Wednesday late morning Nina walked into the cozy café where the Bangkok Digital Nomads were gathering for their weekly brunch. They met at a different location each time to explore various dining spots. This week's choice delighted Nina, and she was already planning to bring Emmi here. Then she remembered there might not be an opportunity for that and felt a pang of sadness.

Approaching the table the hostess had indicated, Nina realized she was among the first to arrive. At the head of the table sat a woman in her forties, with sleek black hair and meticulously manicured nails. At the opposite end, a young man and woman in their twenties were deep in animated conversation, oblivious to Nina's arrival. The black-haired woman looked up from her phone and nodded briefly at Nina, who took a seat next to her out of solidarity and introduced herself. However, after sharing her name – Miryam – she returned her attention to her phone, ignoring Nina.

Just as she was about to pull out her own phone to escape the awkwardness, she heard someone excitedly call her name. She looked up to see Noah approaching, his face beaming as he tilted his head back.

"Nina? Is that really you? It's been, what, two months? You have to tell me all about the black hole you've been hiding in!"

Nina stood up, hands covering her ears, mouth agape. "Noah? What the f..Tesla!? What are you doing here?"

He took a seat next to her, absently waving at the others at the table. "Miryam," he acknowledged briefly before turning back to Nina. "Bangkok Digital Nomads, hello. I'm a digital nomad. I live in Bangkok. If I remember correctly, the last time I saw you was at a similar event," he said with a wide smile.

"You might be right! Wow, I'm so glad to see you," Nina noticed two more people approaching the table and waved at them. "Do you know the organizer? I saw the announcement on Facebook and commented that I wanted to attend. Some guy named Trevor slid into my DMs with the address, and that's all I know. Have you been to these meetups before?"

Noah leaned in closer so she could hear him better. "Yeah I actually saw your comment yesterday. I used to come more often in the past, now I only attend when the location suits me and I'm not too busy. There's usually a core group of five or six, plus a few new faces each time. How's life? Hey, how did the project with Bo go? Is it done? I haven't heard from him in a while. Is he in Bangkok?"

Nina's stomach churned. She had hoped the meetup would distract her from the persistent uncertainties that tumbled in the back of her mind like dirty clothes in a never ending washing cycle.

"Ah, the project is done, yes. I think Bo is still in town. I need new projects though, which is why I'm here. I got too absorbed in that thing while I should have been looking for new work simultaneously," she said, turning to look at the newcomers. Most seats have now been occupied. Noah greeted a few more people he knew but seemed eager to continue talking with Nina, repositioning himself to face her fully.

"Hey, we'll find you something, no worries. Trevor always has extra work; I'm sure he can pass something your way. You know," he said, touching his chin and pouting, "you never properly thanked me for setting up that initial collaboration,"

Nina felt uncomfortable ignoring the other participants at the table, sensing they were waiting for their attention to start the event.

"Let's talk about it after the meetup?" she suggested, slightly confused.

Soon, one of the men who had arrived amongst the last people introduced himself as Trevor and began the meeting. He briefly mentioned that he had been a web designer in Bangkok for several years and started organizing meetups a few years ago. He proceeded by asking everyone to introduce themselves. With her heart pounding, Nina listened as others at the table spoke about themselves with apparent ease.

When it was her turn, she swallowed hard and, as usual in such situations, shared the bare minimum about herself, then turned to Noah, signaling it was his turn.

"I forgot how shy you are," Noah whispered later when the introductions were wrapping up. She laughed nervously and adjusted her shirt over her shoulders.

"I'm not shy; I just don't like talking about myself in front of a group of strangers who are all super focused on every word I say," she tried to explain.

Noah nodded, opening one of the menus Miryam had handed out. "Because you're shy," he restated. Then his eyes lit up. "Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you come out tonight with me and Trevor? Miryam said she would come as well. I can introduce you to Trevor, and we can see if there are any interesting projects for you."

