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The greatest inspiration for Hwang Jun-Ho is his older brother, Hwang In-Ho. His brother joined the police force, and Jun-Ho followed in his footsteps. But the trouble started when In-Ho introduced his new boyfriend to the family. Seong Gi-Hun is the sweetest and most beautiful person on earth. It was love—at least for Jun-Ho—at first sight. This couldn’t happen, he admired his brother too much to fall in love with his boyfriend. But it happened.
After almost a year together, In-Ho and Gi-Hun broke up. In-Ho had been promoted to a special agent and would have to leave the country. Gi-Hun didn’t take the situation well and didn’t want to move.
Of course, Jun-Ho was recruited by his brother to help pick up his things from his now ex-boyfriend’s house.
"So, how’s everything? Are you still talking?"
"We’re still friends, but for now, we’re avoiding each other. The wound is still fresh." For the first time in years, In-Ho seemed on the verge of crying.
"I understand. Why didn’t you try to stay together even from a distance? You two are like soulmates." And how much it hurt to say this, but it was the truth—they completed each other like two oranges.
"Not all love is meant to survive, Jun-Ho." The older one was looking down, holding a photo from his first date with Gi-Hun. "Jun-Ho, I want to ask you a favor. Take care of Gi-Hun. Sometimes he can be too naive. And he doesn’t have many friends, you’ve always gotten along… just don’t abandon him."
To say that Jun-Ho was surprised is an understatement. He hadn’t even considered abandoning Gi-Hun; if he were in In-Ho’s place, he would have given up the job for his love.
"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him."
And now, two years later, there he was at Gi-Hun’s door, with old clothes and a bag full of paint in various colors.
"Finally, detective, I thought I’d have to come get you. Come in." Since Gi-Hun found out what Jun-Ho did for a living, he always called him "Detective."
"So, have you decided where to start? I brought all the colors you asked for, even the one with the weird name." Seriously, who names a paint "Sweet Temptation"?
"I was thinking of starting here in the living room. I’m excited to see how the cherry paint will look, and by sunset, it’ll be dry."
The room wasn’t that big, and before noon, they had finished. As they sat on the floor drinking water, Gi-Hun had an idea.
"What if we draw a lily on the wall?" The older one had a huge smile when he spoke.
"Why a lily?" Jun-Ho seemed confused by Gi-Hun’s sudden enthusiasm.
"It’s my favorite flower, and it has a beautiful meaning. Please, draw the lily, and I’ll do whatever you want."
Of course, it would be him who would have to draw it. And anything Gi-Hun asked with his puppy eyes, Jun-Ho would do.
"Okay, you win. I’ll draw the lily."
While the detective finished the flower, the older one painted the kitchen.
"Gi-Hun, I’m done! Come look!" Jun-Ho was excited to hear his opinion.
"Wow! It’s amazing! You should really consider doing this, Jun-Ho," Gi-Hun said, holding the detective’s arm.
"Gi-Hun, seriously? You got yellow paint on me."
"Oops, didn’t notice. But yellow suits you, detective."
"And red suits you," the younger one replied with a mischievous smile as he grabbed his arm.
At that moment, they got into a paint fight. Yellow and red flew through the air. When Gi-Hun was putting paint on Jun-Ho’s face, he slipped. Of course, the detective caught him. Their heights matched perfectly, with the younger man being just a few centimeters taller. Their mouths were observed, analyzed by each other’s eyes. It was inevitable. The electricity pulled them closer, and when their lips touched, it felt like the most perfect act in the world. The kiss lasted several minutes, soft and full of affection.
"You know, I kept wondering when this would happen," Gi-Hun said, smiling as he wrapped his arms around the detective’s neck.
"Really? For how long?"
"A year and a half, I think. And you, detective?"
"Is it wrong to say since the day I met you? Because I’ve been in love with you since that afternoon." Jun-Ho seemed embarrassed to confess his feelings but thought it was only fair to let the other know the extent of his emotions.
