The Savanna Theory of Happiness

Chapter 5

The next class soon started. We settled down as the instructor entered.

"Okay class, why don't we start today's lecture with a thought experiment?" panimula niya.

A bunch of students groaned in unison na dahilan ng bahagyang pagtawa niya. Gayon pa man, hindi siya napigilan ng mga ito sa lecture.

"Suppose the greatest of neuropsychologists had finally engineered a machine that would allow us to simulate reality, kinda like The Matrix, and—"

"I love that movie, Sir," sabad ni Lukas.

I could sense Sir Rodriguez was tempted to slap his own forehead.

"As I was saying," pagpapatuloy niya. "Imagine a technology like that. So advanced that it can trick your mind into thinking a simulated reality is the real one." Muling tumahimik sa klase. Lahat nakikinig sa bawat bitiw ng salita niya. Maging ako. We are all intrigued. "Now the dilemma is this; it is available to you. You get to choose. Upload your consciousness to that machine. Lahat ng gusto mo makukuha mo. You want to be a world-renowned chef? You are a world-renowned chef. Get the man of your dreams? He's now head over heels for you. Anything your heart desires. Anything. You have a suppressed violence inside you? Kill anyone in your way in that reality." I gulped. Too good to be true. But like a spell, I'm drawn in.

"But of course, there's a catch." There always is. "Once you plug yourself in that machine, it's forever. Your physical brain will be fried, killing your physical body in the process. But at least your consciousness is in utopia, right?"

"What?" sabad ni Lukas. "So we're supposed to believe there isn't a third choice? Respectfully, Sir, the world isn't black and white."

All heads turned to him like he has grown a third eye. Naka-kunot ang noo ni Archer sa kan'ya. Pero si Sir, umiling lang.

"Not in this case. Kaya nga thought experiment, 'di ba? So write your argument in a piece of yellow paper. Ipapasa n'yo sa 'kin in 45 minutes. To those who agrees to plug themselves in, ilagay sa kanan ko ang papel. Sa kaliwa naman ay 'yong mag-aargue na hindi dapat gawin 'yon."

I didn't have to think. I already know what my answer is.

In 20 minutes, naipasa ko na ang papel ko. I was the first one to place a paper on the right side. May ilan naman na sa kaliwa, including Archer Cabañero's.

Sa pag-ikot ko para bumalik sa upuan, nabunggo ko ang isang matangkad na lalaki. I looked up and saw a smiling Lukas. "Interesting," he whispered. My eyes slitted at him, making him chuckle, revealing his pearly whites.

Binunggo ko siya nang bumalik ako sa upuan. He turned to me with a devilish smile. Bwisit.

45 minutes finally passed. Sir Rodriguez rose from his seat. "It seems more people would rather live in our God awful world, huh?" he joked. Marami naman ang napatawa nito. "Anyway, bubunot ako mula sa mga papel na ito. Pupunta sa harap ang tatawagin ko and will explain and defend his answer. Pwede kayong tumingin sa papel na ginawa n'yo, pwedeng hindi. Ready?"

"Yes, Sir."

He shuffled the papers from his left side. Tapos 'yung sa right. And for whatever reason, he decided to pluck a paper from the pessimist people. "Savanna Pacheco."

Tingles ran down my spine upon hearing my name. Is this for real? "I'd rather not, Sir."

He raised both eyebrows at me. Pinasadahan niya ang papel ko. "Why not? You wrote some really interesting points here."

"I'm not comfortable speaking in front of a large audience."

"Look. Walang tama o maling sagot. Mag-uusap lang tayo rito."