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It's just another day for Livio.
The sun shines warmly on his bruised skin, and the chattering birds distract him from the hunger twisting his stomach.
Scrambling around the forest, the young boy is looking for some berries, edible ones. The last berries he picked made his tummy aches in a very unpleasant way. But it hurts more when Mummy ignores him writhing in pain.
Anyways it has been very very very unpleasant, and Livio really doesn't want to repeat that experience.
‘Oh, the birds are flocking at the bush! Something that can eaten!’ Livio is filled with glee as he spotted the flock of birds, delighted at the idea of having something to eat for the day.
The boy internally cheers as he rushed forward, but in his excitement at the vague promise of food, he fails to notice the uneven ground, and the tiny, silver haired boy ends up tumbling down the slope hill, comically, like a tumbleweed.
BANG!
With a loud collision with something hard, his fall is broken. Something else is probably broken too but Livio's young mind doesn't really care, it just his nose throbbing, not a big deal. He dealt with worse.
Someone groaned in pain, it's not Livio.
The something hard the child collided with earlier, turns out to be another child. The kid has his back turned towards Livio, as he curls into himself, obviously in pain from their earlier collision.
Hesitantly, Livio reaches out to the whimpering brunette.
“Urm, I'm sorry… are you okay?”
Hearing Livio's voice, the boy stops whimpering and snarls as he whips around, anger on his face. Mouth opens wide to yell, but he stopped midway as he takes in Livio's appearance, which confuse Livio.
More confusing when the boy's face morphed into one of the looks the villagers often gave him from afar, a look that somehow made the small boy feel smaller.
“Hey are you alright?” The boy asks Livio in turn.
“Huh? Why wouldn't I be okay?” Right on cue, he feels something warm dripping from his nose, which he instinctively wipes off because ewww snot.
Except his snot is red.
Bright red.
Huh.
Livio ends up being dragged by the brunette to a large house, one far exceeding Livio's own house, just further up the hill. Livio never realizes there is a house there.
“Mamma! Mamma! Mamma!” The boy repeatedly screamed for his mother, making Livio winces at the loudness, and very nervous because if Livio ever screams for Mama like that-
Hearing the brunette loud yells, an adult woman rushes out of the house, frantic from who Livio assumed as her son's screams.
“Gion! What's wrong mio caro figlio?”
Livio recognizes the last part as Italian. Papa used to call him that, before he never returned.
The lady with hair as brown as her son, scans her eyes wildly over the brunette. Gazes intense and focusing only on the child, ignoring the world.
No, it is as if the child is her world.
How nice, Livio is envious.
“Mamma, look at him! He is hurt, can you help him?” The request makes the adult woman turn sharply at Livio, making the boy flinch and take a step back, but not so far back as his hand is still entertwined with his new friend(?).
Like a switch flipped, the sharp looks on her face melted into a softer, gentler one, like how Mama used to be.
“Oh dear, you are hurt. I'm Regina, Gion's mother. Let you get treated shall we?” With a soft smile, she offers a hand to Livio's unoccupied hand.
With a nod of encouragement from who now Livio known as Gion, the silver haired child, dressed in dirty garbs, receives the hand of the beautiful lady radiating elegance.
After the day, Livio finds himself frequently at the house, or in the vicinity of it. The large two story house, a cottage, has a small garden next to it. Which eventually becomes the playground for Livio, Gion, and Gion's toddler sister, Gina.
Everyday is full of fun and laughter and warm foods made by Mrs Regina.
Livio loves it more than the cold house with bottles laying around haphazardly, but he misses his own Mama.
One day, after a fun day gallivanting around the garden and having a fruit platter as snacks, Livio was pulled aside by Mrs Regina.
She asked where his bruises come from.
He tells her it was from when Mama gets upset, but it's okay because Mama will get better.
One day, Mama will get better, Livio sincerely believes so, but why did he have to keep telling himself this?
Mrs Regina looks upset, but she quickly ushered Livio off, to continue playing tag with Gion and Gina.
He complies.
The next morning, Mrs Regina comes to his house, carrying a basket of baked goods. Livio hesitates to let her enter, since Mama is still sleeping like she always did, but Mrs Regina promises she wouldn't do anything bad.
Livio opens the door.
“Gion! Wake up! It's half past seven already! Remember your appointment at nine!” Gion groans as he is woken up by Livio's loud scream from outside the door.
From the sound of steps moving from the door, it seems like Livio has walked away.
Gion tries to go back to sleep, yet when slumber begins to lull him back to dreamland, Livio returns. This time with more incessant knocking.
“GET UP GION! GET UP! UP! UP! UP! UP!”
Gion winced at the loudness. He may be half deaf but Livio's volume is so loud it is as if Gion is wearing his hearing aid.
Reluctantly and irritatedly, Gion wakes up, but not without yelling back at Livio.
“I'M UP! STOP IT BEFORE YOU BRING THE WHOLE HOUSE DOWN!” The knocks stops but the laughter that erupts from Livio further irritates the brunette. But before he can do anything, Livio walks away, again.
‘For good riddance.’ If Mamma hasn't trained the habit out of him, Gion will be rolling his eyes at Livio's audacity.
Looking at the time, Gion eventually rolls out of bed, the actions tangling his sheets, which he smoothed easily.
Hopping into a quick shower, Gion mentally goes through his schedule for the day. With how the island's ownership is changing hands, there is so much for the young businessman to do, even when Mamma helps to shoulder some of the burden.
All done and dressed for the day, he walks downstairs to the kitchen, following the delicious scent of freshly brewed coffee.
Lounging at the kitchen table is Livio, long legs sprawling as he sips his own cup of caffeine, a letter in his hands, being read by the taller teen.
