FluentFiction - Croatian

Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Snowbound Reunion: A Valentine's Tale of Family and Hope
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-03-08-38-20-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Ulice su bile tihe, prekrivene debelim slojem snijega.
En: The streets were quiet, covered with a thick layer of snow.

Hr: Kuće su izgledale mirne, a svjetla uličnih lampi reflektirala su se na bijelim cestama.
En: Houses looked peaceful, and the streetlights' reflections shone on the white roads.

Hr: Noć Valentina bila je blizu, ali u Ivani nije bilo osjećaja romantike.
En: Valentine's night was near, but there was no feeling of romance in Ivana.

Hr: Ona i njezin desetogodišnji brat Luka sjedili su na prozoru, čekajući tatu.
En: She and her ten-year-old brother, Luka, sat by the window, waiting for their dad.

Hr: Ivana je pogledavala u telefon.
En: Ivana kept checking her phone.

Hr: Vremenska prognoza predvidjela je snježnu oluju.
En: The weather forecast predicted a snowstorm.

Hr: To ju je zabrinjavalo.
En: This worried her.

Hr: Let njihova oca mogao bi biti odgođen.
En: Their father's flight might be delayed.

Hr: No, nije željela da Luka zna za njezina strahovanja.
En: Yet, she didn't want Luka to know about her concerns.

Hr: "Luka, idemo van praviti snjegovića!
En: "Luka, let's go outside and make a snowman!"

Hr: " predložila je s osmijehom, pokušavajući zvučati veselo.
En: she suggested with a smile, trying to sound cheerful.

Hr: "Da!
En: "Yes!"

Hr: " uzviknuo je Luka, presretan što će izaći na svjež zrak.
En: Luka exclaimed, thrilled to go out for some fresh air.

Hr: Obukli su svoje vunene kapute, rukavice i kape.
En: They put on their wool coats, gloves, and hats.

Hr: Snijeg je bio savršen za oblikovanje.
En: The snow was perfect for shaping.

Hr: Luka je veselo valjao snijeg, a Ivana mu je pomagala.
En: Luka joyfully rolled the snow, and Ivana helped him.

Hr: Gjledajući stare srednje škole koje su sjale kroz noć iz daleka, Ivana je na trenutak zaboravila zabrinutost.
En: Looking at the old high schools shining through the night from afar, Ivana momentarily forgot her worries.

Hr: No, Luka je zatim postavio pitanje: "Ivana, hoće li tata stići kući za večeru?
En: But then, Luka asked a question: "Ivana, will dad make it home for dinner?"

Hr: "Ivana je zastala.
En: Ivana paused.

Hr: Pogledala je u Luka.
En: She looked at Luka.

Hr: Osjetila je njegovu brigu.
En: She felt his concern.

Hr: "Pst," rekla je i čučnula pored njega.
En: "Shh," she said and crouched beside him.

Hr: "Naravno da hoće, Luka.
En: "Of course he will, Luka.

Hr: Tata je uvijek s nama, čak i kad je daleko.
En: Dad is always with us, even when he's far away."

Hr: "Luka se nasmijao i zagrlio svoju sestru.
En: Luka smiled and hugged his sister.

Hr: Zajedno su završili snjegovića, dodajući mu mrkvu za nos i grančice za ruke.
En: Together they finished the snowman, adding a carrot for a nose and branches for arms.

Hr: A onda su vidjeli svjetla.
En: And then they saw the lights.

Hr: Auto se polako približavao kroz snijeg.
En: A car was slowly approaching through the snow.

Hr: Luka je poskočio, mašući rukama: "To je tata, Ivana!
En: Luka jumped up, waving his arms: "That's dad, Ivana!"

Hr: "Ivana je osjetila olakšanje koje ju je preplavilo.
En: Ivana felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Hr: Automobil je stao, a njihova otac izašao je iz njega s velikim osmijehom na licu.
En: The car stopped, and their dad stepped out of it with a big smile on his face.

Hr: Tata je stigao kući.
En: Dad had made it home.

Hr: Ivana je zagrlila Luka, znajući da je sve u redu.
En: Ivana hugged Luka, knowing everything was alright.

Hr: Naučila je važnu lekciju – ponekad, možete prevaliti strah s osmijehom i zajedničkim trenucima.
En: She had learned an important lesson—sometimes, you can overcome fear with a smile and shared moments.

