IMMURE ACADEMY

Chapter 7

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Confusing Kind of Death

( Bliss )

Narito kami ngayon sa auditorium ng school which is katamtaman lamang ang laki. Napapalibutan ito ng naggagandahang paintings at sculptures. Para itong isang museum sa aking paningin. Nandito kami para sa isang lecture sa Religion class namin. Mabilis kaming nagsiupuan at hinintay na magsimula si Prof. Grayle.

"Okay class, lets talk about death. Since it's a recent issue regarding about your classmate Cassidy Wilson, may I hear your thoughts about this thing? Any ideas?" pagtatanong ni Ma'am.

"Death is inevitable. We cannot escape it. We will all die at the end," sagot ni Tati which is parang natutuwa pa.

I wonder paano niya kaya nagagawang tumawa pa sa kabila ng lahat? Wala ba siyang konsensiya?

"How about you Miss Collins?" tanong ni maam sa'kin na siyang ikinagulat ko. Nagsitinginan na naman sa'kin ng mga kaklase ko na para bang naghihintay na naman ng kakaibang sagot ko.

"Death is like a punishment. Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall be surely put to death," sagot ko habang nakatingin nang diretso kay Tati.

"However if he does not do it intentionally and God let it happen, then he does not deserve death," taas noong sagot nito.

"Seems like we're having an argument here. Sounds silly but you should be thankful bitch!" bulong sa'kin ni Sab na nasa likod ko.

Wala akong maintindihan. Halos lahat sila hindi naniniwala sa'kin. Pati si Cass, hindi niya magawang sisihin si Tati. Is this the time that I have to believe them? Kailangan ko ba talagang paniwalaan ang mga bagay na walang kasiguraduhan? Paano kung si Tati nga ang kalaban? Itinigil ko na lang ang pag-iisip ko nang magsimula ng maglesson si ma'am. Ipinakita niya sa'min ang mga litrato na nagpapakita ng iba't-ibang klase ng kamatayan.

"Death has different kinds and different meanings. Revenge is the meaning of death as to criminals. They killed people just to satisfy their pious beliefs. Poverty can a also be a reason for death. Some people kill in order to live. But death can also be a heroic act. Someone kills in order to save a larger number of people. And the last one, death is a gift. Jesus died in order to save us from sins. Therefore, His death is a gift to us," pagpapaliwanag ni maam.

"Cassidy's death is a gift for you, for us," nakangising bulong ulit sa'kin ni Sab.

Hindi ko man maintindihan ang lahat, I know some part of me believes that Tati is not the real culprit.

Nanatili akong nakatulala at nakatingin lang sa kawalan hanggang dumating ang oras ng tanghalian. Agad na hinila ako ni Dane papuntang cafeteria.

"What's wrong with you Avi? Don't mind Sab. Don't mind them. Sometimes you just have to be mean, stoic and uninterested. In other words, just mind your own fvcking business. Hayaan mong ang kapalaran na ang sumagot sa lahat ng tanong mo," wika ni Dane. Wait---- I've heard that kind of advice before. Pareho talaga sila ng pinsan niya mag-isip. Tsk.

Tama siya. How can I get the answers if no one's helping me? I guess I really have to be uninterested at all.

Matapos naming mananghalian ay dumiretso kami sa field para sa susunod naming subject which is Discipline and Self-Control. Hindi naman magkamayaw ang ilan sa mga kaklase namin na parang nangangamba at natatakot. Bigla kong naalala ang punishment na ibibigay sa'min ni Professor Arriene. Hays! This could be hell.

Tahimik lang kaming naghihintay at kapwa nag-iisip ng maaaring mangyari.

"Good afternoon class. Wondering what kind of punishment I'll give? Well, it's something particular. You have to clean all the mess here in Immure Academy. Make sure na walang maiiwang dumi o anumang alikabok lalong lalo na sa mga rest rooms. Is it clear? Now, spread and clean. I'll give you 1 hour. Any violent reactions?" she said at wala ni isa man sa amin ang nangahas na magreklamo sa kanya, baka kasi maisipan niya pang dagdagan ang pinapagawa niya.