I was sitting at the table, playing with my fork while my parents had been arguing for hours about some investment in a new project.
Numbers were everything to them, and to me... every number felt like another fence around a life i never chose.
Every word they said went in one ear and out the other, market, stocks, profit. Their voices were nothing more than background noise to my thoughts. I looked out the window, searching for any kind of escape from this boring conversation, but there was none.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRRofMxNt0
„Kristina, what do you think about this?" My mom's deep voice pulled me back into reality. [Kristina a Serbian female name].
I snapped out of my thoughts. I had no idea what they were even talking about anymore. Both of them were staring at me, waiting for an answer, and all i could do was shrug, because what was i supposed to think about yet another pointless investment?
Everything felt so distant and pointless. They had already planned out my entire life without ever asking me what i wanted. Every step was decided for me before i even got the chance to take it. As if i were just a piece in their game, another investment, with no right to make my own moves.
„Whats going on with you, sweetheart? You been completely absent lately", my dad said, trying to sound worried, but there was no warmth in his voice.
Just control wrapped in concern.
How could i explain to him that their perfect world suffocated me more than any bad grade or stupid mistake ever could? That everything they called security felt like a prison with golden bars.
„Kristina?" My mom chimed in, irritated by my silence.
Before i could say anything, the doorbell echoed through the house. A sharp, too loud sound cut through the tense silence at the dining table. Almost grateful for the interruption, i jumped out of my chair, wanting to get as far away from that table as possible.
„Who could that be now?" my dad muttered, not even bothering to get up.
„I get it", i said, already walking toward the door of our enormous house.
Of course, my mom hated that my attitude, as she liked to call it. It annoyed her even to think that i didnt want to rely on the maids who were here to take care of the cleaning, the order, and every little thing i might need.
As if i didnt have hands to open the door myself. Or to serve myself dinner without someone hovering over me.
The moment my hand touched the doorknob, i already knew who it was. I opened the door, and his silhouette filled the doorway, tall, solid, standing the way only he could, as if he was holding the whole world on his shoulders.
„Nikola..." I whispered, and the next second, i was already in his arms. [Nikola a Serbian male name].
„Hey, my beautiful girl", he murmured into my ear, using that tone that always melted me more than i would ever admit.
His light, almost platinum blond short hair framed his sharp features and those dark, intense eyes... eyes that were now completely softened with warmth and tenderness as he held me tight.
I breathed in the scent of his jacket a mix of tobacco, night air, and something uniquely his.
We been together for ten months now. He was the son of a respected businessman who owned the biggest factory in Pančevo. And me, the daughter of parents who believed money could solve everything.
A perfect match, at least on paper.
But it never mattered to me the way it mattered to them. What they didnt know was his other side. The one that had nothing to do with luxury and tailored suits, but with smoke, flares, and the roar of the stadium stands.
We met at a match, when he stood next to me waving a massive flag of ultras group. From that moment on, it was like i got pulled into his world everything that came with him.
We grew so close that we even ended up at the same school. Maybe it was fate, maybe just madness.
Or maybe it was simply me, wanting at least someone to understand what it feels like to live in a golden cage and dream of breaking it.
But he also had a darker side, one that could crush me at times. He was often jealous, sometimes creating uncomfortable scenes, and every now and then, he liked to give orders.
I slipped out of our sweet embrace and pulled Nikola toward the stairs leading up to my fortress the only space where i could breathe, be myself, and not be watched or controlled by anyone.
„Where are you two going?" My dad appeared in the hallway out of nowhere. Perfect. Just perfect. His gaze slid over Nikola sharp, calculating, inspecting.
„Good evening, Mr. Pera", Nikola said, stepping forward to shake his hand. [Pera a Serbian male name].
„Good evening, young man. How s your father? I dont see him at the billiard club anymore".
Of course. My dear dad, the great lover of green tables and sticks meant for hitting tiny balls. Billiards, one of the most pointless sports ever, if you ask me.
I always preferred team sports, football, basketball, volleyball... anything with real energy and movement. Not their ego battles disguised as precision games.
Anyway, long story short, over a billiard table in some fancy five star hotel, my dad and Nikolas dad met. And yes, thats how they discovered our relationship.
You heard right. I hid it from them because i knew exactly what they do plan everything out in advance, organize every detail without asking us, like always.
I was afraid of that, even though, ironically, they didnt interfere in our relationship much in the end.
„He went on a trip to Austria for some job meeting", Nikola replied politely. „He sends you his warm regards, Mr. Pera".
Nikola had always been polite to my dad, but at the same time... tricky. He had a temper, the kind that could flare up fast. He thought like a fox, clever, quick with words, always able to slip out of any situation.
And yet, he was handsome and romantic, and that mix of sharp edges and softness was exactly what drew me to him.
