It’s currently 1:27 pm as I am writing this, I finished the manhwa a hours ago like I think I started it last night at 11:00 pm then finished by 4:00 am. I kept crying until 5:00 am and eventually I finally fell asleep. This is my 101st manhwa, supposedly it was Hwanyoung’s misery but it’s still ongoing. Surprisingly this is better than my 100th manhwa and hit home, I literally cried at the first chapter. Like imagine?? It started with the main character as a grandpa, bedridden, lying in his deathbed, counting his days, then suddenly his grandson shows him a video of his younger self being a passionate singer with his duet partner, “Minseok.” I knew Byunghoon was going to die and I was expecting Minseok to be already dead by then, that the manhwa just centered around Byunghoon reminisced about his past. I really told myself that I won’t cry that much while reading this because the plot is “easy to read and expect.” Little did I know I was wrong HAHAHAHAHA. This manhwa really portrayed the themes of racism and homophobia well and the cherry on top is that it took place around the 1950s to 1960s. From reading this, I’m really glad that I’m born in the 21st century, society has become more inclusive now, yet I still struggle on facing homophobia especially being in a conservative religious family. I found myself crying consistently over the chapters like even though they are just tiny details, it really struck my heart – or maybe I’m just softhearted. I’ve never cried like this in the past 2 years, 2022 of June, the same month, maybe? While I was reading Go Go to 2008 my first tragedy manhwa and I was even reading it at the hospital, at the lobby, waiting for my turn to the doctor. I literally held my tears until I had gotten home; I felt those tears coming back after reading this. Somehow, I see parts of myself in Minseok and Byunghoon. For Minseok, the sunshine character who hides his problems independently fighting his inner turmoils, having to choose practicality over passion, and having a sense of responsibility that needs to be fulfilled, and navigating through the hardships of life because of his prime source of happiness, his true love, Byunghoon. Byunghoon, on the other hand, is my side who longs for fighting my own happiness and passion, well, the side that I’ve kept hidden. It’s still hard to fight for my own happiness in this time given that there are so much extraneous variables that are needed to be considered; also in the part wherein Byunghoon is oblivious about liking someone, and subconsciously kisses Minseok out of his impulses – it was true love radiating through but sad to say that both of them weren’t ready yet to face the societal norms during their time. As I reiterate, being gay is difficult. Most probably that Minseok is my sense of “Practicality” and Byunghoon is my sense of “Passion.” I find this manhwa really cute because it was set in the early years where the concept of “being yourself” wasn’t fully bloomed yet, and both Minseok and Byunghoon shared letters with each other, as in my own culture, that’s what they call “harana” and apparently hindi na uso ang ganon sa harana ngayon. Romeo and Juliet did not make me cry, but this manhwa did.
I can Byunghoon’s story into two parts: Peri-Mr.Paul and Post-Mr.Paul (Minseok-centered). The first part was all sunshine and rainbows, it was full of fluff, and it felt settling when Byunghoon finally got to start building his profound passion of being a singer and surpass the barriers of racism. The most significant scene I remember was when Byunghoon and Minseok sang “Unchained Melody” while getting Mrs. Debra’s children at their school. It was REALLY REALLY CUTE!! And from thereon, I could already see that Minseok and Byunghoon are made for each other. It was also enticing when Byunghoon helped Minseok gain confidence in singing, yes, Minseok is indeed a great singer, yet he was lacking that push. All the fluff resided in the first part of Byunghoon’s backstory, everyone in Good ‘ol Paul’s bar had their individual contributions of making that bar unique. I really love the diversity among the characters at Mr. Paul’s bar, it radiates that hope still exists amidst those trying times when racism was evident. Sad to say that in the second part of the story, Post-Mr.Paul, the bar shut down and everyone parted their ways. I’m glad that Minseok and Byunghoon stayed together, although I felt empty as the other characters stopped appearing in the succeeding chapters. None of them were shown in the peak of Byunghoon’s success. Nonetheless, this is the part of the story is where the real angst starts – the rising action dare I say. A lot of events happened during this part, to summarize, Byunghoon lived together with Minseok’s family, both went job-hunting to continue their “Duet-partners legacy,” misunderstandings arise, they resolve the conflict, they catch feelings for each other, they get offered a job at New York, Byunghoon accepts and Minseok declines. This is the part where Byunghoon finally kisses Minseok yet proceeds to run away from his feelings. It was hard to digest everything that was happening, this was PEAK CONFLICT. They had a short chapter of having happy moments together; Minseok finally achieved the scholarship he’s been working hard for, took care of his family, while Byunghoon was building his