Ju Yeong made me believe. Smiling bright eyes coupled with an open smile, he made me believe in love. Real unapologetic love. Imperfect love. Ride or die, no matter what, I'm never going to leave you kind of love. The - I will wait patiently in my hurt, while I fight to save you from your hurt - kind of love. From the moment, he bared his soul on the opposite side of the wall, freely letting Do Hoe know, "I like you." I knew he was the real deal. Without fear, he spoke. When he hugged him after sparing and and giddly exploded "Yes, I'm crazy. I live with the person I like and always train together". Blissfully happy just to be with him, no matter the circumstances. He was the one. He would do it all just to be with him.

Do Hoe lived in pain. Abusive muted pain that pressed against him, no matter the direction he took. He breathed in hate and let out despair. In his solitude, his only solace was that he would leave. Though, with the arrival of Ju Yeong his dream began to change. They would leave together. In their dream, they would create acceptance and warmth in each other's arms. Do Hoe for a brief moment dared to believe in his dream beyond the pain and loved Ju Yeong deeply.

But the pain wouldn't let him go. It held on, railing at any given opportunity to remind him that he was useless. The pain squeezed tightly to extinguish any flicker of hope to be better than his surrounding and ultimately better than himself. On the final day, the day of exams, the pain won. Traumatized by the frantic beating Ju Yeong endured because he dared to defend him, he failed his exams. Pride and a need to feel worthy, he lies. A lie that would trap him for 12 years in a different type of pain. Self loathing. Hyeon Ho, the only person who knew and he could depend on, became an ally. Only an ally. In Do Hoe's heart of hearts only one could exhist. Unknowingly, a death would bring back the past, a reckoning to survive and the truth to lay bare for all to see. Do Hoe looks over at Ju Yeong and keeps repeating, "Shin Ju Yeong, Why do you keep crying?" He knows. Sometimes, everything has to burn to ash for clarity to occur and the dream to take root and grow. Hyeon Ho, forever on the outside looking in, craved what he lost 12 years ago. He has also existed within his pain.

Every titbit of storytelling was beautifully and artistically laid out leaving the viewer both satisfied and aware. Satisfied that all that needed to be told, was captured and skillfully portrayed by excellent actors. Even the ones that were hated were eventually understood. Aware that if perchance a love like this fortunately enters your life, hold on and fight for it. Ju Yeong will make you believe.

Must see. Rewatch every chance you get.