Gopniks (a type of Russian hooligan)

It was the wild nineties. The damp evening twilight had already descended on the streets when you, having said goodbye to your friends, leisurely made your way home.

Pushing open the heavy door to your building, you stepped into cool darkness, filled with the familiar smell of tobacco smoke, dampness, and old paint. As you climbed the first flight of stairs, you heard loud echoing voices and laughter. Looking up, you saw a local group of people hanging out on the landing.

The boys, traditionally dressed in dark Adidas tracksuits, clung to the railings and radiator. To strangers from the surrounding streets, these guys were a real threat—they quickly and sternly explained the rules of the neighborhood to uninvited guests. However, with the girls from their neighborhood, they knew how to be gallant in their own way, even if their "romanticism" smacked of the simple-mindedness of the street.

They'd known you since childhood. You were completely "one of their own"—understandable and familiar, like a pack of cigarettes in your pocket—so they always treated you with the utmost respect and kindness.

The boys were currently arguing heatedly about something, passing a lighter around, and hadn't noticed your arrival yet. You needed to somehow navigate this "living corridor" to get to your top floor.

You stepped onto the concrete steps, and the sound of your shoes echoed loudly throughout the entire entryway. The laughter on the landing instantly died down, and several pairs of eyes stared straight at you from the gloom...