Hr: Snjegović je stajao kao svjedok tog sretnog završetka, svjetlucajući na zimskoj večeri.
En: The snowman stood as a witness to this happy ending, glistening on the winter night.

Hr: Sve se činilo dobro u njihovom malom, modernom predgrađu.
En: Everything seemed well in their small, modern suburb.

Vocabulary Words:
quiet: tihe
covered: prekrivene
layer: slojem
peaceful: mirne
reflections: reflektirala
romance: romantike
forecast: prognoza
predicted: predvidjela
snowstorm: snježnu oluju
worried: zabrinjavalo
delayed: odgođen
concerns: strahovanja
thrilled: presretan
shaping: oblikovanje
momentarily: na trenutak
far: daleka
concern: brigu
crouched: čučnula
witness: svjedok
glistening: svjetlucajući
overcome: prevaliti
relief: olakšanje
approaching: približavao
village: predgrađu
hugged: zagrlila
learned: naučila
lesson: lekciju
fresh: svjež
suburb: predgrađu
overcome: prevaliti

Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Love Blooms Amidst Snowflakes and Shelves
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-02-23-34-02-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Snijeg je padao velikim pahuljama na kampus, stvarajući bijeli pokrivač dok su studenti žurili po hodnicima.
En: The snow was falling in large flakes on the campus, creating a white blanket as the students hurried through the corridors.

Hr: Ivana je hodala brzo, crveni šal joj je lepršao oko vrata.
En: Ivana walked quickly, her red scarf flapping around her neck.

Hr: Unatoč hladnoći, osjećala je uzbuđenje zbog novog semestra.
En: Despite the cold, she felt excitement about the new semester.

Hr: Ali u mislima joj je bio popis knjiga koje mora kupiti i Markova nasmijana lica.
En: But on her mind was a list of books she needed to buy and Marko's smiling face.

Hr: Ivana je radila u obližnjem kafiću.
En: Ivana worked at a nearby cafe.

Hr: Zbog toga je morala pažljivo rasporediti svoj mali budžet.
En: Because of this, she had to carefully budget her limited finances.

Hr: Knjige su bile skupe, a njen popis dug.
En: The books were expensive, and her list was long.

Hr: Hodajući prema knjižari, razmišljala je o Marku.
En: Walking toward the bookstore, she thought about Marko.

Hr: Bio joj je kolega s predavanja, uvijek ljubazan i spreman pomoći.
En: He was her classmate, always kind and willing to help.

Hr: Iako ga je viđala svakodnevno, nikada nije skupila hrabrost da mu priđe više od površnog razgovora.
En: Although she saw him every day, she never mustered the courage to strike up more than a superficial conversation.

Hr: Unutrašnjost knjižare bila je topla i ugodna.
En: The interior of the bookstore was warm and cozy.

Hr: Ivana je otresla pahulje s kaputa i počela tražiti potrebne knjige.
En: Ivana brushed the flakes off her coat and began searching for the necessary books.

Hr: Aisles su bile uske i prepune studenata, svi su tražili iste stvari.
En: The aisles were narrow and crowded with students, all looking for the same things.

Hr: Dok je birala knjige, čula je poznati glas iza sebe.
En: As she picked out the books, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

Hr: Marko je stajao kod drugog stola, istražujući knjige ekonomije.
En: Marko was standing at another table, browsing economics books.

Hr: Ivana je zadržala dah.
En: Ivana held her breath.

Hr: Ovo je možda njezina prilika.
En: This might be her chance.

Hr: Dok je skupljala hrabrost, pogrešno je procijenila prostor i laktom srušila čitav niz knjiga s police.
En: As she gathered courage, she misjudged the space and elbowed an entire row of books off the shelf.

Hr: Sve su pale uz tresak.
En: They all fell with a crash.

Hr: Studentima oko nje zapela je pažnja, a Ivana je osjetila kako joj se obrazi usijavaju.
En: The students around her turned their attention, and Ivana felt her cheeks burning.

Hr: Marko se odmah pojavio uz nju, nagnuvši se kako bi joj pomogao podići rasipane knjige.
En: Marko immediately appeared next to her, leaning down to help her pick up the scattered books.

