The Club President
991 Words
By Day Three of college, Viola had learned three important things about Westbridge International College:
1. Students here were unnecessarily dramatic.
2. Campus animals knew everyone's secrets.
3. Ash terrified people without even trying.
Unfortunately…
her life was becoming connected to all three.
"WHY are there so many clubs?" Viola complained while staring at the giant activity board near the main hall.
Dance Club. Music Club. Photography Club. Theater Club. Fashion Society. Coding League.
And somehow—
Martial Arts Club.
Viola blinked slowly.
"Absolutely not."
A squirrel sitting on the tree nearby stuffed food into its mouth.
"Join that one."
"I value my bones."
"You need survival skills."
"For college?"
"For Ash."
Viola stared at the squirrel.
"…You animals are obsessed with him."
"Because dangerous humans are interesting."
Before Viola could argue, Naina suddenly appeared beside her holding two cold coffees dramatically.
"IMPORTANT NEWS."
Viola accepted one immediately.
"If this is about assignments, I'll disappear."
"No. Worse."
"…Worse?"
Naina pointed toward the crowd near the registration tables.
"Every extracurricular club president is introducing their teams today."
"So?"
"So Ash is president of Martial Arts Club."
Viola nearly inhaled coffee.
"WHAT?"
Naina nodded seriously.
"Apparently he rebuilt the club after some huge fight happened two years ago."
"That sounds concerning."
"Everything about him sounds concerning."
Snowy suddenly ran toward them excitedly.
"BREAKING NEWS!"
Viola crouched instantly.
"What happened?"
"A boy challenged Ash yesterday."
"…And?"
"He cried."
Naina blinked.
"…Why are you talking to the dog like he's your cousin?"
"I support animal communication."
"Hm."
Suspicion again.
Dangerous suspicion.
Before Naina could investigate further, loud cheering erupted near the sports arena.
Students immediately rushed there excitedly.
"Oho," Snowy whispered dramatically. "Showtime."
Viola frowned.
"What's happening?"
Naina grabbed her wrist instantly.
"Club demonstrations!"
Five minutes later—
Viola regretted all life choices.
The sports arena was PACKED.
Students screamed like celebrities had arrived.
Different clubs demonstrated performances one by one.
Dance Club performed dramatically. Music Club sang heartbreak songs. Drama Club overacted professionally.
Then—
the lights dimmed slightly.
The atmosphere shifted.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Martial Arts Club."
"Ash is here."
"Move move move."
Viola sighed.
"Again with the dramatic entry?"
Even the crow sitting above answered:
"Yes."
The arena lights suddenly focused on the center stage.
And Ash walked in calmly.
Black training shirt. Black gloves. Sleeves rolled slightly.
The entire female population stopped breathing collectively.
Viola looked around in disbelief.
"This college needs therapy."
Ash stepped into the arena without expression.
Three Martial Arts Club members stood opposite him.
One attacked first.
Fast.
But Ash moved faster.
The entire fight looked unreal.
Clean movements. Sharp reflexes. Controlled strength.
No wasted motion.
Within seconds—
all three opponents ended up flat on the mat.
The crowd LOST THEIR MINDS.
Students screamed loudly. Phones recorded everywhere.
Viola stared.
"…Okay that was slightly hot."
Naina looked personally attacked.
"SLIGHTLY?"
Snowy barked proudly.
"Alpha wolf behavior."
Ash removed his gloves slowly while the audience continued cheering.
But unlike everyone else—
he looked bored.
Like fighting was normal for him.
That felt unsettling somehow.
Then one club member announced loudly:
"Martial Arts Club registrations are now open!"
Students rushed toward the desk immediately.
Mostly girls.
Viola prepared to leave peacefully.
Big mistake.
Snowy bit her shoelace.
"Join."
"No."
"You need combat skills."
"I need emotional stability."
"You're friends with danger now."
"I'm not friends with Ash."
The squirrel from earlier shouted from the tree:
"Yet."
Viola ignored nature completely and turned to leave—
when suddenly she crashed into someone solid.
Hard.
"Ow—"
Strong hands grabbed her arms before she fell.
Viola looked up.
And immediately forgot human language.
Ash.
Of course.
Why was this man everywhere?
His grip on her arms was firm but careful.
"You should watch where you walk," he said calmly.
Viola recovered slowly.
"You stand very silently for someone this tall."
A tiny smirk almost appeared on his face.
Almost.
Around them, nearby students openly stared.
Naina looked ready to record history.
Viola stepped back awkwardly.
"Thanks."
Ash's eyes shifted briefly toward the registration forms in her hand.
"You joining a club?"
Viola looked down.
At some point during chaos—
Snowy had shoved Martial Arts registration papers into her hands.
Traitor.
Ash noticed the form immediately.
"Martial Arts?"
"…Possibly accidentally."
For the first time—
Ash looked genuinely surprised.
"You fight?"
"No. I trip professionally."
A small laugh escaped from one club member nearby.
Ash glanced at him once.
The boy instantly stopped laughing.
Terrifying.
Viola crossed her arms.
"What kind of dictator energy is this?"
Ash ignored that completely.
Instead he asked calmly,
"Why join then?"
Because animals think you're dangerous and apparently I need survival training.
Unfortunately she couldn't say that.
So instead—
"I wanted to try something new."
Ash studied her silently for a moment.
That gaze again.
Sharp. Observant. Like he noticed things people normally missed.
Then he took the registration form from her hand.
Nearby students gasped dramatically.
"He touched her form."
"This college needs help," Viola whispered.
Ash signed something calmly.
Then handed the paper back.
"Training starts tomorrow. Six a.m."
Viola's soul left her body.
"Morning?!"
"Problem?"
"Yes. Humanity invented afternoons for a reason."
One corner of Ash's lips lifted slightly again.
That rare dangerous almost-smile.
"Be on time."
Then he walked away calmly while students immediately moved aside for him.
Viola stared after him.
"…Did I accidentally join mafia fight club?"
Snowy looked proud.
"Character development."
Naina grabbed Viola's shoulders dramatically.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"
"I ruined my peaceful life?"
"ASH personally approved your registration!"
"…That's bad?"
"HE DOESN'T EVEN TALK TO PEOPLE."
Viola blinked slowly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because beneath all the rumors, fear, and mystery—
Ash had noticed her again.
Not like a senior notices a fresher.
Not casually.
Like he was trying to figure her out.
And somehow…
Viola had a dangerous feeling that joining Martial Arts Club might change her entire life.
- Writer
