The woman is angrily shouting over her phone for the event didn’t go as she planned. But no one knew that. For the people, she’s just “a woman on her monthly period”. The little boy keeps on turning around to look for his mother who left him. But no one knew that. For the people, he’s just “a kid seeking for attention”. The teenage girl wearing plaid long sleeves, black shirt, washed jeans and sneakers has her eyes closed because being in the middle of the crowd is her way of escaping the cruelty that creeps within the society. But no one knew that. For the people, she’s just a “dramatic tomboy.”

 

     The girl on the other side of the street is crying not because she got her heart broken by some guy, but because she got failing remarks and is afraid of what her parents will say. But no one knew that. For the people, she’s just a “heartbroken slut”. The student who’s 30 minutes late in his midterm exam walks casually past her because he no longer cares about the education system ever since it started to become a competition of digits. But no one knew that. For the people, he’s just a “bad and careless college boy”. The woman who looks like in her 50’s but is actually in her 30’s is running towards the city hall to seek help for the hospital bills of her sick child. But no one knew that. For the people, she’s just a “cadaverous old woman.”

 

     We think we know, but we don’t. We think we understand, but we also don’t. Everyone has his or her own set of problems and it’s just a matter of who hides it best. And if you can’t hide it, it’s fine. If you can no longer hold back the tears, it’s fine. If you can’t keep it any longer, it’s fine. Not being fine is still fine. You don’t have to stifle your cries and whimpers just to show the world that you are strong. Because the truth is this: Crying isn’t a sign of weakness; in actuality, it is a sign of strength, for you are allowing the world to see you in your vulnerable state — and that takes a lot of courage.

 

     The inked man who’s being eyed by some people due to his enormous tattoos is listening intently to the music blasting from his earphones — TWICE’s Ooh Ahh — for the softness of the song helps him calm down. But no one knew that. For the people, he’s just a “delinquent goon”. The boy with the guitar is singing wholeheartedly because he wants the world to hear the voice he silenced for so long due to his lack of confidence and belief in himself. But no one knew that. For the people, he’s just an “internet sensation wannabe”. And you. You keep on smiling and motivating others, acting like you’re “okay” and everything’s “okay” and only want others to also be “okay”. You try so hard to appear as a person who enjoys living; but deep inside, you’re dying.

 

And no one knows that.

 

Cabezudo, Francia Joy B.