10:45

PART 5

A few weeks later, things started to feel heavy for Claudine. School was piling up, her projects seemed endless, and she hadn't been sleeping well. She was usually good at keeping herself together, but lately, she felt like everything was just too much. She didn't want to bother Rico with it. He was always there for her, but this time, she just wanted to handle it on her own.

One evening, she sat on her bed with her headphones on, staring at the ceiling. Her favorite song, "Warrior is a Child" by Gary Valenciano, played softly. The song always made her feel seen, like it was okay to not be okay sometimes. As the words played in her ears, she closed her eyes, letting herself feel the sadness she had been holding back.

"They don't know that I come running home when I fall down..."

The lyrics hit her hard. It was like the song understood exactly how she felt. She had been trying so hard to be strong, to keep smiling even when things were tough. But now, in the quiet of her room, she let the tears fall. She wasn't as strong as everyone thought. She was just a girl who got tired too.

"They don't know who picks me up when no one is around..."

She curled up on her bed, hugging her pillow, wishing she could just disappear for a little while. The music filled the room, and Claudine let it wash over her, finding comfort in the melody.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on her door. She wiped her eyes quickly, not wanting anyone to see her like this. She took off her headphones and sat up.

"Come in," she called out, trying to steady her voice.

The door creaked open, and Rico stepped inside, a concerned look on his face. "Hey, Clau," he said softly. "You okay?"

Claudine forced a smile, even though she knew it wasn't very convincing. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, but her voice cracked a little.

Rico didn't believe her. He walked over and sat down on the edge of her bed. "I don't know if you're aware, but you don't look fine," he said gently.

Claudine looked down at her hands, not sure what to say. She didn't want to burden Rico with her problems. "It's just... a rough day," she admitted quietly. "I'll be okay."

Rico noticed the headphones in her lap and pointed to them. "What are you listening to?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

Claudine handed him one of the earbuds, and he put it in his ear. The soft notes of "Warrior is a Child" played, and Rico listened carefully.

After a moment, he smiled. "I know this song," he said. "It's really nice. The words... they're kind of deep."

Claudine nodded, surprised that he recognized it. "Yeah, it's my favorite," she said. "It helps me when I'm feeling... like this."

Rico looked at her, understanding what she meant without her needing to explain. "I get that," he said softly. "Sometimes, we all need a song like this to remind us that it's okay not to be perfect."

They sat there in silence for a while, listening to the rest of the song together. It was a peaceful moment, but Claudine still felt a little raw inside. When the song ended, Rico took out the earbud and set it down.

"Clau," he said, turning to face her. "You know it's okay to not always have it together, right? You don't have to act strong all the time."

Claudine's eyes filled with tears again, but this time, she didn't try to hide them. "I just... I don't know. I feel like everyone expects me to be happy and okay all the time. But I'm not. I'm really not."

Rico's face softened, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. "You don't have to be," he said gently. "It's okay to be sad. It's okay to be tired. You're human, Clau. You're allowed to feel these things."

Claudine sniffed, wiping her eyes. "It's just been so hard lately. I feel like I'm failing at everything. School, life... everything."

"You're not failing," Rico said firmly. "You're doing your best, and that's enough. No one expects you to be perfect."

Claudine looked up at him, her heart feeling a little lighter. "Thank you," she whispered. "I didn't know I needed to hear that."

Rico smiled at her, his eyes full of kindness. "That's what friends are for," he said. "You don't have to go through this alone, Clau. I'm here. Always."

Claudine felt a surge of gratitude for Rico. He always knew how to make her feel better, even when she didn't know how to help herself. "I'm really lucky to have you, Rico," she said softly.

Rico chuckled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I think I'm the lucky one."

They sat there for a while longer, talking about nothing in particular. It felt good to just be with him, knowing that he understood her in a way no one else did.

---

The next day, Rico surprised Claudine by bringing her a small gift. It was a simple keychain with a little music note on it. Claudine's face lit up when she saw it.

"I thought it would remind you of that song you love," Rico said, smiling. "Whenever you feel down, you can look at it and remember that you're stronger than you think."

Claudine's heart swelled with warmth. It was such a small gesture, but it meant the world to her. "Thank you, Rico," she said, her voice full of emotion. "This is perfect."

Rico shrugged like it was no big deal, but Claudine could tell he was happy that she liked it. She attached the keychain to her bag, smiling as she looked at it. It would be a reminder of their shared moment and how much Rico cared for her.

---

Over the next few days, Claudine found herself feeling a little better. She still had rough moments, but she knew that she wasn't alone. Whenever she felt overwhelmed, she would put on her headphones and listen to "Warrior is a Child." The song reminded her that it was okay to be vulnerable, that she didn't have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

And Rico was always there, checking in on her, making sure she was doing okay. They hung out after school, went for walks, and even had a couple of late-night study sessions. Rico would always find a way to make her laugh, even when she felt like crying.

One afternoon, as they were sitting in the park together, Claudine turned to Rico and smiled. "You know, you've really helped me a lot lately. I don't know what I would've done without you."

Rico looked at her, his eyes serious but kind. "You don't have to thank me, Clau. I'm just glad I could be there for you."

Claudine shook her head. "No, I mean it. You always know exactly what to say. You make things feel... lighter."

Rico smiled softly. "Well, that's my job, right? To make sure my best friend is okay."

Claudine's heart skipped a beat at his words. Best friend. That's what they were. But in that moment, she realized just how much Rico meant to her. He wasn't just a friend. He was someone she could trust with her heart, someone who made her feel safe and loved.

As they sat there in the quiet park, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Claudine felt at peace. She knew that no matter what happened, she would always have Rico by her side. And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.