“Envy”

“Mom, I want a dress like that.” My daughter points another girl wearing a floral dress. “Could
you buy me? Please!” “No. We just bought a dress and now you want another?” I said to my
daughter.
“But I want it mom. It’s beautiful and cute. Please”
“Come on,” I said as we sat on the bench with my daughter. “I’ll tell you a story.”
“What is it?” she asked. “Promise me you’ll learn something on this,” I made a condition to her.
“And you’ll apply this as soon as you got it.” My daughter then agreed.
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There was once a girl named Livia. She was 14 years old. Livia is a stout and unattractive girl.
She had a best friend named Minda. They were friends for 2 years. But with that 2 years, she hid
the feeling of envious to her.
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“Why would Livia envy Minda, mom?” asked my daughter. “Of course, a person would envy
another if she is a smart, beautiful and attractive compared to you.”
“Shall I continue?” I asked my daughter. “Yes mom.”
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As they were having their lunch, Livia was looking at her friends as they discuss and compared
their answers in their Math test a while ago. “Liv, what do you think you got in the test?” Minda
asked Livia. “I failed it,” she already knows that Minda would get at least 100% in their test.
They continue eating their lunch.
“Hey!” called Minda. “Would you like to study with me at the library?” Livia shook her head.
Minda then grabbed her bag and said, “Well, suit yourselves. See you tomorrow.” She smiled
then snobs at Livia. As Livia saw that, she smirks evilly. As Minda turns her back Livia then
snobs as though she didn’t like the way Minda acted at her very much and that makes her anger
rose up.
She went home, stayed inside her room and talks to herself. “Why can’t I be like Minda? She’s
smart, beautiful and all attentions and praises are on her. As if she already has everything. Me on
the other side, I was just like a ghost beside her without being noticed by anyone. Not a simple
‘Hi!’… WHY CAN’T I BE LIKE HER? WHY?!!!”
She was full of tears thinking of those words she just said. After few moments, she got herself
up, studied her lessons, and have herself online on Facebook. She found out that Minda was
online. She typed and send these word to Minda.
“I would like to ask you about Math.” Minda saw her message and replied, “Sure…about what?”
“about our lesson a while ago… Could you teach me?”
“Could we just have a video call?”
Minda then agreed and they have video call. Two hours passed, they’re still having video call.
Still Livia couldn’t understand the lesson.
“What’s with you Liv? I already teach you the basics and still you couldn’t get it? What kind of
person are you? It’s over. I don’t want to teach you anymore.” Livia saw Minda acting as though
she would end the video call.
“Hey Minda! Wait I still have questions. Please I beg you, teach me. Minda wait—.”
“Why would Minda do that to Livia mom?” asked my daughter.
“Of course, they have it for two hours. It’s long enough for you to get tired. Perhaps she’s sleepy
because it’s already late evening.”
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She growls with frustration and her temper on Minda rose up. “Just because you’re smart, you’ll
act as high as a god? How dare you do that to me? With all I’ve done for you, you’ll just pay me
like that?” She talks to herself.
She turns her head to the left and saw a knife. ‘You want to be like her, right?’ A voice in her
head suddenly got into her mind. ‘Go kill her. And your soul shall be sent to her. Then you have
her mind, her looks and her beauty.’ It seems Envy deceived her. She stood up, gets the knife she
desired and hid it as she wore a killer smile. She murdered her friend. She saw what she’d done.
She thrust the knife into her chest.

“Mom, is that how envy works. To kill people?” my daughter asks.

“No. It’s not envy that kills. It’s us who kill because of envy. She is unavoidable. Everywhere we
go, she’s there beside us. She would like to make the world be miserable because of jealousy.
She won’t stop unless she’s contented. So, would you like to be Livia?”
“No! I don’t like to kill people!” replied my daughter.
“You’re right. But death is not what I meant, but the jealousy you made. You must not be
deceived by Envy. It is dangerous once you met her. She won’t leave you until she’s satisfied
with what you’ve done. Envy is deadly.” I saw the face of my daughter. She was terrified of what
I’ve said earlier. “Hey I’m not scaring you. I’m just teaching you not to be envy to others
because it’s bad. Okay?”
“Yes mom. I promise I won’t be envy to others anymore.” My daughter promised. “Don’t just
promise, do it,” I made an assurance to her. “Okay,” she replied shortly. “Let’s go home.”