Chapter 03: Her Name is Eri

Time.

Age.

Youth.

We want more time but we don't really want to age. One of the proofs of how life is unfair or the reason for life's dilemma—living now or for the future. Youth is still and will forever be a wonderful gift for anyone. As you age, you appreciate and regret opportunities taken and let go. Kahit sino maiinggit sa mga bata. Nakakainggit maging inosente. Nakakainggit ang simpleng buhay.

Youth.

They care less but are more driven. They are fresh, full of spirit, and they have beauty. Kaya pang makipagsabayan sa oras, pwedeng sumubok nang ilang beses at ayos lang kung magkamali.

That's one thing Yrina chose to turn a blind eye to then slowly, and painfully forgot. Siguro dahil maaga pa lang ay pinaintindi na sa kanya 'yon at madali niya ring tinanggap. She has the chance to enjoy her youth but chose the other option, survival over life. She just needs to survive.

"Ate Yrina." Eri whispers directly to her ears. "Ate..."

Yrina is lost in her thoughts, possibly because of Soul's little information a few days ago. Wala pang 30 minutes mula nang mapatulog ang pamangkin kaya naman gising na gising pa rin ni Eri.

Playtime's on pause, Eri.

"But I still want to play." Biglang umupo si Eri sa harap ni Yrina. Her body and hair bounces with her every movement. The purple bows holding her high pigtails matches her outfit, peter pan collared flare dress. Napagtripan na naman siguro siya ni Shine, na naappreciate ni Yrina. She likes watching Eri, and she really likes when Eri looks like her age—young.

She's the youngest among the eight girls pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay mukha siyang bata. She's more like the one with the youngest heart and mind. She's bursting with innocence. There are times na nagiging baby siya, toddler, o teenager. But never an adult who looks like the rest of them. Hindi nila maintindihan kung bakit minsan ay pabago-bago siya ng itsura pero madalas, at tulad ngayon, isa siyang 10 years old.

They don't specifically know what Eri is for but they love her being around, lalo na si Yrina. Madalas si Eri ang pinapalaro nila sa pinsan na si JD. Kapag napupunta sa ibang lugar o may nakikitang bago sa paningin, nagmamadaling tumatakbo sa platform dahil sa matinding pagmangha. Kapag minsan, tumataas ang boses ni Yrina kapag sobrang excited si Eri. At sa mga oras na pagod, lalapit si Eri kay Yrina. Makikita mo ang dahan-dahang pagbabago ng mga mata ni Yrina tuwing nakikita si Eri.

Pero may oras din na nakakaubos ng pasensya, o gusto mo siyang igapos dahil hindi makontrol ang energy. Hindi ata marunong mapagod. May ilang araw na hindi papatulugin si Yrina. Eri boost minsan kung tawagin nila.

Nap time, baling ni Yrina nang magsimula nang hindi mapakali si Eri. She's hoping she will easily obey this time. She's too tired to let Ruby out.

"She's full of energy." Gie whispers. "Gisingin ko ba si Ruby?"

Mabilis na umiling si Yrina. Option 1 tayo mamaya.

Option 1 means that they'll take the cheapest, longest, and most tiring way to go home. Mura nga ang pamasahe pero palipat lipat naman ng sasakyan. Option 1 dahil ayon ang madalas nilang gawin noon lalo na kapag gipit sa pera. Isang jeep papuntang mall, 5 minutes na lakad papuntang terminal, 3 stations by train, isa jeep ulit tsaka ilang minutong lakad.

Iniisip palang ni Yrina ang mangyayare, ang init dahil sa siksikan ng mga tao at pagiging bagot para mag-abang ng jeep ay napapagod na siya. But if it's the only way to tire Eri, she'll do it.

JD is Yrina's 3-year old cousin. Noon kasi ay nakikitira si Yrina sa Tita niya pero nang dumating si JD, alam niyang kailangan na niyang maghanap ng sariling bahay. Her tita wasn't discreet about telling her to move out anyway. Pero nang bumalik ang tita niya sa trabaho at nagiging makulit na si JD, inalok siya na magbabysit dito. Yrina needs the extra cash for her upcoming graduation too. Kahit maliit ang bigay sa kanya, hindi na rin masama dahil nag-eenjoy siya na inaalagaan ang pinsan.

Eri continues to bounce her body, she can't contain the energy. She needs to move. Kalmado ito kumpara noong nakaraang araw dahil siguro tulog ngayon si Shine. They both like sparkles and bright colors. Mag-uunahan na tatakbo sa pedestal para ipagsigawan na bilhin ito o iyan o hindi, hindi! Balik tayo maganda 'yon!

If she can't control Eri's energy, might as well use it to her advantage. Matagal nang plinano ni Yrina na linisin ang playroom ni JD at mukhang magiging madali 'to lalo dahil sa curiosity ni Eri sa mga laruan ng bata.

Tingin mo? Yrina asks Gie, which takes her by surprise. Gie stays silent, unsure of the sudden question from her host. Hindi naman pinansin ni Yrina. She still then proceeds with her plan. Eri, look. Toys!

After cleaning the room and tending JD when he woke up, Yrina had a handful of sermons from her tita. She should have seen that coming. Kita niya ang acknowledgment ng tiyahin nang makitang malinis ang kwarto pero hindi niya naintindihan kung bakit siya pinagalitan dahil nilinis niya ito. Yrina felt Iliza's presence a while ago, she's thankful the other girls were able to bring her back to sleep.

Yun nga lang ay nagtampo si Eri, parang bata na nageexpect ng papuri pero iba ang nakuha. Hindi maintindihan ang nangyare. Windy tries to console her.

Mas dumoble tuloy ang pagod ni Yrina sa byahe. Pakiramdam niya ang higit-higit ang mga paa para lang makapaglakad. Windy tries to console her too.

She never understands her tita. But what Yrina finds more confusing is that she just let her tita treat her that way.

"Candy!" Nagulat silang lahat nang sumigaw si Eri. Noon lang din natauhan si Yrina at napansing may candy sa harapan niya.

"Candy for your thoughts?"

Narinig niya ang ingay ng palagid, ugong ng jeep at pagod dahil kanina pa siyang nandoon kahit na ilang minuto na siyang nakababa ng train station.

As if Eri is in control, it's the biggest smile Yrina had in a while. It's him.

Can we call him Candy guy? Yrina asks no one in particular. Most of the girls smile but none of them notice. 

Well, except Gie.