The night had passed with soft whispers and tender moments, bringing two guarded souls closer than ever.
When Sana woke up, a smile immediately bloomed on her face.
Boyfriend.
The word sent sent her into a fit of giggles, and she rolled onto her stomach, burying her face into her pillow. Ji-Hoon was her boyfriend. She brought her fingers to her lips, the memory of last night replaying like a favourite song.
After they left the Han River, Ji-Hoon had walked her home. They'd shared another kiss – slower, sweeter than the first. Then, with a mischievous smile, he'd ushered her through the door, saying, "Before it gets dangerous."
Now, as she turned her head, her eyes landed on the framed sketch he'd had given her the day before. Her chest tightened. So many emotions swirled inside her – excitement, fear, hope. She was afraid of how strongly she felt for him in such a short time. The 'what-ifs' lingered in her mind, but for once, she refused to entertain them.
She had made a choice. She wouldn't run away. Not this time.
As she got up to prepare for the day, her phone buzzed. She reached for it, already smiling when she saw his name light up the screen.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning. I did. What about you?"
"Could've been better. Someone kept me up all night – in my head."
Her cheeks flushed as she typed back.
"Is that so? Maybe you should have gone for a midnight run."
"I almost did. But I went at 5 a.m. instead. Just got back"
They exchanged light-hearted messages for a while before Sana finally put her phone down, laughing softly to herself. She needed to shower before she ran late.
Meanwhile, Ji-Hoon tossed his phone onto his bed, a grin tugging at his lips.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, still catching his breath from his morning run. He'd gone earlier than usual – restless and wide awake. Thoughts of Sana had kept him up most of the night, his body reacting to her in ways he hadn't felt since he was a teenager.
Standing in his room now, his eyes landed on the painting she'd made yesterday. He stopped in his tracks. Staring at it for a long moment.
It was the first time he'd allowed himself to feel so much for one person in as long as he could remember. There were so many things that could go wrong. But just as many could go right.
For once, he decided he would focus on the latter.
…
Sana's walk to her first class was anything but peaceful.
She couldn't ignore the whispers around her. Students stole glances in her direction, some pointing not-so-discreetly while murmuring to their friends.
Her hands grew clammy, and her heart raced. She quickened her pace, hoping to find solace in the classroom. But when she arrived, it was worse. The buzz of conversations seemed louder, and she felt dozens of eyes on her.
She was about to turn back and leave when a voice startled her so much, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"There you are – 'The Rising Star of Hanseo University!'"
In-a appeared out of nowhere, her excitation palpable.
"What are you talking about?" Sana asked, confused – a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.
In-a didn't answer. Instead, she dragged Sana to a seat and shoved her phone into her hands. "Read this," she said, practically vibrating with energy.
On the screen was 'The Pulse Journal', the university's online publication. Pinned at the top was an article titled: 'A Vision in Light: The Rising Star of Hanseo University'.
There was a photo that showed Sana standing in her exhibition space, her expression serene as she gazed at one of her pieces. The golden light of the gallery fell softly around her, making the moment feel ethereal.
Below the photo was a quote:
"Art has found a new voice in Yoon Sana, and it speaks with both grace and power." – Choi Hyunjae, Art Critic.
Sana's heart skipped. She scrolled down to find an excerpt from her interview with Min-Seok:
'The Inner Light of Yoon Sana, by Lee Min-Seok'
Yoon Sana's recent exhibition, 'Amor Fati', has left a lasting impression – not only on the art world but also within our campus community.
Art critic Choi Hyunjae, in a glowing review for 'The Korean Art Journal', described her as "a beacon of authenticity and emotional depth in Korea's art scene." He praised her ability to "translate raw emotion into visual poetry," ensuring a bright future for Korean art.
To understand the artist behind the acclaim, I had the pleasure to sit down with Sana and delve into her journey, her pen name, and her creative process.
Q: Why did you chose the name 'My Inner Light'?
Yoon Sana: "Because my paintings are a reflection of my thoughts and feelings. Every emotion has its own light, and my art is my way of sharing that with the world."
Q: Your exhibition, Amor Fati, has been well-received. What inspired the name?
Yoon Sana: "Amor Fati means 'Love of Fate'. It's about finding beauty in everything, even the challenge life throws at us. This philosophy has guided me in my art and life, and I wanted my exhibition to reflect that."
Q: The centrepiece of your exhibition, Alleviato, has drawn a lot of attention. What does it mean to you?
Yoon Sana: "It's Latin for 'alleviation'. I painted it during a time when I needed to soothe the pain in my heart. It was a deeply personal piece, but seeing how it resonates with others makes me feel that my struggles have found a voice."
Reading the article felt surreal. Her hands trembled as she returned the phone to In-a, but her classmate didn't seem to notice.
"So…what is it like being a star?" In-a teased, her grin mischievous.
Sana shook her head. "I'm not a star, In-a."
"Tsk. I should've known not to expect much of a reaction from you." In-a grumbled, though her tone was light.
Sana managed a small smile, but deep down, her emotions were a storm. She should feel happy, but instead, a heavy anxiety churned in her stomach. She reminded herself: 'This is just practice. If I want to be an artist, I have to face this.'
When In-a's questions turned to Ji-Hoon, Sana's attempt at composure faltered.
"How do you know Senior Park Ji-Hoon?"
"Huh?"
"He was all over you at the gallery the other night," In-a said, her grin widening.
"He wasn't…all over me. I met him at a park last fall."
"Really? That's it?"
Sana tried to steer the conversation away, but In-a wasn't done.
"You don't know much about him, do you? He's practically campus royalty – him, and his best friend Senior Lee Min-Seok of the Com. Department." She again pulled her phone to show the content to Sana.
"Second in his department's popularity ranking."
Sana blinked. "Popularity ranking?"
"Oh, yeah. He'd be first if he smiled more. And apparently, he works at Nexus, a high-end club in Gangnam."
Sana stared at her, stunned. "Why do you even know all this?"
"Because people talk, Sana. And now, they are talking about you. Before the article, you were third in the Art department rankings. Now, you're first."
Sana barely had time to process that bombshell before their professor entered the room, signaling the start of class.
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur.
By the time it ended, Sana was mentally exhausted. She slipped out of the classroom before In-a could drag her anywhere else. Her heart felt heavy as she made her way across campus, the whispers and glances following her like shadows.
She needed comfort. Not the kind the library nor her studio offered.
She needed him.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.
"Ji-Hoon Oppa…" she started, her voice trembling.
"Sana, what's wrong?" His voice was steady, grounding her.
"I…" Her words caught in her throat as her emotions bubbled to the surface.
"Sana, baby," he said softly, his concern clear. "Tell me where you are and I'll come to you."
She gave him the location of a quiet spot near her department, far from prying eyes.
"Okay. Five minutes. Stay there."
When the call ended, Sana exhaled shakily. For the first time, she felt the weight of what it meant to not be alone anymore.
She had someone to share her joy and pain with.
And she couldn't be more grateful that it was Ji-Hoon.