Can I have this dance

*Allessandro*

"Benvenuto Signore." Magalang na pagbati ng isang lalaki pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan. Nasa Italy ako ngayon kasama si Alana at nasa harap ako ngayon ng Ceilo hotel. Pag aari ito ng isa sa mga kakilala ko sa negosyo. Actually pauwi na sana kami ng Pilipinas kaya lang may biglang tumawag sa akin last night and he insisted me to attend to a ball. My father was born here in Italy, napadpad lang siya sa Philippines dahil nabihag ng isang dalagang Pilipina ang puso niya. He met my mom in Italy when she was on vacation here. At simula noong araw na nakita niya si mom ay hindi na niya ito hinayaang makawala pa. Sinundan niya ito sa Pilipinas at nanatili roon ng halos isang buwan. Araw-araw niyang binibisita si mom sa bahay nito. He's persistent because he knows what he really wanted at iyon ay ang mabihag din ang puso ni mom katulad ng ginawa nito sa kaniya. 

Napukaw ang ginawa kong pagbabalik tanaw sa nakaraan nang makita ang paglabas ni Alana sa sasakyan. She's wearing her black gown, and it fits perfectly on her. Her beautiful curves were showing. I can't deny it, I have a stunning wife. Napangiti ako sa isiping iyon.

"Did you forget something?" Suplado kong tanong sa lalaki bago ko inabot sa kaniya ang car key para dalhin sa parking area ang Lamborghini ko.

Napatingin siya sa akin.

"Pardon, Signore?" He said humbly.

"Greet my wife." Utos ko.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya ng laway. Maybe I made him anxious.

Do I look like a monster?

"Benvenuta Signora." Magalang niyang pagbati kay Alana.

Ngumiti naman ang maganda kong asawa.

She's really beautiful and fascinating.

Teka lang, ano bang nangyayari sa akin?

Parang kailan lang ay sobra-sobra ang pagsisisi ko na pinakasalan ko siya. She's a stranger and I never trust any of them. Well, I never trust anyone except for myself and my actions.

Marahan kong hinawakan ang kamay niya at tuluyan na kaming pumasok sa loob ng eleganteng hotel. I hate any occasions. I didn't want to be with a lot of people. It's very disturbing. But I have no choice. I am the leader of Blue Knuckles and I have to face people every second of my life. It's a big responsibility. 

We have a lot of businesses around the world, and I'm the one responsible for managing them. I'm everyone's boss.

Mariing nakatingin sa akin si Alana. 

Maybe she's wondering why I have to hold her hand.

Is she feeling nervous?

I felt that her hand was a bit cold.

Maybe I made her uncomfortable, but I can't let her walk alone.

"Are you okay?" I asked her and stop walking for a minute.

She looked at me. She looked directly into my eyes.

Oh dear! Her eyes are very dangerous.

It has some magic that I don't know what it's called.

No No, I'm Allessandro Castellucio. No one will have the power to make me weak inside. 

Umiling pa ako ng bahagya.

"I'm fine. Do you really need to hold my hand?" She was asking, and I knew she wanted to hear the answer immediately.

"Did you forget one thing, little angel?" I whispered.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya nang maramdaman ang hanging nagmumula sa bibig ko.

"Yes. You're my husband; you don't have to remind it." She answered shortly.

I chuckled.

Do I have to be with this conceited woman?

If it's not because of my mom's death wish. Napabuga ako ng hangin.

She's getting on my nerves.

"I'm your husband, and you have to follow my rules. I hope everything is clear to you now." I said empathetically.

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm only married to you because I have to and one thing I want to clarify to you. You didn't own me. I hope everything is clear to you now." Nakataas ang kilay niyang sabi.

Seriously? She's talking to me like I'm not a mafia boss.

Magsasalita pa sana ako subalit mabilis na siyang humakbang palayo sa akin. 

