Mia (Anne Curtis) resumes her literature classes at OK Hospital and takes up the story of “Beauty and the Beast.” Just as she has done with other classic fairytales in the past, she twists the story's theme and frames it not as a romantic tale, but as an example of Stockholm syndrome—a phenomenon where a victim falls for the kindness of her captor.
Her interpretation sparks a deeper discussion among the patients. Mang Tommy (Bodjie Pascua) points out that the Beast merely tricked Belle’s mind into believing his control was love, when in truth it was just her survival instinct responding to the loss of her freedom.
The take unsettles Bella (Bianca De Vera), who can’t accept that this is how Mia and the others see the story. With tears streaming down her face, she stands in front of the class and insists that Beauty and the Beast is really about the power of true love to change someone. “When you love, you choose to be better,” she declares. “‘Di ba ‘pag nagmamahal ka, naikakalma mo 'yung sarili mo para lang hindi ka makasakit ng iba? Para maging best version ng sarili mo? 'Yun ang ginawa ni Beauty kay Beast. Niyakap niya ang sugatang puso ni Beast kaya siya naging tao ulit."
As Bella speaks, Mia falls silent, her thoughts drifting to moments with Patrick (Joshua Garcia) when she herself embodied the kind of love Bella describes—those instances when his presence calmed her and kept her steady. While the other patients laugh at Bella’s fairytale view, Mia absent-mindedly blurts out, "In love na siya?"
Kai (Louise Abuel) responds, “Miss Mia, pwede ‘yun! ‘Di ba sabi nga nila, when it comes to love, the impossible becomes possible.” Mia smiles.
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.