"No more buts. Just stay still and shut up" he strictly demanded with his head back to my shoulder.
But I bent down my head to the side to look at his face. And I was transfixed seeing how amazing he looked like up close with his rugged face. "Are you mad?"
"No" he quickly replied as if he's already expecting me to ask that. "I should be mad right now, you slapped into my face that you wanted an annulment flower. But you see? I'm not shouting nor trying to hurt you"
He's holding it back. He's hotheaded but he's good at holding back his anger.
"I'm not sorry, I don't want this marriage. You know that" I look away.
I felt his gray eyes landed on me eyeing me intently so I remain my gaze outside the balcony.
"I want this marriage" he confessed which took me by surprise. "And I don't need your sorry, what I need is you to listen. You've been breaking my laws flower and I've been tolerating you for a long time. This will be my last warning"
<I push the glass door of the coffee shop and step inside. I search Gianni around when suddenly someone held my arm gaining a yelp from me."Hey easy, it's just me Rose" Gianni hurriedly calm me down.I harshly breath out an air and look at him sharply. "You startled me" I exclaimed in a whisper.He flash a gentle smile causing his dimples to get visible and then he put his arm around my shoulder guiding me to walk."I'm sorry" he said in low voice acknowledging his mistake."You better not to do it again, you know how sensitive I am when someone is touching me without a warning" I lecture him.He chuckle sounding a bit guilty while pulling a chair for me before he settle down on the chair across to me."That's why I'm sorry" he smilingly said. "So why do you suddenly want to meet me?"Seeing his eyes with the same shade with mine makes me genuinely happy, because it's one of the best proof that we're family. When Mom died, that
"Vicenzo"He's here? How come? Did... Did Gordon tell him that I'm going to meet Gian?I was about to advance a step towards him despite my stiffened posture when suddenly Gianni grab my arm forbidding me to take even just a single step that made me turn my head on him.Puzzled with what he did. I tilt my head."What are you doing?" I scolded him silently trying to snatched his hand away from me but his grip tighten more earning a low groan of protest from me."Gianni!" I exclaimed but he just glare at me sharply.I was about to pulled my arm from his grip when suddenly Vicenzo held my wrist gently and snatched my arm away from Gian.His familiar manly perfume invade my nostrils causing my face to crinkle. I thought he stop using perfume?Despite with the tension around me, I can't help but to complain as I irritatingly look at Vicenzo who's standing in front of me facing his back."Vicenzo" I called him but then he pull
"Do not move" I whisper while carefully pressing the coton with alcohol exactly at the corner of his lower lip.He hissed and groan softly so I immediately put away the cotton from him and I start blowing his wound. My goodness, he's such a baby."Stop complaining, it's just a small cut" I said examining the cut on his lower lip.It's not that bad though. Compared Giann- Gianni's wound is much alarming. I can still recall the blood on Gianni's nose. I hope someone is treating his wound right now and he's not overthinking about what happen.I know he's going to ask an explanation about it. And thinking about that possibility makes my head throbbed. I don't know how to explain everything to him."I'm not complaining" Vicenzo replied in low voice that dragged me back to my senses.Really huh? I furrowed my brows not believing him."You were groaning in pain" I point out in stoic face.I stilled when he suddenly chuckle and s
"You don't have a rest day mia signora?"My forehead creased. Rest day?"Yesterday" I answer Calcifer in a matter of fact tone.Yes he's with me. Gordon is on the driver seat silently driving and Calcifer is on the passenger seat throwing me a series of questions.Obviously we're heading to Zeneca Ballet. We're actually almost there."How long is your class today?" He inquire again causing the creased of my forehead deepen.He's been asking a lot since this morning. Aren't he tired? As far as I know, Vicenzo is on a meeting right now regarding the new business proposal and he supposed to be there because he's a lawyer."Seven hours to be exact. Today is Monday" I replied emphasizing the date today.I saw him nod his head so I shrugged my shoulder. I check my wrist watch and after a couple of minutes the car halted in front of Zeneca Ballet. Finally.I unfasten my seatbelt and was about to open the door beside me when Cal
"So this is where you work" I stated while roaming around his huge office.It's actually bigger than our room. It's more like a size of the main living room of his mansion. His table is on the center just like the usual set up with two chairs in front facing each other. The glass wall behind his table is what really caught my attention. Because it was so fascinating seeing the clear blue sky and the whole city.While the left side of his office, there is a long light shade of gray sofa and two single sofa along with the center table. There are glass cabinets on every corners. The simplicity and elegance of his office looks exactly the same with our room. Even the color combination."Do you like it here?" He ask in monotonous tone.I stop looking around and turn my gaze on Vicenzo. I wasn't surprise when I saw him staring at me because he's been staring at me since we came here."No, I prefer to stay in the dance studio than here" I honestly replied