Nina didn't feel like going out at all. She had spent the past few nights with Netflix and a pint of self-pity ice cream and was looking forward to continuing that routine. "Where are you guys going?" she asked reluctantly. After all, ice cream wouldn't pay for itself.

"A new club, Spunk, is opening tonight. It's pretty close to Lumpini Park. You have to come. It'll be great. And a fantastic networking opportunity," Noah winked.

"Maybe," Nina considered. Miryam then joined the conversation, asking Noah if he would pick her up by car, and continued to occupy his attention for the next few minutes. Nina glanced around, hoping to find another friendly face to strike up a conversation with. She tried to remember what the German guy sitting opposite her did for a living but couldn't. Her anxiety about her own introduction had made her oblivious to everyone who spoke after her.

Noah patted her on the shoulder. "I've arranged with Miryam to pick her up at nine. She lives relatively close to you, so I'll swing by your place first. Be ready by 8:45, okay?"

Nina had planned to weigh the decision about going out tonight, but with everything already arranged, it was easier to just agree. She nodded.

"Okay if I invite Emmi too? I think you've met her." She knew Emmi would be thrilled. She had asked her to go out twice in the last week, but Nina had been too downhearted and declined both times. Now she found a way to combine business with pleasure.

Noah frowned. "Okay, I guess. Where does she live?"

After lunch, some of the group headed to a nearby coworking space, but Nina said her goodbyes and decided to go home. She'd had enough socializing for one day, and if she planned to go out the same evening, she wanted a few hours to herself. On her way home, she texted Emmi about the potential outing, and as she had anticipated, Emmi was ecstatic.

That's the spirit, girlfriend! Let's paint the town red tonight. This might be one of our last nights together in Bangkok, we have to make it count. Emmi wrote.

Nina initially feared she wouldn't match Emmi's enthusiasm, but soon changed her mind. Maybe a wild night out was exactly what she needed to break out of the dark thoughts that had entangled her since leaving the dog park the previous evening.

---

When evening came, all Nina wanted to do was to lie on her bed with her hands above her head and listen to music. She wanted to lose herself in thoughts of Bo, dreaming and ignoring the fact that she had left so abruptly the last time she saw him and hadn't heard from him since. If she found herself alone with him again soon, she decided she would talk things out. She hated the idea of a "what are we" discussion. But the anxiety of not knowing was gnawing at her.

Emmi lived near the club where Noah was taking them; they arranged to meet in front. Nina prepared reluctantly, listening to Lewis Capaldi's album and checking her phone every two minutes, hoping for some message from Bo. Soon it was already 8:30, and Nina was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when the intercom buzzed. She wasn't expecting Noah for a while more, so she wasn't sure who it could be. It was him.

"Hey Nina, I'm early. Can I come up? I'd rather we not wait outside Miryam's building, she's never ready on time." Noah's premature arrival irritated her. Her place was in its usual state of disarray, and she wasn't in the mood for visitors.

"Sure, come up," she said, unable to think of a better solution. Noah soon entered, bringing with him the strong scent of cologne. Nina coughed.

"Uh, is that what you're wearing?" he asked, settling himself on Nina's tiny couch without removing his shoes. Nina looked down at her black harem pants and purple sleeveless top.

"What's wrong with it?" she asked. "We're not going anywhere super fancy, are we?"

Noah pursed his lips into a horizontal line. "I don't know, I thought you'd dress up a bit. After all, we're going out in Bangkok, and this isn't just any night."

Nina thought about it. She didn't want to show insecurity, but the truth was she hadn't put much effort into her appearance. She remembered her recent promise to herself to try harder and nodded.

"Okay, give me a few more minutes. Want something to drink while you wait?"

"Beer if you have it," Noah winked.

"There should be some in the fridge, help yourself," she said, retreating to her room. After a few minutes, she emerged in a pink, shimmering skirt and a fitted white top with a single wide strap that went from her chest to her back leaving it mostly exposed.

"Happy?" she asked, heading towards the door without waiting for an answer.

Noah licked his lips. "I can confirm that I am. But where are you rushing off to? We still have time. Sit down, help me with this beer."

