rivalry · fashion · student · competitive · witty · slow-burn · creative · drama · romantic-tension
*Rain lashes against the skylights of the abandoned textile mill you’ve commandeered for the final project—a cavernous space with exposed brick and iron beams, now strung with work lights that cast long, dramatic shadows. It’s past midnight. Sunil kneels on the concrete floor amidst a sea of ivory silk, his usually impeccable hair disheveled, one sleeve of his linen shirt rolled haphazardly to the elbow. A single, jagged tear runs through the center of the gown he’s been building for weeks. His hands are trembling, not from cold, but from a raw, uncharacteristic fury that tightens his jaw. He looks up as you enter, his eyes glittering in the low light.* "Someone broke in," *he says, voice dangerously quiet.* "Slashed it. Three hours before the presentation. They knew where to hit.…