To be His Queen (Le' Imperiale Series BOOK 1)

Chapter 3

(Xandriel's POV)

"Mom, I'm gonna go out tonight. May pupuntahan lang ako."

I grabbed my keys on top of the counter and kissed mom on her cheek on my way out.

"Saan ka pupunta, Xandriel?"

Dad.

Humarap ako sa kanya and I saw him descending from the stairs, dressed in a white crisp long sleeved shirt, slacks and dress shoes. He's going out.

"H-hi dad. May meeting lang with the team."

"Meeting. really? This late at night?"

"Yes dad. May pu-"

"Hindi ba party yang pupuntahan mo? Or a date?"

Here we go again.

"No dad. Not a date."

"We wouldn't hold it against you if you went on a date, caro. You're a handsome man, smart, popular. And a Ricciveri to top all that."

Naisampal ko nalang sa noo ko ang kamay ko.

"Dad. I told you. Ayokong makipag date. I want to focus on basketball. That's what I want right now."

"Basketball won't give you an heir in the future, caro. And YOU are the future; for this family at least. It is your duty, na magkaron ng tagapagmana."

Lumapit sa kanya si mom at hinawakan ang kamay niya, "Amore, Xandriel is still young. Give him time. He's in his youth. Let him enjoy it. Darating ang araw na he's going to have to face the responsibilities of being both a Guerriero and a Ricciveri. I'm sure he's seeing girls, but if he doesn't want to choose yet, then let him be. Right, caro?" paliwanag niya as she sipped her favorite Italian red on her goblet.

"Yes dad. I know my responsibility to the family, and I will fulfill it when the time comes. But that time isn't right now."

Enrico Guerriero just sighed in defeat. Tinignan ko si mommy at tumango lang ito sa akin.

"Alright, so be it. Mag ingat ka tonight. Don't do anything stupid or scandalous." Huling sabi nito as he went out the front door but not before kissing my mother goodbye.

"Thank you, mom." Lumapit sa akin si mommy at hinaplos ang mukha ko to reassure me. "It's alright, caro. Have fun in that meeting of yours." She said before turning to leave and go back to the kitchen.

I unclenched my fist and headed out the door. Away from Villa Ricciveri. And away from the responsibilities alongside it.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

'Valhalla. VIP room 1. 10:30'

I read Zouave's text once again before looking at my watch.

10:45 pm

Good. They're probably all there since filipino time ang mga yun.

Inayos ko ang buhok ko one last time bago ako bumaba ng kotse ko.

Ramdam ko ang bass ng music kahit na nasa labas palang ako ng Valhalla bar. This is the T-time venue of the week, and as per Zouave's information, nag set siya ng victory party para sa team.

As I entered the club, strobe lights of different colors shone all around, the smell of cheap booze and hormones is so thick to the point of suffocation. But I inhaled it in. The floor was filled by students ng St. Ignatius. Tons of girls wearing skimpy outfits stared at me while the men just sat at a corner to watch the scenes unfold.

I missed this, the life of the party. Strictly prohibited kasi ang any form ng alcohol kapag nag start ang season since makakaapekto ito sa performance namin sa court.

Dumiretso ako sa VIP lounge which is located sa may balcony ng bar. Z said na he exclusively booked the whole para sa buong team and kung sino man ang gustong pumunta from our school. Pag akyat ko, as expected, nandoon na ang ibang members and a few girls. Tumayo si Jash at sinalubong ako.

"Finally, you're here. It's about time! Alam mo namang hindi kami makakapagsimula ng wala ka, captain. Diba guys?" Pag sigaw niya since open ang isang side ng longe at kita ang buong dancefloor at bar sa baba.

"Yeah!" the team replied in unison and that just made me smile.

"I'd like to propose a toast!" I heard someone shout.

It was Z, looking very hammered. Tipsy. Drunk. Whatever you want to call it.

He can barely stand up straight, let alone talk.

He has Kysie, his girlfriend, beside him holding a drink, looking just as drunk.

Nakatayo siya malapit sa balcony kaya't kitang kita siya ng mga nasa baba. Medyo tumahimik ang buong bar at hininaan ng DJ ang music.

"A toast? Bakit, Zouave? Kasal ba 'to?" natatawang tanong ni Karl, center ng team.

"Baliw, basta. A toast! To Xandriel, a great captain, a great player, but most of all a good friend."

Nagsitayuan silang lahat and raised their glasses to this. "Cheers to that!"

"You give me too much credit guys. It was a team effort. Everyone did an excellent job."

Lumapit ako sa table sa gitna ng room at kumuha ng isang shot glass na may lamang liquor at itinaas ito,

My team followed suit and grabbed a glass each and raised them, "Ignatius Knights!!"

"Team of champions!" Iyon ang sigaw ng lahat ng nasa bar.

I let their drunken cheers wash away my weariness of the day. The place vibrated with their yells, mostly overeager freshmen and intoxicated players. I know it seems obnoxious, but it's how we have fun. We won, so we celebrate.

========================================================================

Four more rounds of drinking and I am starting to feel it. Just a little.

I stood up, but Z grabbed my shirt to stop me, "San ka punta, dude?"

"I need to step out a bit," sagot ko. Tumango lang si Zouave at binitawan rin ang shirt ko.

As I went back inside, I saw a girl in the middle of the dance floor. Nakatayo siya sa ibabaw ng isang table, dancing to the music, a drink in her hand.

Holy. Mother.

I think I just died and went to heaven.

=========================================================================

A/N: Hindi nga pala another name ni Xandriel yung "Caro". And no hindi siya yung caro na sinasakyan ng patay. Caro means 'Dear' in Italian.

~ReynaAthena_