Injured - Kris Guštin

CHAPTER 28

Kris's Point of View

Okay so today is January the 16th, meaning, my birthday. I'm now 24.

This morning I woke up with tones of messages on my phone. Katrina was the first, even before my mother, to wish me a happy birthday (and she did it Slovenian, I was quite impressed); she did at the exact minute I turned 24. I couldn't help but smiling. She was so sweet!

I took time to answer to everyone, calling my family, my grandma in Amsterdam (she made me swear to visit her more often).

Eventually, I called Katrina. I wanted to call her last, like that I will have all the time to speak as much as I want with her.

"Hej, vse nalboljše dragi!" She had a radiant smile on her lips, making her even more beautiful. Each time I see her this happy, I'm falling for her even more. And she is really getting better at learning Slovenian. (Hi, all the best [for your birthday] darling!)

"Hvala!" I giggled.

"So, what are you doing on this big day?" She asked, bending so she was really in front of the camera.

"The boys have planned something at the studio. I'm not sure what, though." She laughed at my face. I don't know why, but I suspect her to be part of their plan. "But for now, I just want to chill here, with you."

"That seems to be a good idea!" She nodded.

We just talked together for hours. It was so rare, both of us having free time at the same time. We call every day, but it was usually short, each of us has its separate life. I just enjoyed hearing her, speaking and laughing for this long. That was really a blessed time.

She eventually had to go. I sighed. I just wanted her to be by my side, at every and any time. Someday I hope... For now, I just have to think that in 4 days, she will be with me, in my arms. 4 days to wait.

"Hey man what are you doing here, depressing on your couch?"

"Hi Bojan," I looked up. It was really in his habits to just pop up from nowhere and enter here like he was at his place. Not that I minded, of course. Just, sometimes I got scared when he appeared behind me.

"Come on, she'll be there in a few days. But before that... you come with me!" I had to follow him. If not he'll be like an annoying little girl. So I just put my shoes and took a thick coat (winter in Ljubljana is not a joke).

He drove back to the studio. I wanted to be careful about every detail, but I didn't see anything strange. Well, only Bojan's grin was suspect in fact. I walked right behind him and entered the building.

Everything was normal, which made me sigh in relief. I could hear the drums. So it was just a normal day.

We approached and opened the door of the studio. Then suddenly everything became black. I didn't move though, and just sighed with a grin.

"You seriously put a bag on my head?"

"That's because Jan's not ready!" murmured Jure.

"I am!" He exclaimed. I heard Nace laughing.

Jure removed the bag, so I could see again. Nace used one of these confetti canons on me. I made a step back, spiting out the confettis I had in my mouth. Jan approached me with a party hat.

"Katrina's special request," he shrugged with a laugh. Of course. I'm sure she'll add the pictures to her photobook. My hair was filled with confetti. I didn't wait to put some in Jan's and Nace's hair too.

We sat and took a few beers. It was really calm. I liked partying, but even more just spend a peaceful time with friends. We laughed, took weird photos together (that will probably end on Instagram, but I didn't mind).

At some point, they turned the light off. Jure disappeared for a minute and came back with a big cake, with lightened candles. I smiled as they sang happy birthday. We celebrate each of our birthday every year; and every year I remember how lucky I am to have such great friends.

I blowed up my candles. Now I'm really 24. A year older...

"Here!" Jan handed me a bag. I raised an eyebrow. What have they found this year?

I opened the bag, and pulled out a pullover.

"Your favourite has so much holes it's not even bearable," Bojan grinned, justifying their choice.

"You're right," I giggled. I quickly changed to put it on. It was perfect. "Thanks guys."

"Oh, and this of course!" Nace gave me a bottle of Jack Daniels. We all laughed. It was like a tradition now. We opened it and all drank directly from the bottle.

"Now you have to open this!" Jure gestured to the wall, on which was lying a big box.

"What is it?" I genuinely asked.

"Don't know," Bojan said, shrugging.

"Amalia gave it to me from Katrina," explained Jure. "But I don't know what is it. She kept the secret really well," he grinned.

"Okay now I'm curious," I said, taking the box on my lap. "Cause she told me I will get my present later."

On the side of the box it was written "SURPRISE" in every rainbow colours. I saw Bojan starting to record. I grinned, and opened the box. The boys all gathered around me. I guessed they were curious too. Katrina already really surprised us on Jan's and Bojan's birthdays.

"Arrrrgh," tones and tones of things popped up from the box. We had to cover our faces till it has stopped.

"This... those are origamis?" Wondered Nace, taking one of the exploding things in his hand.

"I guess," agreed Bojan. He was nearly entirely covered with origamis. I was not better, they joined the confetti that remained in my hair.

There was a small piece of paper, that rested on the paper that surrounded the present. It was written in Dutch, so I translated.

"It says 'I'm really proud of it 😊'," I giggled, and looked at the verso. "Oh 'And yes, it took me 3 days to fill it entirely. You're welcome."

"She's really crazy!" Jan laughed. I nodded, a big grin on my lips. She was my crazy girl.

I removed the thin silk paper and discovered a guitar case. It was all painted; it was sublime. Really detailed, precise, not too much, just perfect.

"Whoa, it must have taken days to do it..." I whispered, admiring all the small drawings. I opened the case, just to see better the details.

I didn't expect to contain an actual guitar. It was even more beautiful than the case. The drawings were matching. Now that I look at it, it reminds me of something...

"It's the one I tried on the Music Fest!" I said with an excited tone. The boys laughed, while I took the guitar to test it.

"Hey look, there's still that there," Jure pointed a small plastic bag. I took it. It was personalised guitar picks, made in epoxy I imagine, but I don't know much about these things. She's way better than me on craft things.

"That's amazing..." I toned the guitar, and did a few chords. It sounded amazing. It was just perfect. "Thanks Katrina," I smiled at Bojan's cam.

It was a really incredible, memorable, nearly perfect birthday. It would have been totally perfect if you were by my side now, moja Katrina.

Hi!

i'm still not really advanced in Slovenian (it makes only a month I started), so if one of you could tell me if the parts are correctly written? Oh, and if I can ask too, do you know any reference/ textbooks I could use to teach myself? I found some courses on the Internet, but I'm not sure it's the best way. Maybe it would be better if I had a more "official" source to learn...

Anyway, thanks for reading, I love you all my darlings <33