Words Unspoken

Assembly

Located within the walls of the historic 700 acres of land, the ivy-covered Linden Nue University screams elegance and promises improvements in various human endeavors. It offers lots of events and activities and consists of an infinitely large number of organizations that aim to produce successful indicators of excellence around the world. It valued academic initiatives more than any other, but contrary to what others think, the university was dedicated to something other than academic pursuits.

All students at this university are shown to embody its principles and values: honor, excellence, and compassion for others. And this year, another set of students will embrace that seemingly universal tradition. Inside the auditorium where the annual assembly for new students is held, a certain vice president and committee members are doing a thorough check to ensure that all resources for the said event are finalized. They need to do so if they don't want their president to eat them alive if something goes wrong in the assembly ritual.

"Alright, I think we are all set." Hanni announced. All of them took their seats on the upper deck, the farthest position from the stage. They aren't needed to stand in front until the announcement of the student council, so she and her members decided to stay in the backdrop for the meantime.

Hanni admired the interior of their auditorium for the she-can't-count-anymore time. The black and gold curtains, absorbent ceilings, and minimalistic wall hangings that complement the overall ambiance of the classic space always get her. It was majestic and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Danielle hasn't arrived yet. She's probably tailing her president again, Hanni mused. Gradually, the silence of the auditorium fades as a large pool of students swarm themselves inside. Everyone is not really required to attend the assembly, except the newly admitted freshmen. They can't do much about it. The auditorium could accommodate most of the students; other students who couldn't attend could just watch the live assembly on their university's website, so it's not much of a problem.

Soon enough, the auditorium was full of students. Hanni could easily identify the freshmen from the bunch as they are instructed to sit in the front chairs. Different types of nerds and semi-nerds, huh? The vice president's eyes gleamed. She can't contain the excitement she feels for new competitions. She wondered how many of these new students would dare challenge her position once the academic ranking evaluation started. Having her competitors from different departments breathe on her neck was another level of pressure, but the feeling was the best. 

Did Kang Haerin feel the same? The president is the only one whom she cannot beat after all. The one who can crush her down wasn't born yet. 

"A pleasant afternoon, future generational leaders." That sentence was enough to induce silence among everyone inside the auditorium. Standing in front of the podium at the center of the stage was the university's chancellor, Kim Seokjin. He was a handsome man in his thirties. Often seen wearing a pair of black-framed eyeglasses, his soft and endearing eyes spoke of underlying tones. His tall and lean stature, much like that of a Greek god, could make you feel somehow intimated. At first glance, chancellor Jin was a docile man. However, beneath that facade was a sinister side that only some people, like Hanni, knew.

"I am not really a fan of the university's assembly, and I don't want to take too much of your time, so let me get this straight to all of you. The world is nonsensical, and regardless of honor, the students of LNU are expected to perform at their best consistently. Either you tread the path of triumph or fall into the path of despair for losing." The chancellor finished with a smile, but his eyes had a fatal glint that most students could feel at the moment.

"God, he can't really hold his horses." Hanni complained. 

"True, he's scaring the new gems." Danielle giggled behind her. The small ticking time bomb almost fell on her chair due to inherent shock. The treasurer was always good at hiding her presence; she's not a ninja or something, right?

"Where's that president of yours? It's almost time for her opening program remarks."

"There." Danielle pointed at the podium and on que, the chancellor announced the president's name.

"That would be all for me to say. Though this is not the end." came from the now grim-looking chancellor. The students became more attentive, I guess they know who the chancellor would call next.

"Before the formal start of the official school year based on our academic calendar, let's hear something from our student council president, Kang Haerin."

A few claps from both seniors and freshmen were followed by silence, which crept in as the apathetic-looking council member suited herself in the podium's center. Kang Haerin, wearing the traditional university uniform with the navy crow insignia that all students aspire to steal away from her, has the usual authoritarian air around her that could make you feel that she can shut you up with just a word. She nudges her glasses up a little higher on her nose before turning her attention on the crowd in front. Her eyes are menacing.

Hanni and Danielle swear that they heard some squeals from the girls in front of them while looking at Haerin. The vice president observed as the treasurer's mood turned a bit sour, but it was soon masked with a crescent-eye smile. 

"On behalf of the upper echelon and respected faculty members and staff, I impart my special welcome to those of you who are at Linden Nue University for the first time." Her low, resonant voice dominated the whole space. 

It can be noticed that the other freshmen, who seemed detached from what's happening at the moment, were pulled back by the president's commanding voice. The discreet murmurs everywhere completely died down as holder of the distinguished insignia ate them up with her known presence.

"A complete silence, hm. Good." Haerin added with a slight nod.

Danielle giggled and Hanni scoffed at the arrogance. Haerin's eyes darted at them with a quick glare. They are scared of her but she can't do anything to them right now. 

"Going back to the topic at hand, LNU is not only an international premiere university teeming with activities, organizations, clubs, athletics, exhibitions, performances, and community service programs that aim to nurture future professionals and leaders in the diverse fields of your interests but also a community of groundbreaking discoveries for its students."

"For the official classes next week, your uniforms are already in your assigned dorms. I do believe that you were well informed on how this university works prior to entering here, but if you have any questions, you can find answers to them in your student handbooks. That's all." President Kang Haerin finished with an arctic tone in her voice. 

The supposedly warm welcome for the freshmen didn't sound warm at all. It was intense, as Hanni and Danielle would put it. And the other students would surely agree as well. However, they are used to Haerin and her icy-harsh ways of handling things.

The students left the auditorium in groups until Danielle and Hanni were left inside. They didn't notice Haerin's departure and assumed she left on her own, so they just checked around and left afterwards.

Unbeknownst to them, there was still a student who stayed. She was the only one left. The freshman's eyes are dazed; she didn't expect that the prominent president's authoritarian figure would easily have this effect on her. Aside from gaining a spot in Division 10, she added another goal to her list after the assembly ended.