Chapter 100 - Broken toy box

— Stay tuned because today we have a spectacular guest!

— Hey, you'd better turn down the telly. Gi's still asleep!

The girl with her long hair tied up in a bandana pointed her fork at the man in a sweatshirt sitting on the other side of the table.

— But it's lunchtime, he should get up — he replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

— No fighting, otherwise you'll end up waking him up.

— But Gu! Look at him!

The man stuck his tongue out at the girl as he hugged Gustavo's waist.

— Diablo... Don't bother Viola. Haa... And to think that when you first met you seemed to avoid each other, but now you just fight like two children.

— I may be childish since I'm younger, but he's not!

— Little brat.

What a peaceful day.

Rushing into the kitchen when he heard the sound of cooking, Gustavo tried to save the pieces of fried sausage and prevent them from being charred. Sighing with relief that he had managed to switch off the cooker, he could ensure that they ate something digestible.

Well, he'd only popped round to Giovani's flat to prepare his lunch. After all that time, Gustavo had learnt that the detective had a wonderful ability to forget to eat and take care of himself. Sometimes he would come home and just sleep.

It was a great surprise when Gustavo had taken his father and sister to visit the detective and found him about to collapse from exhaustion. Since then Gustavo has volunteered to help look after the house, as a way of repaying him for helping his family after his mum left home.

— That smells good.

— Ah, he's awake.

— Giii! — Viola got off the chair and ran over to the tall man, putting her arms out to jump on his back — Haha, your face is all scrunched up.

— I wanted to sleep more, but you're noisy.

— Sorry, Gi! — Gustavo apologised — Ah, lunch is on the table, sit down and eat.

— Yes sir, yes sir.

With the detective seated at the table, all four of them were able to enjoy their lunch. As expected, Diablo continued to tease Viola just to annoy her, even though Gustavo gave his leg a squeeze.

It was routine for the four of them to be together. Strangely, they got on well.

— "The social networks are in chaos after the profile of the newspaper "O Globo" made a post claiming that Dreamland will finally break its silence and announce its reopening".

The four at the table remained silent, moving on to watch the television programme.

— What?

— They're coming back?

— "Over the last seven years we've seen the park rebuilt, but the new owner has remained silent without commenting on the return of Latin America's largest amusement park. Not even the former employees knew what Dreamland's future would be."

— Seven years... Time has flown by — Gustavo murmured, leaning on the table — Have you heard anything?

— No.

— Just that dreadful letter — Giovani remembered, and the four of them turned to the coffee table in the living room where the black envelope and four entries were — Did your friends get it too?

— Yes, Rafael said he was taking his boys too. I think we'll meet there.

— "According to the official announcement, Dreamland will reopen with the presentation of its second most successful show: Pandora's Box".

That was really something.

For seven years Gustavo had no news of Leonardo and the Dreamland attractions. Even though he visited the park from time to time with Viola, there were no clues as to his whereabouts.

Every now and then the girl would feel sad about being left behind, but soon she would smile and carry on living. Among them, she was probably most anxious about the news.

— Let's get ready. It looks like the road to the park is going to be hell since it's a public holiday.

Viola jumped out of her chair again and ran up to her room. Diablo, on the other hand, gathered up all the dishes and went to do the washing up.

— Will he be all right? — Gustavo murmured with a pout on his lips.

— The guy's lost his memory, so just stay by his side and that'll be enough.

— I accompanied him to Dreamland once, but Diablo said he doesn't remember anything... Haa, I'm worried.

His boyfriend really was a very strange person. When Gustavo met him again in Vicente's office, he just smiled at him and apologised for not remembering his name.

Gustavo was a little embarrassed to admit that he was afraid Diablo was playing a trick and faking amnesia just to get rid of him. Just as ashamed was he to admit his relief at discovering that he had in fact forgotten about himself.

The little information Gustavo gave Diablo about his identity didn't help him remember anything. In the end, Giovani took him into his home at Gustavo's request.

No way was his father going to take in his son's boyfriend. The two of them were sure to fight over the age difference.

— I'm going to get ready for us to go out.

As soon as the detective left the kitchen, Gustavo went up to the tall brunette and hugged him from behind. His eyes reddened, he smiled broadly at his lover.

— Hi. Why are you so quiet?

— Do you think so? — Seeing Gustavo nod, the brunette let out a nasalised laugh — I just have a strange feeling. That place... it's like it's rejecting me.

As expected, when it came to Dreamland, Diablo was strangely quiet. Was he sacked like Gustavo? Well... If he didn't have a family, it's justified that he became attached to his job.

Tightening his embrace, Gustavo placed a kiss on Diablo's neck.

— We're going as a family. Then it's all right.

— Family...

— Where's Gi? Ah... You were doing inappropriate things!

— And you spoilt the mood, you little brat — Diablo growled, splashing water on the girl, who ran out of the kitchen.

— Stop wetting the kitchen — Gustavo scolded, then turned to the girl — He's gone for a shower, are you ready?

— Yes!

A few minutes later, Giovani came out of his room properly dressed. Gustavo felt slightly proud that he had dragged the detective shopping, even though it was Diablo who had chosen the outfits, but that was a mere detail.

So, shortly after two in the afternoon, the four of them were in the car crossing the busy motorway. As expected, just the announcement of Dreamland's sudden return would mean they'd have problems getting there.

On the way, Viola talked about how she went to school and how her friends always waited anxiously for Giovani or Diablo to pick her up.

