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Chapter 01: System

Yrina, wake up! Another minute and you'll be late.

Gisingin mo na rin kaya si Soul? Send tickles to her tummy, that will wake Yrina up.

It's too early for that, Wind. If she just woke up an hour ago, she'll have spare time to make her breakfast. All the time we have left now is for bath and transportation.

Hey! What about the outfit and makeup! Don't tell me na ipagpipilitan n'yo na naman yung effortless look? Mukha na siyang multo dahil ang putla na niya lagi. Twice na rin tayong umulit ng top this week.

Kung tinutulungan n'yo kaya akong gisingin siya? You also woke up late. Kaya nga tayo may schedule, 'di ba?

It's too early! Ang iingay n'yo!

Calm down, girls. We don't want Yrina to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

Ates, can I play today?

Sinong gumising kay Eri?!

Girls, we don't want to wake Iliza up. Please, calm down.

Yrina, gumising ka na, please. You're late.

Gising na ba si Soul? Since maggo-groceries tayo mamaya, pwede rin ba tayong dumaan sa department store? I bet bagay na bagay kay Yrina yung bagong release na lipstick shade. She also needs a new dress.

I want to play today! All she did this month was study and work! She needs rest and playtime. Lagi n'yo na lang kaming hindi pinapansin ni Rosie!

Yrina, wake up! We don't want to wake up Iliza—

HOY! ANG IINGAY N'YO! GUSTO NIYO BA TALAGANG MASIRA ANG ARAW NA TO!

Yrina opens her eyes with brows almost touching each other. Already not a good day, huh? Padabog niyang kinuha ang unan at tinaklob 'yon sa mukha. Kahit walang epekto, gusto pa rin niyang umasa na kahit papano ay humina ang ingay o itulak sila palayo. Nothing happens.

"I'm awake." sabi niya. As if on cue, all the girls stop talking. Even Iliza, who everyone fears for waking up, drags her feet back to the corner and sits in silence. Wind tries to ask her to go back to sleep but Iliza hisses back and all the girls already know that she'll be awake for the rest of the day.

"Yrina, you need to move."

Tumango siya at saka pinadaanan ng tingin ang mga babae sa harap niya. Wind is now asking Rosie for help to calm down Iliza. Ruby is already forcing Eri to go back to sleep next to Soul. Shine is whispering something to Gie, but still she's unbothered. Mas nakafocus kasi siya ngayon kay Yrina.

Tumango siya ulit bago tuluyang bumangon sa kama. Wind loses her focus on Iliza when she notices that Gie forgot to tell Yrina to fix the bed.

"What's the point of making the bed? What's the point of rushing? Late na rin tayo!" sigaw ni Iliza sa kanila na nakapagpasalubong lang lalo ng kilay ni Yrina. Gie closes her eyes and pulls out her hand. Mabilis na tumakbo si Rosie sa tabi niya at kinuha ang kamay nito.

Yrina watches her reflection as she makes her way down to the bathroom. "Three deep breaths, Yrina."

One.

Two.

Three.

"We need to work, girls." Yrina tells all of them. "We have a system."

It's Friday. Taliwas sa karamihan, Yrina hates this day. Mas doble kasi ang dami ng tao sa labas, mas traffic, kaya mas maingay. Ramdam mo ang energy ng mga tao sa labas dahil excited na silang matapos ang araw na 'to. Weekend na kasi bukas. Araw ng pahinga o lakwatsa.

Mas gusto niya ang weekdays dahil routine na ito. Monday to Friday, may schedule. Hindi niya kailangan mag-effort kung anong dapat gawin dahil meron nang nakalatag para sa kanya. Her classes are spread out during weekdays. During vacant periods, she has part-time jobs, baby-sitting, library aid, and studying.

Alam niya kung anong dapat gawin. It's a system. Hindi na sila mahihirapan na mag-unahan ng suggestion kung anong dapat gawin dahil napagkasunduan nila na may kanya-kanya silang responsibilidad. Kaya noong nawalan siya ng schedule tuwing sabado at linggo, naging mas maingay sila dahil lahat sila may gustong gawin at nag-aagawan kung sino ang masusunod.

"We could try that new restaurant. Nadaanan natin 'yon last week. Ang haba ng pila. Baka masarap 'yung ramen!" Soul, while reading the memory book, suggests.

"Shopping! I know that we've been saving up for a new phone but still. Essential din ang wardrobe natin, girls!" nagmaktol si Shine. Tumabi sa kanya si Eri at hinawakan siya sa braso, "Pwede rin ba tayong pumunta sa arcade?"

