While looking at Matmat (Carlo Aquino)'s painting, Patrick (Joshua Garcia) and Mia (Anne Curtis) talk about her book, “Si Happy, Ang Masayahing Aso.” Whimsical animation comes to life on screen as they talk about the book, which tells the story of a dog hiding his sadness behind a cheerful facade. Tied to an electric post, the dog is often seen wagging its tail and asking to be pet, which is why people call him “Happy.” He spends his days playing with children on the street, but at night, he whimpers in despair, longing to be free. One evening, a voice whispers to him,
“Bakit hindi mo na lang putulin ang tali nang makawala ka na?" to which Happy answers, "Sa tagal ko nang nakatali dito, hindi ko na alam kung paano palayain ang sarili ko."
Patrick thanks her for allowing Elvie to let go of the sorrowful memories tied to her daughter, memories carried in her favorite shawl, which Mia had asked to keep and that Elvie offered wholeheartedly.
This sets Mia in a good mood. She leaves the mess hall gleefully, until she hears the voice her father, Samuel (Michael De Mesa), warning her that she cannot escape her mother. Mia closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and calmly asserts that while she will always be her mother’s daughter, she is her own person and is no longer bound by her mother’s control. She turns her back on Samuel and walks out of the facility, satisfaction etched on her face for finally saying the words she needed to let out and for not giving in to her emotions.
Back at the mansion, Mia picks up a pair of scissors, her mother Ingrid (Empress Schuck)’s words about caring for her long hair echoing in her mind. And in an act of defiance against the memories that haunt her, she chops her hair off.
Patrick arrives from his hospital shift and breaks into a grin at the sight of her lopsided haircut, making Mia laugh along with him. She then lets him fix the haircut, trusting his steady hands and the skill he honed from years of cutting Matmat’s hair, since Patrick was the only one his brother ever allowed to touch it.
Catch “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, and TV5, weeknights at 8:45 PM. Watch it in advance on Netflix and iWant.