Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Ch 146: Opening Ceremoney
Rika was late to the orientation, so she was afraid she would not be granted entry into the hallway.

When she reached the hall, it looked empty and lifeless. Not even a single soul was around to tell Rika where she needed to go and what she needed to do next.

The lack of directions made Rika nervous, so she looked around instantly.

“You are here too early, Miss! The orientation will not start until two hours later. Did no one tell you how things worked here?”

Rika felt almost thankful to have another person here with her. That was why she did not even care what he had to say to her.

But she felt confused when the words finally registered in Rika’s mind. She quickly pulled up her schedule to cross-check the time, hoping for clarity.

“The orientation timing on the website is marked as 8:00 AM. We were supposed to be here before that time, right?” Rika’s realisation resolved the situation.

Until now, Rika has always attended a strict school with perimeters that children need to follow. If the clock said ten, then you were supposed to be at the class by 10. There was no going around it.

It had turned Rika into a punctual person, and she wanted to continue her routine here.

But the janitor looked at Rika as if she had lost her mind before throwing his head back and laughing out loud.

“Hahaha, this is a good joke. I can tell you are a new kid who does not know anyone in this college. Otherwise, someone would have told you not to trust the online schedule.”

The janitor seemed to be mocking Rika and sympathising with her simultaneously.

It was an odd feeling that Rika did not mind having. But she did mind being made a fool out of.

“If the meeting was supposed to be postponed, then someone should have issued a notice to the students. Is this place unreliable and unprofessional, and can they not even do that?”

Rika asked, but she knew the answer before the last word escaped her lips.

The janitor also looked amused but only shrugged at Rika’s questioning voice.

“I can’t agree or deny what you said. I’m just a staff here, so I cannot say anything negative about my employer. Since you are already here, you might as well go in, but next time, ask someone about these times, alright? I will open the door for you.”

The janitor looked like a good sport. He was a beta and did not seem interested in Rika.

It was a good sign, but Rika felt uncomfortable alone in this vast building.

Rika felt nervous when the auditorium doors opened, but the inside was nothing special. It looked like a vast space with many chairs on raised platforms.

“Be careful where you sit down, kid. It looks like you were raised in a lovely household, and I don’t know what you did to end up here or how you messed up your life this hard. Oh well, good luck. And do check where you are sitting. Not every seat is safe in here.”

The janitor warned before leaving.

His words made Rika nervous, and she soon understood why the janitor had said what he had done.

Most of the seats in the hall looked normal at first glance, but Rika could find something odd about most of these seats.

Some were discoloured in places. Others were torn in areas that would make it uncomfortable to sit on.

And then there were ones who had…questionable things done to them.

In other words, there were only a few decent seats left in the hall, and Rika grabbed one for herself.

Rika felt lonely in that empty hall. She wanted to call someone but did not have anyone to talk to.

Being alone with her thoughts finally made Rika think back to what happened in the morning and realise something with a jolt.

“Charon was behaving alright today. She did not look depressed anymore. Did she magically recover today?”

Rika should have questioned what happened during the morning and asked Charon questions. But she had panicked and ran out in a hurry.

About ten minutes before 10, people began to pour into the hall and sat down randomly. They did not even bother to check their seats to see if they were comfortable.

It made Rika feel sorry for these people, but there was nothing much she could do about it.

People entered, sat, and talked, filling the empty hall in a second.

The welcoming ceremony was one of the most birthing things Rika had attended. Halfway through the first speech, she didzed, and her condition did not improve.

No one around her was paying attention to the stage, and no one asked Rika anything.

Despite being with so many other people, Rika felt lonely and isolated. She wanted to head back home for the day when she heard a loud voice heading her way.

It did not sound friendly, and Rika’s instincts instantly told her to escape that voice.

Rika intended to do that, but someone grabbed her from the back of her shirt and pulled her toward them.

“Hey, flower girl! So, we meet again! I told you that I would make your life hell, right? It would be best if you got ready for that. Now, why don’t you show me which department you are a part of.”

Rika blinked a few times to see the person behind her.

The bully wanted to get to know Damian and Emily from a few weeks ago.

These people still visited the flower shop daily, hoping to catch a glimpse of either alpha with Rika all the time.

“Oh, it’s just you. What do you need from me? If it is not urgent, then can I leave now? I feel tired, and I want to rest.”

Rika complained, and the omega’s face reddened in front of her seconds before a sour smell filled the area.