in which i babble about a favorite
It's a familiar story: childhood friends who fall in love with each other. The problem is how they make the transition from friends to lovers. That's the story of Yoojin Jung and Seyun Han, from the manhwa U Don't Know Me by Na Yeri.
I find much to admire them for, which makes them one of my favorite bl couples. But the main reason I like them so much is probably because of their personalities, that they could have such opposite ones yet be perfectly matched and that they're the kind of people who could inspire others . It sure doesn't hurt that they look totally hot together lol.
Here are my idols:
The dark-haired guy is Yoojin while the other is uke Seyun.
--Spoilers ahead--
They have a certain intimacy to their relationship from the start, as they've been in each other's company most of their lives - their fathers are best friends & it's not strange that they would follow suit.
However, a decision of Seyun's father to take responsibility of a sizable debt created a distance between the two and is a significant influence in Seyun's present character. Seyun takes after his father, his sense of duty included, so when they needed to move out of their house & was asked, he chose to go with his parents rather than take up the Jungs offer to stay with them. Seyun’s parents concentrated on working to pay off the debt. His mother, exhausted with the stress of it all, eventually left their family. He fully understands the position his parents are in, but he grew up independent, trusting only his strength and the things his hands could hold. Sometimes too much so. Even after baring their feelings & their clothes off with them hehehe Seyun found it hard to accept the faith Yoojin had in their relationship. It's not that he doubts Yoojin's feelings, it's more that he finally realizes the enormity of his decision to love Yoojin and doubts himself. I like it that Seyun's self-aware enough to know so too. He and Yoojin had differing views of commitment, with Seyun focusing on the present, and Yoojin having the fidelity to see them in the future together. Because not only Yoojin but also his parents (the Jungs) are important to him, he shunned the possibility of a future with Yoojin. He was stopped by the usual blocks of homosexuality: he "can't bear his [Yoojin's] child, can't be the cute daughter-in-law" his mother's been dreaming about, can't be publicly presented before society as Yoojin's partner.
But even with the disparity of their visions, it was so sweet to see that it didn't lessen their desire to be with each other. Yoojin being the gentle one as always, waiting for Seyun once he realized how conflicted he was feeling. A real darling, he's the captain of his school's judo club, a big guy, but really a teddy bear who shuns indiscriminate violence. Seyun, on the other hand, has a reputation for a nasty temper and kick-ass fighting skills in contrast to his delicate good looks. One of the running gags in the manhwa was Seyun beating up the bigger-physiqued Yoojin. After their parents accepted their relationship1, it was funny to see Yoojin's father siding with Seyun against Yoojin and getting the wrong idea thinking that Yoojin was abusing Seyun when it was the other way around lol.
Throughout the entire story one more thing I like about them is that they remained true to themselves - Yoojin being strong enough to protect his dreams & the people important to him. His fidelity's amazing; he confessed that he's loved Seyun since elementary school and was planning to stay beside him in case he didn't return his feelings. He had a plan b too, in the event that Seyun felt the same, saving up running-away-from-home money in case their parents were against it. Romantic & practical. Now how can you resist that?
Seyun too, was sincere in facing himself. Even in his confused, angsty moments, he was honest enough to say I am confused. Luckily, one of his friends helped him out of his knotty thoughts, making him realize that it's okay to need people and accept Yoojin whole-heartedly.
Is it cheesy to say that their bond may be fated in a sense? Since they essentially knew each other from birth, I hope you'll forgive this kind of thinking. But I liked the fact that they continued that tie and evolved it by choice, choosing to love each other, making a fangirl out of me *laughs*.
I’m sorry, I know I went around in circles *sweatdrops*. I don’t think I’m articulate enough to give justice enough to this pairing *headdesks 23x*
1There’s also an amusing scene between their fathers when Yoojin’s father broke the news to Seyun’s dad, essentially asking for Seyun’s hand in marriage lol. They bicker and blame the other for when their wives were still pregnant with the boys they promised each other that they would join their families through their kids’ marriage heh.
