Go Young’s mother finally passes away, and his friends rally around him for her burial. On the way back, they drop him off at Elder Park’s house—a close friend of his late mother—who hands him a file of inheritance tax documents she’d carefully prepared since her cancer diagnosis.
Later, back at home, Go Young struggles to hold himself together, doing his best to avoid breaking down. He meets up with his friends for drinks, attempting to keep up appearances, but they can all tell he’s not really okay. At the bar, Go Young finds himself captivated by the bartender, who has an intense, handsome presence. He doesn’t make a move, though, and keeps it to himself. But when his friend accidentally hits him in the mouth while starting a scuffle with the DJ, things take an unexpected turn.
The bartender rushes over to help Go Young, and in a sudden, impulsive moment, Go Young kisses him, surprising everyone—including the bartender, Kyu Ho, who responds right away. As Kyu Ho murmurs that he tasted a hint of blood, reality hits Go Young. Flustered and embarrassed, he pulls away, quickly leaving the bar with his friends.
A few days later, Go Young runs into Kyu Ho at the cinema where he works. It isn’t a coincidence—Kyu Ho had gone out of his way to find him after figuring out where he worked through one of Go Young’s friends’ social media profiles.
Kyu Ho waits for him at a nearby café. After his shift, Go Young decides to meet him. Kyu Ho hands him a brooch he’d accidentally left behind at the bar, and they exchange a few polite words before parting. Yet something magnetic keeps drawing them back, and within moments, they find themselves awkwardly rushing back toward each other. Kyu Ho, a bit embarrassed, is about to leave again when Go Young stops him and invites him out for a drink.
They end up clicking easily, sharing laughs and stories. By the end of the night, Go Young impulsively invites Kyu Ho back to his place. Kyu Ho hesitates—he has a personal rule about not spending the night with someone he’s only just met. But Go Young insists, and soon after they arrive, he ends up falling asleep almost immediately.
When he wakes the next morning, he’s surprised to find Kyu Ho lying beside him. Out of curiosity, Go Young sneaks a look at Kyu Ho’s wallet and learns that Kyu Ho is a 27-year-old nursing student. Just as he’s piecing things together, Kyu Ho wakes up, checks the time, and quickly leaves, saying he’s late for something. Go Young watches him go, suddenly realizing they hadn’t exchanged numbers, leaving him wondering if they’ll cross paths again.
Later that day, Go Young meets up with Ji Won and her sister-in-law at a club, where Ji Won is showing her sister-in-law the art of flirting. Go Young quickly starts feeling awkward when the sister-in-law begins directing her flirting towards him, and he decides to slip out early.
With most of his friends busy, Go Young reaches out to Kyu Ho, surprising him by showing up at his bar. However, Kyu Ho is preoccupied with work and can’t give him much attention. Go Young waits until Kyu Ho’s shift ends, claiming he doesn’t have enough for a taxi, so they leave together. As they walk, Kyu Ho notes that it’s their third time meeting—a cue that leads them to spend the night together, this time taking all the necessary precautions.
Afterwards, Kyu Ho cooks for them, sharing how hard it is to live with his older brother, a doctor who saves lives by day but mutters curses about patients at night. The two decide to drop formalities and speak casually, given they’re only a year apart. Their bond grows deeper, with Kyu Ho gradually becoming part of Go Young’s life, even leaving small belongings behind at his place.
One day, Kyu Ho arrives and invites Go Young out for the evening. Though he’s hesitant, Go Young agrees, and they end up on a rooftop with a view of the city lights. There, Kyu Ho formally asks him to be his boyfriend. Go Young pauses, gathering his courage, and shares something he’s never told his friends: he has HIV, contracted from a cheating ex while on leave from the military. Due to his health, he was honorably discharged and has kept this part of his life secret, even naming the virus “Kylie” to cope with it more easily.
Kyu Ho gives Go Young time to think things over, saying he’d understand if he decides not to move forward with the relationship. But as Go Young starts to leave, Kyu Ho, visibly emotional, pulls him into a hug, showing he’s fully accepting of his condition. Through tears, Kyu Ho softly promises that from now on, he’ll call him “Crabby Tabby,” a term of endearment to lighten the moment.
They begin officially dating, exploring the city together and sharing new experiences. Go Young introduces Kyu Ho to his friends, who take an instant liking to him. Since they share a similar appearance, Kyu Ho even helps Go Young by taking a blood test in his place, which allows him to secure a position at a trading company.
