The metal ping of Euros hitting a tin can sounded off in the small apartment bedroom. Feliciano sighed and took a step away from the wardrobe to get a good look at himself in the rusting metal framed mirror. Dark circles settled under his eyes, of which was to be expected on a 20-year-old waiter working three shifts at the local bar "Caffè Nero."
Feliciano stretched his arms high above his head, hearing every upper body joint crack. It was amazing how exhaustion added age to his usual youthful appearance. His olive skin, just a year ago had a sunglow, but it had dulled over time. His auburn hair hung in front of his coffee colored eyes. Feliciano studied his own face while he ran a hand through the mess on top of his head. He really needed a haircut, but with tips coming in as slow as they were, taming the mane just wasn't in the cards.
He unbuttoned his white collared shirt and threw it in the corner along with the other dirty clothes that needed to be washed. The thought crossed his mind that it was time to do laundry, but sleeping sounded more appealing.
His eyes traveled down to his bare torso, and he slid a hand over his belly button. The Italian had gotten a bit skinnier as well. Eating wasn't his number one priority either. He ate when he could, but he was young, able to live off of little to no food and get through the long night shifts.
Feliciano slowly turned around and looked at the mattress with the single pale yellow sheet lying on top of it, on the floor. As he dragged himself to lie on the makeshift bed, his thoughts went to the beautiful summers at the villa. Him and his brother playing soccer in the field, while his grandfather worked on his boats. Those were the best days of his life, but there was no point in thinking about them now. It was as if it was a separate existence, almost a dream on the brink of being forgotten.
He tried to imagine the sweet smell of grass when he missed the ball, tripped and landed face first onto the ground. This used to be a common occurrence when he played with his brother. While sprawled out on his mattress could remember Lovino's voice in his memories quite clearly.
- - -
"You gotta' keep up fratello!" the dark haired boy laughed and showed off, bouncing the soccer ball back and forth on his knees.
"You've been playing longer than me Lovino," Feliciano lifted himself off of the ground and attempted to rub the grass stains out if his shorts.
"That's no excuse," the older brother started to bounce the ball on his head over and over again, smiling triumphantly.
"Show off," Feliciano grinned and hit the ball off course. Lovino pushed him back onto the ground. "I could have broken my record," he sat down next to his younger brother on the grass. They both laughed, but it gradually died away after a few minutes causing a comfortable silence.
"What's going to happen when we grow up?" Feliciano broke the moment of stillness, looking up at the bright blue sky.
"What are you talking about Feli? I'm already grown up! I'm nineteen years old," Lovino crossed his arms and looked over at his brother.
"Yes but... have you ever wanted to explore what's beyond this countryside?" Feliciano's voice became dreamy and almost far away.
"Not really. I'm just fine here; chasing the girls around the village and kicking your ass at soccer," Lovino pushed his shoulder playfully. Feliciano knew he would say something along those lines. His older brother was most likely going to stay here and help their grandfather with fishing. He expected that he'd never leave.
"Well I want to go one day. I would love to see the snow in Russia, or the deserts of Egypt. Wouldn't that be fantastic?" Feliciano closed his eyes and leaned back onto the soft grass. The older Italian seemed uninterested, but didn't say anything and lied back as well. "Next year, when I turn eighteen, I'm moving to the city," he continued.
"What the hell? No you're not Feliciano. What city are you even talking about anyway? It's one thing to dream but you have to stay here," Lovino almost pleaded in panic.
"Why? There's nothing more for me here. I want to see more places, I'm sure I could make it on my own."
"You can hardly handle a soccer ball, how do you expect to handle the city? Plus, what do you think you're going to do once you get there?" His signature 'older brother protective qualities' were beginning to kick in.
"I'm not sure. I'll get a job and start a life, if I don't like that life… then I'll just move somewhere else and start over," Feliciano looked over at his brother, who had a mix of worry and anger written on his face.
"Well- well what about getting married huh? You expect to find some city girl out there? She won't give a little country boy a single thought!" Lovino was starting to raise his voice in fear.
"Maybe that's true. I don't know. I'm not looking for love though, I'm looking for adventure," Feliciano got up and made his way over too the soccer ball. "Now come on, I need to get as good as you fratello!" He smiled and kicked the ball to Lovino as he lifted himself up as well.
Lovino gave a smirk and started to run with the ball across the widespread field. "I highly doubt that will happen at the rate you're going Feli," he laughed.
Laughter turned into an obnoxious beeping sound in Feliciano's ear. Half asleep and blindly searching for the source of the sound he hit the alarm clock on the floor. "Time for work Speranza," the Italian muttered as his fat brown cat sat next to him on the bed. The cat purred and nuzzled against his face. "Well I'm glad you're excited," the brunette chuckled and scratched behind his ears.
"I suppose you want breakfast then, hm?" he reluctantly got up from the mattress to get ready for the day. He had another long couple of shifts ahead of him.