The two wandered a bit through the winding backstreets before settling on a cozy corner restaurant, tucked between a bookstore and an art gallery. It had outdoor seating shaded by wide umbrellas, and the menu displayed pictures of juicy burgers, pasta, and fresh salads just what they needed after a long day and even longer stroll.
Once seated, they skimmed the menu briefly. A waiter came over, took their orders Nikola ordered a large cheeseburger with extra bacon, while Kris went with a chicken sandwich and fries and then left them with a glass of water each.
As they waited, the sun slowly dipped lower, casting a warm orange hue over the street.
Nikola leaned back slightly and glanced over at Kris. "You know… we've been hanging out all day, and I just realized I never asked where you're from."
Kris gave a small chuckle, resting his arms on the table. "Yeah, guess we skipped the basics. I'm from the U.S. Phoenix, Arizona."
Nikola's eyes widened a little. "Oh, so desert life?"
"Pretty much," Kris replied with a grin. "Hot as hell, but I love it. We've got dry heat, cacti, and hoop culture. Can't complain."
Nikola smiled. "Sounds intense. I'm from Serbia."
"Serbia, huh? That's dope. I've heard about the ballers coming out of there y'all grow up tough, man."
Nikola chuckled, scratching his cheek bashfully. "Yeah, something like that. Lot of outdoor courts, lots of arguing over fouls, and one rim with a crooked backboard."
Kris laughed. "Man, that sounds exactly like Phoenix except we have way more sunburns."
Their drinks arrived, and they each took a sip, the atmosphere easing even more as the city sounds blurred into a pleasant background hum.
"You ever been to the U.S.?" Kris asked casually.
"Not yet," Nikola said, looking out over the street. "But I want to. Maybe one day if basketball takes me there."
Kris nodded. "Well, if it does, you got someone to show you around Phoenix."
Nikola grinned. "Same goes if you ever end up in Serbia."
With their food arriving and the aroma filling the air, the two dug in talking in between bites, swapping stories.
The plates were halfway empty, and the chatter between them hadn't slowed down one bit. The warm breeze, the clinking of glasses from other tables, and the soft city noise created the perfect backdrop for their little meal of friendship.
As Nikola reached for his fries, Kris leaned back in his chair, sipping his soda with a nostalgic smile on his face.
"You know," Kris began, wiping his hands with a napkin, "speaking of basketball... I don't think I ever told you. I was at Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Finals."
Nikola blinked, mouth still half full. "Wait for real? The Suns vs. Bucks one?"
Kris grinned proudly. "Yup. Phoenix was on fire that year. I still remember the energy in the arena it was insane. I swear, when Devin Booker hit that turnaround jumper in the third quarter, the whole place felt like it exploded."
Nikola leaned in, now fully focused. "Bro, that's wild. Watching an NBA Finals game in person… That must've been crazy."
"It was unreal," Kris said, eyes lighting up. "We lost that game, yeah, but that didn't matter to me. I was living the dream just being there."
He paused, then smirked, clearly saving the best for last.
"And get this," he added, reaching for his phone and mimicking a scroll, "after the game, I waited near the player exit. Had my Suns jersey with me, just hoping just hoping someone would stop."
"And?" Nikola asked, now fully captivated like a kid listening to a bedtime story.
Kris nodded slowly. "Devin Booker walked out first. He was in a rush, but he looked at me just for a second. I held up my jersey and Sharpie like it was Excalibur or something… and he stopped. Signed it without saying a word."
Nikola let out an impressed whistle. "No way…"
"But it gets better," Kris said, barely hiding his excitement. "Right after that, Chris Paul came out. A few fans called his name. I didn't even try, figured he'd just walk past. But then he came over and signed my jersey too. Looked me dead in the eye and said, 'Appreciate you, young man.'"
Nikola was practically slack jawed. "Bro... Booker and CP3 signed your jersey?!"
Kris laughed, almost blushing. "I swear, I didn't sleep that night. Just laid there with that jersey folded next to me like it was sacred."
"Man… if that happened to me, I'd frame that thing and hang it in the middle of my living room," Nikola said, laughing in disbelief.
"Oh, it's framed alright. Right above my bed," Kris said proudly.
The plates were wiped clean, and the last drops of water clinked gently in their empty glasses. The air around the restaurant had grown mellow, the golden hue of sunset now slowly giving way to the soft purple of early evening.
Nikola leaned back in his seat, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. "Man… that hit the spot."
Kris chuckled, arms folded behind his head. "No kidding. Might be my favorite meal since I got here."
The two of them stayed seated, just chatting. About basketball. About life. About silly little things that didn't matter but somehow meant everything in that quiet moment between new friends.
And then
Ding.
Both their phones lit up at the same time. It was a soft chime, but it felt like thunder in their chests.
Nikola's eyes narrowed. "You got that too?"
Kris glanced at his screen. "Yeah… it's from the club."
Their laughter faded. The easy mood suddenly turned tight. Their hands moved slowly, as if both were trying to delay the inevitable. With a hesitant swipe, they opened the emails.
For a second, there was nothing but silence.
Then Nikola's eyes scanned the list fast, then slower… and then they stopped.
"…I found my name."
At the same time, Kris's voice echoed, just a breath behind.
"Dude… I made it too."
Their gazes snapped to each other, wide eyed and glowing with disbelief and excitement.
"Let's goooo!" Kris shot up slightly from his seat, his fist raised triumphantly.
Nikola couldn't hold in his grin. "We actually made it to the next day!"
They reached across the table, a firm, celebratory handshake turning into a fist bump.
"Congrats, bro," Kris said, his voice filled with genuine happiness.
"You too, man," Nikola replied. "We earned it."
As the adrenaline began to settle, they stood up, the thrill of success still buzzing in their limbs. The restaurant lights had grown a little dimmer, and outside, the first few streetlights blinked to life.
At the door, they exchanged one final look.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Kris said with a smile, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Nikola nodded, his expression determined but content. "Yeah. Day two. Let's bring it again."
With that, they went their separate ways two hopefuls with hearts full of fire, stepping into the night.