Gion used to be the tallest amongst the trio until their pre-teen days. It's unfair how fast puberty hits Livio and how much the boy got so much taller and larger than Gion.
Gion can almost hates him for it, but not really.
Making a beeline for the table, where his plate of pancake with savoury eggs is served courtesy of Livio, Gion greets his best friend which is returned with more enthusiasm.
“Letter from Mama Julia?” Gion asks just for the sake of it, as he starts on his breakfast. Receiving a handwritten letter is common in this household, and it always come from the same person, Julia Jones, Livio's mother. After being admitted to a psychiatric rehab years ago, Julia is only able to communicate through letters which she sent every week for Livio.
Livio cherish each and every single one of them, keeping them in a box which Gion knows he kept under his bed.
They also went to visit her monthly, just to note, once she was cleared to receive visitors.
“Hurm? Oh yes. She had been getting better these days. I think having Mr. Bowen around really helps her psyche.”
Mr. Bowen, their family friend, had started off as Mr. Bear. The trio were convinced that the huge presence they saw in the forest was the stocky mammal.
They were scared shitless that day, and never venture into the forest again.
Until the ‘bear’ reachs their front door.
Over the years, he has proven to be a well, quite the nice person. He always brings around freshly baked breads or newly kneaded pasta or recently harvested vegetables. He also brings around quite the selection of children books and makes up elaborate game that thrills the genius in Gion. Gion had suspected he was trying to court Mamma, but later discovered that he is just a very lonely man trying to find companionship and social interaction, and the four of them are the nearest to his own house.
In addition, turns out Mr. Bowen knows Mama Julia, at least acquainted with. Gion doesn't really see her as a mother figure or anything, especially once he is old enough to understand what that woman did to Livio, but the name just stuck around since that is what Livio calls her. In the end, it is Livio's mother, and it is up to Livio on how he wants to deal with it. Gion will support his decision and be there every steps to make sure the older teen wouldn't fall.
Going back to Bowen, when he heard of the rehab program, he admitted himself into one of their counseling program to help with his own problems. Mamma had told Gion that sometimes people need an extra helps with their own problems and it's normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Mamma also told him it's rude to probe into others' personal matters and to curb his curiosity (read: nosiness) but Gion has a personal opinion that if he isn't caught then it's a free game so-
And with that attitude, and Julia's letters, he found out that Mr. Bowen had been talking to Mama Julia for a while now and they are clicking well, it seems. Something like companions in shared misery?
Gion wants to investigate more but Mamma seems like she is catching on so he can only quell his own enthusiasm. Gina finds that hilarious and Livio finds it amusing. Traitors, both of them.
“Good for her.” Gion replies something customary, not really getting into the conversation he initiated.
Livio understand it though, like he always did with Gion's quirks, as he doesn't say more and continue sipping his coffee, which smells extremely good but Gion already exceeded his caffeine intake for the week and Livio, whom sometimes paraded around like he gives birth to Gion, would never allows him even a cuppa. Mannaggia.
They spent their morning in silence, enjoying their breakfast, until Livio suddenly slams down his cup and run upstairs hollering for Gina and something about dance practice.
As the oldest child in a household with a frequent traveller (involuntary) as the only adult, Livio had taken it upon himself to parentify the other two, remembering all their schedules and making sure they eats on time and such, which Gion and Gina are immensely grateful for.
In which Gion will show his appreciation for, by clearing the table, including the unfinished drink of Livio.
Gina yawns as she make her way to the dance studio in town. She isn't much big fans of dancing really, but unfortunately it's a need for her and as much as Gion a good dancer, he isn't really a good teacher especially as it comes naturally to him. Perks of inheriting Mamma's talent as a prima ballerina which conveniently skipped over Gina. Sorrow, sorrow and prayers.
There is also Livio that is very talented with physical activities (and art) but he himself isn't that good with ballroom dances. So a class is it.
(Gina refuses to put more on the two's plates, they had done enough for the family.)
The flowers at the roadside are blooming well. Colorful and smelling wonderful, affecting bees and butterflies and other pollinator species.
It reminds Gina of ten years ago, when they just arrived in Momos. The then four-year-old doesn't really understand what is going on, only that something big happens and the next day the three of them are on a plane bounding to Momosu Island. She is curious but looking at Mamma's tearful expression and Gion's bandaged ear, she hold her tongue.
Later, when she can makes more sense of around her, Gina is eternally grateful for her mother, for daring to leave that abusive environment, bringing the two of them with her. Same can't be said for Papa, but realistically, it will be way harder for him to leave.
Gina kinda miss Papa, but she understands. Maybe someday, they can all be together again, perhaps.
Will it be wrong to wish someone dying just a little bit faster?
“Good morning!” Her thoughts make time move faster and Gina finds herself in front of the studio. She cheerfully greeted the other girls (and boys) there, which is returned with equal enthusiasm as cacophony of ‘morning' greets her back.
“Say Gina, are you planning to attend Poposi Academy?” one of her classmates asks. Poposi Academy for Girls, a female academy built by the island owner in his other island (how rich is this guy?) is opened very recently. Opinions are divided, and in her case…
Gina pretends to hum, deep in thought.
“Maybe not, the school here is up to par, and I will miss my family too much.” Her friend nods in understanding before continuing the conversation with someone else, well aware how close the Zecchino (+ Jones) are.
While it is a reason, it is not the main one.
Gina isn't sure if Mamma will let her go, since the school will have royalties and she doubt Mamma is ready to let them both back to that society.
However, rumors had it that a school for boys will be built here, in Momos, and there will be princes.
So who knows what the future holds.
It feels like anticipating a storm coming.
Whatever happens, Gina hopes her family will be able to stay strong together.