10:45

PART 23

Claudine started shouting, her voice echoing in the room. "Open the lights! Open the blinds!"

Her mother, Marjorie, tried to calm her. "Clau, all the lights are open."

But Claudine couldn't focus. She felt darkness creeping in and began to panic. She desperately searched for her phone, but Marjorie wouldn’t give it to her. They wrestled over it, and Claudine shouted even louder, her voice filled with fear and desperation.

Hearing the commotion, Claudine's dad and brother rushed outside the room. They couldn’t bear to see Claudine in such a state. Claudine was almost fainting from the overwhelming emotions, so Marjorie finally relented and handed her the phone.

Claudine quickly dialed Geraldine's number, but there was no answer. She then tried Rico's mother, but it rang and rang with no response. Her heart raced as she called Dominic, hoping he would pick up. After several attempts, he finally answered.

“Dom! Please! Try to save Rico! He might wake up!” Claudine cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Clau,” Dominic replied, his voice heavy with sorrow. “There’s nothing we can do. Rico... he’s gone.”

The words hit Claudine like a ton of bricks. She dropped the phone, her body trembling as she started hitting herself, overwhelmed with guilt. If only she had gone to Palawan with him, maybe things would have been different. Rico had died while they weren’t okay, and that thought was too painful to bear.

As soon as the plane landed, Rico’s body was met by his friends and family, all overwhelmed with grief. His older brother held his cold body, gently talking to him, hoping that maybe he would wake up. Every step felt heavy, and the reality of Rico’s passing weighed on everyone’s hearts.

Tina, Rico’s youngest sister, called Claudine’s sister Marj, asking, "Where’s Claudine?" But before Marj could answer, Rico’s older brother called Claudine and said, "You have to pray for him alone na lang." Claudine started shouting at Rico’s brother, asking why she wasn’t allowed to be near Rico. Marj had to grab the phone from Claudine as she was on the verge of losing her breath from crying so hard.

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Marj was very angry about why Claudine couldn't go to the hospital to see Rico. Tina was very worried about Claudine, so she went to her sister's house. When she arrived, she immediately ran to Claudine and hugged her tightly.

"Why wasn't I allowed? Why... Why did I do...?" Claudine kept asking Tina over and over, tears streaming down her face. Tina couldn’t speak; she just held Claudine close, trying to comfort her.

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Rico's mom called Claudine because they needed to get Rico's coat for his funeral. Rico's family was very angry at Claudine, except for Tina, who didn’t feel any anger. When Claudine arrived at Rico's wake, the guards stopped her and said she couldn’t enter. Claudine started shouting and hitting the guard, asking why she wasn’t allowed inside.

Her sister, who was very upset, pulled Claudine away as she struggled against them.

That night, Claudine felt lost. She was in shock and seemed like she wanted to end her life. She returned to the condo where she and Rico had lived. As soon as she entered, she felt a heavy weight in her heart. Memories of their happy times flooded back as she walked through the apartment.

When she reached the bedroom, she saw so many of Rico’s things scattered around as if he were still there. Claudine began to pick up his things, hugging them tightly while crying hard. She started hitting herself, blaming herself for what happened to Rico. The once colorful home now felt lifeless and empty.

Claudine kept drinking to forget the pain, but it only made her feel worse. She sat alone in their dark room, surrounded by silence. She said to herself, "I’m just trying to fill the emptiness," but the truth was, nothing could fill the space Rico had left. Each sip of alcohol felt like a small escape, but deep down, it only made her feel more sad and lost.

As she lay down on their bed, memories flooded her mind. It felt like just yesterday that Rico was lying next to her, laughing and talking about their future together. They had dreams, plans, and a love that felt unbreakable. Now, all of that was gone, and she was left with only pain.

The weight on her chest grew heavier, making it hard to breathe. She hugged the pillow, pretending it was Rico, and tears streamed down her face. “Why did this happen?” she thought, wishing she could turn back time and fix things. The room felt cold and empty, a reflection of how she felt inside.

Claudine looked around and saw Rico's things scattered everywhere. His clothes were still in the closet, and his shoes were by the door. It was as if he had just stepped out for a moment and would come back any minute. But deep down, she knew that wasn't true. He was gone, and the reality of it hit her like a wave.

She started to fix his things, trying to put everything in order. As she picked up a shirt, she could smell his scent, and it made her heart ache even more. She hugged the shirt tightly, wishing it could bring him back. "I miss you, Rico," she cried, feeling completely alone.

The once colorful and happy home now felt dark and lifeless. Every corner reminded her of the laughter and love they shared. She thought about how much she took for granted. “I should have been there for you,” she whispered, blaming herself for everything that happened.

Claudine drank more, hoping it would help her forget. But each drink just brought more tears and sadness. She couldn’t escape the truth. No matter how much she tried to drown her feelings, they always came rushing back. She lay on the bed, feeling the weight of her sorrow. It felt like the world was closing in on her, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

As she closed her eyes, she wished for one more moment with Rico. To tell him she loved him, to hug him, to feel safe again. But all she had now were memories, and they only brought more pain.

Even in her dreams, Claudine was still looking for Rico. She cried in her sleep, calling his name. In her dream, it felt real. She could feel someone sitting on the edge of her bed, hugging her. It made her feel a little warm inside.

Suddenly, she woke up. The room was dark, but she felt a familiar presence beside her. Her heart raced as she turned to see Rico’s face, softly lit. He was smiling, but his eyes looked sad. “Hunny,” she whispered, feeling hope.

“Hun, you’re back...” she said, her voice shaking. She reached out to touch his face. “I’m so sorry, please come back... I love you...” She spoke with all her heart, wishing he could hear her.

But as she looked at him, Rico stood up from the bed. Claudine felt scared. “No, don’t go!” she cried, stretching out her hand. “Please don’t leave me!” But he started to fade away, becoming less clear.

“Rico, please!” Claudine begged, feeling scared. She jumped out of bed, trying to grab him, but he disappeared. It hit her hard—he was really gone and would never come back.

Claudine fell back onto her bed, crying loudly. The warmth of his hug had felt real, but now there was just empty space. She held onto her blanket tightly, hoping it could bring him back. “Why did you have to leave me?” she whispered, feeling so sad.

She lay there, feeling heavy in her heart. The silence of the room surrounded her, and she understood that this was her life now. No more laughter, no more happy moments with Rico. The dreams were just a little comfort, and the truth was painful.

Claudine closed her eyes, wishing to see him again, but all she felt was emptiness. The room felt cold and quiet, just like her future without him.