Dua Lipa and the Secret Love

3

Dear reader, it's been over a year since either Dua or M.S. and I touched on the subject. Dua is now seeing someone, and M.S. is in a relationship, so I've been avoiding bringing it up. But yesterday, Dua sent me a message, asking me to meet her today because she wanted to extend an invitation. I asked if I could record it for the book, and she replied, "Of course, that's exactly why I want you to come over—I have a unique proposal for you.

Well, at that moment, I knew it had to be something about them. Either she was going to tell me another story, or they were there together—which I highly doubt—or something related to them had happened. Well, we'll see, won't we?

I hurriedly got ready and went over to her place. The day was beautiful, just as it always is around here, but for some reason, I had a feeling that something different was about to come from this conversation.

I arrived, rang the doorbell, and one of her friends—let's call her L—answered the door. She said, "Come in, you're going to love the news. You're the one writing the book about the Smiling Hero and Dua, right?" When I heard "Smiling Hero," I didn't quite understand, but I knew it had to do with M.S. I replied, "Yes, that's me, but what do you mean by Smiling Hero?" She laughed and shouted to Dua, "Hey, Dua, your friend wants to know why I call M.S. the Smiling Hero." Dua responded firmly and decisively, "I told you to stop calling him that!" Dua then came over, greeted me, and said, "They call him that because they say he saved and freed me."

Her friend quickly chimed in, "And he's always smiling, so he's Dua's hero, and he's smiley—hence, Smiling Hero."

That's when I finally understood—it wasn't just me who noticed how much good M.S. did for Dua. So, I asked, "Does everyone here call him that?" Dua replied, "It depends. My dad just calls him M or 'the Brazilian,' my mum calls him 'Dua's future husband,' my brother calls him 'the surfer,' and my sister calls him 'Dua's real boyfriend.' Pretty much everyone has a nickname for him, but they all care about him deeply."

In that moment, I realized that everyone there already knew—and not only knew, but approved of their relationship. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder, why are they hiding it then? Fear of the media? Fear of interfering with their dreams? Well, I'm not sure, but I suppose I'll find out as we go along with this book, dear reader, together with you.

Dua sat on the sofa and said, "So, I'm going to do a special show in the middle of the tour, and I'd love for you to come along."

I replied, "When? Where? And why me?"

She stood up and said, "We're going to Rio de Janeiro, for Rock in Rio."

So I said, "Alright, I'll get everything ready to go."

Dua then looked at me with that excited expression, bouncing on one foot, and said, "And do you know who's going to be there?" in that childlike voice she uses when she's thrilled.

I responded, "M.S.?"

She exclaimed, jumping with joy, "Yes, yes, yes! He said he's going to stay with me there the entire time I'm there because he misses me so much and can't stand being away anymore!

So I asked, "Dua, what about the guy you were seeing for a while, and M.S.'s girlfriend?"

She laughed and said, "You're a bit out of the loop! I broke up with that annoying guy, and M.S. and the girl he was seeing never really dated. She looked at me, resting her chin on her hand, and said, 'I stalked to make sure they weren't together, and they aren't!'"

I responded, "Wow, what a scare! I thought you both were cheating on your respective partners." She replied, "For me, only one man matters—M.S." She looked at her dad and said, "Sorry, Dad," to which he responded, "I understand, sweetheart."

So I said, "Alright, I'll pack my things then; we're off to Rio de Janeiro!"

Dua said, super excited, "Yes, yes, yes! Let's hurry up—I can't wait to see the love of my life!"

So, dear reader, the following chapters will be a diary of this trip we're about to take. I won't hold back on the details, but I'll always include codes and clues for you to uncover who M.S. is.