Those who possess a fighting spirit out in society are revered above all else. A fighting spirit that garners enough respect to nullify a conduct violation.
~

"Go, Xaye! Show her why you're our future Attorney." Paije, her seatmate, whispered. She only smiled as a response.

Well, what else can she do?

Does she have another choice, when in fact this was all her plan?

Why does she really want to argue with the professor? To impress her? To show her what she got?

Well, honey. There's no need for that.

All of their professors know her capabilities.

There's nothing new to it, really.

She just has her own reasons.

"Ty?" Mrs. Sandoval searched for her eyes, trying to figure out what she's thinking of. She's a debater for all she know so it wouldn't take her a while to answer, yes?

Or is she planning something else?

Who knows?

Umayos siya ng tayo bago muling nagsalita.

"Yes, I repudiate fighting. But neither will I stand for a one-sided slaughter of the weak by the so-called strong. Besides, what is left to us if we don't fight for our rights? With all due respect to your perspective, I must say that being given a chance to fight and not using it will make you the same as an unmoving pig in an open cage. That's why those people who don't fight against those unreasonable people oppressing them will end up being livestock their entire lives." Most of her classmates smiled at her answer. But again, she's still not done.

After all, she wouldn't be Anne Xaye Ty if she doesn't know how to provoke someone.

She smiled mischievously. This is where the game starts. "So tell me, Mrs. Sandoval, when that time comes when you need to fight and speak up for your life and freedom, would you just stay silent? Would you just sit down even if you know in yourself that you can stand up?" She saw Paije and some of her classmates smirk in her peripheral vision. Seems like they figured out what she wants to happen.

"This is going to be. . .a very interesting show, isn't it, Harvey?" Rinig niyang bulong ng kaklaseng si Mair.

Mair Manuel, the tenth rank holder.

"Hope her plan won't backfire, though." Harvey looked at her with the 'are you sure with what you are doing?' look. She just rolled her eyes.

Harvey Dela Cuesta, the fourth rank holder, with Mathematics as his main subject.

Of course I know what I'm doing. Don't worry, I always win.

Muli siyang tumingin sa kaniyang propesor na tila nabigla sa tanong na ibinato niya rito.

That made her want to laugh.

Ang ilan naman sa mga kaklase niya ay nakatutok sa kanila, nag-aabang ng sagot, ng sunod na tanong, ng mga pagtatalo na para bang nasa isa silang teleserye kung saan magbabatuhan ng mga mabibigat na linyahan ang bida at kontrabida.

Yun nga lang, hindi siya sigurado kung sino sa kanila ng kaniyang propesor ang bida.

But to their surprise, they got no answer.

Scratch that.

It's not surprising, is it?

Lalo na't ito naman talaga ang plano niya. Kapag pinili ng kanilang propesor na sumunod, manahimik at hindi lumaban, paano siya magiging magandang modelo sa kanila bilang isang guro?

Siguradong maiisip niya ang kakaunting respetong matitira kapag pinarinig niya sa klase na pinipili niya ang pagiging duwag.

Lalo na sa mga ipinaliwanag ni Xaye? She'll be in great danger if she chose to be a coward.

But if she chose to fight? Then it also means that she needs to disobey the school's principle. And would that be the best choice for a professor like her?

"So, Mrs. Sandoval, would you choose the coward choice and be a livestock your entire life?"

Impatient much, Xaye?

She put one of her fingers at her wrist-watch and started tapping the glassy part. As if saying, Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. The time is ticking. What would it be? Which made the professor even more nervous.

If I was a professor too and was asked the same question, I would've answered it in just a second. Ugh.

Feeling totally bored, she interrupted the silence of their professor.

She sat down, and crossed her legs. "Okay, that's it, Mrs. Sandoval. I got my answer already." Her classmates seemed confused for what she said. So she pulled up the 'I'll explain it, guys' façade.

"W-what?" Asked Mrs. Sandoval, confused as well.

"Well, I am afraid to tell you too, that silence speaks." She smirked. Ang iba naman ay bahagyang napangiti lalo na sa bahagya niyang paggaya sa boses ng propesor sa may bandang 'I am afraid', na sinabi rin nito sa kaniya kanina.

What a coincidence, right? The professor's favorite line is what she truly feels.

Xaye then looked straight into her eyes as she says,

"And that silence of yours speaks cowardice."