„Great, you two shook hands. Now we really have to go", I muttered, rolling my eyes at Nikola so he would understand the hint and follow me.
„Wont you stay for dinner? Nikola must be hungry", Mom chimed in. Of course. She had to show up now too.
„We will order a pizza if we get hungry. I have a math test tomorrow, and Nikola came to help me study", I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
I couldnt handle another one of their evening talks about business and networking.
„Right, Nikola?" I asked, praying he go along with it even though i made it all up.
„Yes, that's right", he said calmly. „I promised Kristina, I help her with a few problems. Math comes easy to me, family genes".
It sounded convincing enough for my lovely parents.
Dad just nodded and let us head upstairs to my room.
As soon as we walked in, i closed the door behind us and finally breathed freely.
„What math... I just couldnt wait to run away from that kitchen".
I muttered with a grin as i threw myself onto my comfortable, soft black and white bed. My gaze landed on Nikola. He chuckled, took off his jacket, and leaned against the frame of my bed. [Black/White colors of Partizan club].
The tight shirt he wore with the Partizan fans logo on it clung to his body, highlighting every line of his toned muscles. Besides school and Partizan, the gym was practically his second home.
„I gotta admit, you lied to them pretty well this time. Math was never your strongest side", he teased, his eyes sliding over me.
„Ha ha, hilarious. Nikola, I swear Im gonna beat you up!" I said, pretending to be offended, even though i knew he was right.
„Whats with the threats?" he raised a brow, half smirking, half cautious.
„You better hope you never find out", I kept teasing him, knowing it annoyed him more than he liked to admit.
„Looks like I have to test my luck", he murmured, lowering his gaze as he walked toward me.
He sat beside me, close enough that our knees touched. His hand slid over my shoulder and down to my waist, leaving a trail of warmth on my bare skin.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbvKAipFbd
He kissed my cheek softly. „I love when you are dressed this naughty", he whispered, his voice a mix of laughter and challenge.
„Oh really? You like it, huh, Nikola?" I shot back, trying to hide how fast my heart was beating.
„Mhm", he answered shortly, and then our lips met. Soft at first, then with that familiar intensity that always disarmed me.
„You look gorgeous. Always. But like this... even more". His eyes were warm, but still burning with that mischievous spark so typical of him.
His gaze dropped to my short white crop top and the tight black Adidas shorts hugging my hips outlining every curve.
His lips found mine again. The kiss started gentle, then sharpened into shared, hungry need.
I felt his warm hand sliding down my back. Slowly, almost carefully, as if he wanted to memorize every part of me.
His hands, steady and sure, settled on my hips and then eased lower, to my ass. He pulled me a little closer, and i didnt resist. Honestly, i didnt even want to.
His fingers traced the curves hidden beneath my shorts while our kiss grew deeper, rougher, more desperate. Every touch lit a spark inside me. And im not gonna lie, i loved every second of it.
But then i had to stop. In time. I didnt want my parents walking in and seeing us like that. They think a thousand things... and probably lock me in a tower immediately.
I broke the kiss and, with a smile, stepped off the bed. Yeah... I had to.
„You want pizza? Im suddenly starving", I said, trying to smooth things over, even though i wasnt hungry at all.
„Why not? My stomachs starting to complain too", he said, tapping his stomach lightly. My adorable idiot.
I grabbed my phone and dialed the closest pizzeria while Nikola looked around the room like he never seen it before.
„Hello, good evening. La Famiglia Pizzeria. How can i help you?"
„I like to order a family size capricciosa. And two large cups of Coca cola".
„All right, the pizza will be ready in about ten minutes. Please send us your address".
„Great, thank you", i said, hanging up, then caught myself smiling for no reason.
Luckily, Nikola didnt notice. Otherwise he think im a lunatic smiling at nothing.
His eyes wandered across the room, taking in the walls we decorated together, stickers everywhere, a huge painted Partizan crest, and dozens of framed photos from matches.
His gaze stopped on the picture from the South Stand, where he stood next to me with his scarf raised high. We looked adorable in that one.
„Do you remember that day?" he asked firmly.
How could i forget? That was the day we shared our first kiss and made our relationship official. Feels like it was yesterday.
I remember it was his birthday, and i had totally forgotten to get him a present. So i improvised and kissed him, pretending it was the gift.
That kiss changed everything between us. After that, I was happier... and the South Stand felt even more special.
„How could i forget? The day we finally kissed and ended that torture", I teased with a smile, the memories replaying in my head like a scene from a movie.
„True, we dragged it out way too long. But what matters is that it all turned out the way it should. Right, Kristina?"
„Exactly, Nikola. Im glad it ended like that".
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and then Add to home screen.