A Smile Called Home

Luca… Luca…”

A familiar voice echoed, distant at first-- Then closer, warmer, calling me back.

My eyes slowly fluttered open. I was lying beneath a tree, in the middle of a wide, sunlit field. A gentle breeze brushed against my face. This place… I knew it. Home.

Blinking away the haze of sleep, I looked up— My vision blurred for a moment, shapes soft and shimmering. Then I saw him.

Kenny. Standing over me, arms crossed, wearing that familiar scowl.

I squinted at him, my voice dry. “…Kenny?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Oi—what do you mean Kenny? Don’t tell me you forgot already.” He huffed, clearly annoyed. “I told you yesterday—we’re heading to the neighboring town today, remember? I’ve got work there. You agreed to come with me. I’ve been looking all over for you, and here you are… just napping under a damn tree.”

I sat up slowly, stretching my arms overhead as a yawn escaped me. “…Oh. Sorry, I forgot.”

Kenny shook his head in disbelief. “Are you serious, man?”

I rubbed the back of my neck and gave him a faint smile. “I dunno… I just… it felt like I had this really long dream.” My voice trailed off as I stared at the sky above. “I feel… exhausted.

Kenny’s expression softened a bit, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What kind of dream, Luca?”

I closed my eyes, letting the breeze wash over me. “…I don’t really know. People I’ve never met. Places I’ve never been. I can’t remember any of it clearly. But it felt like… it lasted a lifetime.”

Kenny stared at me for a moment, then snorted. “Yeah, well--dream or not, you should stop lazing around. You’re eighteen now, y’know. Time to think about earning some coin.”

I grinned, lying back under the shade. “Just a little longer…”

“Tch. What’s wrong with you,” Kenny muttered, but after a beat, he flopped down beside me anyway.

I glanced sideways at him, a peaceful smile tugging at my lips. “Isn’t it nice though? Just… listen to the wind. Feel the breeze. What a beautiful day. Makes you wanna thank God you’re still alive.”

Kenny rolled his eyes but eventually closed them, letting out a content sigh. “Here you go again… But yeah… it does feel pretty damn good.”

Before long, his breathing slowed as he drifted to sleep beside me.

I poked his shoulder. “Kenny… Kenny. Oi, wake up.”

He mumbled, half-asleep. “Ten more minutes, please…”

I snorted. “Weren’t you the one scolding me about lazing around?” I shook him a little rougher this time.

He shot up with a jolt. “What the hell!?”

I laughed, pushing myself up to my feet and extending a hand to him. “Come on, Kenny. Let’s go.”

Grumbling under his breath, he grabbed my hand, and we started walking together through the golden fields toward our village.

When the familiar rooftops came into view, a strange feeling stirred deep in my chest— Like I was seeing it all again for the first time after years away.

As we strolled into the heart of the village, Granny Marcy called out from her garden. “Luca, Kenny! Come help me pick a few things from my garden, would you?”

Kenny raised an eyebrow. “Granny Marcy, we’re actually heading to the—”

I smacked the back of his head before he could finish. He glared at me. “What was that for?”

I turned toward Granny Marcy with a smile. “We’ll help you, Granny. What do you need?”

Kenny sighed, resigning himself. “Fine… yeah, we’ll help.”

Granny Marcy beamed. “Good boys. Come along, then.”

We followed her through the garden gate, As we approached, Grampa Levi straightened up from his crouch in the garden, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. His voice boomed out across the field, louder than necessary-- “Luca! Kenny! That you boys over there?”

I smiled. Yup--same old Levi Gramps. Loud as ever because his ears hardly worked anymore.

Granny Marcy stepped forward, cupping her hands around her mouth. “I brought them to help us!” she called out.

Grampa Levi blinked, squinting at her. “Eh? What did you say, Marcy?”

“I said--I BROUGHT THEM TO HELP US!!” she repeated, louder this time.

Grampa Levi frowned, tilting his head. “Hahhh?? Speak up, woman, I can’t hear a thing you’re saying!”

Granny Marcy threw her arms up, stomped over, and planted herself right next to his ear. Then she bellowed so hard the pumpkins probably rattled: “THEY’RE HERE TO HELP US, YOU DEAF OLD MAN!!”

Grampa Levi blinked a few times… Then grinned wide, nodding.

“Ah! Got it. Got it.” He chuckled, completely unbothered by the shouting.

Turning to us, he clapped his big, calloused hands together with a thump. “Alright boys! We’re harvesting all these pumpkins today. Tomorrow’s the Harvest Festival, and these bad boys are going into the soup! Good stuff, eh?”

Kenny and I glanced at each other and burst into laughter. We both shouted back just as loud so Grampa Levi wouldn’t miss it-- “Yes, it’s going to be delicious!!”

Grampa Levi’s chest rumbled with laughter. “AHAHAHAHA! That’s the spirit! Let’s get to work, boys!”

As we started picking and piling up pumpkins, Granny Marcy went back into her cottage. By the time we finished, she returned with bowls in her hands.

“I made some tomato soup for you three. Come, eat.”

We sat under the shade, sipping the warm, tangy soup. The aroma was comforting; every spoonful tasted like home.

Afterward, we loaded the harvested pumpkins into a wooden trolley for tomorrow’s festival. As we finished up, Grampa Levi waved us off with a grin.

“Thank you, boys! You worked fast. Take a pumpkin each as thanks.”

Kenny and I shook our heads, smiling.

“We’ll come back later for them—we’re off to the neighboring town for work.”

We said it loud so he could hear, and he laughed heartily.

Granny Marcy smiled warmly at us as we left. “You’re such good boys, Luca, Kenny…”

As we walked down the village path toward the distant road, I took a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs.

“…Man, that tomato soup was good,” I muttered to myself.

