Fluent Fiction - Croatian: Love Blossoms Amid Office Balloons and Sweet Treats Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more: fluentfiction.com/hr/episode/2026-02-15-08-38-20-hr Story Transcript: Hr: Na prohladno zimsko jutro, Ivan je stigao u ured noseći tešku torbu ispunjenu dokumentima. En: On a chilly winter morning, Ivan arrived at the office carrying a heavy bag filled with documents. Hr: U zraku se osjećao blagi miris zime, a ured je bio ukrašen diskretnim Valentinovim motivima. En: A slight scent of winter was in the air, and the office was decorated with discreet Valentine's motifs. Hr: Baloni u obliku srca lebdjeli su po kancelariji, a stol pun grickalica i kolačića stvarao je veselu atmosferu, neuobičajenu za uobičajeni poslovni ton. En: Heart-shaped balloons floated around the office, and a table full of snacks and cookies created a cheerful atmosphere, unusual for the typical business tone. Hr: Ivan je sjeo za svoj stol, krajičkom oka promatrajući Anu dok je koračala prema svojoj radnoj stanici. En: Ivan sat at his desk, observing Ana from the corner of his eye as she walked toward her workstation. Hr: Bilo je nešto u načinu na koji se smiješila, nešto što je uvijek budio osjećaje u njemu. En: There was something about the way she smiled, something that always stirred feelings in him. Hr: Ivan je bio povučen tip, rijetko kada bi se uključio u uredske tračeve ili neformalna druženja. En: Ivan was a reserved type, rarely engaging in office gossip or informal gatherings. Hr: Njegova tajna zaljubljenost prema Ani bila je njegova mala avantura, skrivena iza zidova profesionalnosti. En: His secret crush on Ana was his small adventure, hidden behind walls of professionalism. Hr: Ana je bila fokusirana na svoju karijeru, druželjubiva i otvorena prema svima, ali nesvjesna Ivanovih osjećaja. En: Ana was focused on her career, sociable and open to everyone, but unaware of Ivan’s feelings. Hr: Tog dana, ured je pripremao iznenađenje - Valentinovo druženje. En: That day, the office was preparing a surprise - a Valentine's gathering. Hr: Planirano je brzo okupljanje, uz čaj, kolače i kratke govore. En: A quick meet-up with tea, cakes, and short speeches was planned. Hr: Marko, njihov zajednički kolega, bio je glavni organizator događaja. En: Marko, their mutual colleague, was the main organizer of the event. Hr: "Pozdrav svima!" Marko je započeo, prekidajući buku u uredu. En: "Hello everyone!" Marko began, interrupting the noise in the office. Hr: "Proslavit ćemo ljubav i prijateljstvo. Ako itko ima nešto važno za reći ili učiniti, sada je prilika!" En: "We will celebrate love and friendship. If anyone has something important to say or do, now is the chance!" Hr: Ivanove ruke počele su se znojiti. En: Ivan’s hands began to sweat. Hr: Osjećao je kako mu srce ubrzano lupa. En: He felt his heart pounding fast. Hr: Bila je to prilika koju je dugo čekao, a istovremeno se bojao posljedica. En: It was the opportunity he had long awaited, yet he feared the consequences. Hr: Razmišljao je o tome što bi mogao izgubiti ili dobiti, o mogućem traču ili odbijanju. En: He thought about what he might lose or gain, about potential gossip or rejection. Hr: "Ohrabren" usklikom iz publike i osjećajem da ga svi gledaju, Ivan je stegnuo šaku i ustao. En: "Encouraged" by a shout from the audience and the feeling that everyone was looking at him, Ivan clenched his fist and stood up. Hr: Marko, nesvjestan Ivanove unutarnje borbe, s osmijehom ga je pogurnuo naprijed. En: Marko, unaware of Ivan’s internal struggle, pushed him forward with a smile. Hr: "Imam nešto za reći," Ivan je počeo, glas mu je jedva izašao iz grla. En: "I have something to say," Ivan began, his voice barely audible. Hr: "Ana, htio bih... reći... da mi puno značiš." En: "Ana, I wanted to... say... that you mean a lot to me." Hr: Ana se iznenadila, ali nije izgledala neljubazno. En: Ana was surprised, but she didn't seem unfriendly. Hr: Naprotiv, bila je usredotočena na njega, pitajući se što će dalje reći. En: On the contrary, she was focused on him, wondering what he would say next. Hr: "Ivan, nisi morao čekati Valentinovo da mi to kažeš," njezine riječi bile su umirujuće. En: "Ivan, you didn’t have to wait for Valentine's to tell me that," her words were soothing. Hr: "Ali drago mi je da jesi." En: "But I'm glad you did." Hr: Ured se ispunio šapatima i tišinom iščekivanja. En: The office filled with whispers and a silence of anticipation. Hr: Ivan je duboko udahnuo, osjećajući teret straha kako ga napušta. En: Ivan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of fear lifting from him. Hr: "Možda bismo mogli popiti kavu izvan posla?" predložio je, a njegove riječi bile su sada sigurnije. En: "Maybe we could have coffee outside of work?" he suggested, his words now more confident. Hr: "Voljela bih," rekla je Ana, osmjehujući se toplo. En: "I would love to," Ana said, smiling warmly. Hr: Mirk izgleda kao da se vratio u normalu, samo s još jednim slojem sprijateljivosti i razumijevanja. En: The office seemed to return to normal, just with an added layer of camaraderie and understanding. Hr: Ivan je naučio važnost iskoračivanja iz zone komfora. En: Ivan learned the importance of stepping out of his comfort zone. Hr: Nije bilo boda za tračeve ni straha; tek je bilo očekivanje nečeg lijepog. En: There were no points for gossip or fear; there was only anticipation of something beautiful. Hr: Tog Valentinova, u uredu punom balona i slatkih poslastica, Ivan i Ana započeli su nešto novo - mali rizik koji je donio veliku promjenu. En: That Valentine's, in an office full of balloons and sweet treats, Ivan and Ana began something new - a small risk that brought about a big change. Hr: Ispunjen srećom, Ivan je sada znao da ponekad treba riskirati da bi se dobilo mnogo više. En: Filled with happiness, Ivan now knew that sometimes a risk must be taken to gain so much more. Hr: Ukrašen Valentinovo, postao je dan kada je ljubav pronašla svoj put, čak i u najformalnijim okruženjima. En: Decorated Valentine's became the day when love found its way, even in the most formal environments. Vocabulary Words: chilly: prohladnodiscreet: diskretnimmotif: motivimaunusual: neobičajenureserved: povučenadventure: avanturagossip: tračevegathering: druženjeanticipation: iščekivanjaconfidence: sigurnijetreats: poslasticacrush: zaljubljenostsoothing: umirujućeprofessionalism: profesionalnosticolleague: kolegasociable: druželjubivarejection: odbijanjusurprise: iznenađenjeopportunity: prilikafear: strahcamaraderie: sprijateljivostiformal: formalnimloathe: mrzipromoter: pokazivačwhisper: šapćeinspiration: inspiracijadistill: destiliratiimpetus: poticajunfurl: odmotaticandid: iskreno