Dua Lipa and the Secret Love

4

Day One

Today is the day we head off on the trip. I've packed my suitcase, sorted out my audio recording gear, and my laptop is ready to go. Now, it's time for me to witness and experience the love I've heard so much about.

I grabbed my bags, and Dua was already waiting at the door with the van. When she saw me, she waved and said, "Come on, we're running late." I locked up the house as they helped me with the luggage, then I got into the van and asked her, "Dua, are you excited? I've already started recording audio for a travel diary, is that alright?"
Dua replied, "Of course, go ahead and record." She grabbed the microphone from her bag and said, "Welcome to episode one of 'The Trip to Rio de Janeiro to See the Love of Dua Lipa's Life.'" Then she started giggling in the cutest way.

And off we went on our trip. The weather was perfect—such a lovely day—and Dua was absolutely buzzing, repeating, "Let's go see M!" over and over again.

Right, we arrived at the airport, got our luggage sorted on the plane, and then we took off. Mid-flight, Dua turned to me and said, "First, we're going to São Paulo, and after that, straight to Riiiiiiiiioooooo!"

asked, surprised, "I thought we were going straight to Rio?"
She replied, "I've got a tour show in São Paulo first, remember?"

I had genuinely forgotten, but I quickly dodged the topic, shifting to something I knew would hold her attention. I asked, "Dua, is it true that you and M.S. still talk?"
She responded, gazing out of the window, "Well, we didn't speak for a while, because of the relationships we were in, but there are promises and agreements between us that can't be undone."

I asked her what those promises were, but Dua replied, "Well, I can't really share that, but there's something that can't be broken." She said this while pointing to the chain-link earring she was wearing. Then she added, "And there are things only he has the key to," gesturing to the padlock earring she had on.

n that moment, it hit me—yes, she's been wearing those earrings and chains with padlocks and links ever since they grew close. It's as if they're talismans, something she carries with her to remind her of something. I can't quite put my finger on what that promise is, but it seems to be something they both carry for life.

I added one more question, "Dua, tell me something—what would you do if your relationship with him didn't work out?"

She laughed and said, "I have a plan for that. Do you want me to read it to you?" as she pulled out a notebook from her bag. I replied, "Of course, tell me!" And then she began:

"The first step is to write a letter detailing how everything has been so far, in a way that only I would understand."

"The second step is to somehow turn that text into a code."

"The third step is to send that text along with instructions on how to make things right for the past, so that somehow it reaches me."

The fourth step is for me to sort things out in the past."

I laughed and said, "I'm being serious, Dua." She looked at me and replied, "So am I. I spend day and night waiting for something like that to reach me."

At that moment, I realised she wasn't joking. After that conversation, we all put on our headphones and fell asleep, not waking until we arrived in São Paulo.

Well, dear reader, that was the end of the first day of our trip. I've left a few clues, but there wasn't much content to work with. Still, I know you'll manage to piece it all together.