Rejoice

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Needles, Threads, and Hidden motives



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The scent of freshly laundered fabrics, chalk, and pine polish filled the air as the new students entered Studio A — the main creative workspace of Salem Fashion Designing School. Bolts of cloth lined the walls like rainbow battalions ready for war. Mannequins stood proudly in rows like silent witnesses to ambition, and sewing machines gleamed under the golden morning light as though waiting to test the hands of the daring.

It was officially the first day of practical classes.

Rejoice felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling in her stomach as she stepped into the studio, clutching her sketchpad to her chest like a shield. Sonia and Zion flanked her, their gazes scanning the studio with cautious curiosity. Behind them, Daphne, Tilda, and Malik caught up, all wearing the nervous but excited expressions of students about to step into the unknown.

"Wow," Malik whispered, staring up at the massive framed illustrations of past student designs lining the studio walls. "This place smells like ambition."

"More like anxiety," Tilda muttered, eyes widening at the rows of industrial machines. "These things look like they eat fingers for breakfast."

Rejoice chuckled softly, but her amusement quickly faded as the studio door creaked open and in walked Elizabeth — radiant, poised, and dressed in a perfectly tailored pastel blazer that screamed high-end taste. Her long braids were gathered into a sleek bun, and her makeup was flawless, soft and glowing.

But what caught Rejoice's attention wasn't her attire.

Elizabeth wasn't alone.

She was walking directly beside Zion — their shoulders nearly touching — and in her hand was a stylized sketch.

"Morning," Elizabeth said sweetly, holding the paper out to Zion. "I worked on that design you mentioned yesterday. Thought I'd bring it in for your opinion."

Zion blinked in surprise but accepted the paper out of politeness. "Oh… wow. Thanks. I didn't expect that."

"It's nothing," Elizabeth replied with a shrug that looked anything but casual. "Just wanted to impress you a little."

Rejoice's jaw tightened. The lines on her sketchpad blurred. Beside her, Sonia leaned in.

"Ignore her. She's on a mission."

"Is it that obvious?" Rejoice whispered, eyes still on Elizabeth.

"Only to everyone with eyes and common sense."

Before either could say more, a sharp clap rang through the room. A tall woman in a black pencil skirt and crisp white blouse strode to the center, her horn-rimmed glasses perched at the edge of her nose.

"I am Miss Edna," she said, her voice like a blade cutting through the chatter. "Your design mentor and guide through the practical arm of Salem's curriculum."

The room fell into a tense silence.

"Today," Miss Edna continued, "we begin with your first challenge — the pair project. You will work in teams of two to produce both a finished sketch and a prototype outfit by the end of the week."

Groans rippled across the room like distant thunder.

"And no," she added dryly, "you will not pick your partners. They've already been assigned."

She unfolded a small notepad and began calling names.

"Tilda and Daphne."

The girls exchanged wide-eyed glances but moved toward each other.

"Malik and Zion."

Zion turned, gave Malik a playful shrug, and they fist-bumped.

" Grace and Faith."

Rejoice held her breath. Please not with Elizabeth. Please not with—

"Sonia and… Queen."

"Elizabeth and Crystal."

Rejoice blinked in confusion.

Queen?

Heads turned as the side door creaked open. In stepped Queen herself — the girl who had failed to pass the entrance requirements and supposedly left the campus. She looked different now. Her suitcase sat beside her, but her posture was firm, eyes burning with something defiant.

"I filed an appeal," Queen said flatly, her voice cutting through the whispers. "And I got back in. Surprise."

Murmurs flooded the room. Sonia's eyes narrowed, while Rejoice's stomach twisted in a mix of worry and disbelief.

"I thought she was gone," Sonia muttered.

"Looks like someone pulled strings," Malik whispered.

But Miss Edna was unfazed. "Final pair… Rejoice Christie, you're with…"

A long pause. Then the door opened once more.

"…Mrs. Happiness Scott."

The room collectively gasped. Rejoice froze.

Mrs. Happiness — the elegant, poised head instructor — entered gracefully in a navy-blue gown with a patterned scarf tied neatly around her head. She smiled gently, her presence commanding yet serene.

"This week," she said, glancing at Rejoice with warmth, "I will personally mentor and work alongside Rejoice. I want to see what she can truly do."

Rejoice's lips parted in disbelief. A mixture of pride and panic surged through her.

"Y-Yes, ma'am," she stammered, trying to steady her breathing.

From across the room, Elizabeth folded her arms and scowled.

"She's not even that talented," Crystal muttered.

"Just lucky," Elizabeth agreed, her tone sharp.

"Or maybe the teachers are playing favorites," Grace added with a sneer.

Faith snorted. "Let's just beat her in the challenge. Easy."

But their whispers did little to shake Rejoice. If anything, they fueled her determination.

Later that afternoon, the warm sun bathed the school garden in golden light. Rejoice sat with her sketchpad under the shade of a hibiscus tree. Mrs. Happiness sat beside her with a thermos of tea, radiating calm.

"Don't overthink," she said as Rejoice drew. "Trust your instinct. Design is part skill, part emotion."

"I'm trying," Rejoice said, her pencil strokes becoming firmer, more confident.

Sonia joined them during break, her expression uneasy as she sat beside Rejoice.

"Guess who's back," she whispered, glancing toward the path where Queen was walking alone.

"I still can't believe it," Rejoice said. "She failed."

"She's connected. That's how," Mrs. Happiness said gently. "But don't worry — connections can open doors, but only talent keeps them open."

A silence fell between them, until a familiar voice interrupted it.

"Hey Rejoice," Zion said, walking over with his sketchpad under his arm. "Mind if I join?"

Rejoice smiled. "Of course why not."

Zion sat between them, and Elizabeth — watching from across the courtyard — clenched her jaw.

"I'm losing him," she muttered.

"Then we switch strategies," Grace said.

"What kind of strategies?" Elizabeth snapped.

"Simple," Crystal grinned. "If you can't win him over, sabotage the girl who already has his attention."

That evening in the dorms, Rejoice sat by the window, writing in her journal. Outside, the wind rustled the hibiscus leaves, and distant laughter floated in from the hallway.

A knock sounded.

It was Sonia. Her brows were furrowed with worry.

"I just overheard Crystal and Grace," she said, stepping in and closing the door behind her. "They were laughing about something… something about switching settings on a sewing machine."

Rejoice frowned. "Switching settings?"

"They said something about 'jamming the thread path' and watching someone's project fall apart during review."

Rejoice's eyes widened. "You think it's meant for me?"

Sonia nodded. "You're the only one working directly with Mrs. Happiness. That puts a target on your back."

A pause. Then Rejoice stood slowly, her eyes focused and unshaken.

"Then we stay sharp. We double-check every machine before we use it. And we fight back — not with sabotage…"

She looked up, her voice firm.

"…but with excellence."

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