box, unusually quiet. Grace sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly, Crystal threw her lipstick at the wall. "That interview was a setup! That woman hates confident girls!"

"Maybe if you hadn't insulted her shoes—" Queen snapped.

"I was being honest!"

"You were being foolish," Elizabeth said suddenly.

The room went quiet.

Crystal turned to her. "Excuse me?"

Elizabeth stood, glaring. "You sabotaged us in there. You wanted to be bold, but you ended up being loud and disrespectful."

Rejoice watched, stunned. For once, Elizabeth sounded like her old self.

Crystal scoffed. "You think you're better now?"

"No," Elizabeth replied. "But I'm smart enough to know when I made a mistake choosing friends."

She turned to Rejoice, her voice soft. "Good luck tomorrow."

Rejoice stared after her as she walked out of the room.

"She's coming back," Sonia whispered.

Rejoice smiled faintly. "Maybe."

That night, as the stars came out and Salem quieted, Mrs. Happiness Scott stood by her office window, flipping through sketches and notes. She paused at Rejoice's file.

"Christie," she murmured. "Interesting girl."

She closed the folder, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Good evening, Mrs. Happiness Scott," Sonia said as she approached the desk where the woman sat reviewing some files.

"My goodness! You scared me, Sonia," Mrs. Happiness exclaimed, nearly dropping the folder in her hand. She chuckled and placed it gently on the table. "How are you doing? And how was the exam?"

Sonia smiled nervously. "It went well, ma. Rejoice and I did our best."

Mrs. Happiness gave her a warm, reassuring smile. "You both did very well in the interview. I was impressed. You girls have talent and drive—that's a rare combination these days."

"Thank you so much, ma," Sonia said, her heart filling with joy at the compliment.

Mrs. Happiness reached out and placed a gentle hand on Sonia's shoulder. "I'll make sure you, Rejoice, and even her stepsister get the admission."

Sonia blinked in surprise. "Wait, ma... you recognized Rejoice's stepsister, Elizabeth?"

Mrs. Happiness let out a small sigh. "Yes, of course. She walked in with that group of arrogant girls. They disrespected me, but I chose to overlook their behavior—for now." Her tone was calm, but her eyes flashed with quiet disapproval.

Sonia felt embarrassed on Elizabeth's behalf and lowered her eyes. "I'm really sorry about their behavior, ma. Please forgive them."

Mrs. Happiness gave her a knowing smile. "It's alright. Sometimes pride comes before wisdom. Let's hope they learn their lesson before it's too late."

She glanced back at the folders on her desk. "Now, go and get some rest. Tomorrow is another big day for you all."

"Alright, ma. Good night," Sonia said with a polite bow and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory, Rejoice lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was flooded with thoughts—who would stay? Who would be sent home? Would she, Sonia, or Zion make the cut? Would Elizabeth and Grace be selected, or would their new attitude cost them everything?

She clutched her pillow tighter and whispered, "Please, God… just one chance. That's all I need."

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