Nina's taxi was crawling towards the studio at a snail's pace. In the narrow street choked by parked motorcycles, a small jam had formed. When she finally got out of the car, the first thing she saw was Stormi joyfully jumping at the entrance, trying to greet three new guests at the same time. Nina felt somewhat out of place among the glamorous and slightly eccentric crowd that made up most of the arrivals. Then she remembered that she had come alone from a distant country to a completely unknown city, started a business, and was about to successfully complete her first collaboration. She lifted her chin, put on a smile, and entered the studio. A pleasant upbeat underground music was playing, the lights were dim, and spotlights illuminated the walls, accentuating photos of tattooed bodies. Tables and equipment had been removed to create more space, making the studio resemble an art exhibition.

Despite her newfound confidence, Nina was grateful when she saw Chompoo and Stephan talking beside a table with drinks. Even from that distance, they seemed a bit stiff, each looking in different directions as if trying to find a topic for conversation. She walked over to them and hugged Chompoo from behind.

"Hey Stephan, is this little one bothering you?" she teased.

"Nina, you're here!" Chompoo turned around, returning the hug. "Thank God," she whispered softly.

"In fact she is. I came here to ask for a drink and since then she hasn't let me move," Stephan complained.

"Me, not letting you move? You've got that wrong—"

"Can I also get a drink?" Nina interrupted, giving Chompoo a look that tried to convey both reproach and request. "I heard you make a good Daiquiri."

"You were informed correctly! I told Bo to keep that information to himself, but alright, since it's you.. Strawberry, mango, avocado?"

"Mango, always mango," Nina laughed. Ever since she had arrived in the warmer regions, she couldn't get enough of the sweet fruit.

"Since you're already making them, could I have one as well?" Stephan seized the opportunity.

"Oh, you're still here? Alright then. I'm in a good mood today," Chompoo headed behind the makeshift bar. The hired waitress gave her a questioning look. "Don't worry, I'll move out of your way quickly," she winked at her.

"A pretty big crowd has gathered," Nina noticed.

Stephan turned around to where she was looking, "Yes, honestly I'm glad you showed up. I hardly know anyone here. I didn't see Bo arrive. Shouldn't the boss be the first here to welcome the guests?"

"The bartenders ran out of ice sooner than expected so he went to get it," Chompoo explained. "Here he comes! Boss! Boss, come here, I'm making daiquiris."

Nina turned her head in the direction Chompoo was pointing. Bo was making his way through the crowd with an arm motion that was already familiar to Nina. Guests moved out of his way, nodding or offering a brief greeting. He waved at Chompoo, then his gaze settled on Nina and she was glad she put effort into her appearance. His slow smile made her heart race, and she had to fight the urge to look away as she blushed. As friendly as that look was, Nina felt his gaze was more intense than usual.

Over the past few weeks, they had worked together every day and Nina was feeling a bit conflicted about most of the project being finished. She would miss their early morning sessions. Bo had surprised her with a sandwich the day after their disastrous first meeting. Nina was grateful for any food coming her way because it meant she could work without breaks longer. After that, he brought some form of snack almost every morning.

"I like to make sure my workers eat well," he once explained. "The quality of work they produce is higher as a result."

Nina once asked him where he got the tasty sandwiches so she could order them herself, but Bo wouldn't reveal the secret.

He approached her and casually kissed her on the cheek. His cologne overwhelmed her senses and Nina felt warmth spreading through her chest.

"You've finally arrived," he said. "I'm glad Chompoo is looking after you. Please enjoy yourself. We all worked hard, it's time to celebrate."

"Oh, does that mean we'll see you relax as well today?" Chompoo couldn't miss an opportunity to tease her boss.

"I'd like to, but I'm the host, it wouldn't be responsible. My job today is to get you all drunk and then send you home thinking about how you need a new tattoo as soon as possible."

"Bravo! Spoken like a true boss!" exclaimed a man who approached Bo, slapping him heartily on the shoulder blades. The newcomer had long gray hair, thinning at the crown, and a beard of the same color that reached down to his chest. He wore a thin gray suit without a shirt, revealing a phoenix tattoo on his chest.

"Li Jun!! You came, I can't believe it. Great!" Bo was very surprised to see the newcomer. He embraced him tightly and they exchanged a few words in Chinese.

"Guys, let me introduce one of the most important people in my life. This is Li Jun. Ten years ago, when I was still dreaming of opening this studio, he promised he'd take the chance to visit Bangkok if it ever happened. And he really showed up, the old rascal."

"Of course I showed up. What kind of man would I be if I didn't keep my word?" Li Jun declared in slightly broken English.

"Li Jun," Nina said, "is this the Li Jun who gave you your first tattoo?"

"He's told you about me?" Li Jun sized Nina up from head to toe. "Bo usually doesn't talk much about that period of his life," he added, glancing at Bo from under his brows.

"With good reason, old friend. I'm so glad you're here. Come, let me show you around, I've got a new machine here, hey, how about a quick tattoo session? Excuse us, folks," Bo was excited and without waiting for a response, nudged Li Jun toward the stairs leading to the first floor.

"Well they left in a hurry," Stephan commented.

"Mind your own business," Chompoo retorted, handing Nina a cocktail. "Here you go, dear. I guarantee you've never had a better Daiquiri. Just let me know when you're ready for the next one, I'll keep up with you and we will see who can handle it better."

"You've got yourself a deal," Nina responded, bringing the drink to her lips. "Damn, this is good," she said after one short and two deep sips.

"I know," Chompoo tilted her chin and handed a third glass to Stephan. "And here's yours."

"Hey, I want in on this competition, and I suggest a prize. If I manage to drink more than you, you have to go out with me," Stephan proposed.

