“Sultry Night”

The expanse of the foggy beach unfolded before the twenty-year-old César, reminiscent of a spectral world. The sun, a weak sphere of light, battled to break through the fabric of clouds that hung low in the sky. Sea waves relentlessly assaulted the shore with rhythmic fervor, their haunting song sending an icy tingle snaking down César’s spine. His brother’s best friend, twenty-six-year-old Roberto, stood next to him, an anchor in this ethereal landscape. The heat emanating from his body was a comforting contrast to the clammy air enveloping them...

César was hyper-aware of every minute detail about Roberto—his rugged charm, his deep-set brown eyes filled with stories untold, and his strong hands that held a weathered parchment. However, he forced himself to hide it.

“Mmm... What do you make of this letter, César?” Roberto asked suddenly, his voice rumbling through the fog like distant thunder and drawing César out of his reverie.

“Uhm...” A rush of warmth flooded César as he heard his name spill from Roberto’s lips. He loved the way that it sounded on Roberto’s tongue; he felt that he could listen to him say his name all day long. Still, now was not the time for musings like these. He swallowed hard against the surge of emotions threatening to surface—emotions he dared not examine too closely. “It’s... intriguing,” he managed to articulate with more composure than he felt inside. “A tale spun by an old sailor about hidden treasure buried deep beneath this town...”

Roberto’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile that made César’s heart lurch within its ribcage prison. “We must unravel this mystery,” he said softly, “today. Together. You know, I’m going to leave this town soon...”

As they ambled along the shoreline side by side, each step sinking into the cool sand below their feet, César grappled with a tender longing that threatened to consume him whole—he yearned to intertwine his fingers with Roberto’s and confess his love for him unabashedly. But the fear clung onto him like stubborn barnacles on a ship’s hull—a fear born out of rejection and losing what they had cultivated over time...

With an effort, César pushed these thoughts aside and forced himself to focus on their quest. His emerald eyes roved over the misty landscape, scanning for any sign of a clue that might lead them to their treasure...

Suddenly, Roberto’s voice sliced through his thoughts. “Hey! Look there,” he pointed towards an outcrop of rocks, “Is that... a compass?”

César squinted through the foggy curtain, his heart pounding as he spotted a metallic gleam. They hurried towards it, the sand shifting beneath their weight. The silhouettes of ancient shipwrecks loomed ominously in the distance like ghostly sentinels guarding forgotten secrets...

Kneeling beside the rocks, César carefully picked up the compass. It was old and weather-beaten with scratches marring its face—yet it was functional. As he held it in his palm, the needle swung decisively towards the port.

“It seems like it’s leading us to the harbor,” César murmured softly, wondering if it was a clue or a trap.

“Let’s go then,” Roberto’s hand came to rest on his shoulder—a touch as light as a feather yet potent enough to send electric jolts pulsating through him. “We should definitely check it out.”

We. He always used the word ‘we’ when speaking of himself and César, which indicated that he took their part as one.

Hyper-aware of it, César looked up at Roberto, and their eyes locked in an intimate dance of shared understanding and unspoken words. At that moment, he felt an overwhelming surge of emotions: the weight of his silent love for Roberto, their shared thrill for adventure, and an undercurrent of fear for what lay ahead...

As they set off towards the port together, each step bringing them closer to unraveling Nassau’s secret and further into uncharted waters of their relationship; César made a silent vow: He would follow this journey wherever it led him in hopes that somehow, someway; it might bring him closer to Roberto; the man who walked beside him, the man who unknowingly held his heart captive.

–*

The fog swelled around them, its ghostly breath gracing the narrow streets and transforming the port into a spectral landscape. Out of this ethereal curtain, two identical ships emerged, their deserted silhouettes standing side by side like phantoms guarding an unseen treasure.

A gasp escaped César’s lips before he could contain it. “Check it out!” he breathed out in a hushed whisper, his hand reaching out to point at the twin specters that had materialized from the fog.

Roberto’s gaze followed César’s pointing finger, his eyes widening in surprise as they took in the sight. “Two ships...exactly alike? This can’t be mere chance.”

“Do you want to explore?” César wondered, rubbing his forehead.

It wouldn’t be the first time that they’d sneak onto a ship, but it always ended with some kind of drama or at least a lot of anxiety.

“Oh, no... No, it could be dangerous,” Roberto spoke protectively. “Take us a lot of time, too. Let’s stay focused on our quest, okay?”

César nodded, and they ventured further down the shrouded street, each step taking them closer to the enigmatic vessels. His mind whirled with possibilities, for his cartographer’s instincts hummed within him like a compass needle drawn to magnetic north. These ships held answers; he could feel it.

He stole a glance at Roberto, unable to resist admiring his companion’s profile - the firm set of his jaw signaling determination, his deep brown eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced vigilance. The sight stirred something warm within him - admiration mixed with an emotion far more potent.

“You know what, I still think that we should board them,” he suggested softly, eyeing his brother’s best friend. “I feel that there could be some clues.”

Roberto turned to look at him then, mischief sparking in his gaze as he nodded in agreement. “Alright! Ladies first,” he teased with a roguish grin, gesturing towards the ship nearest to them.

César rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Very funny. Just watch your step there, Casanova.”