The next morning, after Rico's birthday, Claudine was still sound asleep while Rico woke up early. He smiled, looking at her peacefully resting, and decided not to wake her. Instead, he quietly left the bed and went to the kitchen, planning to make her a nice breakfast. Before heading downstairs, Rico grabbed a piece of paper and quickly scribbled a note, leaving it beside her on the bed.
When Claudine finally stirred, she noticed the empty space beside her and the note waiting for her. She sat up, grabbed the letter, and smiled as she read Rico’s sweet message:
"Good morning, hunny. We stayed up late talking, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Come down when you’re ready; I made breakfast for you."
Feeling touched, Claudine got up, stretched, and smiled even more. Rico always had a way of making her feel extra special, especially after their long conversations the night before. She hurried to get dressed, excited to see what Rico had prepared for her.
When she reached the kitchen, there he was, standing at the stove with a proud grin on his face. The table was already set with a simple yet thoughtful spread: eggs, toast, and fresh fruits, along with a cup of coffee just the way she liked it.
Claudine approached him with a soft laugh. "You're spoiling me, you know that?"
Rico turned, a playful smile on his lips. "Only because you deserve it, hunny." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead before handing her a plate. "Sit down, eat up. I made everything with love."
Claudine took her seat and began to enjoy the breakfast he prepared, her heart swelling with happiness. She took a bite and gave him a thumbs up. "This is so good! Are you sure you don't want to be a chef instead of an spokesperson?"
Rico chuckled, sitting across from her. "I'll stick to acting. Cooking is just a bonus for you."
As they enjoyed their meal together, the comfortable silence between them was filled with warmth. It was moments like these that Claudine treasured the most—just the two of them, sharing quiet, happy times.
"You know," Claudine said after taking a sip of her coffee, "you make every morning feel special. I’m so lucky."
Rico reached out, taking her hand in his. "I’m the lucky one, Clau. Every day with you is a gift."
She felt her heart skip a beat at his words. They shared a look that said more than words ever could, their connection deeper than ever.
"How do you do it?" Claudine asked, a teasing smile on her face. "How do you always know exactly what to say to make me feel like the happiest girl in the world?"
Rico shrugged, his grin widening. "I just say what’s in my heart, hunny."
Claudine shook her head with a laugh. "You're too good to be true, you know that?"
Rico leaned back in his chair, pretending to think for a moment before winking. "Maybe I'm just perfect for you."
They both laughed, the kind of laughter that came easily between them, filled with love and joy. It was moments like this that made their bond even stronger.
After breakfast, Rico cleared the table while Claudine sat back, watching him with affection. "I could get used to this," she said.
"Used to what?" Rico asked, glancing at her with a smirk.
"Being spoiled by you every morning."
Rico walked over to her and knelt beside her chair, taking her hand again. "Well, how about I spoil you every day for the rest of our lives?"
Claudine’s eyes softened, her heart swelling with emotion. "That sounds perfect."
Rico smiled up at her, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, knowing how lucky they were to have found such love. It wasn’t always about the big, grand gestures. Sometimes, it was the small, everyday moments like this that made everything feel complete.
Claudine leaned down and kissed Rico on the forehead, whispering, "I love you."
Rico looked up at her, his eyes full of warmth. "I love you more, hunny."
With that, they both knew that no matter what, they would always choose each other.
---
As they ate, Claudine noticed Rico seemed a little more serious than usual. “Is something on your mind?” she asked, sensing there was something he wanted to talk about.
Rico hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” he began, looking down at his plate. “I have to leave for a work project next year. It’s going to take me away for a while.”
Claudine paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. “How long?” she asked quietly, her heart suddenly feeling heavy.
“From January to October,” Rico said, his voice soft. “Nine months.”
Claudine's heart sank. Nine months. That was almost a year without seeing each other. She tried to keep her composure, but the thought of being apart from him for that long made her feel sad.
“Wow, that’s… a long time,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I know,” Rico replied, reaching out to hold her hand. “I don’t want to leave you for that long, but this is something I have to do. It’s an important project for my career.”
Claudine nodded, trying to be supportive. “I understand,” she said, though her voice was tinged with sadness. “But it’s going to be really hard not seeing you for that long.”
“I’ll miss you every day,” Rico said, squeezing her hand. “But I promise, I’ll write to you, call you as much as I can, and when I come back, we’ll make up for all the time we missed.”
Claudine smiled faintly, appreciating Rico’s reassurance. “I know you will. It’s just… nine months feels like forever.”
Rico leaned over, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll get through it. You’re strong, and so are we.”
Claudine sighed, looking down at their hands intertwined on the table. “We’ve never been apart for that long before.”
Rico nodded. “I know. But distance doesn’t change how I feel about you. It’ll only make me appreciate you more when I come back.”
Claudine's eyes welled up a little, but she held back the tears. “You better,” she said, forcing a small laugh through her emotions.
“I will,” Rico replied, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. “We’ll make it work, hunny. No matter what.”
Claudine sighed again, feeling sad about the news. “It’s a shame… we won’t be able to celebrate our birthdays together,” she said softly, looking down at the table. “This is the first time we won’t be together for it.”
Rico squeezed her hand tighter, knowing how much this meant to them both. “I know, hunny, and it hurts me too. I love celebrating with you. But I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Claudine looked up at him, her eyes filled with feelings. “How can you make it up if you’re not here?” she asked, her voice shaky.
Rico smiled gently. “I’ll find a way. Maybe I can send you something special, or call you right at midnight. We can still make it special, even if I’m far away. We’ve always found ways to make it work.”
Claudine tried to smile, but the thought of being apart for their birthdays was hard to accept. “It won’t be the same without you here.”
Rico leaned closer, his eyes full of love and understanding. “I know, but let’s not worry about that right now. We still have time together before I leave. Let’s focus on that, okay?”
Claudine nodded, feeling a bit better by his words. “Okay,” she whispered, though the sadness was still there.
Rico leaned in and kissed her softly on the forehead. “We’ll celebrate like we always do when I get back. It’ll be like we’re celebrating both birthdays at once.”
Claudine smiled a little at that. “Double the celebration, huh?”
“Exactly,” Rico said with a grin. “And you know I’m not the kind of guy to miss out on celebrating with you. I’ll be counting down the days until I’m back.”
Claudine sighed again but nodded. “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, her voice a mix of sadness and hope.
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...
