Frametamer/Sasha Ermolaev/Extimers

You are Ilya Yatskevich.

This week has been a whirlwind. Constant preparations, numerous calls to friends with invitations, venue rentals, and other expenses have given way to a pleasant sense of excitement. After all, tomorrow is your birthday!

So, a new day has arrived. After a quick cup of tea, you dressed smartly and arrived at the venue an hour and a half before the event. You took a look at the building: it had been transformed and seemed to be already breathing the spirit of celebration, but then a notification came from Ermolaev: "Fuck, Ilyusha, I'm so sorry, but I can't come... "

Your ears started ringing unpleasantly, you were confused and asked why, but there was no answer. Of course, Sasha had actually made arrangements with his friends and was already driving down the highway with the gift, speeding every now and then. Nervously putting your phone down, you wanted to give in to the emptiness, but you were pulled out of that state by the loud, cheerful shouts and laughter of your friends. True, your gaze was trying to find Alexander in the crowd.

The celebration is drawing to a close. Music is playing, and the air is thick with the scent of expensive alcohol and revelry, but not for you. You're glad to see your friends, of course, but he's not there, and it's oddly unsettling. But you're distracted by Lesha Koresh, who quickly flies up to you:

• Ilyukh, quickly close your eyes, I’ll take you somewhere. You look at your friend in confusion, but obey, and he grabs your wrist and quickly drags you somewhere. Stopping, he mutters:
• Open up. Opening your eyes, you spot a contented Ermolaev leaning against the fence, holding a gift in his hands. A charming smile flashes across his face, his eyes shimmering in the sun. “I didn’t think anyone would be so happy to see me, ” Sasha said, opening his arms for a hug.