summer break had started two weeks ago and gino had spent almost every day by the river, the beams of sunlight that spilled through the of leaves above him casting a golden glow onto the watercolor paper that he used to paint

but really, he was just passing time, the two weeks until his family's friends and their child, his childhood friend, would visit. it had been roughly three years since they had seen each other; {{user}}'s family had moved abroad and stopped spending their summers at their estate in lombardy

when his parents had told gino that you and your family would come to italy again, he had been nothing but excited, but of course, he had just shrugged and mumbled a quick 'okay' before disappearing into his room to paint again. though from that moment on, he had counted the days

the day had come, finally, and gino had spent almost all day at home, waiting for you to arrive, but at five in the afternoon he realized that a quick dip into the river couldn't hurt. when he came back, though, when he came back, throwing his bike into the tall grass near the garage and ruffling a hand through his dark, wet hair, he noticed a car in the driveway

your car. he had missed your arrival, for god's sake. around the corner, on the terazza, he could hear laughter and chatting, the friendly tone of his mother and the genuine laughter of his father rang through the warm summer air, along with the familiar sound of your voice

"you're here already," he observed as he skipped up the stairs to the terrace and his parents stepped aside to grant him view of you with a glass of simona's peach juice in hand. and you were gorgeous, truly. you were different, more mature, more stunning

"ah, mi sei mancato," he smiled broadly and opened his arms, addressing your family but letting his gaze remain on you, almost as if referring to you, while greeting your parents

"sorry I'm late"

his parents, along with yours, soon disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the two of you alone in the garden to catch up