A New Beginning

Both Claire and Liam looked at Mia in surprise, not expecting the question.

While she just wanted to throw herself into work, she found this matter to be also important. Only doing her part would no longer feel enough, not when she was now pursuing bigger goals.

Claire's gaze softened in understanding while Liam tried to think of an answer.

“Looking confident before others, huh? If I didn't know better, I’d think you'd be joining the show as one of the models. That sounds like something they'd ask. But thanks to you, I’ve been reminded that we do need it as much as they do,” he said with an approving smile. “Our confidence as fashion designers shows in what we make rather than what we do or say. Once you stand on that runway, that's all that will matter to people. But we should also keep in mind that our world goes beyond that platform and audience.”

She nodded to let him know she's listening closely, and he continued, “Like how we touch and move others with our creations, we have those who do the same to us—the reasons we do what we do. Just think about those, about what they must feel seeing you up there. Before you know it, you will find yourself standing taller than ever.”

Mia let out a breath of awe, her eyes gleaming. “Thank you for that, Mr. Atelier.”

A spark of hope flickered through the doubt and exhaustion. With that, the workshop buzzed with renewed energy, ideas and motion in sync.

More days passed, and as she pressed the hundredth pin into place, her fingers felt like they were about to fall off. Half-finished hems and sketches smudged by shaky hands lay everywhere.

‘As I thought…’ Mia checked the clock and felt her stomach sink. ‘...No matter how fast I work, I can't make it in time. This is a collection, after all, and I still have to coordinate with the models.’

The realization settled heavily, but instead of weighing on her, it sharpened her focus.

She went through what she managed to complete, pushing forward despite the panic. An idea sparked—risky, imperfect, but possible. She planned it from the beginning, but she hadn't been sure how to make it work.

‘But now, I think I know.’ Mia straightened, clenching her bandaged hands in fiery determination. ‘Alright! Let's do it!’

---

The day of L’Atelier's fashion show and design competition arrived faster than Mia was able to finish.

Now, she waited in the backstage holding area, hidden behind curtains and temporary walls. The air smelled of steam, hairspray, and fresh fabric. Outside, people conversed in low voices, and music blasted along with camera shutters.

Finally seeing what was behind the glamorous stage had opened Mia's eyes to the disillusioning reality—scattered garment bags and plastic wrappers, frantic makeup artists in front of bulbs-rimmed mirrors, half-dressed models pacing back and forth. Still, she's proud of herself for getting here. She wasn't the least bit discouraged. If anything, she's more motivated to be part of them.

“Mia!”

She looked up to see Jenny waving enthusiastically, Louis right behind her with an ecstatic grin. The show hadn't begun yet, and since only selected guests could sit in the audience, she'd requested backstage passes for them so they could meet before it started. How glad she was she did, as she felt herself letting out a long, trembling breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

“Y-You came...”

“Of course we did, Mi-Mi!” Louis beamed. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Jenny stepped closer. “You look like you’re about to pass out.

“I don't look like it,” Mia sighed. “I really am about to.”

“Wait, I have something.”

Jenny pulled out her phone and showed Mia the screen; it was a video call. Her eyes widened as she saw her classmates cheering her on. Zayne and Arianne were screaming while Derrick and Ian were all smiles.

“Good luck!” Zayne’s voice came through first. “Don't forget me when you're famous, okay?!”

“You’ve got this,” Derrick added, leaning into the frame, followed by Ian giving a thumb-up.

“Oh, how romantic!” Arianne squealed, pulling on the usual theatrics. “The girlfriend is fighting against all odds to be able to stand next to her boyfriend!”

It seemed everything was about love to her. Mia thought she was right, though. Part of the reason she joined was because of that.

These were the people she’d shared classes with but rarely words—people she’d watched from a careful distance she's too afraid to bridge. Her chest swelled with gratitude for their support, and for once, she didn’t feel overwhelmed by the attention. She felt lighter, warmed by the thought she’d gotten closer to them, even for a bit, in their last year in high school.

“Thank you, everyone,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the rush of emotions.

After dropping the call, Mia remembered for some reason—Gwen’s scornful gaze, Lucy’s mocking laughter. Both were gone now, expelled from school after their misconduct. Memories of them no longer hurt the way they used to. It felt distant, like a storm that had passed.

“Mia.”

She turned around with a start to find someone she'd least expected to be there. Alice approached her with a solemn expression—the girl who’d once been beside Gwen and Lucy, but had also been the one to help when she needed it. She’d learned what she’d done for her when she'd been taken.

“Heard you're competing, so I came by,” Alice said quite casually.

Mia blinked, unsure how to react. “Um, t-thank you for helping me that time.”

“You knew?”

“Yes, and I've always wanted to speak to you.”

“We're good.” She shrugged. “I did get what I wanted after all that.”

“Uh, what was it?”

“The job of my dreams. I work as a stylist now.”

Mia gaped, and before Alice could tell more, another voice spoke up. “For me.”

Keith stepped forward, as handsome as always. But his confidence felt restrained, his charm subdued. After what happened, his every move seemed to demand careful thought.

“She became my stylist since my last one resigned after… Well, after that.”

Mia absorbed that in silence. The air between them was tight with unsaid words that never found the right moment, but that's no reason to hold back gratitude where it’s due. Even with traces of their past ordeal clinging to them, they didn’t let it define where they were now.

“I see. I’m glad to see both of you are well,” she said, much to Alice and Keith’s surprise. “You’ve helped me, and for that, I’d like to thank you two.”

“I-I don't need it!” Alice bolted out, though her cheeks were pink, while Keith inhaled, a wistful smile on his face. “Mia, I owe you an apology. The reason you ended up in that situation was… It’s because I have feelings for you, and they're taken advantage of. Even now, I still do.”

“Dude,” Louis, who was still around with Jenny, blurted out. “Are you sure you should be saying that with us here?”

“Actually, I have to. Can’t have a certain someone going berserk again after walking in on us while we’re alone,” Keith chuckled, and Mia winced at the memory. “That day we met... I approached you of my own will, not because of any schemes. I really do feel attracted to you.”

“Woah, hey!” Jenny yelled while Louis looked ready to throw hands. “My girl has a man, okay? Who even are you-”

The two froze, their eyes bulging wide with stunned recognition. “Keith Stonehill?!”

“Uh, we saw him at school during their movie shoot,” Mia reminded Jenny, who then replied, “Well, yeah! But he… He looked different!”

“And he just confessed to you, Mi-Mi!”

“Louis! Our friend is a celebrity magnet!”

“We must prepare next time, Jen-Jen!”

‘They're at it again, and prepare what exactly?’ Mia watched them with fond exasperation for a moment before turning back to Keith. “Thank you for being honest, but… You already know my answer.”

He nodded slowly and smiled. “I do, and I understand.”

“I, um… I’ll see you around?” she replied awkwardly, to which he nodded again before finally leaving with Alice.

Jenny patted her on the shoulder before smirking. “You really are one naughty girl.”

“Huh?!”

“Be more mindful around guys from now on, okay?” Louis said in all seriousness.

“W-What are you t-talking about? I-I-I wasn’t doing anything!” She fussed and fidgeted while her friends laughed.

Though fears and uncertainties remained as the start of the fashion show drew closer, somehow, these moments of closure made the spotlight less of a challenge and more of a new beginning.