48th Dawn - Down to the Dumps

Alessandra came to our studio, probably with a scheme in mind.

Baron Pierre is currently out and has some business to take care of. That fact alone already gives me the idea that she's using his absence as a chance to patronize me. Despite my inner qualms about suddenly receiving a task, however, I know I can't grumble. She's our supervisor for today, after all.

"Put in a few blind stitches here. They shouldn't be visible no matter what. Make it three centimeters from the hem," Alessandra ordered as she handed out a high-quality satin.

Hiding my reluctance, I painstakingly take it. It just looks so sumptuous that I worry about creasing it in any way. Everybody else is busy with a project at the moment so Alessandra is pouring all her attention on me. The sentiment isn't very much needed, though. She's more like burning holes on me than simply overseeing.

Stitching isn't that difficult, but I'm no expert. This fabric I'm holding looks expensive, so I'm afraid I might mess this up. Even then, however, I know that all I can do is give this my best shot.

I made sure that I'm able to follow her instructions properly and finished it several minutes later. When Alessandra checks it, I feel like I'm going to faint from nervousness. She might suddenly reproach me again. But then, startlingly, she only smiles at me after carefully poring over it.

"Good work," she commended all of the sudden, surprising me.

It takes a moment before her reaction registers in my head. I just can't believe that there'll ever be a day when she says something good about me. I might be dreaming or something.

After that, Alessandra tells me to deliver the fabric to the marketing department. It turns out that it'll be used for an upcoming exhibition. With that, I just silently oblige and make my way to their studio. What I never expect, though, is that someone else will be taking her place to admonish me.

I arrive at their workspace and find two instructors along with a number of apprentices who're currently in the middle of a hectic preparation. Right after giving the cloth to the sartor who's just conversing with the marketing instructor a minute ago, I find myself in a stupefying situation.

Out of nowhere, the sartor ripped the satin into two.

"What do you think you're doing?! Didn't I say to hide the stitches?! What you made are normal ones that aren't visible on the outside, but the inside's a mess! Didn't I already teach you that both sides are important to the wearer?!"

At this point, everyone's already watching us.

Flummoxed, I only remain speechless and frozen.

The instructor keeps chiding me for a while. He even demands to have me pay for the fabric he just tore with his own hands. I want to defend myself, but after looking at the damage, I realize that my stitches already ruined the inner part of the cloth even if he didn't tear it. Mortified, all I can do is stoop my head low and clench my fists in anger.

"That witch tricked me..." I silently grimaced, completely convinced that Alessandra planned this all along.

"Sir, let me pay for it. This lady's actually not a seamstress apprentice."

At this, I turn to see Tristan begging him pardon in my place. I just blink my eyes at him in bafflement when he secretly gives me a wink. Not wanting to stay in this sizzling situation, I then apologize again and try to reason that I've only been given the order. Even with that, however, the sartor didn't seem to listen and just resumed his work. Everyone also proceeds with their preparation as I take my leave with Tristan in tow.

"That's Sir Jean. He's a very meticulous and straight-laced instructor - a perfectionist seamster. Anyway, you shouldn't be the one doing that in the first place..." he started as soon as we got out.

"Let me guess... Miss Alessandra?" he continued with a knowing look to which I just sighed exasperatedly.

"Yeah. She made me sew earlier and even pretended to compliment me," I grumbled, fuming.

"I'll pay for that, Lillian. Don't worry."

I just thank him for the offer and kindly refuse. I still have my money from selling the scrunchies and headband, anyway. Also, he helped me enough already when he talked with Sir Jean earlier.

When I return to the studio, Alessandra is no longer there. The apprentices are having their break by now. Enervated, I just silently trudge to my cubicle, but not without receiving mocking stares from the others which I'm now used to. Ignoring them, I then decided to just take a nap for the meantime.

That's until I notice something that makes my heart stop instantly.

"Where's my portfolio?"

The folder with all of my sketches is nowhere to be seen. I'm sure I just placed it on my desk and never move it to another place. I tried to calm down and look around, but then, I still didn't find it. Panicking, I unknowingly lower my guard and crawl on the floor to search every corner of my cubicle. At this, everybody bursts into laughter.

"Now, she's more like a teacher's pet! Let's wait for when she starts rummaging around the trash either!" Victoria sneered before cackling together with her circle of minions.

Then, I snapped.

Extremely vexed, I storm towards her and fist her collar before hoisting her up in the air. Everyone's stunned and perplexed at this point, but I didn't back down. I never touch what's theirs. I never tell on them. I never fight back like this before. But now, I already reached my limit since they involved something important to me.

"Where is it?!" I taunted through gritted teeth, visibly seething with anger.

"Why are you accusing me?!" Victoria hollered back, which finally made me raise my fist at her and threaten her with it.

"D-Dumpster! In the dumpster!"

Tears pooling her eyelids, Victoria starts whimpering like a puppy. The others are now surrounding us, probably to drag me away from her. I didn't let them touch a hair on me, though, as I eventually put her down. Then, with the deadliest glare I can muster, I flicker my eyes at the trembling red head and puff my chest out.

"Pathetic losers!" I screamed, dumbfounding everyone.

With that, I finally stomp out of the room and leave them in choking silence.