Painted Love | Hwang Hyunjin

3

I learned a lot about Hyunjin that day. For example, that he sang while painting without even noticing it, and that he loved to paint flowers and butterflies. Now, a day later, I was sitting at the studio, looking at the painting he did the day before. It was a portrait of me with flowers in my hair, but more beautiful. I couldn't even explain what made it so stunning. It looked like me, but somehow prettier. I sighed, remembering how he had wanted to take the painting home yesterday, but the colors needed to dry to avoid ruining it.

I continued working on my own painting, unable to get him out of my mind. I had even typed his name into my TikTok search bar yesterday, surprised by the many edits of him. Watching those videos, seeing the way he danced and his captivating expressions, had only made me think about him more. I found myself caught in a loop, watching clip after clip, each one making my heart race a little faster.

The door to my studio opened, and I looked up, confused. I didn't have any appointments today and wasn't expecting anyone. But sometimes people came randomly to look at my pictures. I smiled as soon as I saw the familiar black hair tied back into a bun. This time, he was wearing workout clothes. It was Hyunjin.

"Hey," he smiled a little.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised, cleaning my hands on my pants.

"Oh, it's on the way to practice, and I thought I'd come by," he said, smiling while nervously scratching the back of his neck.

I smiled back at him. "That's really kind of you. Is there any particular reason why you came by?" I asked, walking towards him.

"Yes, actually..." he said nervously, "I wanted to ask you if you want to hang out this evening? We could go out, or we could totally stay in. Whatever you want."

I smiled brighter and felt my cheeks get hot. "Are you asking me out on a date?" I asked, amused.

"Maybe I am," he answered.

I raised an eyebrow. "Maybe?" I asked.

"Only if you want to," he quickly said.

"Actually, I would love to," I smiled.

Hyunjin grinned and walked backwards towards the door. "I'll pick you up at eight at your place!" he said.

I laughed. "I'll be waiting for you!" I said, watching him leave and wondering how this boy could be the same one who practically strips on stage.

***

He rang my doorbell at exactly eight o'clock. I quickly buzzed him in, and soon after, he stood in my doorway with two bottles of wine and some snacks.

"Okay, listen, I actually wanted to take you to a restaurant, but then I thought about the paparazzi, and I think we should just order food," he said.

"And that's why you brought two bottles of wine? Do you want me to die?" I asked, amused.

"The first one will probably be empty really fast," he grinned, and I let him in quickly.

"What do you want to order?" I asked.

"I actually already ordered pizza on my way here. I hope that's okay with you," he said, taking off his shoes and walking behind me to the living room, putting all the things in his hands on the coffee table.

I quickly got two wine glasses and sat on the couch. "I like pizza. That's fine," I said.

He sat down beside me and poured both of us a glass. We clinked our glasses, and I giggled as I took a sip.

We settled into easy conversation, talking about our day and sharing stories. Hyunjin told me more about his band, Stray Kids, and what it was like to perform on stage. He laughed as he described the antics of his bandmates, his eyes lighting up with each story. I found myself laughing along, feeling more relaxed and comfortable with him than I ever expected.

The pizza arrived, and we spread out on the floor with it. It felt intimate, like we were in our own little world. "Want to taste-test one of my slices?"Hyunjin asked. I furrowed my brows. "It's the same Pizza, Hyunjin," I laughed. "I'm trying to flirt here! Don't ruin it for me!", he protested but laughed. I rolled my eyes but ultimately opened my mouth, so he could feed me a piece of his slice. It was silly and fun, and I couldn't remember the last time I felt so carefree.

As the evening wore on, the conversation grew deeper. We talked about our dreams, our fears, and what inspired us. Hyunjin confessed that he often felt overwhelmed by the pressure of being in the spotlight and that painting was his escape.

At some point, we moved back to the couch, the empty pizza box forgotten on the floor. We sipped our wine, the atmosphere turning softer, more intimate. Hyunjin reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

"You know," he said softly, "I think you're incredibly talented. Your paintings... they have a way of drawing people in. Just like you."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "Thank you, Hyunjin. That means a lot coming from you."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just looking at each other. It was like we were seeing each other for the first time, really seeing each other. I felt a connection, a pull towards him that I couldn't explain.

If only I knew then just how much my life was about to change...