"Does Romano Zeneca finds out what happen?""Romano huh? That's rude man hahaha""One more unnecessary remark. I'll cut that tongue of yours""Ahem, I already inform Zeneca's household about what happen. Mr. Romano Zeneca is still in Berlin right now, he's oblivious about what happen""Let's just inform him once he arrive. How was the investigation?""We saw this card inside your office Boss. We didn't find the flower, but it definitely came from Cypress. Their logo was on the paper and the bacio della morte line""Chiedono di essere uccisi. Poi li brucerò vivi, cazzo""How was Svanna by the way-""I told you fucker not to call my wife like that!""Oh come on Vicenzo my friend, mia signora's name is Svanna. What do you want me to call her?""Your grave is still open Silviso. Address my wife properly or I'll bury you alive"I slowly open my eyes hearing those murmurs somewhere, the familiar voice of V
It was said that a ballerina will die twice. First is when their legs and feet stop dancing and second is when their heart stop to beat for life. I always heard that from my mother, she said that she rather die than to experience not dancing at all just because her legs give up already before she could even retire. That was actually my mindset too. As a ballerina who dream to become Odette, dancing is my life. Dancing is the one who brought me to this.But after I got shot experiencing a life and death situation, I realize that death was fearful just like not dancing at all. The feeling of being stuck in the dark, shouting for help but no one can heared you, crying but no tears came out from your eyes and worst is regret. Regret that you only realized when you were close to dying is really terrifying.At that moment when I felt that my consciousness is slowly leaving me and darkness wanted to take over, I was so scared. I was so scared because I was alone, I was so sca
"What's with you Gordon? Are you sick?" Irritatingly hissed while sitting on the hospital bed leaning my back on the headrest of the bed."When did you received the card that you mentioned to me?" He ask instead which made me creased my forehead."What's the big deal with that card?" I confusingly question him."Your safety, young lady" he seriously replied.I tilted my head staring at his straight looking face. He look so serious, serious than his usual facial reaction.My face turn stoic as my lips form into thin line."Is that card a threat?" I hesitantly ask him.I gulp while staring at Gordon intently wanting to understand everything. I am analyzing the situation, him and his actions.I shook my head and puff out a breath when he didn't answer me."The day when I got shot, I saw it inside my locker with a small star shape flower" I narrated trying to remember what exactly happen that day before Vicenzo came to pick
Svanna Rose Zeneca-SantoriniWhen Vicenzo said that 'this is now over' he was wrong. That is just the end of our first journey together and the beginning of another battle that we must conquer together. During that last fight with Flacara Mafia, everything changes. Gordon died... Mom killed him intentionally. I couldn't accept it. But I need to be strong because he told me that he wanted to see me rising from the spotlight.I thought being the prima ballerina is the peak of my dreams. But then I realize that I just wanted to have Vicenzo stay with me the rest of our life. I don't need to be the prima ballerina of Zeneca Ballet or to be the white swan of Swan Lake play. Because I am already the prima ballerina to my own story and I just have to recognize that the main character doesn't just always play at the center. She could be a black swan like me.And this is my last dance, my last dance as the black swan. Because
When you thought everything is okay, reality will suddenly slapped you real hard- that no matter how good everything was, bad things is still right behind the corner waiting for the right time to strike again and mess your life again.It's always like that. You're a happy and then you're sad later. If you're sad now, you're happy later. It is a continuous cycle, a very redundant scenario. It was like a story that has a same plot but with different lines. It so fuck up!Before I end up in this kind of mess, in this kind of danger- everything is just good compare now. I have a peaceful and quite life away from trouble. I know it's boring because I spent all my life in dancing isolating myself from the people around me.I don't have a good relationship to my father, we don't usually talk, we don't even eat a meal together. I am not that welcome to the eyes of Mommy Adie even to Aliah, my haft sister. I was the black swan of the Zeneca family. I exist but only as th
"Where did you go?"I lift my head and I saw Vicenzo looking at me seriously. His rugged face is screaming with annoyance. He doesn't look pleased and I know the reason why.But instead of being scared with his unwelcoming greeting, I walk fast towards him and hug him tightly. I felt him stilled and his body went rigid with our sudden contact. But later after I felt his arm wrap around my waist and possessively pulled me even more to him.He's sitting on the single couch while I'm sitting on the top of his lap facing him with my legs wide open. Our position is quite awkward but I don't really care, I feel bad because of what happen."Tell me what happen?" He whisper while caressing my back.I sniff and buried my face on his neck "I miss Mom..." I whisper.He sigh "That's why you sneak out?" He utter in a controlled tone of voice.I pulled away and face him. His brows furrowed when he saw the dry tears in my face but later on his face
