The morning sunlight filtered through Jian's window, casting long golden streaks across his small room. He stretched, his body still sore from a restless night. His mind had been busy replaying moments from yesterday at the studio with Hana—her laugh, the way she lit up when their ideas clicked, and the casual way she said, "I trust you."
It was a simple phrase, but for Jian, it carried weight. No one had ever said something like that to him before. As much as it warmed him, it also left him questioning what it really meant.
---
Later that day, Jian arrived at campus for his afternoon classes. He had time to kill, so he stopped by the art courtyard, a quiet place where students often gathered to sketch or paint.
To his surprise, Hana was there, sitting on one of the benches under a tree. She wasn't alone.
A tall guy with a confident smile was talking to her. He had an easygoing charm about him, the kind that instantly filled a room. Hana seemed comfortable, laughing at something he said.
Jian's stomach twisted slightly. He wasn't sure why.
---
As if sensing his presence, Hana looked up and waved. "Jian! Over here!"
He hesitated for a moment before walking over.
"This is Tae-hyun, my cousin," Hana said, introducing the guy. "Tae, this is Jian, my friend I was telling you about."
Jian felt a flicker of relief. Cousin. That explained their closeness. Still, something about Tae-hyun's easy smile put him on edge.
"Nice to meet you, man," Tae-hyun said, extending a hand. His grip was firm but not intimidating. "Hana's been talking about you. Says you're an artist?"
"Uh, yeah," Jian said, scratching the back of his neck.
"That's cool," Tae-hyun said. "I can't even draw a stick figure." He laughed, and Hana joined in.
Jian managed a small smile. Tae-hyun seemed nice enough, but Jian couldn't shake the feeling of being overshadowed.
---
The three of them ended up sitting together on the bench. Hana and Tae-hyun talked easily, their conversations flowing like a river. Jian chimed in occasionally, but mostly, he listened.
Tae-hyun was funny and confident, the kind of person who could make anyone feel at ease. He told stories about their childhood, making Hana laugh so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
Jian couldn't help but notice how radiant she looked when she laughed. It was a side of her he hadn't seen before, one that Tae-hyun seemed to bring out effortlessly.
---
After a while, Tae-hyun's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and stood up. "I've got to head out. Meeting a friend for coffee."
He turned to Jian and smiled. "It was nice meeting you. Don't let Hana boss you around too much, okay?"
Hana rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. He's just jealous because I'm more talented than he'll ever be."
Tae-hyun laughed and walked off, leaving Jian and Hana alone.
---
For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. Hana leaned back against the bench, her eyes on the sky.
"Sorry if Tae was too much," she said. "He's always like that—loud and full of stories. But he's a good guy."
"No, he's fine," Jian said quickly. "He seems... nice."
Hana turned to him, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're quiet today. Something on your mind?"
Jian hesitated, unsure how to explain the strange feeling he had. "Not really," he said finally. "Just... thinking about stuff."
"Stuff like what?"
He shrugged, not ready to dig too deep. "Art, classes, you know."
Hana didn't push, which he appreciated.
---
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, Hana stood up. "I have practice soon. Want to walk with me to the studio?"
Jian nodded, falling into step beside her. The walk was quiet at first, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.
"Thanks for yesterday," Hana said suddenly. "You really helped me out. I feel so much better about the routine now."
"I didn't do much," Jian said, staring at the ground.
Hana stopped walking and turned to him, her expression serious. "Don't say that. You were amazing. You have this way of seeing things... it's special."
Jian looked at her, his heart skipping a beat. The sincerity in her voice made it hard to argue.
"Thanks," he said softly.
---
At the studio, Hana waved goodbye and disappeared inside. Jian lingered for a moment, watching the door close behind her.
As he walked away, he couldn't help but think about how different they were. Hana was confident, vibrant, and full of life, while he often felt like a shadow in the background.
And then there was Tae-hyun. Even though Jian knew they were just cousins, he couldn't shake the small knot of jealousy forming in his chest. Tae-hyun was everything Jian wasn't—outgoing, charismatic, and effortlessly charming.
Jian sighed, shaking his head. "Stop overthinking," he muttered to himself.
---
That evening, Jian sat at his desk, trying to focus on a new sketch. His pencil moved across the page, but his mind kept drifting back to Hana.
He thought about the way she laughed with Tae-hyun, the ease with which they interacted. It wasn't that he doubted their relationship as cousins, but it made him realize how far he still had to go in truly connecting with her.
A part of him wondered if he was being foolish. Hana was kind to everyone—maybe he was just another friend to her.
But then he remembered the way she looked at him sometimes, the way she trusted him with her routine. Could that mean something more?
---
As the hours ticked by, Jian's sketch began to take shape. It was a simple drawing of a tree, its branches reaching upward while its roots dug deep into the earth.
He stared at it, feeling a strange sense of connection to the image. The branches were like Hana—always reaching for the sky, full of life and energy. The roots were like him—quiet, grounded, and often hidden.
Maybe that was why he felt so drawn to her. She was everything he wasn't but wished he could be.
Jian set his pencil down and leaned back in his chair, staring at the drawing. He didn't have all the answers, but he knew one thing for sure: Hana had become an important part of his life.
And for now, that was enough.