— They're my friends, so why do they want to see them and not me?

— Because you're ugly — Diablo replied, receiving an ugly look from the girl — It's not my fault I'm attractive.

— Gu! Look at him!

— I want a holiday — muttered Giovani from behind the wheel — I need a holiday, take my place, kid.

Laughing, Gustavo patted the detective on the back. Go ahead.

— I'm sorry, Viola, but Diablo really is very beautiful. Even when we go out, people turn their heads to follow him.

— And you don't get jealous?

— Hm... — Gustavo held up his hand, showing the silver ring on his finger — This here scares a lot of people away, it's my secret weapon.

— Heh, the youngest is really jealous. I should thank my sister-in-law for teaching me how to deal with such jealousy.

It was Gustavo's turn to frown. His sister and her boyfriend got on too well, and they were sure to come up with crazy plans to make Gustavo look bad.

With the mess caused by Viola and Diablo's argument, time flew by before they finally arrived at the park. The huge queue of cars to get into the car park was no joke.

Stepping out of the car, Gustavo took a deep breath, feeling anxious to meet his friends again. It was there that he met the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, that he found his freedom from his personal hell and could dream.

The castle at the entrance was just as he remembered it. Colourful and full of life, welcoming visitors. From there he could already see some costumed staff welcoming people and giving them directions.

— Where's my coat? I always leave one in the car — grumbled Giovani.

— Come on, we need to go before the queue gets any longer.

Giovani begrudgingly closed the car without stopping grumbling about the sudden disappearance of his coat. Before they entered the castle, Viola jumped out in front of the three of them and held out a wrapped parcel to the detective.

— What's wrong?

— Take it.

Giovani looked at the couple, who shook their heads in disbelief. Reluctantly, he took the parcel and opened it to find an impeccably folded sweatshirt.

Viola stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on the detective's cheek, then hugged him tightly.

— Happy Father's Day, Gi!

Petrified on the spot, the detective blinked dazedly, then smiled and hugged the girl. The sweatshirt said "the father of the best ballerina in the world", which matched the blouse Viola was wearing "the ballerina of the best father in the world".

To the couple's surprise, Giovani happily wore the blouse and walked proudly with it through the castle entrance. 

— Miss Viola! — Greeted an employee dressed as a lead soldier — We've been expecting you.

Without further explanation, the employee simply led the group past the queue to buy tickets. Being greeted and guided to the passageway was an exclusive treatment they received and made the other customers look at them curiously.

The employee took them through the turnstiles, using her badge to release their tickets and into the open-air shopping centre. Just as it was before, exquisite and grandiose, shops and shops were already in full swing.

So beautiful.

It didn't seem like he'd seen it for so long.

The employee guided the group to the circus area, where the largest flow of customers was. There, Gustavo recognised several of the people he worked with, the band, Mr Barley, Mrs Dani and many others.

— I'll escort you to your seats. Please hand me your tickets.

— Ah, here — Viola handed over the tickets, receiving a smile from the employee — What's up?

— It's just a pleasure to have you back, Miss Viola.

Although such a welcome seemed strange, the four of them just looked at each other and followed the employee into the circus tent. It was huge and majestic. With its red and white striped colours, the place looked even bigger than before.

The interior had also been remodelled, with more comfortable chairs and a larger stage. Some visitors were already taking their seats, but the employee guided the group to the first row where there was a reserved seating sign.

There, Gustavo met his two other friends and their families.

— Look at the youngest! — Juliano waved.

— Uncle Gu!

— Children, be careful not to fall. Sorry, little one, they like you a lot.

— Haha, it's okay, Rafa.

It was good that his friends hadn't changed so much over the years. I mean, it was surprising that Rafael already had two children, and that Juliano was dating Isabel, Gustavo's sister, but they were still as playful and welcoming as ever.

They all got on well. Even when Gustavo introduced Diablo to them and told them his story, neither of them cut ties with the little boy. Well, at the time they were all more concerned about their other friend's disappearance...

The children had fun playing with Diablo's hair, Giovani chatted to the boys along with Gustavo. They seemed to have travelled back in time.

Towards dusk, the circus lights switched off and the show began.

Everyone's attention was riveted to the entrance of each artist on stage. The music stirred everyone up, making them eager for each act.

The audience went wild when a certain grey-haired magician appeared on stage to perform a series of magic tricks. Even Gustavo almost jumped out of his chair, so happy was he to recognise Ray on stage, smiling and charismatic as ever.

To everyone's amazement, Aslan appeared to assist Ray's tricks. He was taller and his hair was auburn. He had grown so much that Gustavo almost didn't recognise him.

His performance brought the audience to life and they began to look forward to the other performers.

The excitement was even greater when a certain trapeze artist appeared on stage performing a breathtaking aerial act. Dazzling and flexible, Benjin jumped from side to side, making the audience hold their breath and believe that at any moment he would fall to the ground.

As he spun over the audience, he reached out almost touching the hands that were extended towards him.

As beautiful as ever!

For more than an hour, the audience applauded every artist who came on stage. Even the clowns interacting with the audience were well received. It was strange that they all wore masks and disguises, but that must have been part of the story.

At the end of the show, a chap wearing a top hat and holding a crosier appeared on stage, keeping his head down.

— It's...

— Leonardo!

Raising his head, the owner of Dreamland smiled majestically at his audience in a formal greeting.

— Welcome to Dreamland Circus. The show must go on.