Intro:
I'm so glad I gave this a try. I honestly didn't care for the premise, but when I saw the first half of the first episode, I got hooked. It's been many lists of dropped BL's till I was actually compelled to finish something.

Story:
The thing I like about it is it's story-centric. As much as I like cuteness and comedy, I'd love to see BL's treated with as much respect as straight love stories as realistically as they can. By that I mean that it feels natural how the MC's ended up liking each other and not feel forced like a lot of others. Also, they're treated as human beings with their own issues that isn't always connected to their sexuality.

I also liked that it did not lean too heavily on usual tropes like forced misunderstandings (e.g. overhearing a conversation). Although there are misunderstandings, it still fits into the character of Do Hoe who is deeply self-loathing. They weren't at a point where they trust each other so much then one misheard convo ruins everything just for drama. The actions they took, though not wise or rational, made sense for who they were as people. Though tbf only Do Hoe's background was actually delved into. Even Ju Yeong was barely scratched. Still how they acted didn't seem plot for plot's sake, at least as opposed to some other BL's.

I liked how they made use of the little run time they had with the show to focus on what was actually important to show us. In relation to time, I loved the bold move of 12 years time skip. Usually, it's usually 1-5 yrs. Even though they were young (19 yrs old) at the start, 12 years was still a big amount of time to be a part, to not move on. And they actually, somewhat, dove into Ju Yeong not moving on. Even I, who is highly empathetic and clingy, found 12 years to be quite long to still be hung up on someone you probably knew for a month to idk maybe 2 months. Do Hoe confronted him about that. Still weird why it wasn't given much of a justification. That's a part I will admit to be forced to an extent. It doesn't feel as forced as others I will say. Or maybe he felt sorry for him, I'm realizing right now that he knew that Do Hoe kept failing.

I really wasn't completely appalled by how Doe Hoe acted when things finally came to light. Sure I was annoyed with how he was and how Ju Yeong was still pursuing him (being treated poorly and all), but it actually made sense. He hated his past and he wanted to distance himself from it as much as he could, so even if his new lifestyle wasn't exactly who he was, he forced himself into it just to escape his pain. It made sense when you look at it in a storytelling way even it (as an outsider) it seemed silly or stupid.

Ultimately, I think the main point of the story was said outright: you can try again. The time skip really helps with this because when you think about it they could have done more in 12 yrs according to their high standards. Tbh, it really hits home and although I wish nobody can relate to this story of being unloved (by family), self-loathing and insecurities, and mistakes because it is a painful experience. Still, I wish people gain strength to try again despite the odds.

Also, to add to the main point, this story is an illustration of how abuse and neglect can have a carry-over effect on even someone as promising as Do Hoe. This effect lasting years.

Acting:
Simply superb. Idk why but Koreans tend to be such good actors. They really get into the character not matter how serious or absurd the story is and this time it's no different. One is a rookie and the other with fee experiences, yet they were able to convey a plethora of emotions excellently. Do Hoe's actor was able to convey the effect the 12 years had on him quite well as well as the effect of Ju Yeong coming to his life.

All the actors were cast quite well. They really fit their roles, even the supportiny characters. Do Hoe being timid yet cold, Ju Yeong being the doe-eyed golden retriever he is.

Music:
It was good. It fit the mood well.

Rewatch Value:
Not very high I'd say. While it is a good show, it can be very stressful. There were cute and wholesome moments but their in the very beginning (ep 2 and 3) and even then it was mixed in with all the stressful parts. Still, those parts are what I consider essential for telling a human story.