03/06/2025
"Kindness is not always kindness."
I am Elsi. During the August holidays, my sibling and I often sell food in front of our neighbor’s store. What do we sell? Mostly street food—fish balls, kikiam, and quail eggs. These are easy to cook, profitable, and in demand. The work is tiring, but my sibling Elias is with me. We are both high school students, and selling food is our side business.
One afternoon, as customers came and went, an older man arrived. He was drinking and asked what he could have as a snack. I suggested kikiam and fish balls, and he ordered ₱50 worth. Once cooked, he immediately used it as his drinking snack.
Then, he started a conversation with another of our siblings, Elizabeth, asking about her age and school. As the discussion deepened, I noticed his gaze becoming unsettling. The strong scent of alcohol on him made it clear—he was drunk.
An hour passed, and he asked if he could lie down in Elias’ hammock. My brother had just woken up from exhaustion after tending to customers all morning. Without much thought, Elias agreed.
Three hours later, I noticed something off. The man, still in the hammock, seemed to be acting inappropriately. His glasses hid his eyes, making it hard to see where he was looking, but his posture was alarming. His jacket was draped over his stomach, covering down to his pants, and the way he stared at Elizabeth felt wrong.
Without hesitation, I confronted him. I told him to leave and made it clear that he was no longer welcome. Since then, he never returned—perhaps ashamed of his disgraceful behavior.
Kindness is not always kindness; it can be a curse if given recklessly. It can lead to harm if we do not set boundaries. True kindness has limits and must always come with self-respect and caution.
This story is fictional, with fictional characters and settings. (This image is ai generated)