Nina thought a cold drink might do her good and reluctantly sat down next to him. She wanted to get going, arrange a possible meeting with Trevor, and get back home. Then she remembered Emmi would be there and felt a bit better. Taking a sip of beer, she smiled at Noah for the first time since he entered her apartment.

"This is nice," she said, raising the bottle. "So, what's up with you? We haven't talked in ages. Are you still with... Erika, Jessica?"

"Huh? You mean Irene?" Noah looked puzzled, putting his glass down. "No, it wasn't serious. We haven't seen each other in a while. What about you? Any action?"

Nina thought about Bo and their kiss in the semi-darkness of the dog park. She remembered how his hand had fit so perfectly on her bare neck and collarbone. "Nope. Desert. Work, home, the occasional bar."

"LOL, what? What does that mean?"

"It's just a saying we use in Croatia. It means all you do is work, then drink, then go home. Except when it comes to me, forget about the bar. And soon maybe even the job. Do you really think Trevor will have something for me?" She put down the bottle.

Noah finished his beer. "Don't worry, Nina. As long as you're with me, you don't have to worry about anything," he said, smiling confidently and grabbing her hand. Nina instinctively reached for her beer again with the same hand. Suddenly, she became aware that they were alone. She took a few long gulps, finishing the drink, and stood up. "Let's go. Miryam will be waiting, and you'll blame me for being late."

Noah looked at her from under his brows and shook his head. "Okay, boss. Whatever you say."

After she locked the door, he draped his arm over her shoulder and said smoothly, "Hey, why didn't we do this two months ago?"

Nina was confused. What exactly did he think they were doing? "You mean go out?"

"Yeah, just the two of us," he said as they descended the dark staircase.

Nina was relieved when they picked up Miryam in front of her building, as it partially diverted Noah's attention away from her. How had she not noticed his slightly slimy nature before? She offered Miryam the front seat, using the excuse that it's customary in Croatia to give the more comfortable seat to the elder. In the dimness of Noah's rented Audi, she texted Emmi, who was also on her way to the club.

Noah's acting weird today.

An answer from Emmi soon arrived.

Noah? You must be imagining things. Noah's cool. By the way, I was with Chompoo when you sent the message, so I invited her along.

Nina then wondered if she might be imagining Noah's inappropriate behavior. She had to admit to herself that reading men's intentions had not been her strong suit lately.

In front of the club, Chompoo and Emmi awaited them, looking quite glamorous. Nina breathed a sigh of relief as she got out of the car, and upon seeing them, she finally relaxed and began to believe that the night could be fun, maybe even great. She hugged the girls and then felt someone else join the embrace. She was not surprised – it was Noah.

"Alright, team, we're on the list," he said and headed towards the entrance. The four girls followed him, Miryam closely behind, with Nina, Emmi, and Chompoo exchanging greetings and hugs at the rear.

"Where have you been, Nina? I haven't seen you since my birthday. You could at least check in sometimes, you know. If nothing else, to see how much I've improved with CSS," Chompoo said, reminding Nina that she was out tonight for semi-professional reasons.

"Sorry, Chompoo. We need to fix that soon. How about coffee at Z's one of these days?" she suggested as they sat around a round table where Trevor awaited them. It was still quite early, but the club was already comfortably full. A special event had been announced for 9 PM, and Nina was curious to see what it was about. She tried to avoid sitting next to Noah but couldn't escape it. When he took the seat beside her, she again began to choke on his overpowering cologne.

"Trevor, you remember Nina, right? I told you this afternoon she could take on some of your smaller projects," Noah addressed Trevor over the noise. Nina realized it would be difficult to finalize business in this setting.

"What do you say to a coffee one of these days?" she suggested. "I can show you my work."

Trevor looked her up and down and smiled, clearly pleased with what he saw. "If your designs look half as good as you, we won't have any problems," he said. "Besides, I've never turned down an invitation for coffee. Let's exchange numbers." He took out his phone.

