Nikolay Yarikj

8:34 AM A pool of light seeps in through the curtains, casting its warm radiance on a peacefully sleeping figure in his bed. The morning birds start to call, a harmony of chirps soothing to the ear. The figure flutters his eyes open slowly, answering to the natural wake up call, sitting up to stretching and rubbing his eyes.

“Ahhhhh… My muscles need this, man I do need to stretch more, I’m only getting older…”

Wait a minute. Older?

The man’s eyes widened in realization, stumbling out of bed and to the calendar checking the date.

27.3.1999. Today is the date. The day of Oksan Rhyosa’s 37th birthday.

11:45 AM

Balloons were filled with Helium. Plates and cutlery were set up. The oven alarm dinged.

Oksan, his younger sister Ekaterina, and friend Timofey who slept on a mattress in the laundry room for a couple days helped set up the party before the guests arrived. The ping pong table was unfolded, the TV at the ready with various video tapes of different genres and most importantly, Oksan’s signature delights were being baked fresh.

“I’m hyped man! Can’t wait for Vladamir to get here so we can share a drink!” Timofey said, barely hiding his excitement as he moved some trash away.

“Haha! You sure do love your liquor man. Anyways big bro, what’s the birthday boy's special cake going to be?” Ekaterina asked as she tied a balloon to the dining table.

“You know what it is! The Herman Blackforest Cherry cake, it’s my best recipe, I’m sure you guys love it right?” Oksan asked enthusiastically, stirring his cake mix in the kitchen.

“Hundred percent right with you there mate!”

“Mhm! Best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth!”

Timofey nodded as with Ekaterina, there was no competition with this cake, Herman Blackforest cherries mixed with the passion and expertise of one such as Oksan created a delicacy that no one else could replicate.

“Since there’s no objections, let’s hurry up and finish the preparations, our friends arrive at 12 and now it’s a quarter to, chop chop!”

The trio shared a laugh as they finalized their preparations, Timofey put the drinks in the fridge, Ekaterina cleaned away the rest of the garbage and Oksan put in his blackforest cherry cake batter in the oven.

12:02 PM

The sounds of cars parking on the driveway, the metal gate sliding open, the greetings and cheers of the visitors as they are welcomed in through the front door.

The first to come was the botanist that set up shop next to Oksan’s bakery followed up by his close friend Vladamir.

“Hey guys, so glad to be invited!”

“Sup lads, I smell cake!”

Then came Katya, a loyal customer that brought a few friends of her own, two of which seemed to have a thing for each other.

“Greetings Rhyosas! You know Svetlana here already, but this is Randrei and Ella, I’ve been telling you about them.

“Greetings guys~!”

“What's up.”

“Randrei… greet them properly…"

"But you came here for free ca-"

Ella put her finger on his mouth, hushing her loyal boyfriend, Randrei. She awkwardly chuckled it out.

"Sorry about that... My boyfriend likes to joke around a lot."

Oksan laughs it off, reassuring her.

The second last guests that came were more loyal customers that had supported Oksan’s business early on last year, and Veronika and Pavel who was also a friend too.

“Whoa, such a nice house you’ve got here guys!”

“Yo buddies! Glad I made it just in time for the cake, haha!”

And then there was that man.

“Oh yeah, I brought a friend too, this is Nikolai!”

“Oh… Hey there… I heard from Pavel that it’s your birthday.”

Nikolai smiled awkwardly, he looked a bit tense and awkward, strange behavior for a middle-aged man attending a simple birthday party, reaching out for a handshake with Oksan as a friendly greeting, who reciprocated it back.

“...I also heard you were making a cake too, so I wanted to try them for myself, hehe...”

“Haha! Anything I bake is good I guarantee! Please, come inside and sit down!”

As Nikolai was let in and the door shut behind him, Oksan unknowingly sealed his fate, letting a man with an ulterior motive in. One way or another, Oksan would have to pay his debt, left long overdue, and if he won’t pay in cash, then his blood will do just fine.

12:48 PM

As the others dug into the pre-party cakes and pastries, Randrei was alone at the bathroom, sitting in the toilet relieving his stomach, thinking of whatever he can to pass the time. By the time he's done, he remembers something. Ella's medical checkup is today.

He goes out straight towards the living room, and he sees Katya and Alina talking happily. They're eating a slice of Strawberry Blast, talking like they've know each other for a long time though they just met today. They seem interested in each other. He could see the glee in both of their eyes, but now's not the time to look at others. He approaches Katya.

"Katya, have you seen Ella around? I took a shit and now I can't find her."

"No, I haven't seen her around actually... I think she's outside."

"Thanks, man."

He proceeds outside, where he would encounter Pavel and Nikolai talking. Nikolai's nervousness is clear. Randrei then sees Ekaterina and Ella talking outside on lawn chairs. They both see Randrei coming towards them and out of shock and flusteredness, Ekaterina took off her glasses. He could be the man she was looking for, but he belonged in other hands.