"They're right. We haven't had proper rest for the whole month. Sobrang pagod na rin si Wind." Rosie chimes in with her calm voice as if she's singing.

"I'm okay, Rosie. I love taking care of you." She says while hugging Iliza, almost making her fall asleep.

"Arcade." Iliza murmurs. "Whac-A-Mole, please? I'll smash them all."

Yrina and Gie look at Ruby. Siya nalang kasi ang hindi nagsasalita. Pero kahit ganoon, alam na nila kung anong gusto niya. Katulad ni Wind, isa siya sa pinakapagod ngayon. Free time means naughtier girls. Naughtier girls mean a more chaotic system. Nakakapagod pa lalo tuwing nagigising at nagagalit si Iliza. Mas malaki kasi ang tendency na mas mapipikon siya.

"Alone." Ruby suggests then orders the rest of the girls to go back to their own corners, which they all follow.

"Survive today." Yrina finally smiles. She puts on her jacket and bag.

"As always." Girls say all at once.

Today, Yrina needs to be a student. As it requires curiosity, concentration and memorization, Gie retrieves her post and lets Wind and Soul take over to help. Yrina looks behind her and already feels the presence of the two.

Ilang taon na siyang nag-aaral sa college. Pang-pitong taon at ngayon lang siya tumapak ng graduating year. Ilang beses rin kasi siyang kailangan tumigil para magtrabaho at makapag-ipon ng pera. Dahil don, madalas isa siya sa pinakamatanda sa klase. Ilang batch na rin ang nasabayan niya at iniwanan siya. Naging irregular student siya kaya wala siya fixed na barkada o laging masasamahang grupo. Masyado ring seryoso kaya naman napapagkamalang mataray.

"Ate, ito yung handouts kahapon. Gabi na iniabot ni sir sa'min." She sits on the very first chair next to the front door. Forever dibs, kumbaga. Mas madali kasing makapasok at makalabas. It's also a great place for the girls to hang out.

She secretly watches Soul and Wind preparing everything for the class. Umupo si Soul sa sahig at inilbas ang isang blangkong memory book, actually scratch book 'yon. She has a new copy everyday. She will rewrite them at night on the annual memory book and stack them in the library.

Wind, on the other hand, stands next to her. She pulls out her glasses and wears them. Every now and then, she'll remind Yrina to listen, look at the front, jot down notes to help Soul records, and stay curious.

Lalabas at sasamahan sila ni Gie minsan, just to check up on them. Kapag nakita niyang nakakatulog si Soul, tatawagin niya si Ruby to be on command. She's actually worried because they only had coffee and a piece of bread this morning. Wala na kasi silang oras kanina para makakain nang maayos. Soul will probably lose focus and it'll be hard for Wind to keep Yrina stay in focus. And if she calls out Ruby for help, Shine and Eri will probably make a fuss.

Kakapatulog lang ulit nila kay Iliza. They can't afford another scene. Malapit na ang semi-final examinations nila.

"Yrina." Wind taps her shoulder when she starts wandering off. Right. Focus!

Mabilis niyang binasa ang hand-outs, worrying that they might have a surprise quiz later as Soul tries to match her speed and records everything. Study, Yrina.

"Cake! We deserve a reward! Tinanggal ko sa schedule natin ang proper breakfast. Ni hindi ko rin inistorbo si Ruby. I recorded everything!"

"You missed jotting the last explanation. It was crucial, Soul."

"Is it really my fault na nahiya kang magtanong sa katabi mo para ipaulit ang sinabi ng professor?"

"They were also busy taking down notes. Kung hindi ka naistorbo noong may pumasok sa classroom kanina, Yrina's notes would've been perfect."

"Wind was supposed to keep us focused!"

"I'm sorry, Soul. Nabunggo niya kasi si Yrina." napatungo si Wind, "Gie, we can have the cake, right? We also have spare money."

"No. Kailangan natin mamili mamaya."

"No!" Shine has the opportunity to butt in. Bigla kasing lumapit si Ruby kay Soul noong magtangka na naman 'tong sumigaw. "New top! You promised!"

We didn't promise anything, Yrina rarely cuts in when they're talking na ikinagulat nilang lahat. Napakagat siya sa labi niya saka umorder ng student meal, isang ulam at isang cup ng rice. Sumimangot si Soul at tinalikuran silang lahat. We'll have cake later. I'll add it to our grocery list.

Gie remains silent. She may be the gatekeeper and main advisor of everyone, she still puts Yrina in priority. She is everyone's priority. Kaya kapag sumasali na si Yrina sa discussion, hindi na sila nagrereklamo. Soul slowly joins Gie on the pedestal and pulls out the schedule book and grocery list. She writes cake in the dinner column and the list.

