Marlon got up from where they had been talking."I need to go see Mr. Sunardi first. We'll talk again later—there's still so much we need to discuss, Mo," he said as he walked away, leaving Riri and Romo behind.
Late afternoon, in a university lecturer's office. A few students still wandered through the halls outside—some laughing, some deep in discussion. A fan creaked softly in the corner, its sound blending with the rustle of papers and the occasional footsteps. Piles of books and loose sheets covered the desk. Mr. Sunardi, a man in his fifties with half-rimmed glasses, was sipping coffee from a white ceramic cup. Marlon sat across from him, placing his laptop and notebook on the table.
"So, Marlon," Mr. Sunardi began, "you said you want to research what—The Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues in real life?"
"That's right, Sir," Marlon nodded. "I want to explore how these sins and virtues manifest in daily life. We're always taught that sin is evil and virtue is good—but I want to take a more pragmatic look. Are sins always destructive? Are virtues always beneficial?"
Mr. Sunardi stirred his coffee slowly, thinking. "Hmmm... It's a heavy topic, Marlon. Not just because of the breadth of the concept, but because it's... well, a bit taboo. People don't feel comfortable discussing this honestly. In fact, many might not even realize how their lives are already shaped by these sins and virtues in complex ways."
"That's exactly why I want to do fieldwork," Marlon said. "I want to see how people live with these values—whether they're aware of it or not. Riri and I plan to follow several individuals from different backgrounds, observe how they navigate their everyday lives."
Mr. Sunardi chuckled, setting his spoon down on the saucer. "You really like to make things difficult for yourself, don't you? Honestly, this will be a tough study. Humans aren't always honest, Marlon. Sometimes they claim to be generous, but are actually greedy. Sometimes they appear patient, but are full of hidden rage. Separating reality from perception is the greatest challenge."
"I understand that, Sir. But that's what makes it compelling. I want to uncover the truth within the imperfections. I want to see if these so-called sins are truly as bad as we've been told—and whether virtues can really be applied in all situations."
Mr. Sunardi sighed softly, a smile touching his lips. "You remind me of myself when I was your age. Curious, driven to dig deeper than what the textbooks offer. Alright. I won't stop you. But just one thing—"
"What is it, Sir?" Marlon asked.
"If ever you feel lost or confused along the way, reach out to me. Sometimes, when we stare too long into the darkness, we forget where the light is."
Marlon smiled. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Sir."
After meeting with Mr. Sunardi, Marlon rejoined Romo and Riri at a small café near campus to continue their discussion—sharing their personal perspectives and outlining the research plan.
Three half-finished cups of coffee sat on a small round table. The warm scent of roasted beans lingered in the air. Romo leaned back in his chair while Marlon and Riri scribbled notes in their journals.
"So," Romo said, "I still don't get why you two keep going on about the Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues. I mean... that's not even an Islamic concept, right?"
Marlon nodded. "Yeah, the idea comes more from Christian teachings. But when you think about it, the essence is pretty universal. Similar values show up in Islam—and even other religions."
Riri added, "Exactly. That's why we want to compare. How do those values line up with what you've learned since childhood? Like, in the Seven Deadly Sins, there's pride, gluttony, sloth—all those. Aren't those also considered bad traits in Islam?"
Romo frowned slightly, thinking before replying. "Yeah, Islam does warn against certain major and minor sins, and traits we're supposed to avoid. But the approach is different. For example, pride is forbidden because it means placing yourself above others—something that's only God's right."
Marlon smiled. "Same with the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride is seen as the root of all sin, because it puts the self above everything—even God. That's how Lucifer fell."
Romo laughed softly. "So this all goes back to Lucifer, huh?"
Riri chuckled. "Lucifer's just the extreme case. But Islam has Iblis—who also refused to bow to Adam because of pride. Pretty similar, don't you think?"
Romo nodded slowly. "Yeah... if you put it that way, there are similarities. But the difference is, in Islam, there's no official list of 'seven main sins' like that. Sins depend more on intent and impact. Take anger, for example—in the Seven Deadly Sins, it's a vice. But in Islam, anger can be justified—like when it's in response to injustice."
"So it's more flexible?" Marlon asked. "Because in the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is viewed as purely negative."
"More or less," Romo shrugged. "Same goes for laziness. It's bad if it leads to neglecting duties. But if you're resting to avoid burnout? That's okay."
Riri smiled, jotting things down. "Interesting. So you think the Seven Deadly Sins are too rigid?"
Romo stirred his coffee, thoughtful. "Not rigid—just more... black-and-white. In Islam, sin is contextual. It's not just what you do, but why you do it, and the consequences."
Marlon put down his pencil and leaned back. "Then do you think the Seven Deadly Sins are still worth studying?"
Romo nodded. "Sure. As long as we understand the cultural lens they come from. If we look at them with a broader perspective, they can help us see how morality works in different societies."
Riri smiled, satisfied. "That's exactly what we're looking for—wider perspectives."
Marlon chuckled. "So we agree the Seven Deadly Sins are fascinating, but not something we can apply to Islam directly?"
Romo raised his cup. "Agreed. But don't expect me to memorize the whole list, okay? I still can't tell the difference between gluttony and greed."
Riri and Marlon burst into laughter."Don't worry, Romo—we'll make you a cheat sheet!"
They sat in the corner of the café, wrapped in the cozy scent of coffee and quiet conversation. Riri gently stirred the foam in her cappuccino. Romo took another sip of his black brew. Marlon looked at them, eyes lit with curiosity and warmth, ready to speak again.