Naiwan akong natitigilan. Hindi ako makapaniwala na may isang babaeng hahamak sa pagkatao ko. I'm a man with dignity and honor. How could she treat me like I was an ordinary man?

And where the hell is she going?

Bago pa mawala sa paningin ko si Alana ay mabilis na akong humakbang para sundan siya. Hindi ordinaryong mga tao ang nasa ball. They are members of Blue Knuckles, and I don't want my wife to be in trouble.

Hindi yata alam ni Alana ang good manners na sinasabi.

Kung sinu-sino ang bumati sa akin nang tuluyan na akong makarating sa lugar kung saan dinaraos ang isang ball. Patuloy sa pagmamasid ang mga mata ko. Halos limang minuto na akong walang tigil sa paghahanap kay Alana ay hindi ko pa rin siya makita. Inuubos talaga ng babaeng ito ang pasensiya ko.

I'm starting to get angry and if it happens, I don't know what disaster I could cause to this ball.

I clenched my jaw just like my fist.

I have to control my temper, but Alana is trying to wake the devil inside me.

"Alle! I'm so glad that you're finally here. Are you going back here for good?" Masiglang bati ni Marcello.

Tinapik ko lamang siya sa balikat saka nagpatuloy sa paghahanap kay Alana.

"Looking for a baby girl?" Pilyong wika ni Marcello.

Nakasunod pa rin pala siya sa akin. He's my cousin, and he's the one managing our family business here in Italy. We have a 100-hectare grape farm and we also have our own wine manufacturer here. 

Malapit kami sa isa't-isa simula noong mga bata pa lamang kami. Marcello is my perfect buddy. Kasama ko siya sa lahat na yata ng mga kalokohan ko.

Napakamot ako sa batok dahil sa tanong niya.

"I'm looking for my wife." Pagtutuwid ko.

Nakita ko siyang ngumiti.

Did I look like a clown?

"Oh, I forgot that you are already a married man. Alana is not a bad choice; she's the sexiest woman I have ever seen." Mas tinodo pa yata niya ang panunukso.

Kung wala lang kami ngayon sa maraming tao ay sinapak ko na itong mokong kong pinsan.

Kung minsan nakakairita din talaga itong si Marcello. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit marami pa ring babae ang nababaliw sa kaniya.

Napailing ako.

"Shut up your mouth, man!" I said in a very serious tone of my voice.

"There she is!" Marcello almost shouted.

Itinuro pa niya ang kinaroroonan ni Alana.

Napadako roon ang mga mata ko at hindi ko ginusto ang nakita ko.

My wife is eating ice cream inside of this elegant hotel.

Where the hell did she get it?

Well, maybe she went outside.

She's sitting comfortably while licking her ice cream. 

Marami namang wine na available, bakit ice cream pa 'yong trip niya?

Is she hungry?

Wala naman akong matandaan na pinabayaan ko siya pagdating sa pagkain.

I was here standing and kept staring at her. 

Why the fuck she's eating her ice cream in a very sexy way?

Is she doing it naturally? 

Or she's trying to do something?

"Oh, she's not bad. She's stunning even how the way she licks her ice cream." Pilyong komento ni Marcello.

Wala ba talaga itong balak na lubayan ako? Napabuga ako ng hangin.

My wife is stressing me out and my cousin is trying to depress me.

My life is now in hell.

Hahakbang na sana ako nang bigla akong napatigil.

Kailangan ko bang lapitan si Alana?

Ano namang sasabihin ko sa kaniya?

Relax, Allessandro.

Huminga ako ng malalim.

Ilang minuto na akong nakatayo at tila napako yata 'yong mga paa ko o baka dahil hindi ko lang alam kung anong gagawin ko. Natotolero yata ako. 

This is not good.

Maya-maya ay may narinig akong kausap ni Marcello. 

Alam kung tungkol sa negosyo ang pinag uusapan nila. Naririnig ko sila subalit tila liriko iyon ng Korean song. Hindi ko maintindihan.

Siguro dahil nakafucos ako kay Alana. 

