CHAPTER 7: LAST SEMESTER’S GATHERING

ONE AND A HALF HOUR LATER

The main auditorium was the largest hall at school and could house around twenty thousand people.

At the moment the total number of students at Grandview University was around ten thousand students which wasn't bad compared to what was there three years ago.

With so many students gathered in one place plus the professors, lecturers, and anyone of high stature, the hall was on fire.

As this was the last gathering for students, it was also the day that the administration and student council would give important announcements, reminders, and news that students should be aware of.

And this would be of help in the following year and semester to come.

And it was also a gathering that wouldn't last for long for the administration understood their students the best. They hated this kind of gathering the most. So, saying that they wanted very fast and dismissing them before they lost interest and started causing trouble.

The first thing to do was for everyone to sing the national anthem and after that, the administration began to make their speech.

Students tend to listen to what they want and as for whether they took everything in or not, that was another story for another day.

Listening to these people talking was a laid-back Darica, who was sitting in the front line with her student council members.

The announcement took nearly thirty minutes before the floor was given to her.

Standing at the podium was something that she was used to by now and no longer fazed her.

So, with ease, she stood up from her chair as she adjusted her blazer. Since she was in front of the whole school, her tie was almost in place and she wasn't showing too much skin.

With several steps under a lot of cheering, Darica finally stood in front of the students she loved the most and motioned her hand for them to stop the cheering.

With a single hand movement, the students all quieted down at least to the point where the noise wasn't overwhelming the speaker.

Standing in front of the students that she had been leading, standing up for, for two years, Darica felt very emotional.

However, emotions wouldn't lead to anywhere. Just as she wanted to leave and go home quickly, so were the rest of these students.

Everyone was dying to go home and have a breather, so the sooner she was done, the better it was for everyone as well.

"It's an honor to once again stand in front of you guys. It's been two years, two years since I have become your council leader, and I am grateful for the support you have shown me and the student council in these years."

"Your continuous support and trust you have placed in us I truly appreciate and cherish it. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. And for that, thank you."

"I also want to thank everyone for contributing to the school harmony and following the strict rules and regulations set in place. I sincerely hope that you all understand me and will continue to do so in the future."

"As the student council, we don't have a lot of announcements to give you but we do have a few important ones and I hope that you will all bear them in mind, so that you won't say when we start next semester that you were left out," while taking a breather, Darica said.

"As you are all aware, every single year, the student council will accept new members. And this doesn't mean only freshmen but also old students as well. For freshmen, they will be accessed according to the tests that they will take when the time comes and only freshmen are allowed to register for these tests."

"For all old students, I am afraid to tell you that things have changed a bit and you won't be registering as what freshmen will be doing," with a sly smile on her face, Darica said to the crowd already anticipating their dumbfounded expressions.

And surely, they never failed to deliver.

Whispering and muttering amongst themselves, the students just couldn't understand what schemes Darica had come up with again.

Even the Dean and Principal were both confused as to which games Darica was playing.

Continuing with her announcement, Darica clarified her statement as she said, "Everyone that seemed worth to join the council, I already jotted their names down. One month before the new semester starts, the chosen students will receive an email invitation and participate in an online exam one week after. It will be anonymous and those that get chosen in the end will become members."

"For the old members that will get lucky and become part of us next year, you will only be given a grace period of one month to get your uniforms in order and if you fail that, you will be stripped away of your position and membership within the council."

"So, look forward to those invitations and I wish you the best of luck. The next announcement is related to club activities. I believe that most of you have so many wonderful ideas that you would love to see being put into action. For those that have these kinds of ideas, the council will be open for your suggestions in the first week of opening."

"If your club idea is reasonable and feasible, you might have a chance of getting that club opened. I also recommend you to only bring forward good ideas and all nonsensical ideas. I would hate to see them. Don't play with the council's minds or else I will have you blacklisted and you guys wouldn't want that."

"And then lastly, you guys go out there and have some fun. Enjoy your holidays, don't forget to study and keep in touch with your studies. Take care of yourself always and remember that if you don't cherish yourself, no one else will do that for you. And above all, don't do anything that you will regret," as an ending remark, Darica addressed the silent hall.

"Pa, pa, pa," no one was sure who started applauding but every single person inside the hall began to clap as Darica looked at the thousands of students who made the university to be what it was with sincerity and firmness in her eyes.

The Dean, seeing the young woman who had nearly driven her crazy over two years ago, couldn't help but admit that she was indeed something.

And although she had suffered too much loss back then, it seemed that everything was worth it in the end.

She just hoped that even when this person was no longer at the school, the students would still maintain the respect they were showing for both the student council and the administration.

And on the other hand, Darica received a round of applause. She smiled brightly at the students, another rare thing that she was known for not doing all the time.

And seeing that smile the fan girls and boys would do anything to see, the hall suddenly got filled with cheers, whistling and some were even ululating.

It was just so crazy, but every single person, whether a fan or an anti-fan, understood and knew the importance of the young woman standing in front of everyone at the moment.

Darica, the charmer, surely knew the way to grasp people's hearts.