Chompoo laughed, "Zero chance you'll win, so I accept the challenge" she declared triumphantly, winking at Nina. "Now, who wants to go dancing?"

"I'll skip this one, but I'll join you later," Stephan replied.

Nina was also a bit hesitant and pleaded, "Can't I at least finish one cocktail before you send me to the dance floor?"

"Fine," said Chompoo after a short consideration. "I can see you won't take long. I'll mix the next one while you finish that, and then we go!"

Nina loved to dance but didn't yet feel relaxed enough to indulge. She needed a little liquid courage.

An hour and two cocktails later, Nina, Chompoo, and Stephan were having a great time dancing in the dimly lit studio to the loud rhythms of Thai phonk.

From the corner of her eye, Nina thought she saw Bo animatedly talking with Li Jun in the far end of the room. Both were gesturing emphatically. Li Jun walked towards the exit, and Bo followed him, responding heatedly, but eventually stopped and let Li Jun go. For a few moments, he stood on the stairs looking towards the door. Nina had never seen him look so flustered. She left Chompoo and Stephan on the dance floor and headed towards Bo, who had disappeared upstairs. Instinctively, she headed for door number V. When she entered, the room was dark, and she almost turned to leave when she heard a sound coming from inside.

"Don't turn on the light," he said.

"Okay," Nina replied, closing the door behind her. Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, she spotted him lying face up on the tattoo table.

"How did you know I was here?" Bo asked in a tone Nina couldn't quite decipher. She had never heard it before.

"I saw you and Li Jun arguing on the stairs. You looked upset, and I don't know –" Bo was silent. She approached the working table and sat on the chair.

"Are you okay?" she asked after a few moments. Nina's courage was waning despite the alcohol. The atmosphere in the dark room was tense. She knew Bo would never harm her, but couldn't predict what could happen next. Music and occasional shouts coming from downstairs filled the silence between her question and his response, which seemed to stretch indefinitely.

"That's a very personal question, not easy to answer without sounding trivial," Bo finally said. "Are you okay? Why are you here?" he asked, sitting up on the table, suddenly looking very tall and imposing.

"I really don't know," she replied. "Do you want to be left alone?"

"Why can't people mind their own business?" he muttered.

"I'm sorry, I... I wanted to help. You're right, I should have realized you wanted some privacy," she said and moved toward the exit. Just as she was passing the tattoo table, a strong grip on her wrist stopped her.

"It's not you I'm talking about. Li Jun. He couldn't last an hour without steering the conversation towards topics that are completely out of place tonight. No wonder we haven't been on the best of terms lately."

"Oh. What's it about?" she asked, "I've just met him but he seemed nice."

"Li Jun is one of the best people I know," Bo declared firmly. "The problem is, he's also one of those who thinks blood is thicker than water."

"Go on." 

"Li Jun believes that family should be forgiven for everything. No matter what they've done, if they just say 'I'm sorry,' he thinks that's enough. What surprises me most is that he knows what I went through. He was there, he saw how it affected me. I don't understand how he can expect me to forgive her." A silence fell.

"Is this about your mom?" she asked softly.

"What gave it away?"

"People think parents are infallible. But those who've been through stuff know how far from the truth that is. I always thought that the moment you become an adulthood is marked by the realization that your parents are just people. People who are just as clueless as you, fumbling in the dark."

"So, you also think they should be forgiven?"

"I don't know what happened. Can you tell me?"

Bo patted the space next to him, inviting her to sit next to him. She climbed onto the table and sat down, bracing her hands outside her legs for support.

"You're right. Parents are just people. But most people at least make an effort to be somewhat decent parents," he said, facing her in the dark. "When it comes to my mom, parenthood didn't really change her," he continued, returning his gaze forward. "I think she never planned on having kids. I was an unwelcome surprise to her. Just another reason to get high. She was never home, and when she was, I wished she wasn't. Her addiction seemed to go from bad to worse day by day. We never had any money. As soon as I could, I got a job, but she would always spend it all. I hid it in all kinds of places, I became the master of camouflage, but she always found it. Quenching an addiction is the strongest motivator in the world," he said, pausing.

"Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, I was resourceful and finally found a place she couldn't get to. She was furious. She threatened me with all kinds of things. That she would kill herself, that she would kill me. She cried, she begged, and when she came out of the kitchen with a knife, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away from our home in the middle of the night in my jammies. I had no idea where I was going until I stumbled upon Li Jun's tattoo studio. It was always open late. He took me in, bought me some noodles and let me sleep on one of the tattoo tables. After that first night, that scenario repeated countless times."

Nina was shocked. Her country had been hit by a war, but it happened before she was born and most people she knew lived relatively stable lives. The story reminded her that bad things don't just happen in movies or to other people.

"Do you still think I should forgive her just because she's supposedly clean now? Do you have any idea how many times I've heard that? I've paid for more rehab centers for her than haircuts for myself. How many times is it okay to let someone break your heart before you leave them to battle their own demons?"

Nina was silent. She wanted to comfort him but was paralyzed by fear of saying the wrong thing. From outside, they heard footsteps becoming louder and suddenly the door opening let in a beam of light that illuminated the dark space. Both of them flinched.

"He's not here. Try his cell again," they heard Chompoo say to someone before she closed the door again. Bo seemed relieved at the opportunity to escape the situation.

"I have to go," he said and quietly got off the table. "Are you coming?" he asked, turning to her. In the dim light, she couldn't make out his facial expression, but his voice sounded a bit more cheerful.

"Yeah, let's go," Nina said.

As he walked towards the door, she suddenly grabbed him from behind and interlocked her hands over his torso for a heartbeat. Neither said a word. Then she let go and opened the door of room number V.