10:45

PART 11

Claudine smiled as she closed the door to her room. Everything had gone well that day. She felt like the world was on her side. Her birthday was coming up, and she couldn’t wait to celebrate it with Rico. He was going to be her last dance. The thought made her heart race with excitement.

As she walked to her bed, she accidentally nudged a small box with her foot. It tipped over, and a bunch of photographs spilled out. These were pictures she and Rico had taken together over the months. Rico loved capturing every moment they spent together, whether they were laughing at the mall or just hanging out in the park. Each snapshot told a story of their friendship.

Claudine knelt down and began to pick them up. Her heart swelled as she looked at each photo. There was one of them making silly faces, another where they posed with ice cream cones, and one that made her laugh out loud—Rico caught mid-sneeze! Those moments reminded her of how much fun they had together.

As she sorted through the pictures, she felt something shift inside her. With each photo she looked at, memories flooded back—both happy and sad times. There were moments of laughter, shared secrets, and quiet times when they just enjoyed each other's company.

Tears began to fill her eyes as she realized how much Rico meant to her. She wasn’t just starting to like him; she had feelings for him that went beyond friendship. Her heart ached with the realization that she loved him more than just a friend.

She picked up a photo where they were sitting on a bench in the park, their heads tilted together as they smiled widely. That day was filled with laughter, but as she looked at it now, it felt even more special. She remembered the way Rico had looked at her, like she was the only person in the world.

While she was lost in her thoughts, her phone buzzed on the bed. She reached for it and saw Rico's name pop up on the screen.

“Claude, good night,” the message read.

Her heart fluttered at the sight of his text. It felt warm, and a smile spread across her face. She quickly typed back, “Good night, Rico! Can’t wait for tomorrow!”

After sending the message, she went back to looking at the photos, but her mind was now filled with thoughts of Rico. She could almost hear his voice in her head, playful and teasing. She imagined him laughing as they remembered their fun moments together.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again. It was another message from Rico. “Do you remember the time we tried to take a selfie and ended up getting caught in the rain?”

Claudine laughed out loud, recalling that day. They had been walking when the clouds suddenly opened up, soaking them both. They rushed for cover under a nearby awning, laughing and trying to take a picture even as the rain fell. The photo was a blur of smiles and raindrops.

“Yes! We looked so funny! You were drenched!” she replied, grinning as she imagined his laugh.

Rico responded almost instantly. “But it was the best day ever! I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Reading his words made Claudine’s heart skip. He really valued their time together. She thought about how he had always been there for her, making her laugh and cheering her up when she was down.

“Me too! Can’t wait for more adventures,” she typed back, her fingers dancing on the screen.

As she finished her message, she felt both nervous and excited about their friendship. She wondered if he felt the same way she did. Did he think about her like she thought about him?

Claudine glanced back at the photographs scattered on her floor. They were more than just images; they were pieces of her heart. She knew she wanted to share more than just moments with Rico. She wanted to share her feelings with him.