"And this was who your brother was talking about! Randrei, Ekaterina. Ekaterina, Randrei."

Ella said, with her hands signing to each person as soon as she mentioned their names to have both of them know each other.

Randrei gives a weird look before whispering in her ear.

"Have you forgotten your appointment? We need to check that fever out because it'll just start again."

Ella's mind flew past her past demands with Randrei, finally remembering she had a doctor's appointment today. She honestly forgot, due to the fact Katya invited her to the party.

"Oh!"

"I'm so sorry, Ekaterina! Me and Randrei have to leave early, I honestly forgot I had a doctor's appointment."

Ella nervously chuckled as she stood.

"It's fine! I hope you come visit our shop soon, though."

Ekaterina said, promoting her brother's shop at the same time.

"No worries, we will! I might just have a lot more to tell you soon!"

Ella said as she waved to Ekaterina and walked away with her arm around Randrei's neck, signifying her love for him. The couple talk as they head to their car and exit the premises. Ekaterina could do nothing but sigh.

Before the couple left, Ella grabbed a few minicakes and a ton of pastries for her and Randrei.

12:56 PM

The sounds of clapping, the voices singing happy birthday in unison. The blowing of candles and cheering which followed after.

“Oksan! Make a wish! Wish for a million- NO! A billion noubles!”

"Witches Brew!... Hic..."

“C’mon guys, something a little more realistic…”

“More loyal customers!”

“Yeah, something like that!”

“Hahahaha! These are some good suggestions you have friends! Keep them coming!”

The dining room was lively and full of wild chatter, most people adorned their party hats, smiles and grins that seemed to beam brightly, made possible through temporary respite from the outside world that this party seemed to offer, almost everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

Almost that is.

12:57 PM

The room pulsed with laughter and chatter — birthday hats tilted slightly sideways, drinks half-spilled on paper plates, the scent of fresh blackforest cake dancing with the heat of candlelight.

His eyes drifted across the room. He wasn’t laughing. He hadn’t been the entire party. He barely spoke. His eyes were sunken, expression hollow, knuckles white from how tightly he clutched over his chest. And then there was Oksan, laughing like a child, raising a toast with frosting still on his fingers. A man like that shouldn't look so free.

The Nubagami, had warned him once. They didn't warn him twice.

“You owe 3 million. You don’t have it. He does. Handle it.”

He never even knew Oksan personally. But he knew the face. Knew the debt. Knew the photograph given to him in that cold envelope — stapled to a receipt. An unpaid favor. A long-rotting ledger. Oksan’s name at the top. but this was the sake for the safety of his Aunt as they held her for his consequences. “Kill him,” they said. “And maybe we’ll pretend we never met.”

Nikolai stared at the celebration. The joy. The human warmth.

It made him sick to his stomach.

He had rehearsed this. So many nights. In the garage. In hotel bathrooms. Whispering the words he might say before the shot. But now — now it felt... wrong. His hand hovered near his ankle. His fingers grazed the grip of the K1911.

Inside, his gut twisted. Not with fear but with guilt. Still, his knees locked up. His mouth dried. He looked around at the crowd one last time — and no one noticed him.

Except maybe Pavel, who glanced back, then shrugged it off.

But Nikolai was already spiraling inward.

“What if I’m the bad one?” “What if I’m the only one who hasn’t moved on?” “What if I’m about to destroy something innocent just to feed my anger?”

His heart pounded, and his thoughts screamed. But then Oksan laughed again — a deep, hearty laugh that dug under Nikolai’s skin.

That was it.

The laughter reminded him of betrayal. Of cowardice. Of the promises broken in the dead of winter. Nikolai’s guilt hardened into resolve.

12:58 PM

“This ain’t what I signed up for,” Nikolai muttered to himself. His mind drifted to the Nubagami, the Yakuza faction that now had their hand around his throat. A debt he’d failed to pay. They gave him a way out. kill the other debtor. “The baker,” they called him.

He thought it would be easy. Point, shoot, walk. But looking around the room now, hearing the genuine laughter, watching a kid run around chasing a balloon, feeling the buzz of music and joy in the air… it hit different.

“He doesn’t deserve this…”

The cheer and laughter reached a crescendo as Oksan stood up with a slice of cake in hand, grinning, wiping whipped cream from his mustache. “Alright, alright! Let’s not forget the most important part of the day—me!”

Laughter erupted again.

Nikolai took one slow step forward, careful to stay just behind Pavel and Katya. His eyes twitched. Oksan was laughing. Still smiling. But then — a noise. A metallic click.

It was so subtle, it could’ve been a fork hitting a plate. But Pavel, standing near the other side of the dining table, turned his head slightly.

Nikolai pulled out a K1911 hidden in the ankle of his boot.

His hands didn’t tremble. His breath was still. Time slowed.

One step. Two steps forward. His boots barely made a sound on the ceramic flooring. Oksan was still grinning from ear to ear.

Nikolai raised the pistol. The other guests barely had enough time to recognise what was in his hand.

“I’m sorry.”