The 2009 BL ‘Just Friends?‘, starring now popular actors Lee Je Hoon and Yeon Woo Jin, is a short film that portrays a gay couple on the hay day of their relationship. Let’s find out why there is hesitancy in their “friendship” in this recap.
Excitement and happiness are evident on Seok-i’s (played by actor Lee Je Hoon) face as he rides the bus to visit his lover, Min-soo (played by actor Yeon Woo Jin), who is currently enlisted in the military. He feels so giddy that a trot performance (from his imagination) was playing in his head, with lyrics speaking about his thoughts and concerns about his lover, who he fears might get alienated if he gets outed while being enlisted. Going back to his bus ride, he meets a girl who is also on her way to see her lover who is enlisted in the same place. The girl asks Seok-i if he lives in the city where the military is based, but he says that he is on his way to meet someone in the military, and eventually tells her that he is on his way to meet his lover. The girl says his lover must be a good person because Seok-i brought a nice present for his lover, and he begins talking nonstop about where he bought the ingredients to bake the pastries he made.
In the military place, Seok-i mistakenly (?) wrote “lover” in the visitation form of what his relationship is to Min-soo. He asks for a new form, which the personnel declined, and told him to just erase his mistake instead. Seok-i hesitantly erases the word “lover” and made sure no one can see it, replacing it with “friend” instead.
As Seok-i was giving Min-soo his handmade gift, Min-soo’s mother made a surprise visit as well. Seok-i hurriedly hid his present.
Seok-i and Min-soo had a meal together with Min-soo’s mother, and there they explained their relationship, that they were friends ever since they were in elementary. They hesitantly hid their true relationship from her. After the meal, the couple went outside and talked for a bit. There, Seok-i gives his gift to Min-soo and reveals that he will be enlisting, too, next month. He said that he plans to quit school, and after enlistment, he also plans to do the qualifying exam to become a chef. Seok-i also says that he does not want to spend more time apart from Min-soo, which is why he decided that he wants to enlist soon. Min-soo leans in and jokingly wanted to kiss him in public, but joked that he wouldn’t.
Seok-i says goodbye to Min-soo’s mother, despite her telling him to stay the night because it is a long trip back to the city. Min-soo walk Seok-i to the station, but unfortunately, the last bus already left, leaving Seok-i no choice but to spend the night in Min-soo’s mother’s house.