Their relationship isn’t without its challenges. They get into a big argument over Kyu Ho’s frequent lateness to their dates, as he now lives in Incheon and has to make the long commute to Seoul each time they meet. But despite the tension, they manage to work things out and move past it, growing closer in the process.
While Kyu Ho earns praise in his job at the hospital, Go Young struggles to keep up with the demands of a difficult boss. Eventually, Kyu Ho moves out of his brother’s place and back to Seoul, with Go Young helping him settle into his new apartment. As they move his belongings, Kyu Ho jokes that he’ll no longer be late for their dates.
That evening, they unpack together, and Kyu Ho reflects on how he’s always wanted a space of his own. Soon after, he decides to quit his part-time job and work full-time as a nurse aide, hoping it will bring him some stability. Meanwhile, Go Young stays on at his unfulfilling job, as his attempts to break into publishing haven’t panned out. His boss, however, has started to show appreciation for his straightforward attitude and even offers him a permanent position.
But as time goes on, Go Young and Kyu Ho’s relationship begins to feel stagnant. Tensions build, with Go Young frequently losing his temper and their communication breaking down. Go Young starts feeling insecure, worrying that Kyu Ho is no longer invested in their relationship. One day, while Go Young is writing in a café, Kyu Ho suggests they spend some time together, but Go Young brushes it off, saying they see each other every day. Just as Kyu Ho is about to leave, they get into an argument. Go Young hints at his resentment over Kyu Ho having a job he enjoys, while he’s stuck in one he dislikes. Kyu Ho insists he wants a secure future for both of them, but he doesn’t know how to help Go Young, who insists he doesn’t need anything done for him.
Go Young opens up to his friends about the strain in his relationship, and they suggest he and Kyu Ho might benefit from reconnecting intimately since it’s been a while. They even propose that the two take a trip abroad to break up the routine and rekindle their connection.
Go Young brings up the idea of a getaway, and Kyu Ho surprises him by admitting he doesn’t even have a passport. They laugh it off and settle for a local trip, which turns out to be exactly what they needed. During their time away, they share intimate, carefree moments—like relaxing together in a warm, candlelit bathtub and even lying down on the side of a quiet road in the rain, just holding hands and soaking in the moment.
At one point, Go Young, still holding some insecurities, asks Kyu Ho again if he’s truly okay with his condition. Kyu Ho looks at him, and with a gentle smile, reassures him, saying, “I am. You’re still the same person to me, no matter what.” That reassurance deepens their bond, helping Go Young feel more secure in their relationship.
Although the trip reignited their connection, Go Young and Kyu Ho soon drifted back to a lukewarm routine. After a heated argument, Kyu Ho moved out, and Go Young pretended not to care. But by the end of the same day, Kyu Ho returned, and though their coldness lingered during the argument, it eventually faded when they made up. Time passed, and Kyu Ho rose through the ranks, becoming a senior nurse with a quick promotion.
One day, Kyu Ho shares exciting news: a new branch is opening in Shanghai, where nurses are in high demand with great incentives. He suggests that Go Young come along, and Go Young enthusiastically agrees. They even start taking Chinese classes together, hoping to start a new chapter abroad. But Go Young’s plans fall apart when his company doesn’t choose him to transfer to Shanghai, and he realizes he’d need to pass an HIV test to work there, further complicating things. The dream they’d shared is suddenly out of reach, and Kyu Ho is visibly disappointed.
Kyu Ho insists he won’t go without him, confident he’ll find another opportunity. But Go Young encourages him to take the job, knowing how much it means to Kyu Ho. As they pack Kyu Ho’s things, Go Young finds himself tossing out one of Kyu Ho’s old shirts, the bittersweet realization sinking in that their time together may be ending. That night, as they lie side by side, Go Young jokes that Kyu Ho should live his “dirtiest” life in Shanghai. Kyu Ho pulls him close, whispering, “You’ll always be my favorite dirty joke.” The weight of their shared history fills the silence, making the goodbye all the more tender.
On the day of Kyu Ho’s departure, Go Young accompanies him to the airport. Just before Kyu Ho heads to security, Go Young, trying to put on a brave face, makes a remark that hints at them going their separate ways. The implication hits Kyu Ho hard, and his face falls. Heartbroken and angry, he turns away without another word and heads toward his gate.
Go Young watches him disappear, struggling to hold back his emotions. Later, as he boards the train home alone, he sits by the window, his reflection blurred by unshed tears, trying desperately to hold himself together. Their story ends with Go Young, feeling the quiet ache of everything left unsaid.
