The next morning, Johan woke up with a smile.
Johan: "Man... can't wait for Nadya's party. Gotta look sharp today."
As he got ready, his mom peeked into his room.
Mom: "Where you goin', Johan?"
Johan: "My friend's throwin' a birthday party, Ma."
Mom: "Oh... so you headin' out today?"
Johan: "Yeah, Ma. I'll be back later, okay? Please take care while I'm gone."
Mom: "Be safe, son."
Johan: "I will."
He left the house and took a taxi straight to Nadya's place. When he arrived, she opened the door, surprised.
Johan (smiling): "Got you somethin'..."
He handed her a teddy bear and a box of chocolates.
Nadya (smiling big): "Aww, Johan! This is so cute. Thank you!"
Johan chuckled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
The party started, music blasted, people danced, everyone was having a good time. But as the night came to an end and everyone left, Johan stayed behind.
Nadya: "You're still here?"
Johan: "Uhh… yeah. I was wonderin'... maybe we could grab a bite?"
Nadya: "Sure. I'd love that."
They hopped in a taxi.
Nadya: "So… you working now?"
Johan: "Yeah, doin' delivery stuff. Courier type thing."
Nadya: "No wonder you got money now, huh?"
Johan (laughs): "Somethin' like that..."
At the diner...
Johan: "What you want?"
Nadya: "Fried rice. You?"
Johan: "Same."
They ate, laughed, everything felt peaceful for a second… until Johan's phone buzzed. It was the boss.
Boss (text): "Get over here now. Got a Glock and 10 kilos to drop off."
Johan (calls): "Yo boss… can I be a lil' late? I'm with someone right now—someone I really care about."
Boss: "So now you're choosing some chick over your job? You wanna get fired?"
Johan: "No no! I'm comin' now!"
Nadya: "Everything okay?"
Johan: "Yeah, boss just gave me a last-minute run. I gotta go."
Nadya: "It's fine. I can get home."
She left. Johan sighed.
Johan: "Damn, can't even catch a break."
He headed to the gang hideout.
Johan: "Where's the stuff?"
Boss: "Here. Glock 19 and 10 kilos of meth. Don't mess it up."
Johan: "How much I gettin'?"
Boss: "Same as always."
Johan: "Bet."
Johan made his way to the location. When he handed over the bag, the buyer grabbed his wrist tight.
Buyer: "You're under arrest."
Johan (eyes widen): "Hell no."
In a flash, Johan pulled his Glock and shot the undercover cop in the head. Blood splattered. Sirens howled nearby.
Johan (murmurs): "Sh*t… it was a setup."
He ran, fast, cutting through alleys and streets. Two more cops chased him, guns drawn.
Cops: "Drop the weapon!"
Johan fired wildly behind him—hit both. He didn't stop running until he disappeared into the woods. Hours later, panting, he made it back to the hideout.
Johan: "It was a trap. Cops set us up."
Boss: "Goddamn! Lost everything. But... you got out?"
Johan: "Had to kill 'em."
Boss: "Good. No witnesses, no problems. They don't know who you are."
Johan: "So... no bonus?"
Boss: (throws crumpled bill) "Here. Ten bucks."
Johan: "Bro, I almost died out there."
Boss: "And I lost ten kilos. We all take Ls."
Johan rolled his eyes and walked home. He crashed onto his bed, exhausted. Morning came, and he got a message from Nadya.
Text from Nadya: "Johan... my dad's dead."
Johan rushed to her house.
Johan: "What happened?!"
Nadya (sobbing): "He was on a drug bust last night… but the guy killed him. He never made it home."
Johan froze. His hands trembled. His stomach twisted.
He said nothing.
When he got home, he locked himself in his room, eyes full of regret.
Johan: "None of this would've happened if I stayed out of this life. But how do I quit... when my mom still needs meds?"
His phone rang. It was the boss again...