Weeks passed since Rico asked Claudine that strange question about something happening to him. She still didn’t fully understand why he brought it up, but she tried not to worry. Rico was still by her side, and they were still spending time together like always.
One afternoon after school, Claudine invited Rico to her house to study. As usual, they spent more time talking than studying.
“You know,” Rico said, flipping through a textbook, “I’ve been thinking more about traveling after we finish school.”
Claudine looked up from her notes, interested. “Where would you go?”
“Anywhere,” Rico said, smiling. “I just want to explore new places, see the world.”
“That sounds amazing,” Claudine said. “But I don’t think I’d be brave enough to just leave everything behind.”
“You’d be fine,” Rico said confidently. “You’re stronger than you think.”
“Maybe,” Claudine replied with a small laugh. “But what about your family? Won’t they miss you?”
“Of course they will,” Rico said. “But they understand. They always tell me to follow my dreams.”
Claudine admired how sure Rico always seemed. She wished she had that kind of confidence.
They sat in silence for a bit before Rico asked, “What’s your dream, Claudine?”
“My dream?” Claudine repeated, thinking. “I guess… I just want to be happy and do something that feels right.”
“That’s a good dream,” Rico said. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks,” she smiled. “And traveling is your big dream?”
“Yeah,” Rico nodded. “But more than that, I just want to live life to the fullest. I don’t want to look back and regret not doing the things I wanted to do.”
Claudine nodded. “That’s a good way to live.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about their dreams, laughing and joking around. Claudine felt closer to Rico than ever. Their friendship had grown stronger over the months, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
---
A few days later, Claudine and Rico were walking through the park, their usual spot after school. It was their time to relax and forget about schoolwork.
“So, any big plans for the weekend?” Claudine asked as they walked along the path.
“Not really,” Rico shrugged. “Might just hang out at home, maybe go for a drive.”
“That sounds nice,” Claudine said. “I’ll probably stay in and try to catch up on some reading. I’m so behind with homework.”
“Want some company?” Rico asked.
“Are you offering to help me with homework?” Claudine joked.
“Not exactly,” Rico laughed. “But we could hang out. Maybe watch a movie?”
“That sounds fun,” Claudine agreed. “You pick the movie.”
“Deal,” Rico said with a grin.
As they continued walking, they neared the big tree where they usually sat. Rico suddenly stopped.
“Claudine,” he said seriously, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Claudine’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”
“I know we’ve talked about the future and stuff,” Rico began, “but what if something unexpected happens? Like if one of us has to move away or something changes?”
Claudine frowned, confused. “I don’t know… I guess we’d figure it out. We always do.”
“Yeah, but what if it’s something bigger?” Rico asked quietly.
“I don’t want to think about that,” Claudine admitted, looking down at the ground.
“Me neither,” Rico said quickly. “I just… I’ve been thinking a lot, and I want to make sure that, no matter what happens, we’ll be okay.”
“We will be,” Claudine said firmly, meeting his eyes. “We’re always there for each other.”
Rico smiled, but something in his eyes seemed unsure. “Yeah, you’re right.”
They sat under the tree, watching the sunset. The sky was filled with soft pink and orange colors, and Claudine felt at peace. She leaned back against the tree, feeling calm.
“You know, I’m really glad we met that night at the bar,” Rico said after a while.
Claudine laughed softly. “Yeah, I never thought bumping into someone at a bar would lead to this.”
“Life’s funny like that,” Rico said, smiling. “Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them.”
“I’m glad we became friends,” Claudine said, looking at him.
“Me too,” Rico said warmly. “Here’s to more adventures.”
Claudine smiled and raised an imaginary glass. “Cheers to that.”
---
As time went on, Claudine and Rico continued their usual routine—spending afternoons together, studying, watching movies, or just walking in the park. Their friendship felt natural, easy, and strong.
But something was different with Rico lately. Sometimes he looked worried or distracted, but whenever Claudine asked him about it, he would say it was nothing.
One day, while they were sitting on Claudine’s porch, she decided to ask him directly.
“Rico, is everything okay?” she asked softly. “You’ve seemed a little different lately.”
Rico hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I’ve just been thinking about the future.”
“What about it?” Claudine asked, frowning.
“I don’t want to lose what we have,” Rico admitted quietly.
Claudine’s heart softened. “You won’t. We’ll always be friends, Rico. No matter what.”
Rico looked at her, his eyes serious. “Promise?”
“Promise,” Claudine said without hesitation. “We’ve always been there for each other. That’s not going to change.”
Rico smiled, finally looking a little more at ease. “Thanks, Claudine. I needed to hear that.”
---
And so, life went on. They laughed, joked, and shared their thoughts and dreams like always. But even though everything seemed the same, Claudine couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was coming. And whatever it was, it would test their friendship in ways neither of them could have imagined.
YOU ARE READING
10:45
FanfictionClaudine Barretto is heartbroken after the loss of her boyfriend, Rico Yan, who died peacefully in his sleep. Every night at 10:45, she can travel back in time to be with him again. In these moments, they share love and laughter, but Claudine must a...
