Marek kráčal pomaly cez Botanickú záhradu v Bratislave, obklopený farebnými listami, ktoré mu praskali pod nohami.

Marek walked slowly through the Botanická záhrada in Bratislava, surrounded by colorful leaves that crackled under his feet.

Marek miloval jeseň.

Marek loved autumn.

Miloval aj rastliny.

He also loved plants.

Dnes sa naozaj tešil.

Today, he was truly excited.

Mal sa stretnúť s Janou a Lenkou.

He was supposed to meet with Jana and Lenka.

Jana už čakala na dohodnutom mieste.

Jana was already waiting at the agreed location.

Mala so sebou piknikovú deku a pár dobrôt.

She had a picnic blanket and some treats with her.

"Ahoj, Marek!

"Hi, Marek!"

" zamávala mu.

she waved to him.

Lenka, so svojím skicákom, sedela blízko na lavičke, už vyberajúc správne ceruzky.

Lenka, with her sketchbook, was sitting nearby on a bench, already choosing the right pencils.

"Ahoj Marek!

"Hi Marek!"

" zaznelo spoza deky.

came from behind the blanket.

Všetci sa usmievali, popíjali jablkový mušt a obdivovali krásu záhrady.

Everyone was smiling, sipping apple cider, and admiring the beauty of the garden.

Marek však mal iný plán.

However, Marek had a different plan.

Chcel vidieť vzácnu rastlinu, ktorú podľa rečí priniesli do záhrady.

He wanted to see the rare plant that, according to rumors, had been brought to the garden.

"Musím ju nájsť," povedal s nadšením, ktoré ho poháňalo vpred.

"I have to find it," he said with the excitement that drove him forward.

Aj keď Jana a Lenka rozprávali, Marek sa neustále pozeral naokolo.

Even though Jana and Lenka were talking, Marek was constantly looking around.

"Pozri, Marek, tento buk má krásne zlaté listy," snažila sa Jana zaujať jeho pozornosť.

"Look, Marek, this beech tree has beautiful golden leaves," Jana tried to catch his attention.

"Áno, je pekný," povzdychol si Marek, stále však myslel na vzácnu rastlinu.

"Yes, it's nice," sighed Marek, but he was still thinking about the rare plant.

"Prosím, pomôžeš mi nájsť správnu farbu?

"Please, can you help me find the right color?"

" spýtala sa Lenka, mávajúc ceruzkou pred jeho tvárou.

Lenka asked, waving a pencil in front of his face.

Marek len kývol hlavou, no už sa ponáral hlbšie do záhrady.

Marek just nodded but was already delving deeper into the garden.

Vial jemný vietor a Marek sa k nim otočil len na chvíľu.

A gentle breeze blew, and Marek turned to them just for a moment.

"Idem sa ešte raz pozrieť," ospravedlnil sa a rýchlo zmizol pomedzi stromy.

"I'm going to take another look," he apologized and quickly disappeared among the trees.

Lenka a Jana si vymenili pohľady.

Lenka and Jana exchanged glances.

Boli sklamané.

They were disappointed.

Vydali sa naspäť na piknikovú deku.

They returned to the picnic blanket.

Po chvíli si Marekovu neprítomnosť začali viac uvedomovať.

After a while, they began to notice Marek's absence more.

"Marek sa možno naozaj viac zaujíma o rastliny ako o nás," povedala Lenka smutne.

"Maybe Marek is really more interested in plants than in us," said Lenka sadly.

Medzitým Marek našiel, čo hľadal.

Meanwhile, Marek found what he was looking for.

Pred ním stála ona – vzácna rastlina so striebornými listami a modrými kvetmi.

In front of him stood it – a rare plant with silver leaves and blue flowers.

Srdce mu poskočilo.

His heart skipped a beat.

Ale niečo ho trhlo.

But something jerked him back.

Chytil teplé listy rastliny, obzrel sa okolo a pocítil prázdnotu.

He touched the warm leaves of the plant, looked around, and felt emptiness.

Jeho priatelia už dávno odišli.

His friends had long since left.

Smutný a znepokojený Marek sa rozhodol.

Sad and disturbed, Marek made a decision.

Bude vyššia hodnota v rastlinách alebo vo vzťahoch?

Would there be greater value in plants or in relationships?

Rozhodol sa pre druhé.

He decided on the latter.

Rýchlo sa rozbehol naspäť k deke.

He quickly ran back to the blanket.

"Prepáčte, dievčatá.

"I'm sorry, girls.

Vážne sa ospravedlňujem.

I really apologize.

Nie je to len o rastlinách.

It's not just about plants.

Je to o nás všetkých," povedal, sklonil hlavu a čakal na odpoveď.

It's about all of us," he said, bowed his head, and waited for a response.

Jana a Lenka sa na seba usmiali.

Jana and Lenka smiled at each other.

"V poriadku.

"It's okay.

Vieme, čo pre teba znamenajú rastliny.

We know what plants mean to you.

Ale aj my pre teba niečo znamenáme," odpovedala Jana jemne.

But we also mean something to you," replied Jana gently.

Spoločne dokončili piknik, smiali sa a Marek si uvedomil, že niekedy tie najcennejšie poklady nájdeme vo chvíľach, ktoré zdieľame s ostatnými.

Together, they finished the picnic, laughed, and Marek realized that sometimes the most valuable treasures are found in the moments we share with others.

Naučil sa, že medzi jeho vášňou a priateľmi môže byť rovnováha.

He learned that there can be a balance between his passion and his friends.

A v ten jesenný deň v Bratislave sa cítil byť viac naplnený ako kedykoľvek predtým.

And on that autumn day in Bratislava, he felt more fulfilled than ever before.