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Raphael stared at Jessica with a knowing little smirk.
"You've been planning this the whole time, haven't you?"
Jessica gave him the most innocent smile she could muster.
"Nope. Just thought of it right now."
He didn't buy it for a second.
But damn, the mental picture was way too tempting— an entire island, just the two of them. Sun, sand, water, and a woman who never got tired of getting wrecked.
He nodded.
"Fine. Paradise Island it is."
Jessica's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Really?!"
"Really."
She launched herself at him and planted a hard kiss on his mouth.
"I'm booking it right now!"
She jumped up and ran into the bedroom to grab her phone, leaving Raphael on the couch shaking his head with a grin.
Two days later they were on the private jet.
It took off from LAX and headed south.
They crossed the border, flew over Mexico City, then another hour over open ocean before the plane finally began its descent over a stretch of impossibly blue water.
Raphael looked out the window.
A small island appeared below.
Tiny—maybe two or three square kilometers tops.
Lush green jungle in the middle, ringed by perfect white sand beaches. The water around it was so clear it looked fake.
The jet touched down on a tiny runway and rolled to a stop.
The second they stepped off, hot tropical wind hit them in the face.
The air smelled like salt, coconut, and pure freedom.
A Mexican guy in a loud floral shirt was waiting. He grinned wide when he saw them.
"Mr. Lee, Miss Alba—welcome to Paradise Island."
He handed over two keys.
"These are the only keys on the island. For the next ten days, it's all yours."
He pointed at a golf cart parked nearby.
"Use that to get around. There are three houses—pick whichever you want. Food and water are stocked in the main villa's fridge."
He gestured toward the far end of the island.
"There's a helipad over there if you need anything urgent. Just call me."
He smiled again.
"But I doubt you will."
Jessica took the keys, beaming.
"Thank you."
The guy nodded, climbed back onto the jet, and a minute later the plane was gone.
Now the whole island really was just the two of them.
Jessica spun around, arms wide open.
"Raphael… look."
He followed her gaze.
White sand. Turquoise water. Palm trees swaying in the breeze. Big rocks in the distance where waves crashed and sent white spray into the air.
Jessica took a deep breath.
"Smell that?"
Raphael inhaled too.
"Saltwater, coconut, and freedom."
She laughed, grabbed his hand, and dragged him toward the golf cart.
The next ten days were pure, uninterrupted heaven.
Every morning they woke up to sunlight pouring through the open windows and the sound of waves.
Afternoons were spent on the beach. Jessica always "needed help" with sunscreen— which somehow always ended with them back inside the villa.
Evenings were swims in the ocean, floating on rafts and talking about nothing, then bonfires on the sand, grilled fish, tequila, dancing under the moonlight… or doing a lot more than dancing.
Jessica had completely let go.
First night on the beach.
Second night in the infinity pool.
Third night behind the rocks.
Fourth night…
Raphael eventually lost count.
In ten short days he unlocked every position he'd ever seen online in his last life.
Some were his ideas.
Most were hers.
Every time he thought she had to be satisfied, she'd wake up the next morning with a new one.
Once he finally asked, half laughing,
"Did you watch some weird stuff or something?"
Jessica gave him the most innocent look.
"Nope. Just… felt like trying everything while we're here."
Raphael smirked.
"And when we're done trying?"
She blinked sweetly.
"We'll figure that out later."
He had no comeback.
Another time, while they were floating in the pool, Jessica suddenly asked,
"Raphael… do you think we'll ever get married?"
He blinked.
"Where'd that come from?"
"Just curious."
He thought about it for a second.
"I don't know."
Jessica's eyes widened.
"You don't know?"
"I don't know," he said honestly. "I'm twenty. You're twenty-one. We're both blowing up right now. Marriage feels… far away. But if you ever want a kid, I'll make sure you get one."
Jessica smiled.
She wasn't some 2020s influencer demanding "security" or "compensation." She was a Latin-American actress who understood exactly how her people rolled—big families, kids, loyalty.
In her last life she'd rushed into marriage young and had a baby fast.
So the question didn't surprise him at all.
In the dream worlds he could fill an entire planet with kids if he wanted.
In real life? He wasn't ready to settle down yet.
The days kept rolling like that.
Sun, surfing, jet-skiing, goofing around on the beach by day.
Whatever they felt like at night.
Until day ten, when both their phones rang at the same time.
Raphael's was Ari.
Jessica's was her agent.
They looked at each other and answered.
"Raphael!"
Ari's voice was loud. "You two done playing house? Time to come back!"
Raphael held the phone away from his ear.
"What's up?"
"Step Up premiere! You've got hair, makeup, interviews, the whole circus waiting!"
Raphael sighed.
"Got it."
Jessica was on her call too, face slowly turning into a pout.
When they hung up, they just stared at each other.
Jessica stuck her bottom lip out.
"I don't wanna leave."
"Me either."
She leaned against his shoulder.
"Can we pretend we never got the calls?"
Raphael chuckled.
"And have them send a search plane?"
She sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
They stood up and looked out at the beach they'd called home for ten days.
Sun. Sea. White sand. Palm trees.
Raphael actually felt a little sad.
Jessica squeezed his hand.
"Next time?"
He nodded.
"Next time."
They packed, called the plane, and left.
As the jet climbed, Raphael looked down through the window.
The island got smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the blue.
Jessica held his hand the whole way, smiling softly.
Even ten days was enough to keep that smile on her face for a very long time.
---
September 20th, afternoon. Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles.
Raphael stood at the start of the red carpet and took a deep breath.
Jessica was beside him in a champagne-colored gown, hair in an elegant updo, Tiffany diamond necklace sparkling at her throat—complimentary from her endorsement deal.
With her current paycheck she still couldn't afford something like that.
Raphael had tried to buy her one multiple times. She always refused. The most she'd let him get her was a pair of purple sapphire earrings that cost less than thirty grand.
He looked down at her.
"Nervous?"
She shook her head.
"Not even a little. You?"
Raphael grinned.
"Why would I be? It's not like I've never done this before."
Jessica side-eyed him.
"Showing off?"
"Just stating facts."
They looked at each other and both started laughing.
The fans on both sides of the carpet were already losing their minds.
"Raphael!!!!"
"Jessica!!!!"
The screams were deafening—louder than a lot of hundred-million-dollar blockbusters got on their premiere nights.
The black mass of people pressed against the barricades, waving posters, signs, and photos.
Even the media and reporters looked shocked. This was supposed to be a small-budget teen dance movie. Most movies like this got polite crowds at best.
This kind of energy? This thing might actually blow up.
Raphael and Jessica stepped onto the carpet hand in hand.
Instantly the flashes turned the whole street into daylight.
Raphael squinted and silently thanked Dior for the sunglasses they'd sent him.
Without them he would've gone blind.
Jessica wasn't as lucky—female stars didn't get to wear shades—so she just smiled through it like a pro.
They walked slowly, stopping every few steps to wave, pose, sign autographs.
Fans shoved posters and photos forward.
Raphael signed dozens—maybe a hundred.
Jessica signed too, drawing little hearts on some of the joint photos.
One girl looked like she was about to faint from happiness.
The short red carpet took them a full twenty minutes.
By the time staff gently reminded them they had to move inside, the photographers had taken thousands of shots.
They waved one last time to the screaming fans and stepped into the theater.
Inside the lobby it was a whole different circus.
Dozens of media outlets were already waiting, cameras and mics ready.
The second Raphael and Jessica stepped onto the interview platform, the questions started flying.