Missing solace

TRES

Chapter 3

"Has any one believed that people have built-in desire to be virtuous?"

Seryosong tanong ng guro namin sa Ethics. Lahat ng mga mata ay nakatuon at seryosong nakikinig sa kanya. Walang ingay na maririnig sa apat na sulok ng napakalamig na classroom namin.

This subject is included with the SHS curriculum but our school intended it to include in our subjects.

He clasped his hands behind his back. "Ms. Montemayor."

Walang salitang tumayo si Margaux, ang rival ko sa unang pwesto sa lahat ng larangan. She fixed her hair before answering. A chinita girl with a daring smile.

Mukhang wala na sa isip nila ang naganap na laban nung weekend.

"Yes, I believe."

Tumango ang matandang guro sa sinabi ni Margaux. At naghihintay sa idadagdag nito. He needs an explanation. Ganito rito. We don't answer in an open-ended question. You have to elaborate your answer, to justify your answer.

She swayed her waist length hair, trying to construct her answer. "But people still chose to be unethical and immoral. Why?" She scanned the whole room, looking for some reactions.

"You can't gain anything from being morally excellent. Life is unfair. If you still are good, people will target you and harm you in any possible way. We all desire to be kind and good but the world doesn't let us."

Her answer made my classmates gasps in unison and awed by her honesty.

"We all are virtuous. But that does not save you from cruelty of the world. If you let anyone sees your weakness. Then you just allowed them kill you." She ended her answer, not hearing any words from our instructor. He just nodded.

Mali jerked me using her elbows. "She's too pessimistic."

"Akala yata lahat ng tao masama." She added, whispering.

"Well, thank you, Margaux." He motioned Margaux to sit down. He seemed impressed or I don't know because he's smiling.

Naglakad-lakad siya hanggang huminto siya sa dulong baitang. Our classroom is designed like a theater- thrust stage. It was divided into three. Pataas. Nasa pinakababa ang platform kung saan nagtuturo ang instructors. Sinundan nang mga mata namin ang bawat kilos niya.

"She mentioned that world is cruel, wasn't she?" He roamed his eyes and it landed on me. Ako pa yata matatawag.

He continued, not calling my last name. "Isn't wrong?" This time I can feel matatawag na ako. He went down, stopping on my side. "That the world itself is the cruel one?"

"Ms. Salvador."

I stood, facing him. "It's the people."

"It's not the world; but the people who operates the world. World is just a place, a home." I rested my sight on Margaux was shooting me a piercing glares.

"How can a world becomes cruel when it can't even intentionally hurt you except the natural disaster?" Some of my classmates agreed. Giving side comments. Murmurs were heard.

"We all are have the desire to be virtuous. We all want to foster positivity and kindness. I believed what Aristotle said, we all have built-in virtuous if just focus on being good, everything will follow."