Once Lester and Benxamin arrived at their lodging place with the lilies to go together with Victor to the island's cemetery, Mira stopped them for a moment to speak alone with her son. She thought about making several important determinations about what she would do with Lester in case she couldn't be with him much longer than her oncologist estimated - if the surgery was successful. The twins, meanwhile, were waiting in their room.

“I need us to be honest, Lester. Do you want to study at the university or not? Because if you're not interested, at least I ask you to look for a job while you think about what you're going to do with your life.” Mira said coldly, but with something in mind to play a little with her son's feelings.

“I would like to be a filmmaker or at least try to write stories.”

“Do you want to be a filmmaker or do you at least want to write stories? Ok, but do you know how you're going to do it? Have you tried on your own to find a university or institute where they teach that? Do you think your parents will do everything for you?”

“There is a film academy but it is in another city, I have decided that I will look for another closer option. I know there is an institute although it is not that popular, also when dad is not with you I don't want to leave you alone. I promise I won't let you down. There is nothing to worry about.”

“Isn't there anything to worry about? Well, your father and I are worried about your future. This isn't decided like some stupid dream. Be realistic,” she said.

“I am, mom. I want to achieve something by myself. And if I have to work every day, I'll do it to prove it to you,” affirmed him.

Mira gave a hostile smile to show her approval; “okay, but if it doesn't go your way, have a plan B in mind. We're not going to take care of you for life.”

Lester's eyes sparkled, his mother accepted his wish but it was obviously not what she wanted. 

“If this doesn't work, I'll definitely do what you ask and mom,... ” he said as if he had a lump in his throat.

“Tell me.”

“Victor told me that he like me and the same thing happens to me too.”

The commander left her mask of coldness and became his mother and friend.

“I'm happy for you, dear. You have to tell me all the details.”

***

The Dautt brothers, for their part, had a long talk in which Victor finally told Benxamin his shameful confession.

“You suspected it then, but even so, you're still a magician reading people's minds, that should be considered an invasion of privacy,” he said jokingly.

“I'm not a magician. I only made your way easier by making the painting of our mother. Without me, you two wouldn't have been able to do anything intelligent, you should be grateful to me.” Benxa manifested pretending to be idolized.  

“As you say,... Mr. Perfect and thanks for what you did.”

“I'm not, dear Victor, but I'm close to it, once I get over my fear of magenta and you're welcome, she was gorgeous.”

Then he abruptly changed the subject. “Well, Mrs. Haydar thinks she's going to die soon.  I'm worried about Lester.”

Victor stopped smiling, looked away from Benxamin, and confessed something else.

“I'm making money, but I won't tell you what I'm doing. Although I want to quit soon.”

“I guess fine and… what does this have to do with Mrs. Haydar?” he asked his brother that he was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Benxamin didn't sympathize with people's feelings, but Mira affected him to the point of taking it personally.

“I thought… ” Victor continued, “... if I could work like I'm doing, I could help you and Lester… ”

“What are you doing Victor?” Benxamin asked, interrupting him.

“His family spent a lot of money on us. I love his parents, James was much more supportive than August. Mira is a strong woman who has been by our side all this time. I don't want Lester to go through the same thing as us,” his brother replied, evading the question.

“Is it something illegal?”

“I... ” 

“You once told Lester that you would always be honest, well, not in these terms, but you get what I mean. Haven't you considered what his parents, Lester or I would think if we knew what you're involved with?” Benxamin said, raising his voice.

“Benxamin... ”

“It is dangerous? Victor, tell me once!”

Victor felt more and more pressured by Benxamin's attitude and was forced to tell the truth. “I work for an illicit drug dealer and smuggler, but I don't do the same as him. He hired me as a translator to help him negotiate with his clients because,… shit, we speak several languages, brother. I don't know how that old man knows about you and Stella. I a-also accepted because when I earned more and more money I thought about helping Lester's mom and... James has a big debt in a bank. Look at me man, I h-have no way to help anyone but with that damn job. Benxamin... you know,... ”

“Hmm, what an unoriginal sermon. Don't play the hero by helping others. And if something happens to you and I don't see you again? What am I going to tell Lester or his parents? I hate that you underestimate others and risk your life for us.  Don't decide for them or for me!” Benxa expressed his brother with enormous anger within him.

Benxamin seriously considered hitting Victor, but controlled himself without making a fuss. He never got angry like this, but being the person he loved the most after his mother, he couldn't help but feel disappointed by all this.

Both boys left their room, for the first time in Victor's life, Benxamin was so enraged that he seriously considered not speaking to him again for the rest of the trip. Lester was waiting for them with the bouquets of lilies, the twins took the flowers and pretended that everything was fine so as not to worry him. But the young man was no fool, and Victor's behavior gave him away almost immediately when he walked away from them.

They walked down a cobbled street in the direction of the cemetery. After half an hour of walking they finally arrived. The brothers didn't believe in a superior being.  They stopped doing so over time, but visiting their mother's grave became their only space for closeness with her.

Lester looked at the tombstone and whispered. “This will sound silly, but I'll do what I can to make them happy.”

Benxamin was still upset with his brother but he didn't let it ruin the plans they had in mind.

“Ok, we're going to see mom's house.”

“Yes, let's do it.” Lester said.

Victor remained silent.

But to the twins' surprise, the two-story frame house with huge windows and arched doors, beautifully decorated with vibrant colors on the blue-hued walls, was demolished who knows how long ago to be replaced by a motel with neon lights at the entrance. The security guard of the place asked them to leave because they were too young to be there.

“This was not what I expected,” Victor finally spoke.

Lester gave a half smile as if to kill the tension, but seeing Benxamin's distant look, he thought it better not to do or say anything rash. So Victor led the following activity, he asked the guys to go to Starfish islet to travel from there to his mother's birthplace - which was not far away.

Benxamin nodded curtly, pretending their adventure had hit a bit of a hiccup. The maternal house existed in his memories, that was the only thing that mattered to him, but he also did it so that Lester wouldn't feel uncomfortable at any time. He had taken it as a duty, not as a motivation, being the brother, friend and according to him, one of the bunch.

The young people bought some snacks near the pier and rented a motorized canoe. The gas tank was half full, but with enough capacity to use it for several hours of travel. If they did not accept it, days could go by without another canoe being available.

Victor continued his lead as he remembered the route well - due to his sweet moment with Lester - and before long, they arrived at their first destination, Starfish.

“Ok… so this is the plan, we will go to The Rainbow beach.  Do you remember we used to go with mom on vacations, Benxamin?  From there, to the island where she was born. The trip is much shorter,” said Victor.

“Do you have any navigation ideas?” Benxa asked his brother coldly.

“Well, we traveled here without anyone's help. The weather is great. Let's not waste the opportunity.”

“I don't know,” Benxamin hesitated. “If I accepted that you lead the canoe, it's because as a child you learned to use it thanks to mom, but we've only been to that island twice.”

“Hey! I talked to a guide yesterday and he gave me instructions. We can be there in no time, no more than 15 minutes.”

“It's not far, is it?” Lester asked.

“Yeah, look, look, it's there. You can even see the tallest buildings,” Victor pointed to a large, easily visible island.

“It's...! Let's go now!” said Lester.

“Yep, and Benxamin, we'll be back before dinner time, I promise.”

“Hmm,... but make it quick. Let's not waste any more time,” his brother expressed.

Benxamin noticed that the birds were flying lower than normal. He wondered if it was important to tell Victor, the self-proclaimed leader of the small ship.