A query for opaque objects stored within a data store and not currently cached within a cache is received from an application. The query to the data store is passed to the data store, and a handle to memory location is received from the data store at which the data store has temporarily stored a message including the opaque objects. The opaque objects are added to the cache by treating the memory location as a cache entry for the opaque objects. Cache metadata for the cache entry is generated, and along with the handle is stored within a metadata cache entry of a metadata cache structure separate from the message. The handle and the cache metadata can be returned to the application, where the cache metadata can be returned as an opaque context of the cache entry.