Kenny glanced sideways at me. “You really can’t say no to anyone, can you?”

I smiled, eyes softening. “Of course I can’t.” As we walked toward the village entrance, we spotted Ms. Leefa — a middle-aged woman known for selling fruits and vegetables in the village. Her produce was always top quality, and she sold them cheap. Whenever she had a good harvest, she’d even give some away for free.

Right now, though, she looked worried, glancing side to side as if searching for something.

As we approached her, I asked, “Ms. Leefa, is something wrong?”

She turned to us, concern written on her face. “Koroni, my kitty… she ran off this morning and hasn’t come back since.”

Then, almost hesitantly, she asked, “If you two aren’t busy, could you help me look for her?”

Kenny scratched the back of his head. “Actually, we’re going to the neighbori—”

Before he could finish, I kicked him square in the backside. “Ouch! What’s wrong with you?”

I smiled at Ms. Leefa. “We’ll help you find Koroni, Ms. Leefa.”

She smiled gently. “It’s fine if you have other things to do—”

I cut her off quickly, grinning. “No, no, it’s fine! We’ll help. We’re helping, okay?”

I shot a look at Kenny. He sighed, shoulders dropping. “Alright, alright, we’re helping…”

Ms. Leefa’s smile brightened. “Thank you so much, Luca, Kenny.”

We roamed all around the village in search of Koroni.

“Hey,” Kenny said, snapping his fingers, “isn’t Koroni that white cat always hanging around Ms. Leefa’s grocery stall?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one.”

Kenny furrowed his brow, thinking. “I think I saw him earlier today when I was looking for you… but I can’t quite remember where… hmm…”

While Kenny was lost in thought, a white cat suddenly appeared behind us.

“Oi, Kenny--isn’t that the cat we’re looking for?”

Kenny’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s it!” He rushed toward the cat.

Koroni darted out of the way, and Kenny crashed to the ground face-first. The cat quickly scrambled up a nearby tree, perching high on a branch.

“Oh, for god’s sake… no,” Kenny groaned, pushing himself up. “I’m not climbing that tree.”

I stepped forward, cracking my knuckles. “Alright, alright—I’ll climb. Just get ready to catch me if I fall.”

Kenny blinked. “What do you mean catch you? You’re a full-grown guy—how the hell am I supposed to catch you?! Wait—Luca!!”

I didn’t wait. I was already halfway up the tree, inching toward the branch where Koroni sat.

Smiling awkwardly, I cooed, “Kuroni-chan… come here, come here… I’ve got some fish for you…”

Kenny called up from below. “What are you doing, Luca? Just grab it--stop acting like some creepy old man up there!”

“Shut up,” I muttered, carefully inching closer to the cat.

I finally managed to grab it--just as the branch let out a sharp creak.

Kenny’s voice rang out. “Luca--OI!!”

The branch snapped. I fell, cat in hand, crashing straight onto Kenny.

Groaning, I sat up, rubbing my back. “Ugh… my butt… damn…”

“Luca! Get off me! Ugh—that hurt!” Kenny growled under me.

“Sorry, sorry.” I scrambled to my feet, only to look at my hands… the cat was still there.

I smiled--just as Koroni sprang up, clawed my face, and bolted away again.

“KENNNNNY!!!!”

 I shouted. “Catch that cat!” We dashed off, chasing the little devil all around the village. After what felt like ages, we finally cornered him by the old well. Kenny lunged, and this time, Koroni didn’t escape. Breathing heavily, we both stood there, the white cat wriggling in my arms but finally caught.

With tired steps, we made our way back to Ms. Leefa’s stall, the cat squirming less and less as we walked.

When she saw us approaching, her face lit up. “Oh! You found her!”

I handed Koroni over carefully. “Here you go, safe and sound.”

Ms. Leefa gently took the cat into her arms, cradling her close. Then, looking down at Koroni, she spoke in a soft but firm voice, “Koroni… apologize to Kenny and Luca for all the trouble you caused them, hmm?”

She stroked the top of the cat’s head lovingly. “My good girl… you gave us all quite the scare.”

Koroni blinked slowly, let out a soft meow, then turned her head away from us, completely uninterested.

Ms. Leefa chuckled softly at her attitude, then looked back up at us. “I hope Koroni didn’t cause you boys too much trouble.”

I panted, wiping sweat from my brow. “Hmm… she definitely gave us some serious trouble.”

“I almost died!” Kenny exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

Ms. Leefa smiled warmly, holding Koroni close. “Thank you so much, both of you. Come with me--I have something for you.”

Kenny started, “Actually, we--”

I elbowed him sharply. “Shhh. We’re getting a reward for our hard work. Shut up.”

Kenny sighed, defeated. “Alright, alright…”

We followed Ms. Leefa to her grocery stall. She pointed at a basket filled with shiny, ripe button berries.

“These button berries are in season right now—we had a great harvest. Take as much as you want, both of you.”

I grinned at Kenny. “See? Nice reward, huh?”

Kenny smiled back. “Yeah… that’s really nice.”

We each grabbed handfuls of berries, stuffing them into our pockets, then finally set off again toward the village gate.

As we walked back, I popped one of the sweet button berries into my mouth, pulling them out from my pocket one by one.

“Sweet, isn’t it, Kenny?” I asked, glancing at him.

Kenny gave me a tired look, shaking his head with a small grin. “Bro, you sure are something else.”

At the moment

Some village kids ran up to Kenny and me, panicked after letting Mr. Will’s sheep escape into the woods. We couldn’t just leave them, so we helped gather every last sheep and got them back safely. As the kids ran off smiling, Kenny teased me for being “too nice.” I just shrugged and told him I help people because I want to -- not because I’m stupid.

Kenny sighed dramatically. “Geez…” He waved his hand. “Let’s just head out.”