"No..." I shake my head and close my eyes "No...this is not true. I am just hallucinating. This is not true" I mumble to myself and pulled my hair.There's no way my Mom is alive after all these years. I always visit her grave, I always visit her whenever I miss her. Whenever I felt like everything seems against me. Whenever I felt alone..."You are not hallucinating Chèrie," Gianni said behind me "Tita Vanda is alive. She's alive Svanna Rose. The reason why Tito Roman doesn't want you to visit her grave is because she was never been buried-""No!" I scream, shaking my head "Mom is dead! She's not my Mom!" I exclaimed crying while looking at the woman in front of me who look exactly like me."Tito Romano never visit her grave, it's because he know that Tita Vanda never die in the first place-""Stop it Gianni!" I cut him off, breathing heavily while my eyes is clouded with tears.I shook my head and step back. My heart is beating fast
Let's meet...I close my eyes and took a deep breath. Wearing a black longsleeve top and black gap fit leggings I sneak out to the backyard of the mansion. It took me almost ten minutes before I successfully climb the tall wall that surrounded the mansion. I actually make sure that Vicenzo men is done checking the area before I sneak out.I honestly don't know why do I need to sneak out. But then my instinct is telling me that Vicenzo will not let me if I ask him to meet Gianni knowing that Calcifer and Greco has a suspicion to my cousin.I'm stubborn, I know that. But I really need to do this. I don't understand what does he mean by his message. Mom is alive? And he doesn't want Vicenzo to be my husband? That's absurd! That's crazy.I sigh and fix my black cap before I run away, making sure that nobody notice my disappearance. I immediately call a cab and give the address to the driver who keep on glancing at me because of my weirdness. Oh yeah,
I am crying non-stop, I don't know what to do. Dra. Mhalia is trying to reach me out and talk to me but I couldn't open my mouth to speak back. The image of Piato being shot in his shot as he slowly fell on the floor keep on rolling back inside my head. It keep on replaying like a broken movie tape. It won't stop bugging me. I am guilty, scared, and anxious."Mrs. Santorini..." Dra. Mhalia whisper, wanting to get my attention.With weary eyes, I turn my gaze at her. She's sitting on the chair beside my bed wearing the same white lab gown. I sniff when she smile at me, as if she's telling me that everything is alright without uttering a word."W-Where's Vicenzo?" I stuttered.I'm the first one who break the sound of my soft cries. I brush off those dry tears in my face. Worries is very visible in my eyes and I couldn't hide it. How will I do that if I am eating my guilt. I am asking them what happen to Piato but none of them gave me an assuring answer. The
"I don't understand him..." I whisper when I get back inside the car.I felt Piato look at me through the rearview mirror but I just remain my gaze out of the window staring at Gianni who's still standing in front of my mother's tombstone facing us.I suddenly recall what Calcifer told me. He said Gianni didn't attend the last board meeting after his business trip in Russia. I don't exactly know what kind of business he went there, but Cal said that there is something odd with my cousin and he will figure it out and inform me.I took a deep breath and my phone suddenly rang. Without a second thought, I pull it out from my clutch bag. Vicenzo's name flashes on the screen so I immediately press the answer button, afraid that I might worry him."Where are you?" He asks in a low controlled tone of voice without greeting me.I bit my lower lip and hesitantly look at Piato who also looks nervous because of the sudden call."I'm on my way home now"
After spending a week on our honeymoon, everything turns back to normal. Daddy Victor and some of Vicenzo's cousins return to Italy. While Vicenzo on the other hand is now busy managing his company. He has loads of paper works to do, and I heard Greco is already complaining about those business proposals that have not been reviewed yet.But despite his busy schedule, he always makes time for me. He wakes up early than usual to prepare our breakfast- yes! He's like a house husband, he's the one who makes our breakfast. He even memorizes my diet plan. For the past few days, I really feel how Vicenzo exerts too much effort to become the husband that he promised to me.He's very patient with my schedule, Calcifer always makes fun of him calling him 'Mr. understanding husband' because of his sudden changes. Although he came home late, he was still able to wake up early the next day. He's not that grumpy as before, he is always gentle and calm now. But one thing that will ne
I softly moan when I felt the sunbeam kissed my face. I turn around facing my back to the window hiding my face on the pillow I'm hugging. I am still sleepy, and my body still can feel what happen last night.I felt my face flushed although I'm haft asleep. Remembering the intimate night with my husband makes me blush. It seems like my face heated on its own so I cover my face even more.But then I felt a strong arm rested on my waist and then the bed move. The smell of bath soap invades my nostrils when I felt something soft touch the side of my forehead. My nose should be irritated with the sudden scent but then, it smells so nice being whiffed by a scent of cool mint. My soreness seems like disappear, everything feels so good and warm now, when the arm pulled me, caging me into a tight embrace."Wake up now, sleepyhead" I heard Vicenzo whisper in my left ear using his hoarse voice.I moan softly again with that simple sweet gesture from him. He always