Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Autumn Leaves and New Beginnings: A Zagreb Debate Tale
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Story Transcript:

Hr: Dani su postajali sve kraći, a lišće je lepršalo hodnicima Srednje škole u Zagrebu.
En: The days were becoming shorter, and leaves were fluttering through the hallways of the Srednja škola in Zagreb.

Hr: Miris papira i zvuk učeničkih koraka ispunili su dugi hodnik.
En: The scent of paper and the sound of students' footsteps filled the long corridor.

Hr: Ivana je požurila prema učionici gdje se održavao sastanak debatnog kluba, odlučna da još jednom zablista.
En: Ivana hurried towards the classroom where the debate club meeting was taking place, determined to shine once more.

Hr: Na sastanku su se raspravljale teme budućeg turnira.
En: At the meeting, topics for the upcoming tournament were being discussed.

Hr: Svi su pažljivo slušali, ali Ivana je mislima već bila u okršaju.
En: Everyone listened attentively, but Ivana was already mentally engaged in the debate.

Hr: Pored nje sjedio je Luka, novi učenik, koji joj je često uhvatio pogled.
En: Beside her sat Luka, a new student, who often caught her gaze.

Hr: Bio je tih, ali zainteresiran.
En: He was quiet but interested.

Hr: Njegova povučenost izazivala je Ivaninu znatiželju.
En: His reticence aroused Ivana's curiosity.

Hr: "Ivana, jesi li razmišljala s kim ćeš biti u paru za turnir?
En: "Ivana, have you thought about who you'll team up with for the tournament?"

Hr: " upitao je Marko, njezin dugogodišnji prijatelj i partner u debati.
En: asked Marko, her longtime friend and debate partner.

Hr: U njegovu glasu bilo je nešto očekujuće i pomalo nesigurno.
En: There was something expectant and slightly uncertain in his voice.

Hr: "Razmišljala sam", odgovorila je Ivana.
En: "I've been thinking," replied Ivana.

Hr: "Želim isprobati nešto novo i možda se partnerirati s Lukom.
En: "I want to try something new and maybe partner with Luka."

Hr: "Marko joj je uputio začuđeni pogled.
En: Marko gave her a surprised look.

Hr: Luka, začuvši razgovor, samo je diskretno podigao obrve, mješavina iznenađenja i zadovoljstva.
En: Luka, overhearing the conversation, merely raised his eyebrows discreetly, a mix of surprise and satisfaction.

Hr: Njegovo novo prijateljstvo s Ivanom raslo je iz časa u čas.
En: His new friendship with Ivana was growing by the moment.

Hr: Kako su dani prolazili, Ivana je provodila sve više vremena s Lukom.
En: As the days passed, Ivana spent more and more time with Luka.

Hr: Njihove zajedničke pripreme bile su produktivne i zabavne.
En: Their joint preparations were productive and fun.

Hr: No, Marko se osjećao izostavljenim i pomalo zavidnim.
En: However, Marko felt left out and a bit envious.

Hr: Ivana je s njim razgovarala sve manje.
En: Ivana spoke to him less and less.

Hr: Stigao je dan turnira.
En: The day of the tournament arrived.

Hr: Školska kantina bila je prepuna učenika i učitelja, svi spremni pratiti debate.
En: The school cafeteria was packed with students and teachers, all ready to watch the debates.

Hr: Ivana i Luka sjedili su zajedno, povjeravajući jedno drugome posljednje misli.
En: Ivana and Luka sat together, sharing their last thoughts with each other.

Hr: Marko je sjedio nešto dalje, pripremajući se za vlastiti nastup.
En: Marko sat a bit further away, preparing for his own performance.

Hr: Kada je njegova tema došla na red, osjećala se napetost.
En: When his topic came up, tension was palpable.

Hr: Marko se trudio dati sve od sebe, ali povremeno mu je pogled skretao prema Ivani i Luki.
En: Marko tried his best but occasionally glanced toward Ivana and Luka.

Hr: Nakon burne rasprave, Ivanin tim je nedvojbeno pobijedio.
En: After a heated debate, Ivana's team undoubtedly won.

Hr: No, umjesto da odmah slavi, Ivana je shvatila koliko je promjena i nesporazuma stvorila.
En: However, instead of immediately celebrating, Ivana realized how much change and misunderstanding she had caused.

Hr: "Oprosti, Marko", rekla je nakon natjecanja, približivši se prijatelju.
En: "Sorry, Marko," she said after the competition, approaching her friend.

Hr: "Nisam htjela da se osjećaš zapostavljeno.
En: "I didn't mean to make you feel sidelined."

Hr: "Marko je uzdahnuo, a onda se osmjehnuo.
En: Marko sighed, then smiled.

Hr: "Znaš da te razumijem.
En: "You know I understand you.

Hr: Samo si trebala reći što ti je na umu.
En: You just needed to say what was on your mind."

Hr: "Ivana mu se zahvalila.
En: Ivana thanked him.

Hr: Nova bliskost s Lukom nije značila odustajanje od starih prijateljstava.
En: The new closeness with Luka didn't mean abandoning old friendships.

Hr: S Lukom je, pak, razgovarala o tome kako uravnotežiti ambicije i prijateljstva.
En: With Luka, she spoke about how to balance ambitions and friendships.

Hr: S prolaskom dana, lišće je nastavilo lepršati, a njihovo prijateljstvo bujalo je poput proljeća usred jeseni.
En: As the days passed, the leaves continued to flutter, and their friendship blossomed like spring in the middle of autumn.

Hr: Ivana je naučila važnu lekciju o životu, a nadolazeće dane čekala je s uzbuđenjem, okružena prijateljima i voljenima.
En: Ivana learned an important life lesson and looked forward to the coming days with excitement, surrounded by friends and loved ones.


Vocabulary Words:

• fluttering: lepršalo
• hallways: hodnicima
• scent: miris
• determined: odlučna
• mentally: mislima
• reticence: povučenost
• aroused: izazivala
• attentively: pažljivo
• tension: napetost
• palpable: osjećala
• undoubtedly: nedvojbeno
• celebrating: slaviti
• misunderstanding: nesporazuma
• curiosity: znatiželju
• expectant: očekujuće
• envious: zavidnim
• acknowledged: priznala
• discreetly: diskretno
• satisfaction: zadovoljstva
• gazing: pogled
• courtesy: ljubaznosti
• neglecting: zapostavljeno
• ambitions: ambicije
• absence: odsutnost
• compartmentalize: odvajati
• entranced: zanesena
• spontaneous: spontana
• reconciliation: pomirenje
• reflection: razmišljanje
• blooming: bujalo