And finally, she's done eating her ice cream.

Hahakbang na sana ako patungo sa kinaroroonan niya subalit bigla akong tinawag ni Marcello.

"Mr. Castellucio!" Nakangising bungad ng isang lalaking medyu may katandaan na.

I didn't remember his name, but I'm sure I've already met him.

"I just want to inform you that I'm planning to expand your store in Australia." Nakangiti pa rin siya.

Tumango tango lang ako.

Nasa kay Alana pa rin ang focus ko.

Bakit ba ako nagkaka ganito?

In the first place dapat mas iniisip ko ang mga negosyo ko at ng buong organisasyon ng Blue Knuckles. Hindi dapat ako nagiging distracted sa mga kung anu-anong bagay.

Wait, hindi kung anu-anong bagay lamang si Alana dahil dala dala niya ang apelyido ko. 

"What do you think about my suggestion, Mr. Castellucio?" Iyon na lamang ang narinig ko sa dami ng sinabi ng lalaking Henry pala ang pangalan.

Maybe he's working for the Royal Goblet company.

Nakatanga lamang ako.

I have no idea what to say. 

I think my mind is not working properly.

Napahawak ako sa baba ko.

My beard is getting longer. I have to shave them once I return to the Philippines.

"Mr. Castellucio thinks that your idea is awesome and you have to keep up your good work. Just do it continuously." Si Marcello na ang sumalo sa dapat na role ko.

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag. 

Kahit pala papaano may kuwenta din itong pinsan kong babaero. Magkakasakit yata itong si Marcello kapag walang babaeng kasiping ng isang gabi.

Pagkatapos ng ilan pang minuto ay umalis na rin si Henry.

"Are you going to stare her down like a hawk?" Untag ni Marcello.

"I'm not." I tried to deny it.

Mas lumawak ang ngisi niya.

"Seriously? Try to lie to the whole hell, Alle but not to me." He said sarcastically.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"What are you waiting for? I know your hand is dying to hold her." Tila nanunukso na naman siya. 

I chuckled.

Tama nga ba ang sinasabi ni Marcello?"

"There's a hungry snake. He was staring at a chick. He wanted to eat it, but he was having doubts about whether he could catch it. He's thinking, what if the chick flies away? He was full of hesitation. He was just staring at the chick, then suddenly a hawk came and in the blink of his eyes, the hawk carried away his food. Then he was left with an empty stomach." He stated.

Napakurap ako pagkatapos kong marinig ang sinabi niya. Suddenly my cousin became a noble man.

Parang matatawa ako peru naisip ko 'yong sinabi niya. He had a point.

I have to take what I want immediately. If I don't take it, then it will belong to someone else.

Alana is already carrying my last name, but I still have the thought of losing her if I don't claim her as mine.

Mabilis akong humakbang.

Subalit maagap na hinawakan ni Marcello ang braso ko.

"The hawk is already staring at the chick, man. Look at Mr. Esposito's eyes." He whispered.

Mas lalo akong nagmadali at tinungo ang kinaroroonan ni Alana.

Tumayo siya nang makita ako.

I had the opportunity to hold her at her waist and carry her to the dance floor. Then I started to dance with her.

"Can I have this dance?" I asked her, but I know it's too late because we're already dancing.

I just leave her with no choice.

She's as red as tomatoes.

Is she nervous?

I want to ask her, but I don't know how.

"Where did you buy your ice cream?" I whispered.

Napatingin siya sa mga mata ko.

It felt like she wanted to say something, but she was scared.

"I was bored. That's why I ate it." She answered shortly.

"Really?" Then why didn't you tell me?" I asked again.

"Maybe you want to know how it tastes?" She said, while trying to hide her tiny smile.

"Are you trying to annoy me?" Suddenly, my tone of voice changed to serious.

"I want to go home." She said.

"We will go home soon, but I want to taste how the ice cream tastes." I said mischievously.

Mas lalo yatang namula ang mukha niya.