It was a chilly autumn afternoon when I found myself standing outside Hyunjin’s apartment, holding a canvas bag of supplies. He had invited me over to help with a project—something I didn’t expect. Hyunjin had recently started painting, and today, he wanted me to join him for a session.

When I rang the doorbell, Hyunjin greeted me with a warm smile. “Hey, you made it!” he said, stepping aside to let me in.

I smiled back, entering his cozy living room, where splashes of paint covered the walls. Canvases of all sizes stood neatly around, showing how much Hyunjin had embraced his new passion.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Hyunjin said, setting up a chair near a blank canvas. “I need help with a new piece. I’m stuck.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You want me to help you paint?”

He chuckled. “Not exactly. I need someone to bounce ideas off of.”

I felt flattered. “I’ll do my best.”

For the next hour, we brainstormed ideas. Hyunjin explained the emotions he wanted to convey, while I suggested colors and themes. As the afternoon light began to fade, Hyunjin paused, staring at the blank canvas.

“You know,” he said softly, “painting is like figuring out what you want in life. You have to mess up a few times before it feels right.”

I nodded. “I think that’s true for more than just painting.”

Hyunjin looked at me, his expression more serious now. “You ever feel like you’re still figuring things out, even when you think you have it together?”

I hesitated, then quietly admitted, “All the time.”

A silence passed between us, filled with unspoken thoughts. Hyunjin stood, picking up a paintbrush. “Maybe we’ll figure it out together,” he said with a smile.

I smiled back, though my mind raced. Was he talking about the painting, or something more? As he painted, I couldn’t help but wonder where this moment might lead.