Thank you.

After Yrina's classes, Soul pulls herself into the darkest room and joins Iliza in her slumber. She needs to take her sleep shift. May trabaho pa kasi siya mamaya. She needs to remember, record what happened for the rest of the day and update the memory book. In the meantime, Gie will help Yrina to create memories for the meantime.

Kahit pagod na pagod, tumabi ulit si Wind kay Gie para maging alerto si Yrina. By this time, concentrating is hard since Shine and Eri are full of energy. As much as Ruby wants to control them, it's been hard for her too since most of her enegry is gone just by the first half of Yrina's day. By afternoon, she's exhausted. Ito rin ang rason kung bakit hindi masyadong kumplikado ang kinuha niyang mga part-time jobs.

"Papunta na po ako." Sagot ni Yrina sa Tita niya. 3PM siya siguro makakadating sa school ng pamangkin niya. Sakto dahil kakatapos lang ng klase ng bata. She feels sleepy because it's extra crowded and hot today. Eri keeps on springing in front of her asking if they can buy fruit punch.

It's not a bad idea, Yrina thinks.

"Soul will be upset." Gie reminds everyone of what happened earlier.

"But we need energy now! We need sugar!"

"Bakit fruit punch? Coffee nalang. That's more sosyal. Ayun, oh. Coffee shop!" Shine crosses her arms.

"Yuck, coffee!"

"Yuck, Eri!"

"Ang bad mo!"

"Calm down, Eri and Shine. You're not helping Yrina."

"Don't we have candy?" Automatic na natigilan sina Eri at Shine nang marinig ang boses ni Ruby. Shine secretly admires Ruby. Kahit sobrang sungit at lagi silang pinapagalitan at pinparusahan, hindi kasi maitatago kung gaano siya ka-sophisticated. With her all black leather outfit from head to toe and matching silver accessories, she screams power and fear. "Yung binigay nung nakabangga sa atin kanina?"

"I thought you're sleeping?" Gie worries.

"How can I sleep when these two are awake?" She points at the two girls who are secretly whispering of possible plans they might pull later.

"Go to rest. Then switch kayo ni Wind. Besides, we need Eri to play with JD later."

Kinapa ni Yrina ang candy sa bulsa. Halos 30 minutes na kasi ang nakakalipas nang magsimula ang klase, may biglang pumasok sa classroom nila. Nagmamadali 'to kaya naman nadanggil niya si Yrina kanina. That is the reason why they got distracted. Hindi masyadong narinig ni Yrina yung explanation ng professor sa isang problem na sinasagutan nila.

Nang matapos ang klase, lumapit sa kanya yung nakabangga sa kanya at inalok ng candy as peace offering. She actually forgot about what happened because Soul was rumbling how hungry she was.

"Uh, thanks." nagmamadali niyang sabi kanina.

"Yrina, right?"

"Yes?"

"Nice to meet you."

She doesn't know his name. As much as she wants to remember everyone in her classes, she just can't. Masyado silang marami. She just accepted the candy and went straight to the cafeteria.

"Eri, will that suffice? Madami ka na rin namang energy. May snacks din sila Tita."

"No, Gie. Remember the last time? Out of nowhere tayong tinanong ni Tita kung sino ang bumawas ng ice cream sa ref." Rosie walks out of the slumber room. "It made us overthink, a lot."

"Right, halos magwala si Iliza lalo na nung ni-lock nila 'yung pantry. It was a hard day." napabuntong-hininga si Wind. Rosie's lullaby wasn't also effective that night.

"Buy coffee!"

"Fruit punch!"

"Shh!"

Yrina eats the candy while thinking that she could ask for coffee later. Okay lang naman siguro 'yon kay Tita. Gie smiles at Yrina then waits for her ride. "Yes, tita. Sasakay na po. Ako na po susundo kay JD."

On simple days like this, Yrina is thankful for the existence of the girls. They all make surviving less hard and they keep her entertained. At sa totoo lang, hindi na niya maimagine kung ano ang gagawin niya kung hindi sila isa-isang sumulpot at nagpakita sa kanya.

She'd probably lose it. Maingay pero kaya naman niyang itolerate. It's like she has sisters that no one can see and bond with except for her. It's like a family reunion or missing puzzle pieces she never knew she lost.

For five years, she's been living with them, trying to survive each day. All of the girls help Yrina to manage how to function, working day and night. They all do their part to keep Yrina alive and safe. She's their number one priority.

Yrina looks at the girls and smiles to herself.

It's a system.