Vianočné ozdoby sa leskli na girlandách zavesených po celej telocvični strednej školy.

Christmas decorations glistened on the garlands hung all over the gymnasium of the stredná škola.

Vianočná nálada prenikala vzduchom, keď sa všetci študenti a učitelia zhromaždili na každoročnú talentovú šou.

The Christmas spirit permeated the air as all the students and teachers gathered for the annual talent show.

Na pódiu visela obrovská papierová vločka, ktorá dodávala vzduch chladivý dotyk zimy, aj keď bola telocvičňa teplá.

An enormous paper snowflake hung on the stage, adding a chilly touch of winter, even though the gym was warm.

Marek stál za oponou, držiac sa za brucho, a cítil, ako mu adrenalín prúdi cez žily.

Marek stood behind the curtain, holding his stomach, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Jeho plán bol jednoduchý, ale riskantný.

His plan was simple, yet risky.

Rozhodol sa pobaviť všetkých spolužiakov tým, že sa prezlečie za Mikuláša.

He decided to entertain all his classmates by dressing up as Mikuláš.

Ale jeho červený kostým bol obrovský, a Marek vedel, že to bude boj udržať ho pohromade.

But his red costume was enormous, and Marek knew it would be a struggle to keep it together.

Improvizoval ho pomocou starej ceruzky, lepiacej pásky a dvoch veľkých bezpečnostných špendlíkov.

He improvised, using an old pencil, adhesive tape, and two large safety pins.

Ale nešlo len o udržanie kostýmu.

But it wasn't just about keeping the costume intact.

Po celý čas mal pred očami obraz Jany, dievčatá, na ktorú nemohol prestať myslieť.

All the while, he had the image of Jana, the girl he couldn't stop thinking about, in his mind.

Chcel ju rozosmiať, chcel, aby si ho zapamätala.

He wanted to make her laugh; he wanted her to remember him.

"Ach, Marek," povedal Peter, jeho najlepší kamarát, ktorý stál vedľa neho, snažiaci sa neprepadnúť smiechu, keď videl, ako jeho priateľ bojuje s prevlekom.

"Oh, Marek," said Peter, his best friend, standing next to him, trying not to burst into laughter seeing his friend battling with the disguise.

"To je trochu šialené, vieš?

"This is a bit crazy, you know?"

""Viac šialenstvo, viac zábavy," odpovedal Marek vesele, pričom si utiahol umelú bielu bradu.

"The more madness, the more fun," Marek replied cheerfully, tightening the fake white beard.

Vedel, že to čo robí, má svoje riziká.

He knew that what he was doing had its risks.

Riaditeľka školy, pani Nováková, bola známa svojou prísnou povahou.

The school principal, pani Nováková, was known for her strict nature.

Vzduch sa naplnil napätím a potom sa zotmelo na pódiu.

The air filled with tension, and then the stage went dark.

Svetlá zasvietili a dav urobil ticho.

The lights came on, and the audience fell silent.

Bol čas.

It was time.

Marek vyšiel na pódium so širokým úsmevom, no jeho srdce bilo ako zvon.

Marek stepped onto the stage with a broad smile, but his heart was pounding like a drum.

Hneď ako sa postavil do stredu, začal predvádzať svoj vianočný tanec sprevádzaný veselou hudbou.

As soon as he stood in the center, he began performing his Christmas dance accompanied by merry music.

Bol skvelý, kým sa to nestalo.

He was doing great until it happened.

V polovici predstavenia, v najlepšom tanečnom pohybe, cítil, ako sa mu Santa nohavice začínajú šmýkať dolu.

Mid-performance, at the peak of his dance move, he felt his Santa pants starting to slip down.

Ruky hore, ruky dole, a ten pohyb spôsobil, že mu falošná brada odletela.

Hands up, hands down, and that move caused his fake beard to fly off.

Publikum videlo, že Santa je v skutočnosti Marek.

The audience saw that Santa was, in fact, Marek.

Všetci prítomní začali smiať.

Everyone present burst into laughter.

Fungovalo to.

It worked.

Všetci vrátane učiteľov sa smiali nahlas.

Everyone, including the teachers, laughed out loud.

Dokonca aj prísna pani Nováková nakoniec slabým úsmevom prikývla na jeho improvizáciu.

Even the stern pani Nováková eventually nodded with a faint smile at his improvisation.

Po skončení šou k Marekovi prišla Jana.

After the show, Jana approached Marek.

Pohľad na jej úsmev bol darom, o ktorom sníval.

Seeing her smile was the gift he had dreamed of.

„To bolo fantastické, Marek.

"That was fantastic, Marek.

Naozaj som sa bavila," povedala.

I really enjoyed it," she said.

Marek sa cítil, akoby práve oslávil najšťastnejšie Vianoce svojho života.

Marek felt as if he had just celebrated the happiest Christmas of his life.

Uvedomil si, že niekedy sa dá z problematickej situácie vyťažiť niečo dobré.

He realized that sometimes something good can come out of a challenging situation.

Niekedy, stačí len odvahu na to, postaviť sa na pódium a riskovať.

Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to stand on stage and take a risk.

Cítil, že získal nielen smiech Jana, ale aj odvahu byť sebou samým.

He felt like he had gained not only Jana's laughter but also the courage to be himself.