Hr: "Jesam li te uplašio?" pitao je nasmijano, pružajući joj jednu knjigu.
En: "Did I scare you?" he asked with a smile, handing her a book.

Hr: Njihovi su se pogledi sreli, i, umjesto riječi, Ivana je osjetila toplinu u grudima.
En: Their eyes met, and, instead of words, Ivana felt warmth in her chest.

Hr: "Ne, samo... malo nespretna danas," odgovorila je sa osmijehom.
En: "No, just... a bit clumsy today," she replied with a smile.

Hr: Njegova prisutnost činila je čak i ovu neugodnu situaciju podnošljivom.
En: His presence made even this awkward situation bearable.

Hr: Počeli su razgovarati, prvo o knjigama, a zatim o predavanjima i planovima za praznike.
En: They started talking, first about books, then about lectures and holiday plans.

Hr: Dok je razgovor tekao, Ivana je skupila hrabrost.
En: As the conversation flowed, Ivana gathered her courage.

Hr: "Marko," počela je stidljivo, "Možda bismo mogli negdje popiti kavu nakon predavanja?"
En: "Marko," she began shyly, "Maybe we could have coffee somewhere after lectures?"

Hr: Osjetila je kako joj srce ubrzano kuca.
En: She felt her heart racing.

Hr: Marko se nasmijao, malo iznenađen, ali očito zadovoljan.
En: Marko laughed, a little surprised, but obviously pleased.

Hr: "To zvuči sjajno," odgovorio je tiho, škicajući na sat.
En: "That sounds great," he replied gently, glancing at his watch.

Hr: "Netko mora biti sretan što ima takvo društvo za Valentinovo."
En: "Someone must be lucky to have such company for Valentine's Day."

Hr: Ivana se nasmijala, osjećajući kako tjeskoba kopni.
En: Ivana laughed, feeling her anxiety melt away.

Hr: U tom trenutku, među studentima i knjigama, Ivana je shvatila da su mali rizici ponekad potpuno vrijedni.
En: At that moment, among the students and the books, Ivana realized that small risks were sometimes completely worth it.

Hr: Gledajući u budućnost, znala je da će se od sada usuditi riskirati za ono što želi.
En: Looking to the future, she knew that from now on, she would dare to take risks for what she wanted.

Vocabulary Words:
flakes: pahulje
blanket: pokrivač
corridors: hodnici
mustered: skupila
superficial: površnog
cozy: ugodna
aisles: aisles
misjudged: pogrešno procijenila
elbowed: laktom
scattered: rasipane
clumsy: nespretna
flowed: tekla
shyly: stidljivo
anxiety: tjeskoba
melt: kopni
dare: usuditi se
futures: budućnost
budget: budžet
limited: mali
finances: budžet
expensive: skupe
browse: istražujući
breath: dah
space: prostor
crash: tresak
burning: usijavaju
handing: pružajući
bearable: podnošljivo
gathered: skupila
racing: ubrzano kuca

Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Balancing Dreams: Ivana's Winter of Decisions in Zagreb
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-02-08-38-20-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Zima u Zagrebu bila je oštra, ali prekrasna.
En: Winter in Zagreb was harsh, yet beautiful.

Hr: Bijeli snijeg pokrivao je kampus Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, stvarajući mirnu atmosferu.
En: White snow covered the campus of Sveučilište u Zagrebu, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Hr: Ivana je sjedila u svom malom studentskom domu, okružena knjigama i posterima europskih znamenitosti.
En: Ivana sat in her small dorm room, surrounded by books and posters of European landmarks.

Hr: Osjećala se sigurnom i sretna u svom prostoru.
En: She felt safe and happy in her space.

Hr: No, unutar nje, borila se s problemom koji ju je opterećivao.
En: However, inside her, she wrestled with a problem that weighed her down.

Hr: Telefon je zazvonio.
En: The phone rang.

Hr: Na zaslonu, mamine oči ispunjene ponosom.
En: On the screen, her mother’s eyes filled with pride.

Hr: "Ivana, razmišljaš li doći kući za obiteljsku proslavu?
En: "Ivana, are you thinking of coming home for the family celebration?

Hr: Svi te nestrpljivo čekamo.
En: Everyone is eagerly waiting for you."

Hr: "Ivana je duboko udahnula.
En: Ivana took a deep breath.