"Wow, that’s a long time. I can’t say the same, but I’ve felt differently for you for a few years now. I count the minutes to see you. The happiest part of my day is being with you. Even my cat likes you more than me."
"My day only makes sense when I see you. And I know it’s cliché to say this, but with you, I want to live all the clichés. I love you, Gi-Hun, and maybe I shouldn’t—"
The older one silenced him with a calm kiss that quickly turned into something more passionate.
"You know, there’s a movie I watched where the lily means ‘I dare you to love me.’ I love you, my detective. And for a long time, I thought this was wrong, but it’s not."
"I must be dreaming."
"I’ll show you it’s not a dream, Jun-Ho," Gi-Hun said with a mischievous smile.
The kiss was fiery. Gi-Hun’s hands scratched Jun-Ho’s hair while the detective grabbed his waist and explored the curves of his back.
"Jun-Ho, take me to the bedroom." Gi-Hun’s pupils were fully dilated, filled with desire.
"Your wish is my command." Jun-Ho picked him up and carried him to the other room.
"Are you sure about this, Gi-Hun?"
"I want you, detective."
[...]
After that fateful day with the lily, they decided to start a relationship. Of course, there were many talks about everything that it involved. They decided to keep it secret at first, avoiding unnecessary attention.
One morning, the apartment doorbell rang, and Jun-Ho, fresh out of the shower, went to answer it.
"In-Ho." Shocked was an understatement when he saw his brother standing at the door.
"Jun-Ho, what are you doing here?"
"I… uh…"
"We’re dating. Hello, In-Ho," Gi-Hun arrived and was surprised to see his ex-boyfriend and now brother-in-law standing at the door.
"Wow, how long has this been going on?"
"About 6 months. But come on, Jun-Ho, for heaven’s sake, go out on some clothes." Gi-Hun seemed amused to see both brothers frozen, as if they had seen a ghost.
The older one headed to the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat when In-Ho broke the silence.
"Do you love him?"
"More than anything in this life."
"You two complete each other. I’ve always been jealous of how you had more in common with him than with me. Jun-Ho and I are different in that way, he would have given up everything for you. That’s love."
"What did you come here for, In-Ho?" Gi-Hun asked seriously as Jun-Ho sat down next to him, his arm around his shoulders.
"Basically to apologize and see how you were. I really didn’t want to hurt you. And I’m happy to see that you two are together. It feels right."
"I accept your apology, In-Ho, and thank you for approving of our relationship. It means a lot to us."
"Thank you, brother." Jun-Ho seemed emotional, relieved to know that his brother had no hard feelings against him.
"Since we’re all here together, I have something else to tell you!" In-Ho grinned from ear to ear. "I’m getting married!"
"WHAT?!"
"HOW COME?!"
And it was true. He met a young woman from Seoul during one of his many work trips. For the first time, he tried a long-distance relationship, and in the end, it worked out. He got a position that didn’t require so much travel and decided to propose to her.
The wedding was beautiful. Gi-Hun, being the crybaby he is, had several tissues in his hand. Jun-Ho couldn’t stop thinking about the ring, which was warm in his suit pocket. The fear of his boyfriend saying no was his greatest torment.
But Gi-Hun said yes.
The best day of his life was when Gi-Hun became his husband.
And today, sitting against their cherry-colored wall with a lily drawn on it, he recalls the phrase his brother told him: "Not all love is meant to survive." His brother was right, but he prefers to believe that only true love can survive. That love that consumes you down to the depth of your soul. That love is eternal.
"Earth to Jun-Ho." Gi-Hun seemed amused by his husband, who appeared to be daydreaming.
"Oh, sorry, love. Were you talking to me?"
"Yes, it’s almost time to pick up Ga-Yeong from school."
Jun-Ho doesn’t know how fate gave him an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter as a gift. If someone had told him 10 years ago that this would be his future, he would have laughed. Maybe it was the paint “Sweet Temptation” that brought him luck, or the lily.
But since Gi-Hun challenged him to love him, he never stopped.