Bound by Shadows

24

The whirlwind of events left me breathless. One moment, we were in Stella's apartment; the next, we found ourselves aboard a private jet hurtling across towards an unknown destination. My brother's constant calls pushed Caelus to lock our phones away and swiftly planned our departure once we were caught trying to leave Stella's place.

Tadashi, our would-be companion, was delayed by his duties, leaving just Caelus and me—finally, achingly alone.

"Can you at least tell me where we're going?" I ventured, disrupting Caelus's careful examination of the documents Tadashi had provided, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a portrait of a familiar memory of a workaholic that both frustrated and captivated me.

"It wouldn't be much of a surprise if I did, darling," he said, a knowing smile tugging on his lips as he continued to sift through the paperwork. "We have quite the journey ahead of us. You should try to get some rest."

But instead of following his advice, I found myself drawn to his side, unable to resist the pull of his presence. The addicting smell of him just made my stomach coil in such ways deemed indescribable.

I had let him finish whatever he was doing and when he placed the papers back into the brown envelope, he finally relaxed, and turned his sight to the left where I was already laying my head against his shoulder.

"I need you to be completely open with me," I whispered, my hand finding his as I closed the gap between us. "It's hard for me when I'm left out of what's happening around me, especially with my memory being fuzzy. I rely on you and what I observe. And..." I hesitated, not wanting to revisit painful memories I had hoped to leave behind.

Though I'd pushed for a fresh start, each new memory, both good and bad, weighed heavily on my mind. It felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke on me, mocking my definition of happiness.

His grip on my hand tightened, he probably knew  what I was thinking about since I scrunched my nose at the thought. Caelus leaned down to kiss my forehead. "I understand," he murmured, and I nestled into his shoulder, finding solace in his embrace as sleep enveloped me.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally arrived at our destination: Brazil.

Stepping out of the airport, the warm embrace of the tropical air enveloped us, instantly into a world of vibrant colors and rich scents. Caelus hailed a taxi, and we went through winding roads, through lush forests and quaint villages, eventually leading us to our ultimate destination, the coastal town of Paraty.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the mesmerizing view outside the window. Crystal-clear waters lapped gently against pristine white sand beaches, framed by towering palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze. The azure sky stretched endlessly overhead, blending seamlessly with the horizon in a perfect display.

In the distance, I caught sight of rugged cliffs jutting out into the ocean, their rocky edges softened by a delicate veil of mist. Secluded coves beckoned invitingly. The whole scene was a symphony of sights and sounds.

"Quanto tempo leva de barco para Ilha Grande?" How long does the boat ride to Ilha Grande take?

I was taken aback at how Caelus fluently spoke in Portuguese.

The taxi driver responded, "Depende do ponto de partida, mas geralmente leva cerca de uma hora e meia a duas horas de barco de Paraty até Ilha Grande." It depends on the starting point, but generally takes about an hour and a half to two hours by boat from Paraty to Ilha Grande.

As we arrived at our destination, a sleek boat awaited us at the dock, bobbing gently in the water. Before stepping onto the wooden planks, Caelus graciously tipped the taxi driver, who expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt manner, leaving Caelus feeling both touched and slightly uncomfortable by the overwhelming sincerity. With a final thank you, the taxi driver departed, leaving us to ourselves.

Just when I thought the surprises were over, Caelus took my hand as he helped me onto the boat, his touch lingered a moment longer than necessary. With a gentle yet firm grip, he guided me towards the front, the last rays of sunlight danced across the water, casting a magical glow over everything in sight.

Noticing that a splendid wheel stood ready, inviting someone to take control, I asked, "Is this another surprise? Being the captain?"

"Indeed it is." his eyes sparkled. With a flick of a switch and a deft movement of his hand, he ignited the engine, propelling us forward into the unknown.

The wind tousled his hair and the sunlight danced on his skin, I couldn't help but feel like warmth seeping through my body that I decided wrap my arms around his waist from behind, my face resting against his wide back.

"Is something wrong?"

I didn't say anything but kept hugging him, knowing that this place was too familiar to not notice. "Were we suppose to be here on our honeymoon?"

I've seen this in my memory, watching this place on a tv screen while laying on Caelus's lap in a living room and now getting to experience it first hand.

He didn't need to explain himself because this trip here, to make new memories for us was enough but he grabbed my hand that was wrapped around his waist and gave it a kiss. Every kiss from him, was an apology and he didn't need to say it. I understood.

After an hour and a half, we arrived at a Ilha Grande. Caelus had carried our luggage as we walked towards the house under the cloak of night, the island house stands as a silent sentinel amidst the rustling palms. Soft moonlight filters through the windows, casting ethereal shadows across the wooden floors.

Inside, the gentle glow of lamplight bathed the rooms, inviting us to unwind in the stillness of the night. With every creak of the floorboards, the house whispered secrets of ancient tales and untold dreams.

As we made ourselves comfortable in one of the master bedrooms, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the loud grumble of my stomach. It broke the silence, making the quiet even more noticeable.

Caelus turned to me, trying to suppress the smile creeping up onto his face. "Hungry already?" his tone filled with warmth and affection. "I'll whip us up something tasty."

With a reassuring squeeze of my hand, he disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me to continue unpacking. As I rummaged through our belongings, the upbeat melody of Taylor Swift's 'Style' echoed through the room.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips at the realization that Caelus might just be the secret Taylor Swift enthusiast, despite him denying it.