passion at New York. Both consistently wrote letters for each other, but those happy moments didn’t last long. Minseok’s life just kept drastically eroding thereon, he gets severely bullied at the university for living below the poverty line, he works endless shifts at work to supply for his family, and his sole source of happiness was Byunghoon, yet the latter stopped sending letters. After that, Minseok’s father dies, and just as he was expecting Byunghoon to come back that month after long periods of not receiving letters, he finally receives a letter saying Byunghoon’s visit will be postponed. It was finally the breaking point of the sunshine character and tears won’t stop rapidly eroding down my cheeks as I read through that part, MINSEOK DID NOTHING BUT BE THE KINDEST PERSON IN THIS MANHWA TO DESERVE THAT. Byunghoon on the other hand also had his share of struggles by being part of the music industry circuit. He was only seen as a tool and finding friends was a difficult task. He still persevered to reach his dream, but it was all lonely because MINSEOK WASN’T THERE. This was the time that Byunghoon FINALLY REALIZED HIS TRUE FEELINGS FOR MINSEOK. IT WAS FREAKING LOVE. He wrote letters wishing Minseok that everything will go well, but ironically, it didn’t. Minseok just pined for his presence, and everything just kept breaking. I couldn’t stop crying during this part and it took me around 30 minutes to proceed to the next chapter. Finally, Byunghoon is a famous singer now, he went back to find Minseok just to hear the news that they already went back to Korea. This was the lowest part of their lives because they lived through their senior-adult years without having contact with each other. Byunghoon, the run-away child, finally returns home, and these words won’t stop echoing in my mind, “Mom, I’m home” and his mind, he finally reached his dream, though everything felt so empty, it was because Minseok wasn’t by his side.
Fast forward to the present day, as they’re already grandpas, I was shocked that Minseok was still alive, LIVING A HAPPY LIFE. Wow. I really aspire to be like Minseok. I see myself as the sunshine character but damn?? Minseok is a whole different level. He promised to Byunghoon during their younger years that he will always be his number 1 fan and he kept his promise by religiously listening to Byunghoon’s albums until old age. What was cuter was that it was revealed by the end that the albums Byunghoon had made WERE FOR MINSEOK… I swear this is better than Romeo and Juliet. AND NOT JUST THAT, MINSEOK NEVER MARRIED ANYONE. HE STAYED SINGLE AND WAITED FOR BYUNGHOON HIS ENTIRE LIFE. I literally cried a river at that part because every sweet thing surged through as they sang their favorite song, “Unchained Melody” for the last time in their life. I swear I it will take a year or two until I fully recover than this LIKE?? THIS MANHWA EMOTIONALLY SCATHED ME TO THE FREAKING MAX. It really radiates the “Right person, wrong time” and “They will find each other again in their next life” tropes. Most of the story was filled with sorrow and regret but I’m freaking glad at the very least that Minseok and Byunghoon met each other for one last time before Byunghoon died and that was when he finally overcame all those feelings of sorrow and regret, dying peacefully. It reminds me of the scene in Coco where Miguel sang “Remember me” to Mama Coco. I remember crying in that scene and it somehow resonated back to me while reading the end of this Manhwa. Finally reaching the end of the story, “I’ll be coming home, wait for me.” Bounces back to the time when Byunghoon said, “Mom, I’m home.” But it really reflects that Minseok is his true home, his solace, his duet partner, his everything.
This is my new favorite manhwa snatching a first place in my tier list huhu. Even though the ending felt quite rushed, there were no side stories/epilogue, it’s already okay the way it is, that’s what makes this manhwa unique. It could’ve been better if they showed more scenes and storyline about the other characters or Byunghoon’s New York Life, or maybe Minseok’s life after moving back to Korea, whatever the story holds, it’s what the readers’ perceptions that fills those gaps, it really makes this story magical, I love it. I really really love this story :((( I resonate with Minseok and Byunghoon so much. Like just how complicated and harsh love can be, I will give it a chance because I don’t want to end up regretting it the day I die. Until now I can’t stop pining over this Manhwa, even though it only has 36 chapters, it has really made a significant toll to my brain chemistry of seeing romance in a whole new perspective. The “Unchained Melody” Song is cute and is currently my favorite song. I can’t stop replaying it think of how Minseok and Byunghoon could’ve had a better romance story. They definitely deserve better. This manhwa is a 10/10 it really hits me home. I am a firm believer that better days will come ahead. I hope I’ll be like Minseok, upholding the sunshine character consistently throughout the story. Godspeed to Minseok and Byunghoon! I will read this again in the future once I’ve fully moved on from the emotional scars they inflicted upon me HAHAHAHAHAH
Again, God speed to your love story, Minseok and Byunghoon.
Maybe in another universe? <3<3
I hope so…
Timeless melody