Hr: "Mama, stvarno želim ostati ovdje i fokusirati se na studiranje.
En: "Mom, I really want to stay here and focus on studying.

Hr: Imam mnogo ispita i želim biti najbolja.
En: I have many exams and I want to be the best."

Hr: "Petar, njezin cimer, sjedio je nasuprot i klimnuo glavom u znak podrške.
En: Petar, her roommate, sat across from her and nodded in support.

Hr: Ana, najbolja prijateljica, dolazila je s čajem.
En: Ana, her best friend, came in with tea.

Hr: Svi su znali kako joj je obitelj važna, ali isto tako kako je i njezina budućnost bitna.
En: Everyone knew how important her family was to her, but also how important her future was.

Hr: "Nitko te ne voli više od tvoje obitelji.
En: "No one loves you more than your family.

Hr: Moraš doći", majka je nastavila, glasom punim topline i odlučnosti.
En: You must come," her mother continued, her voice full of warmth and determination.

Hr: Navečer, dok je svjetlo iz lampi odražavalo sjaj na bijelom snijegu, Ivana je napravila odluku.
En: In the evening, as the light from lamps reflected a glow on the white snow, Ivana made a decision.

Hr: Odlučila je razgovarati s obitelji preko video poziva i objasniti svoje osjećaje.
En: She decided to talk to her family via video call and explain her feelings.

Hr: Tog dana okupila je hrabrost da im kaže što stvarno želi.
En: That day, she gathered the courage to tell them what she truly wanted.

Hr: "Mama, tata, želim pričati s vama o nečemu važnom.
En: "Mom, Dad, I want to talk to you about something important.

Hr: Znam koliko vam znači obiteljska proslava, ali ove godine mi je jako teško zbog ispita.
En: I know how much the family celebration means to you, but this year is really tough for me because of exams.

Hr: Nadam se da me razumijete," rekla je Ivana, pomno birajući riječi.
En: I hope you understand me," Ivana said, carefully choosing her words.

Hr: Razgovor je započeo napeto, ali Ivana je osjećala kako je teret pao s njezinih ramena.
En: The conversation started tensely, but Ivana felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

Hr: Roditelji su je slušali i konačno su razumjeli.
En: Her parents listened and finally understood.

Hr: "Draga Ivana, razumijemo te.
En: "Dear Ivana, we understand you.

Hr: Podržavamo te izdaleka i ponosni smo što si toliko odgovorna," rekli su na kraju, s ljubavlju u glasovima.
En: We support you from afar and are proud that you are so responsible," they said at the end, with love in their voices.

Hr: Ivana je bila olakšana.
En: Ivana was relieved.

Hr: Napokon je shvatila kako je važno otvoreno komunicirati o svojim željama.
En: She finally realized how important it is to communicate openly about her desires.

Hr: Uz pomoć Petra i Ane, Ivana je pronašla način da istovremeno održi vezu s obitelji i fokusira se na svoje ciljeve.
En: With the help of Petar and Ana, Ivana found a way to maintain her connection with her family while focusing on her goals.

Hr: Dok su pahulje lepršale izvan prozora, Ivana je osjećala kako je stekla važnu lekciju o snazi podrške i kako balansirati između obitelji i osobnih želja.
En: As snowflakes fluttered outside the window, Ivana felt she had learned an important lesson about the power of support and how to balance between family and personal desires.

Vocabulary Words:
harsh: oštra
peaceful: mirnu
wrestled: borila
weighed: opterećivao
eagerly: nestrpljivo
breathe: udahnula
exams: ispita
roommate: cimer
nod: klimnuo
support: podršku
warmth: topline
determination: odlučnosti
glow: sjaj
decision: odluku
courage: hrabrost
tense: napeto
relieved: olakšana
communicate: komunicirati
maintain: održi
balance: balansirati
flutter: lepršale
desires: želja
landmarks: znamenitosti
pride: ponos
focus: fokusirati
atmosphere: atmosferu
afternoon: poslijepodne
video call: video poziv
responsible: odgovorna
shoulder: ramena

Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Winter Decisions: Marija's Journey of Heart and Home
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-01-23-34-02-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Snijeg je tiho padao, prekrivajući Plitvička jezera bijelim pokrivačem.
En: The snow was quietly falling, covering the Plitvička jezera with a white blanket.

