AIDEN
The rendezvous is set at a private guesthouse with enclosed quarters. I am led inside by a waiting attendant through a narrow hallway lined with rooms featuring doors adorned in traditional Asian styles.
As I follow my guide, I take in the decor, appreciating the serene atmosphere. The sound of birds chirping from the garden outside fills the air, and I catch glimpses of the lush greenery flanking the house through an open window, which frames a verdant garden teeming with colorful flowers and creatures.
The attendant stops at a door on the right side of the lengthy hall, glances at me, and opens it. He bows politely and excuses himself, leaving me to proceed on my own.
I step through the double wooden-framed doors into a spacious, well-ventilated room. A long table surrounded
