Saudade

2 (Now)

Cecilia grabbed her pink suit case from the luggage belt. It weighed exactly 50 pounds, she had weighed it before she went to the airport and had to remove a pair of her Gucci sandals. She was the definition of an over packer, it ran in her family. She rolled her suitcase through the airport, she walked out side hoping to find a place where she could get a rental car. She followed a sign that said car rentals and stopped when she found a little desk that read "Ok Mobility".

"Ola, I'm hoping to rent a car." She said to the brunette woman sitting at the desk. She had a black T-shirt that also read "Ok Mobility".

"Sure, I'm just going to need you to put your card on file and sign some papers." The woman said smiling. She looked too happy and friendly to be a person who works for a company called "Ok Mobility".

Cecilia signed papers and got the keys with an Audi symbol for the car. She walked in the underground garage looking for parking spot C2, When she found a black Audi A8 sitting there she was quite pleased. Cecilia was a car person. She had always been obsessed with different models of cars. When she turned 16 she immediately got her drivers license. Her parents then gifted her a convertible Beatle.

She drove to her hotel in Porto where she would be spending the next two weeks at. The traffic was bad, It was late in the afternoon so people were going home from work. She connected her phone to the speaker and called Ali, who had picked up the phone in less than a ring. "Hi, Cici. How was your flight? Is everything ok? Do you want me to book a flight there?" Ali said sounding concerned. "Everything is fine Ali, don't worry. I'm ok for now. How are things there?" Cecilia said trying to comfort her friend. "everything is good, I'm just getting ready to go for dinner with Brent." Ali said. Brent was Ali's husband, They had met in high school which is also where Ali and Cecilia met.

"That's nice. I'm just driving to the hotel I'm staying at." Cecilia said as she turned on her signal to turn. "Tell your parents I say hi when you see them." Ali said, she always loved Cecilia's parents. "I will, I'm just pulling into the hotel parking lot, Ali. I will text you later." Cici said as she parked. "Ok, let me know If you need anything. Love you lots."

Cecilia checked into the luxurious hotel. It was and old wine factory that had been re done. As soon as she got into her room which had one big king sized bed, a little kitchen, a big bathroom and a large terrace looking over the city, she unpacked. She never allowed herself to relax until she was unpacked, it became a habit since her mom always made her unpack as soon as they'd get to Portugal.

Once she was fully organized and had showered, she opened up a bottle of wine from the fridge. She didn't bother getting a glass, she just drank straight from the bottle hoping it would calm her nerves. It never did. She had no appetite, she brushed her teeth and went to bed hoping to get rest for the long day ahead of her tomorrow. Going to Apulia and seeing her family.

The funeral would be in two days, her uncle was catering for it and the service would be hosted at the church, then family and friends would go to Cecilia's grandmothers house for food and drinks. She knew she would see all her family, she wasn't worried about that. She was worried about seeing Rui.

Cecilia woke up around 10am. She checked her phone realizing she slept 12 hours. She rubbed her eyes and rolled out of bed. She began to walk to the bathroom, feeling dizzy. She hadn't eaten in 24 hours and drank last night. She walked over to the kitchen to grab water and an Advil from her bag, turning around and walking to the washroom she stubbed her toe. "Shit!" She yelped grabbing her toe, realizing she chipped her white nail polish. "Are you kidding me, I don't have time for this right now."

She began to get ready for the day. She put on a basic Cecilia out fit, jeans and a tank top.  Her jeans were from AGOLDE and Her top was from Free People.  The outfit would look basic but the brands were always high end. She would be meeting her parents at her grandparents house for lunch. Cecilia wanted to help prepare the house and everything else for the funeral but her parents insisted everything was already covered and taken care of.

She drove through the streets of Apulia, noticing how nothing had changed. It was still the same busy, yet peaceful small town. She drove down the cobble stone roads admiring the gorgeous stone houses, she had missed this place. When she turned down her grandparents street she spotted her mom and dads Mercedes parked. She parked and walked through the garden and up the marble front steps, trying not to remember the hot summer nights when her and Rui would sit there for hours. She walked through the door, hearing a gasp from her grandmother.

"Oh, my love. I've missed you so much." Her grandmother said in tears. "I missed you too." Her grandmother was one to cry when greeting and saying bye to her family. But Cecilia also knew her grandmother was having a rough week since her mother had just died. She greeted her parents and grandfather before they sat down to eat lunch.

"So how is Toronto?" Her grandfather asked smiling. "It's good!" Cecilia said lying. "Hey, Cecilia?" Her father said turning to her. "You wouldn't mind going to your uncle Tony's restaurant to pick up some containers of food for tomorrow, would you?" Her father asked making her heart drop. She couldn't say no but she didn't want to run into anyone. "Of course." She said looking down at her plate of food and taking a big bite.

After she ate, she put her sneakers back on and walked her way into town. It was quite cool outside considering it was late afternoon but it was only the beginning of summer which meant it would get way warmer. Cecilia loved the feeling of the sun on her skin and the wind blowing trough her curls. She walked passed the soccer court, the beach, and the bakery she always went to, to get the worlds best pastel de nada. It took about ten minutes until she was at her uncles restaurant. The sign read closed, but she knew she could just walk in. As she stepped through the door she noticed all the tables had the chairs on them and it was freshly mopped with pine sol, she loved the smell of pine sol. It felt clean. She heard someone working in the back, guessing it would be her uncle.

"Ola, Tio?" She called stepping forward to the counter. Just as she did a tall man walked out. He was wearing a white button down shirt and black linen shorts. He looked buff, had dark brown skin, with super coiled hair. He had a freshly shaved beard, which looked really smooth. He had very familiar eyes and a purple birthmark on his neck.

That's when Cecilia realized, It was Rui.