Hr: Marija je stajala na ulazu u Nacionalni park, osjetivši kako joj srce vibrira od topline.
En: Marija stood at the entrance to the Nacionalni park, feeling her heart warming from within.

Hr: Bila je toplo odjevena, ali hladan zrak povremeno bi probio slojeve odjeće.
En: She was warmly dressed, but the cold air occasionally pierced through the layers of clothing.

Hr: Razmišljala je o svojim roditeljima u obližnjoj kući, njihov dom gdje su vjetrovi sada lupkali prozore.
En: She thought about her parents in the nearby house, their home where the winds were now tapping at the windows.

Hr: Marija je došla iz grada da pomogne svojim roditeljima tijekom zime.
En: Marija had come from the city to help her parents during the winter.

Hr: Teško se kretali i svakodnevno im je trebala pomoć.
En: They had difficulty moving and needed help daily.

Hr: Ipak, unatoč ljubavi prema njima, njeno srce zatezala je težina odluka koje mora donijeti.
En: Yet, despite her love for them, her heart was weighed down by the decisions she had to make.

Hr: Trebala je uskoro odlučiti hoće li ostati duže.
En: She needed to decide soon whether to stay longer.

Hr: Dok je tako stajala izgubljena u mislima, začula je poznati glas iza sebe.
En: As she stood there lost in thought, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

Hr: "Lijepo je, zar ne?" upita Ivan.
En: "It's beautiful, isn't it?" asked Ivan.

Hr: Bio je park ranger, čovjek koji je poznavao svaki kutak parka.
En: He was a park ranger, someone who knew every corner of the park.

Hr: Njegova mirna prisutnost djelovala je smirujuće.
En: His calm presence was soothing.

Hr: "Ivan," osmijehnu se Marija, "ovdje je uvijek lijepo, osobito sada."
En: "Ivan," Marija smiled, "it's always beautiful here, especially now."

Hr: Njih dvoje krenuli su prema stazama, snijeg je škripao pod njihovim cipelama, a okolo njih, zamrznuti slapovi sjajili su poput dijamanata.
En: The two of them started walking along the trails, the snow crunching under their shoes, while around them, frozen waterfalls glistened like diamonds.

Hr: "Izabrala si pravo mjesto za razmišljanje," reče Ivan. "Ponekad priroda može dati odgovore."
En: "You've chosen the right place to think," Ivan said. "Sometimes nature can provide answers."

Hr: Marija kimne, gledajući ga kratko prije nego što je skrenula pogled natrag prema stazi.
En: Marija nodded, glancing at him briefly before turning her gaze back to the trail.

Hr: Zatim je duboko udahnula i rekla, "Ivan, ponekad nije lako... biti ovdje, ali srce me uvijek vuče natrag."
En: Then she took a deep breath and said, "Ivan, sometimes it's not easy... being here, but my heart always pulls me back."

Hr: U njenim očima zaiskrila je sumnja, ali i ljubav prema ovom krajoliku.
En: In her eyes sparkled doubt, but also a love for this landscape.

Hr: "Oni te trebaju," reče Ivan tiho, s blagim sjajem u očima, a zatim zastane, kao da skuplja hrabrost. "I ja..."
En: "They need you," Ivan said quietly, with a soft gleam in his eyes, then paused, as if gathering courage. "And so do I..."

Hr: Marija ga pogleda, iznenađena njegovom iskrenošću.
En: Marija looked at him, surprised by his honesty.

Hr: U tom trenutku, Ivanove riječi bile su poput povjetarca koji joj je šaptao misli koje nije mogla izgovoriti.
En: In that moment, Ivan's words were like a breeze whispering thoughts she couldn't speak.

Hr: "Hvala ti, Ivane," reče naposljetku, "ali moram naći način da pomirim oboje."
En: "Thank you, Ivan," she said finally, "but I have to find a way to reconcile both."

Hr: Hodali su dalje, tišina između njih bila je ispunjena razumijevanjem.
En: They walked on, the silence between them filled with understanding.

Hr: Marija je osjećala da je na križanju, gdje njeno srce povlači jedno, a razum drži na drugom putu.
En: Marija felt that she was at a crossroads, where her heart pulled in one direction and her reason held onto another path.