I find much to admire them for, which makes them one of my favorite bl couples. But the main reason I like them so much is probably because of their personalities, that they could have such opposite ones yet be perfectly matched and that they're the kind of people who could inspire others . It sure doesn't hurt that they look totally hot together lol.
Here are my idols:
The dark-haired guy is Yoojin while the other is uke Seyun.
--Spoilers ahead--
They have a certain intimacy to their relationship from the start, as they've been in each other's company most of their lives - their fathers are best friends & it's not strange that they would follow suit.
However, a decision of Seyun's father to take responsibility of a sizable debt created a distance between the two and is a significant influence in Seyun's present character. Seyun takes after his father, his sense of duty included, so when they needed to move out of their house & was asked, he chose to go with his parents rather than take up the Jungs offer to stay with them. Seyun’s parents concentrated on working to pay off the debt. His mother, exhausted with the stress of it all, eventually left their family. He fully understands the position his parents are in, but he grew up independent, trusting only his strength and the things his hands could hold. Sometimes too much so. Even after baring their feelings & their clothes off with them hehehe Seyun found it hard to accept the faith Yoojin had in their relationship. It's not that he doubts Yoojin's feelings, it's more that he finally realizes the enormity of his decision to love Yoojin and doubts himself. I like it that Seyun's self-aware enough to know so too. He and Yoojin had differing views of commitment, with Seyun focusing on the present, and Yoojin having the fidelity to see them in the future together. Because not only Yoojin but also his parents (the Jungs) are important to him, he shunned the possibility of a future with Yoojin. He was stopped by the usual blocks of homosexuality: he "can't bear his [Yoojin's] child, can't be the cute daughter-in-law" his mother's been dreaming about, can't be publicly presented before society as Yoojin's partner.
But even with the disparity of their visions, it was so sweet to see that it didn't lessen their desire to be with each other. Yoojin being the gentle one as always, waiting for Seyun once he realized how conflicted he was feeling. A real darling, he's the captain of his school's judo club, a big guy, but really a teddy bear who shuns indiscriminate violence. Seyun, on the other hand, has a reputation for a nasty temper and kick-ass fighting skills in contrast to his delicate good looks. One of the running gags in the manhwa was Seyun beating up the bigger-physiqued Yoojin. After their parents accepted their relationship1, it was funny to see Yoojin's father siding with Seyun against Yoojin and getting the wrong idea thinking that Yoojin was abusing Seyun when it was the other way around lol.
Throughout the entire story one more thing I like about them is that they remained true to themselves - Yoojin being strong enough to protect his dreams & the people important to him. His fidelity's amazing; he confessed that he's loved Seyun since elementary school and was planning to stay beside him in case he didn't return his feelings. He had a plan b too, in the event that Seyun felt the same, saving up running-away-from-home money in case their parents were against it. Romantic & practical. Now how can you resist that?
Seyun too, was sincere in facing himself. Even in his confused, angsty moments, he was honest enough to say I am confused. Luckily, one of his friends helped him out of his knotty thoughts, making him realize that it's okay to need people and accept Yoojin whole-heartedly.
Is it cheesy to say that their bond may be fated in a sense? Since they essentially knew each other from birth, I hope you'll forgive this kind of thinking. But I liked the fact that they continued that tie and evolved it by choice, choosing to love each other, making a fangirl out of me *laughs*.
I’m sorry, I know I went around in circles *sweatdrops*. I don’t think I’m articulate enough to give justice enough to this pairing *headdesks 23x*
1There’s also an amusing scene between their fathers when Yoojin’s father broke the news to Seyun’s dad, essentially asking for Seyun’s hand in marriage lol. They bicker and blame the other for when their wives were still pregnant with the boys they promised each other that they would join their families through their kids’ marriage heh.