Morning Light

The morning light crept into the room, casting a warm glow over Pedro's face as he lay beside Esme, his eyes drinking in the sight of her peaceful form. He couldn't help but smile as he gazed at her, his heart swelling with love and pride. Her hair was a tangled mess, her skin smooth and unblemished, her lips slightly parted as she breathed. He felt a sense of possession wash over him, a desire to protect her from the world. But as he lay there, his mind began to wander to his father's words of warning. "Protect her, Pedro," he had said. "The world can be cruel, and she needs someone to shield her from it." Pedro's thoughts were torn. He wanted to shield Esme, to keep her safe from the prying eyes of the paparazzi and the scrutiny of the public. But he also knew that he couldn't keep her hidden forever. Eventually, they would have to face the world together. As he pondered his next move, Esme stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. She smiled up at him, and Pedro's heart skipped a beat. "Good morning," she said, her voice husky from sleep. Pedro smiled back, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "Good morning," he replied, his voice low and gentle. Esme sat up, rubbing her eyes, and Pedro followed suit, sitting up beside her. They sat there for a moment, just looking at each other, the tension between them palpable. "We need to talk," Esme said finally, her voice serious. Pedro nodded, his heart sinking slightly. He knew what was coming. "About what?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Esme took a deep breath. "About us going public. About how we're going to handle the paparazzi and the attention." Pedro nodded, his mind racing. He had been putting off this conversation, but he knew it was inevitable. "I've been thinking," he said, "maybe we should just take things slow. Let the public get used to the idea of us being together." Esme nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "I agree. But what about Instagram? Do we post pictures of us together? Do we make a statement?" Pedro shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't thinking of doing anything too public just yet." Esme's eyes narrowed. "But eventually, we'll have to face the music. We can't stay hidden forever." Pedro nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. He knew that Esme was right. They would have to face the public eventually. "So, what do you propose we do?" he asked, looking at Esme for guidance. Esme took a deep breath. "I think we should take things slow, like you said. Maybe make a few appearances together, just to get the public used to the idea of us being together. And then, maybe we can post some pictures on Instagram, just to make it official." Pedro nodded, feeling a sense of relief. He was glad that Esme was on board with his plan. "But what about the paparazzi?" he asked, his mind still racing with worries. Esme smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Leave that to me. I have a few ideas on how to handle them." Pedro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What kind of ideas?" Esme just smiled, her lips curling up mischievously. "You'll just have to wait and see."