ARCADE | Rebić

2

"Hold me tight and keep me warm
'Cause the night is getting cold."

23 December 2016

Ante always tried to spend his day off in his Croatia, to his family.

That year, the Rebić family decided to spend Christmas in the capital, Zagreb, instead of Imotski.

"Are you going somewhere?" His mother asked, noticing that he still had to take off his jacket.

Ante nodded, sliding his phone in his pocket. "I'm meeting with Ivan and Marcelo!"

"Try to not be arrested!" His mother laughed, causing the player to roll his eyes playfully before leaving.

—

The bar was quite crowded, even though it was almost three of the night. But most of the people were clearly pretty drunk.

Ivan and Marcelo left just five minutes ago, leaving Ante in front of the counter with a bottle of Heineken in his hands.

He didn't really know why he didn't leave with his friends. But contrarily to him, both Marcelo and Ivan had a family, a wife.

Ante was just single and surely didn't intend to change it anytime soon.

He looked around, until he spotted the blonde woman with a red tight dress in the corner.

She was talking with other two girls.

And then, their eyes met.

Ante couldn't help but smirk at her, raising his beer as a sign of appreciation.

The woman rolled her eyes, but still dismissed her friends to reach the counter.

Never for a second, Ante took his eyes off of her. She walked proudly and confidently, knowing perfectly to have men eyes on her at every move.

"A Cosmopolitan." She said to the bartender as she took the empty place to Ante's left, crossing her long legs. She looked at Ante, but still didn't say nothing. She just waved her hair.

"I see you're such a tease." Ante smirked, moving his stool closer to the young woman, who could have be around his age.

"Excuse me?" She raised an eyebrow, turning to him.

"Your Cosmopolitan, Miss." The bartender handed her the drink, as she started to sip it, leaving a red imprint on the glass because of her lipstick.

"I'm Ante. Ante Rebić." The player grabbed her hand and kissed it. "May I know your name?"

"Ivana. Ivana Damjanović." The blonde replied, finishing in no time her drink.

"And tell me, Ivana, are you an artist?" Ante asked with a smirk.

Ivana raised an eyebrow, clearly confused at his question. "No. Why?"

Ante got closer, until he whispered in her ear. "Because you are a masterpiece!"

At his words, Ivana couldn't help but laugh.

Ante was relieved that she didn't spill a drink on his face for his pickup line.

She put her hand on his leg and got closer, arching her back, and whispered back in his ear. "I'm moving to the dance floor. You coming or just admiring the view from here?"

She didn't have to say anything else. Ante laid his hand on her back as he got up. "I just don't admire the view. As a real bomber, I make goals." He blinked at her. "If you know what I mean."