Chapter 4: Stepping into the Real World (seventh Part)

Marlon looked at his friends with fiery eyes. "The point is, we have to start questioning things. Dig deeper. Don't just accept something as 'truth' just because it's always been treated that way."

Romo nodded. "Exactly. What matters isn't just finding the answer—but understanding how the question came to be in the first place."

Riri smiled slightly. "And that means we have to go out there, see things with our own eyes. Theories can help, but without real experience, we're just arguing from an ivory tower."

Marlon sipped the last of his coffee. "Agreed. First step—we need to get our parents' permission. Once they're on board, that's when our journey begins."

Asking for Their Parents' Permission

Riri and Marlon sat across from their parents in the family living room. Their father was sipping his coffee, while their mother folded clothes, her hands moving almost automatically. The atmosphere was casual—until Marlon spoke up.

"So... Mom, Dad," Marlon began carefully. "We're starting our final thesis."

"The final thesis?" Their mother raised an eyebrow. "Your dissertation?"

"Yes, that's right," Riri added, trying to sound confident.

Their father set down his cup. "What's the topic?"

Marlon glanced at Riri, then replied, "It's about the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues—in the context of everyday life."

Silence.

Their mother paused mid-fold. Their father took a long breath. "That's... not exactly a practical topic, is it?"

"But that's why it's important, Dad," Riri said quickly. "We want to understand how these concepts affect the way people live and make decisions. Marlon will focus on philosophy and psychology, while I'll take the economic angle."

Their father rubbed his forehead. "Why this topic? Why not something more concrete? Like the impact of technology on business, or a market analysis?"

Marlon gave a crooked smile. "If we talk about economics, we might end up like Mr. Herman—we know how that story goes. And if it's about tech, we'll probably just get addicted to our gadgets. That's exactly why this matters! We want to see how sin and virtue shape the world—including the economy and social life."

Their mother sighed. "Kids... you do realize most people won't be comfortable talking about their sins, right? What are you going to ask? 'Excuse me, sir, what's your most frequent sin?' People won't answer that honestly."

"We're not going to ask it like that, Mom," Riri said. "We want to understand things from a broader perspective. For example, how someone labeled as 'greedy' might actually be driving the economy, or how someone too humble might fall behind in business."

Their father stared at them for a long moment. "But why are you two so drawn to this? Aren't you afraid of getting lost in it all? Religion already gives us guidance. Why keep questioning it?"

Marlon took a deep breath. "It's because religion gives guidance that we want to understand more deeply. Isn't seeking knowledge a form of worship, too? We're not trying to rebel, Dad. We just want to see how these principles actually play out in real life."

Their mother looked at them both, concern in her eyes. "You two are so stubborn sometimes…"

"We promise we'll be careful," Riri said quickly. "This is an academic study, after all. We're only trying to find new perspectives—not to defy anything."

Their father leaned back into his chair and let out a deep sigh. "Alright… but on one condition. Don't go so far that you lose your way. Don't question things that should already be clear. And if anything ever makes you doubt yourselves—come home. Understand?"

Marlon and Riri exchanged a look, then smiled. "We understand, Dad. Thank you."

Later that evening, Marlon and Riri explained that their research might take a while. They asked for permission to live alongside their research subjects, to truly understand their lives.

They sat at the dining table with their parents. Their mother poured tea into the cups but kept a watchful eye on them.

Mother: "So let me get this straight—you're going to travel around the city and live with strangers… for research?"

Father: "This sounds like the start of a documentary that ends in tragedy."

Marlon: "It's not like that, Dad. This isn't some vacation. We want to see how the real world works."

Riri: "Yeah. All this time, we've been taught about sin and virtue like they're black and white. But real life is far more complicated."

Mother: "And you think tagging along with taxi drivers and street vendors will answer all that?"

Marlon: "Better than sitting around reading theory from a textbook."

Father let out a long sigh. "I get that you're curious. But the real world is rough. People lie. People take advantage. Some situations could even be dangerous."

Riri: "That's why we're asking for your permission and blessing—not running off in secret."

Their mother and father looked at each other. A quiet moment passed between them.

Mother: "You're both adults now… and if this really is part of your path to finding the truth… we won't stop you. But remember—be careful. The world isn't as ideal as you think it is."

She still didn't look entirely convinced, but eventually, she nodded. "Alright. But don't lose yourselves in theory. Life is more than just chasing answers."