Love's Requiem

Niko and Luka stayed till the evening when they left. And for the rest of the days I talked to them both and we’d all go out as well. I met Niko’s wife who couldn’t have been more perfect for him. She was a real sweetheart, and I can see why he married her. The 21st Luka had left to go back to Zadar, and before I knew it, it was the 23rd and my mother; grandma and myself were going insane getting everything ready for the next day.

“Isabella where’s the Christmas bread?” My mother shouted from the kitchen while I was inside the living room watching TV with Alex.

“Why am I always the suspect when it goes missing?” I shouted.

“I don’t know maybe its cause every Christmas you’d either piss yourself, make yourself puke or fake sick so you could come home to eat it before anyone?” Niko asked coming downstairs.

“It’s hiding in that big bread holder in the dining room.” I sighed, making Alex laugh. “Don’t judge its hella good!” I defended.

“I’m sure it is.” He nodded, as he played with my hand.
It was almost midnight, and the three of us were watching a movie together well Niko and Alex were, I was falling asleep with my head in Alex’s lap. Just as I felt myself begin to drift asleep my cell phone vibrated on the floor.

“Argh!” I exclaimed falling off the couch as I went to grab it.

“Who is it?” Alex asked me while I rubbed my elbow that I had hit when I fell.

“Don’t know yet.” I told him grabbing the phone and opening the screen.

The message was from Niko, asking me to come outside in like 20 minutes.

“Nothing important.” I lied, not knowing what to tell him.

“I think I’m going to go up to bed this movie blows.” Alex announced, “You coming?” He asked while I replied to Niko’s
message.

“I’m wide awake now, so I guess I’ll finish it.” I told him.

“Alright, night Bella.” He told me kissing my forehead.

“Night Alex.” I told him as he went up stairs.
I continued watching the movie with my brother until my phone buzzed again next to me.

“Where are you going?” He asked me as I got up heading to the door.

“Outside quick, I’ll be right back.” I whispered, zipping up my hoodie and heading for the door.

“Okay,” I heard him mumbled as I carefully unlocked and opened the door making sure I didn’t make any noise.

As I slipped out the door, I was hit by a huge gust of ice-cold wind, and realized it had started to snow. When I closed the door behind me quietly and looked up I saw Niko walking up to the fence.

“Everything okay?” I asked him as he came up to me giving me a hug.

“Everything is fine.” He smiled, “I have something for you.”

“That couldn’t wait till tomorrow or something?” I asked dumbfounded.

“Oh come on, remember how you always used to sneak me in late at night?” He chuckled, as he pulled something out of the bag he had in his hand.

“What’s that?”

“Something I owed you.” He smiled, handing me the cloth.

I held it up to see what it was, his jersey from when he played for Dinamo Zagreb, his first major team.

“I can’t take this.” I told him shaking my head.

“It’s yours remember I promised you the first jersey I ever get if I got on Zagreb or Split? There it is.”

“This is something you should have.”

“I have another one, don’t worry about it. I want you to have this one. Please take it?” He pleaded.

“Fine,” I sighed “Thank you.” I told him, hugging him.

“Your welcome, now go back inside before you get sick.” He told me kissing the top of my head. “Merry Christmas Isabella.” He added.

“Merry Christmas Niko.” I nodded as I slipped back inside after watching him go back to his car.

“So?” My brother asked me as I locked the door and headed back to the living room, “What do you have there?” He asked noting the jersey in my hand.

I opened it up and held it up for him to see.

“He gave you his jersey?” He exclaimed.

“Yeah.” I nodded sitting on the couch and holding it in my lap.

“What are you going to tell Alex?”

“What do you mean?”

“Gee it looks so normal that your ex boyfriend shows up after midnight to give you a very meaningful present.”

“He’ll understand, and besides I’ll just put it in a plastic bag and then in my bag that’s in your room.”

“So pretty much not tell him?”

“Not right now, no.”

“That has bad idea all over it Bella just be honest with him.”

“Fine I’ll leave it in our room if he asks I’ll tell him.”

“Much better.” He nodded as I stood up.

“I’m calling it a night, see you in the morning bro.” I told him as I headed upstairs to sleep.