TATTOO INK

ARRIVAL

I don't even remember the plane ride,I slept almost through entire flight. That kinda wasn't bad,considering that I wasn't a fan of flying.

I took my bags and went towards the exit of the airport, crowd in here is another story, I got concerned how will I find a guy who is apparently waiting for me.I don't even know how he looks like and I bet that he doesn't know how I look like.

As I passed the gate my eyes scanned people in front. It took me a minute or two before noticing a guy standing with a sign in his hands. My name was on it. Wow,I felt like someone important.

I quickly approached him.

- Hi,I'm Mika. - I said offering him a handshake,that's when I noticed how high he is. Damn,I felt really small next to him.

- My pleasure, I'm Raizo. - Raizo gave me a handshake and took my bag from me. What a gentleman.

- I'll will be taking you to meet with Jae. And then I will take you to your temporary place, it's close by the shop so don't worry, you won't get lost. - Raizo was talking on our way to the car that was parked right in front of the airport.

- Thank you. You speak English very well. - I said to him,little praise won't hurt. He seemed happy with that as he got little flustered.

- Thank you. - Raizo gave me a little bow. That was the first time someone bow to me,it felt strange but I know that this was their tradition. I better get used to it.

Whole ride in the car was pretty silent, I was looking through the window trying to take in that I was actually in Korea right now.

Raizo was giving me side looks time to time,I guess he was curious about me but didn't ask me anything. He wasn't bad looking guy,he was cute,exotic...Exotic?That sounds stupid?

- We are here. - Raizo said parking his car in front of a small building. I though he was taking me to the tattoo shop, but I couldn't see a sign nowhere and this was a residential building.

- Follow me. - Raizo said and I hesitantly followed after him. We entered the building and went straight to the elevator. He pushed the button of the top floor and we where off. I clenched the portfolio in my arms getting little nervous.

- Over here. - Raizo walked out from the elevator when we reached our destination.

He took me to a door near by,on the door that were black was a dragon painted on.

I was still suspicious until we walked in.

This was the tattoo shop,and very big tattoo shop. Modern design with Japanese esthetic.

I walked behind Raizo still looking around, there were some tattoo artists applying ink into their canvases. Their eyes for a few seconds lifted up to look at me.

I bowed to them every time to show my appreciation.

Raizo knocked on the doors at the end and let's me get in first.

- Hi,I'm Mika nice to meet you. - I bow again soon as my eyes landed on a man sitting behind a big black desk. The man was Jaein.

- Mika...please sit down. - Jaein said and I listened.

- Can I see your portfolio? - He asked stretching his arm over the table. I gave him my portfolio gulping thinking that maybe he won't like it.

- Let's see what are we dealing with. - Jaein was carefully looking through entire portfolio, page by page,I bet he was tearing apart my tattoos looking for mistakes. That's what every tattoo artist does, even me.

His long black hair was covering his eyes and his jaw was clenching.

- Hm...- oh,crap...

Jaein give me back my portfolio, he was looking at me not saying a word.

- You didn't like it. - I said.

- Why would you say that? Do you not appreciate the tattoos you've done? - Jaein asked me looking me with his dark eyes.

- I do,but tastes differ from artist to artist.

- That doesn't matter. I'm not looking at styles, I'm looking at techniques that where applied. I'm looking how bold your lines are and how packed your colors are.

- Then I'm in,right? - That question was bold of me to ask,but I did anyway.

- Confidence...that's what I want. You seemed scared when you walked in. - Jaein was smiling.

- To be honest, I didn't expect this. And I admire you so much,I have respect for you and your work.

- I understand, thank you. It's like this...we all work underground, we only make appointments with people we trust. This tattoo shop and many others are kept in secret. We will pay you accordingly and you will have to sign a contract. - Jaein talked pulling out a piece of paper from the top drawer of his desk.

- This is a contract for you to sign if you decide to stay here. It's mostly just a discretion contract,lot's of famous people come here for tattoos and if you tattoo them that stays here,you will not be taking pictures of that tattoos and the stencils are destroyed afterwards. - Jaein explained.

- I understand,where does it says that you will tutor me? - I asked reading the contract myself.

- It doesn't, but I will,I made a promise to Steve and I have to admit that I'm impressed by your portfolio. Steve wasn't lying when he said that you are talented.

Wow,Jaein thinks I'm talented, he said it out loud. f**k, this is a dream come true, not only that Jaein will be my mentor, he also likes my work.

