10:45

PART 13

After three weeks of vacation, Claudine and Rico returned to Manila. They were excited but also a bit nervous about attending their graduation. It felt like just yesterday that they had started their journey together, and now they were finally finishing it.

As they approached the graduation venue, Claudine felt a mix of emotions. “Can you believe we made it?” she asked, looking at Rico with wide eyes.

“I know! It feels surreal,” Rico replied, smiling. “We did it together.”

The venue was bustling with students in caps and gowns. The air was filled with laughter and excitement. Claudine and Rico took a moment to soak it all in. They spotted their parents among the crowd, waving enthusiastically.

“There they are!” Claudine shouted, pointing at her parents.

“Let’s go!” Rico said, and they hurried over to them.

“Congratulations!” Claudine’s mom exclaimed, pulling her into a big hug. “We’re so proud of you!”

“Thanks, Mom!” Claudine said, grinning from ear to ear. Her dad joined in, giving her a proud pat on the back.

“Look at you two! Graduates!” her dad said, beaming at them.

As they stood together, Claudine felt tears welling up in her eyes. She looked at Rico, who was also trying to hold back his emotions. “Can you believe this moment?” she whispered.

“I can’t,” Rico replied, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. “We’ve worked so hard for this.”

Once they calmed down, they took pictures with their parents, capturing the joyful day. Claudine’s mom snapped a few photos of her and Rico together, and they made silly faces, trying to lighten the mood.

“Okay, serious face for the next one!” Claudine’s dad instructed, trying to keep it together.

As they posed, Claudine noticed how proud their parents looked. Their smiles radiated happiness, making this moment even more special.

Finally, it was time for the graduation ceremony to begin. They found their seats, and Claudine could hardly sit still, her heart racing with excitement. As the names were called, she felt a mix of pride and anticipation.

When Rico's name was announced, Claudine cheered loudly, clapping her hands. He walked across the stage with confidence, accepting his diploma. Claudine couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness as she watched him.

“Woohoo!” she shouted, her voice echoing in the hall.

Rico turned, flashing a wide grin at her, and Claudine felt her heart flutter. It was a moment they had both dreamed of, and now it was finally happening.

When it was Claudine's turn, she stood up and took a deep breath, feeling a little nervous. As she walked across the stage, she looked out at the crowd. She spotted her parents beaming with pride and Rico cheering her on.

Once she received her diploma, she couldn’t help but smile brightly. “I did it!” she whispered to herself, feeling a wave of joy.

When the ceremony was over, Claudine and Rico found each other in the crowd. They hugged tightly, both of them bursting into tears. “We made it!” Claudine cried, her heart full of emotion.

“I’m so proud of you!” Rico said, his voice a bit shaky.

“And I’m proud of you too!” Claudine replied, wiping her tears away. “We did this together.”

As they pulled away from the hug, Claudine looked around at the celebration. Families were taking pictures, friends were laughing, and the atmosphere was filled with joy. She noticed how happy their parents looked, watching them with pride.