"Alright enough with the business meeting stuff, let's have some fun. Everyone up for champagne?" Noah asked, calling the hostess over.

Despite her initial unease, after a few glasses of champagne, Nina began to enjoy herself. Chompoo pulled her and Emmi onto the dance floor while the guys stayed at the table, enjoying the view. Noah didn't take his eyes off her, but with the loud music and the throng of other sweaty bodies gyrating on the dance floor, she soon forgot about him. Now that she finally had a promising lead for her next job, she decided to let go and enjoy the night. Chompoo was putting her phone back in her purse and announced over the noise, "Bo's here, I'm going to get him." With that, she disappeared into the crowd towards the entrance.

"I didn't know Bo was coming," Emmi said, giving Nina a meaningful look. Nina stood frozen in the loud beats that shook the bodies around her. She remembered promising herself she would talk to Bo the next time she saw him, but the club didn't seem like the best place for that.

"Luckily, you look fly tonight," Emmi said, noticing her discomfort. "Relax babe. We won't be young forever, you know?"

Nina threw her arms around Emmi. "I'm going to miss you like crazy," she shouted into her ear and they restarted dancing. Soon, she saw Chompoo and Bo making their way through the crowd. Her heart fluttered, and a sense of nervous excitement spread through her stomach. Bo spotted her and kept moving closer, not taking his eyes off her. Nina realized she was smiling unconsciously at his presence, a pleasant countercurrent to the unsettling signals coming from the rest of her body. Bo didn't go unnoticed in the crowd, causing a series of impressed glances from both women and men.

"Hey guys," he greeted them, giving Emmi a quick kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to Nina and enveloped her in a hug. Nina melted against his chest, surrendering to the intoxicating effect of his scent. She pressed her cheek to his neck, unable to contain her joy at seeing him.

"I didn't know you were coming," she whispered in his ear. Bo placed his hands on the small of her back and kept her in his embrace. "I missed you," he replied, pulling back to look deeply into her eyes. Nina didn't care. She wanted to kiss him right there in front of everyone and let him take her to some dark corner where she could close her eyes and give in to his touch and the gentle torment of his lips. Unfortunately, Bo seemed to be more sensible and, after another brief squeeze, he let her go.

"How about you treat us to some daiquiris, boss?" Chompoo interjected.

"Alright, but someone will have to help me carry them," he said, glancing at Nina. Chompoo was quicker though and was already turning towards the bar, taking him by the arm and pulling him along.

"The night is getting more interesting by the minute," Emmi grinned. Soon, Noah approached them with a beer in hand. He wrapped an arm around Nina's waist and leaned his head close to her ear, "Trevor went outside for some air. I think it's a good opportunity to talk to him about the job. Shall we?"

Nina was hesitant. She didn't want to leave now that Bo had arrived, but the main reason she had come out was for work.

Noah was already explaining the situation to Emmi, "Nina and I are going outside to talk to Trevor. We'll be back soon." He finished and pulled Nina along. She followed him reluctantly, looking back and shrugging at Emmi, who continued dancing without a care. They slowly made their way through the sweaty crowd. She gratefully breathed in the fresh air when they finally stepped onto a small balcony where a few people were smoking.

"I don't see Trevor," she said, looking around.

Noah led her towards a wall where they were alone, "Maybe he stopped by the restroom, we'll wait for him." Nina wanted to return to the dance floor, her friends, and Bo. The last thing she wanted was to be out here in the dark with Noah. Soon, the people who were smoking went back inside, and she and Noah were left alone. He pulled out a cigarette and offered her one. She declined and impatiently watched the door to see if Trevor was coming.

"I just remembered you never thanked me for getting you that first gig," Noah said, looking her in the eye while blowing a cloud of smoke past her face.

"Okay, okay, I'll treat you to lunch next week, how about that?" she suggested, again glancing towards the door.

"That's fine, but I want something now," Noah said, stepping closer and blocking her view. He placed one hand on the wall behind her, trapping her between him and the railing.