- Thank you Jaein. Where do I sign? - Smile on my face was stretched ear to ear.

- Here. - He showed me and my signature was on in a second.

- Welcome Mika, I hope you will learn a lot here. - Jaein gave me a handshake.

- Now Raizo will take you to the apartment and I will see you in 5 hours. Take some rest and eat,we made sure that your fridge is full for the time being.

I thank him again and went with Raizo to my temporary apartment.

- You weren't kidding when you said that my place is not far from the shop. - I commented to Raizo, apartment was just two floors down. Raizo smiled giving me the keys.

- See you later, have some rest.

- Raizo...are you a tattoo artist as well? - I asked him before he left.

- Not exactly. - Raizo answered before entering the elevator.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Apartment wasn't huge,but it had a kitchen and a small living room,bedroom and a nice bathroom. All I needed.

I did what Jaein said,I made myself something to eat and took a long shower, I didn't sleep because I already slept on the plane. I decided to go little earlier then we agreed. I put on par of black tight jeans and a white blouse,to top it all of a par of high heels. I let my hair down and put a pinch of makeup on. I was ready to go.

When I walked in the shop,it was packed with clients. Weird since this was supposed to be underground, I guess Jaein knows what was he doing and how to reach to people.

I walked around looking at other artists doing their job. They where all very good at what they were doing.

- Mika,you are here early. - I heard Jaein voice behind me.

- Yes sorry about that. I just wanted to look around for a bit. - I said when he approached my side.

- And? What do you think? - Jaein asked me.

- It's amazing, your artist's are so good and creative. - I praise them,earning a satisfied look from the artist I was looking at.

- Come with me. - Jaein pulled me to the side and led me to a station.

- For now you will work here,my client canceled the appointment for today so there will be no tutoring.

- Oh,that's to bad. What will I be doing today?

- Your portfolio is in front with the rest of them,so if anyone picks you,you will have a client. I will send Raizo to you,to help you with translation, not everyone speaks English very well.

- Thank you,I hope someone picks me I'm eager to work. - Jaein smiled at my comment, I think he liked my enthusiasm.

- I will be checking on you.- Jaein said before leaving me at my station.

Raizo came soon after Jaein left. There wasn't much to do so me and Raizo chitchat to get to know each other better, I had a feeling that we will be spending more time together.

- Mika...you have a client for consultation. - A guy came over to us,I guessed he was taking care of the clients walking in.

I looked over his shoulder, there were two boys behind him. Both of them were tall and dark-haired, one had a straight hair parted in the middle and another curly hair that covered his eyes.

- Hi,I'm Mika.- I greeted them,bowing and showing them to sit down on near by chairs.

- I'm JK and this is Tae. - One of them said.

We made our self comfortable and I jumped straight to business.

- Is this your first time here?I noticed you already have some tattoos. - I asked JK looking at his hand that had some tattoos on it. Raizo who was standing behind me translated what I said.

- No,I had tattoos here. - JK answered in English, he wasn't bad at speaking English but he needed some help.

- So what is on your mind? What would you like to do? - I asked more questions. Raizo translated and JK answers in Korean.

- He is working on his sleeve, he would like to add more tattoos. - Raizo said.

- Ok,no problem. Is it OK for you to show me your whole arm,so I can see placements for tattoos?- Raizo did his job and JK nodded his head,he took of his long sleeve shirt letting me have a look. God,this boy had some muscles on him.

Rest of the consultation process went pretty well, we agreed on some ideas. Now my job is to make some drawings.

The whole time we were talking one guy stayed silent the entire time,Tae. I couldn't help myself not to glance at him,that guy was gorgeous. I mean JK was good looking too. Are all Korean men this beautiful?

- So I will do some drawings and you will decide if we need to change anything. Can you wait for a few minutes? - I asked JK when we exchanged his wishes.

JK turned over to Tae and started talking to him. That was the first time I heard Tae speak, his voice was deep but soft at the same time.

- No,no time. - JK said and I was confused for a second. Raizo talked to JK and Tae for me.

- JK will come tomorrow to look at your drawings, they have busy schedule. - Raizo said and I nodded my head.

- No problem, I'll see you tomorrow then.

We said our goodbyes and I started working on JK tattoos. In the back of my mind I was wondering what do they do that they are so busy. Young guy's, maybe little younger then me and they have packed schedules. Interesting. And that guy Tae,he's going to give me hard time for sure.