text: The bustling scenery met my eyes as I took a seat from one of the bench inside the train. I looked up to my mother in confusion and fear as the people around us kept increasing until not even a needle could fit. It was too strong that I became anxious. The very first time that my personal space was invaded by strangers. But Mom just smiled at me and held my hand to assure me that everything's alright and that I'm safe. The sound coming from the train filled my ears, indicating that the train doors will soon close and the train starts moving as soon as the door close. Various unfamiliar faces and unpleasant noises were heard inside the train. From cellphone calls, conversation between the passengers, infant's cries and rail joints, the sound that the train makes when the rail makes a familiar sound "clickety-clack" as the train's wheels roll over them. Manila, from what I've heard of, was the most crowded and busiest city in the Philippines. But that, which only was a thought, became reality to me as I am now experiencing it. It was more than just a busy street or a crowded place, nor a city full of unfamiliar and intimidating people. It was an adventure. A story with mixed genres and never-ending chapters of people and their daily lives. But now all I could see is black and white, well, except for my Mom. There's a black shade that's darker and some, just dull white. Like a story without a twist. Like a character with no specified role to play. I thought that being in a new place and riding a transport that's new to me would be an amazing ride but it was rather a mind boggling adventure. The only thing that's keeping me positive is my mother who's standing beside me and what's waiting for me at the end of our journey. And that positivity added when the old woman sitting beside me, reached out to me and gave me a candy. It was the first colored thing that met my eyes after entering the train. My eyes glistened in delight but I was a bit hesitant. I still remember what my cousins said to me. That all the things that someone will give me is not for free. Everything comes with a price that you can or cannot pay with just money. Some, with actions or kind words that ears are very pleased to hear. But the kind smile from the old woman made all those hesitations, doubts and fears vanish. It's like she's saying that all the things my cousins taught me was mere speculation, not based on experience. Maybe, they're right. Maybe, they're wrong. It depends on what other people experience. But the thing that we need to keep in mind was to always give a benefit of the doubt and the beg to differ. With that in mind, I reached out my hand in politeness and with gratitude, I accept the candy. That's when the old woman also appeared bright. She is now full of colors. Her grayish-white bob hair was in soft curls complimenting her naturally tanned skin. She's wearing a crimson red long sleeves dress that rests few inches below from her knees and a black flip flops. I suddenly noticed her nails that looks like it was newly manicured and penicured, also in different vibrant colors. On her lap was a green tote bag with a print saying, "Marikit" which means Pretty or Gorgeous. I gave the candy to my Mom to kindly ask her to open it for me. I saw how she struggled to open it while holding our bag in the other arm when the young lady who's sitting beside me, offered her seat for my Mom. When my Mom declined, she just offer to open the candy for me so my Mom gratefully agreed and said her thank you. The young lady smiled at me as she gave me the candy which was now out from its wrapper. As I get the candy from his hands, I noticed her having colors, again. Her skin was pale white and her long jet black hair was naturally straight. She's wearing a neon green bucket hat and a white top, partnered with denim jeans and a white sneakers. One that I really noticed was... her smile was really pretty. After those interactions, I came to notice the other people's cheery smile, their contagious laughter which made the whole atmosphere more light and radiant. Their smiling faces which are now having colors made all my prejudice towards the city and the crowd as a whole went on the rainbows and now on the more optimistic side, rather than down the drain. Sadly, one by one, they came out of the train as their reach their destinations. It was now enough for my Mom to sit beside me and for me to see the scenery outside the train, behind the glass windows. All of a sudden, a flash of lightning striked through the air followed by a roaring thunder that many of the passengers began to worry if they have bring an umbrella to shield themselves from the rain that starts pouring little by little. I looked at my Mom when she started brushing my hair. Biting her lower lips, I know that she's worrying about us getting wet from the sudden rain. It was just small drops but I know that they still worry about everything I don't know of. Surprisingly, I'm not worried nor feeling scared if that might happen because of the little interactions I made earlier. When I took a seat and observed my surroundings, I honestly thought that this ride will be a scary ride. Like a rollercoaster with so many courses, flips, twists and turns which I hated the most. But seeing the positive side of the ride, I began to hope and be confident that it was and will became an amazing adventure. It became dark after the train went inside the tunnel. But still, I feel no fear. I just felt my Mother's warmth from her embrace, thinking that I'm scared or whatnot when in fact, I'm not which was a good thing, for me. One thing that I just wish while we were inside the tunnel, passing through it, was to erase all their doubts and worries. All their fears. Like what they did to me. And as if my words have powers, the blinding light welcomed us as the train passed the dark tunnel. It made us close our eyes but after a while, the gray skies are now painted in vibrant blue with the white fluffy clouds, making me want to sleep on it. The dull scenery a while ago was now full of colors, in green and red and yellow. And the little gift from the Above was a chromatic rainbow, which normally has muted colors but as if it knows that people have their worries, it started to show it's true colors. It was colorful and vibrant that the eyes that was then full of worries and their mouth which was in gloom, is now became hopeful and aspired for the next chapters of life.