Hr: Nakon dugog hoda, njih dvoje stajali su na vrhu brda s kojeg se pružao pogled na cijeli park.
En: After a long walk, the two stood atop a hill offering a view of the entire park.

Hr: Marija duboko uzdahne, "Ostanem li malo dulje, pronaći ću način."
En: Marija sighed deeply, "If I stay a little longer, I'll find a way."

Hr: Ivan je kimnuo, poštujući Marijinu odluku, i tiho dodao, "Ja ću biti tu kad god ti zatreba pomoć."
En: Ivan nodded, respecting Marija's decision, and quietly added, "I'll be here whenever you need help."

Hr: Marija se nasmiješi, osjećajući konačno mir u srcu.
En: Marija smiled, finally feeling peace in her heart.

Hr: Znala je da će roditelji biti tu, priroda je uvijek bila ovdje, a Ivanovo prijateljstvo i podrška donosi sigurnost.
En: She knew her parents would be there, nature was always here, and Ivan's friendship and support brought security.

Hr: I možda, pomisli, putanja srca često vodi tamo gdje se najmanje očekuje.
En: And perhaps, she thought, the heart's path often leads where it's least expected.

Hr: Dani su prolazili, a Marija je počela pronaći balans između brige za obitelj i vremena za sebe.
En: Days went by, and Marija began to find a balance between caring for her family and time for herself.

Hr: Ivan je postao redovitiji gost u domu njezinih roditelja, uvijek s nekom pričom o parku, koje su uljepšavale zimske večeri.
En: Ivan became a more frequent visitor to her parents' home, always with a story about the park, which brightened up the winter evenings.

Hr: I tako, u miru zime, Marija je pronašla svoj odgovor, i obiteljsku sreću u snježnoj tišini Plitvičkih jezera.
En: And so, in the peace of winter, Marija found her answer and family happiness in the snowy silence of Plitvička jezera.

Vocabulary Words:
quietly: tiho
blanket: pokrivač
pierced: probio
nearby: obližnjoj
weighed: zatezala
doubt: sumnja
glance: pogled
glisten: sjajili
reconcile: pomirim
crossroads: križanju
sigh: uzdahne
breeze: povjetarca
gather: skuplja
soothing: smirujuće
silence: tišina
sparkled: zaiskrila
presence: prisutnost
frequent: redovitiji
gaze: gledajući
balance: balans
trail: staza
respected: poštujući
frozen: zamrznuti
path: putanja
decisions: odluka
occasional: povremeno
crunching: škripao
entrance: ulazu
whispering: šaptao
corners: kutak

Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Embracing Coffee Chaos: Ivan's Morning Ritual
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-01-08-38-20-hr

Story Transcript:

Hr: Dok svakim korakom Ivan osjeti hladni dah zimskog vjetra, veselo zvono nad vratima kafića najavi njegov dolazak.
En: As each step brought Ivan the cold breath of the winter wind, the cheerful bell above the café door announced his arrival.

Hr: Kafić, smješten uz Dubrovnikove impozantne zidine, bio je oaza topline i ugodnosti.
En: The café, nestled next to Dubrovnik's imposing walls, was an oasis of warmth and comfort.

Hr: U zraku se širio miris svježe pripremljene kave i domaćih kolača.
En: The air was filled with the aroma of freshly made coffee and homemade cakes.

Hr: Na policama su stajali kroasani i štrukli, kao da čekaju da ih netko izabere.
En: On the shelves stood croissants and štrukli, as if waiting to be chosen by someone.

Hr: Ivan, inače točan poput satnog mehanizma, dolazio je svaki dan u isto vrijeme, točno u osam.
En: Ivan, as punctual as clockwork, arrived every day at the same time, precisely at eight.

Hr: Sjeo bi kraj velikog prozora i promatrao kako sunčeve zrake ljube zidine.
En: He would sit by the big window and watch as the sun's rays kissed the walls.

Hr: Marina, brbljava konobarica, uvijek je bila spremna na šalu.
En: Marina, the chatty waitress, was always ready for a joke.

Hr: "Dobro jutro, Ivane!
En: "Good morning, Ivan!

Hr: Jesi li spreman za svoju savršenu kavu?
En: Are you ready for your perfect coffee?"

Hr: ""Uvijek, Marina.
En: "Always, Marina.

