The following week passed in a blur for Jian. His classes were uneventful, the same routine of lectures, assignments, and late-night sketching. But his thoughts kept drifting back to Hana—the brightness of her smile, the warmth in her voice when she had called his sketch "amazing."
Jian had never been the kind of person to obsess over someone. His world was small and safe, contained within the pages of his sketchbook. But now, for the first time, it felt like something—or someone—was reaching in and pulling him out.
---
It was a chilly Friday afternoon when Jian found himself wandering the university court, sketchbook tucked under his arm. He was half-hoping, half-dreading that he might run into Hana. He had no plan for what he'd say if he did—only that he wanted to see her again.
As he approached the art building, he saw a small crowd gathered near the main bulletin board. Students were chatting excitedly, pointing to something posted there. Jian's curiosity got the better of him, and he edged closer to see what the commotion was about.
The flyer was advertising a collaborative event between the art and dance departments: *Art in Motion – A Fusion of Dance and Visual Art.*
The event description detailed how dancers and artists would pair up to create a live performance that blended both art forms. The participants would be selected through a short application process.
"Perfect for you, Jian," Min-seok said, appearing at his side like a ghost.
Jian jumped. "Don't sneak up on me like that."
Min-seok ignored him, grinning as he read the flyer. "You should sign up. Imagine it—you and Hana, the perfect pair."
Jian's stomach did a somersault. "I'm not signing up."
"Why not? You're always saying you want to challenge yourself. What's more challenging than this?"
Jian opened his mouth to argue, but Min-seok cut him off. "Listen, man, you've got talent. Real talent. And if you're too shy to talk to Hana properly, this is your chance to impress her."
Jian hesitated, his gaze drifting back to the flyer. The idea of collaborating with Hana—spending hours creating something together—was both thrilling and terrifying.
"Just think about it," Min-seok said, giving him a playful shove before walking away.
---
Jian didn't see Hana again until the following Monday. He was sitting in the library, flipping through a book on figure drawing, when a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Jian?"
He looked up, and there she was, standing in front of his table, her expression bright and curious.
"H-Hana," he stammered, nearly knocking over his coffee cup in surprise.
She laughed, sliding into the chair across from him. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"No, it's fine," Jian said quickly, his hands gripping the edge of the table.
"I was hoping I'd run into you," she said, pulling a small keychain from her bag. It was a delicate silver charm shaped like a blooming flower, simple yet beautiful.
"This is for you," Hana said, holding it out.
Jian stared at the keychain, stunned. "For me?"
"Yeah. I noticed your bag didn't have one, and I thought it might be nice to add something personal to it."
Jian hesitated before taking the keychain. The metal felt cool and smooth in his hand. "Thank you," he said softly.
Hana smiled. "You're welcome. Oh, by the way, did you see the flyer for the Art in Motion event?"
Jian nodded, his pulse quickening.
"I signed up," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's going to be so much fun. You should apply too."
"I don't know," Jian mumbled, looking down at the keychain. "I'm not really good with crowds."
"It's not about the crowd," Hana said, leaning forward. "It's about expressing yourself, connecting with someone else through art. And you're so talented, Jian. I think you'd be amazing."
Her words felt like a warm glow spreading through him, melting some of the anxiety that always seemed to weigh him down. For a moment, he let himself imagine it: working side by side with Hana, bringing their creativity together to create something unique.
"Maybe," he said finally.
Hana beamed. "I'll take that as a yes. And if you do sign up, who knows? Maybe we'll get paired together."
Jian's heart skipped a beat at the thought.
---
That night, Jian sat at his desk, the keychain resting on the table beside his sketchbook. He had attached it to his bag earlier, but now he kept taking it off and putting it back on, as if trying to decide whether he deserved to keep it.
He opened his sketchbook to a fresh page and started to draw. At first, the lines were hesitant, but soon they began to flow, forming the shape of the keychain. He added more detail, shading the petals until they seemed almost real.
When he finished, he stared at the drawing, his mind racing. Hana had given him this gift—a small, thoughtful gesture that felt more meaningful than anything he'd received in years.
He glanced over at his laptop, where the Art in Motion application form was open on the screen. He hadn't filled it out yet, too scared of what might happen if he did.
But as he looked back at the sketch of the keychain, he felt a small surge of courage. Maybe Min-seok was right. Maybe this was his chance.
Taking a deep breath, Jian picked up his pencil and began to write.