First Love

First love. The reason why we think first love is beautiful isn't because people we first loved were actually handsome or pretty. It's because we were unconditional, innocent, or a bit stupid at the time of first love. And because... and because we know that we can never go back to that young, passionate time of our days.

First love is a bit rash. Without any calculation, we throw ourselves with passion and finally come to face failure. But it is at the same time dramatic. It comes with inexplicable feelings that we never get to experience again. So, first love becomes the most dramatic moment of our lives. It's okay to fail. Tragic stories stay longer than 'happily ever after'. It's nice to have that wonderful story as one chapter of one's life.

A person who dreams of love, is the one who waits. After the romance, the real life comes in. Innocence gets dirty, passion gets cold, and youth gets old with cleverness. So, first love becomes part of one's exhausted daily life. That's why first love looks like it can't be accomplished. Because no one talks about a successful romance with first love.

—Yoon Yoon Jae, Reply 1997