Hr: Molim te, bijela kava, dva šećera, bez pjene," odgovorio bi Ivan s osmijehom koji je sugerirao strpljenje iz ljubaznosti.
En: Please, white coffee, two sugars, no foam," Ivan would reply with a smile that suggested patience out of courtesy.

Hr: No, bilo je to daleko od svakodnevne stvarnosti.
En: Yet, it was far from everyday reality.

Hr: Svakog jutra nešto bi pošlo po zlu.
En: Every morning something would go wrong.

Hr: Jedan dan nestalo bi šećera, drugi dan bi umjesto bijele kave dobio crni espresso s duplom pjenom.
En: One day, there would be no sugar; another day, instead of white coffee, he would get a black espresso with double foam.

Hr: Marina bi se ispričavala, ali čini se da je kaos jednostavno način na koji je kava u kafiću radila.
En: Marina would apologize, but it seemed that chaos was simply the way coffee functioned in the café.

Hr: Ivan, koji nikad nije volio nered, jednog je jutra odlučio: "Marina, danas ćemo zajedno napraviti kavu!
En: Ivan, who never liked disorder, one morning decided: "Marina, today we're going to make the coffee together!"

Hr: " Iznenađena, ali oduševljena, Marina prihvati njegov prijedlog.
En: Surprised but delighted, Marina accepted his proposal.

Hr: Dok su se zajedno motali oko aparata, Ivan je naučio nešto o improvizaciji, a Marina je pazila na točan omjer sastojaka.
En: As they fumbled together around the machine, Ivan learned something about improvisation, and Marina kept an eye on the exact proportions of ingredients.

Hr: Konačno, savršena bijela kava stajala je pred Ivanom kao nagrada za njihov timski rad.
En: Finally, the perfect white coffee stood before Ivan as a reward for their teamwork.

Hr: Baš kad je Ivan posegnuo za šalicom, Luka, šaljivdžija koji bi često svratio na svoju jutarnju dozu kofeina, slučajno ju prevrne prolazeći.
En: Just as Ivan reached for the cup, Luka, the jokester who often came by for his morning caffeine fix, accidentally knocked it over as he passed.

Hr: Kava se prolije po stolu, baš kao i svaki put do sada.
En: The coffee spilled over the table, just like every time before.

Hr: Umjesto da se naljuti, Ivan se nasmije.
En: Instead of getting angry, Ivan laughed.

Hr: Prepoznao je da je tog dana, na neobičan način, doživio nešto dragocjeno.
En: He realized that on that day, in an unusual way, he experienced something precious.

Hr: "Nema veze, Luka," reče kroz smijeh, "Mogli bismo reći da si ti naš tjedni iznenadni trenutak.
En: "No worries, Luka," he said with a laugh, "We could say you're our weekly surprise moment."

Hr: "Marina se nasmije, Luki je bilo pomalo neugodno, ali i on se nasmije.
En: Marina laughed, Luka felt a bit embarrassed, but he laughed too.

Hr: Ivan je shvatio da je ponekad bolje pustiti stvari da teku svojim tijekom.
En: Ivan realized that sometimes it's better to let things take their course.

Hr: Nered kafića postao je dio njegove jutarnje rutine, a prijateljstvo s Marinom i Lukom njegova svakodnevna radost.
En: The café's chaos became part of his morning routine, and his friendship with Marina and Luka his daily joy.

Hr: I tako su zimsko jutro i smijeh postali dio neobičnog rituala kojeg je Ivan počeo cijeniti više od savršeno pripremljene kave.
En: And so, the winter morning and laughter became part of an unusual ritual that Ivan began to appreciate more than a perfectly made coffee.

Vocabulary Words:
imposing: impozantne
oasis: oaza
aroma: miris
punctual: točan
clockwork: satni mehanizam
chatty: brbljava
joke: šalu
precisely: točno
arrive: dolazak
disorder: nered
improvisation: improvizaciji
proportions: omjer
reward: nagrada
accidentally: slučajno
knocked: prevrne
foam: pjena
suggested: sugerirao
patience: strpljenje
fumbled: motali
experienced: doživio
routine: rutina
courtesy: ljubaznosti
functioned: radila
let: pustiti
caffeine: kofeina
appreciate: cijeniti
surprise: iznenadni
unusual: neobičan
together: zajedno
delighted: oduševljena