After finishing one of our paintings, I hastily hurried to the nearest bathroom to clean up. My hands, stained with watercolors, and my paint-splattered apron were in dire need of a wash.

The clock had just struck three in the afternoon when I made a beeline for the bathroom, desperate to freshen up. I walked out of the bathroom and accidentally found myself trailing behind Felix and Christopher Bang.

My pace slowed as I maintained a careful distance from Felix, making sure he remained ...