I will be honest. This coming-of-age romantic comedy/drama surprised me. I thought it was going to be another one of those typical young romance stories, but the writer threw a few curveballs that I didn’t see coming.

Na Bo Ra is a young high school girl whose best friend, Kim Yeon Do, is headed to the US for heart surgery. Given how advanced Korean medicine is, I was a little surprised that she had to go so far, but I quickly let it go. Kim Yeon Do also briefly meets Baek Hyun Jin who helps her, and she, of course, immediately falls head over heels for him. Since she is going to be away for a while, Yeon Do asks Bo Ra to find out everything she can about her new, prospective love.

We’ve seen this situation dozens of times in stories like this one as Bo Ra follows Baek Hyun Jin around the school—sometimes with hilarious moments—in order to gather information for her friend. It is 1999 and emailing is slowly becoming the way of communication, and Bo Ra sends her friend emails with updates and information about Baek Hyun Jin. Bo Ra also finds herself speaking with Hyun Jin’s best friend, Poong Woon Ho, who is a confident, but somewhat withdrawn boy who enjoys photography.

I figured was going to begin as another typical storyline, gave me my first curveball. The writer brilliantly decided to use the “mistaken identity” ploy, and it works really well here! Bo Ra finds herself infatuated with Woon Ho, which she figures is all well and good. After all, her friend is in love with Hyun Jin, who doesn’t interest Bo Ra at all. But Hyun Jin becomes interested in her. But that isn’t where the twist begins. When Yeon Do returns, we find out that she’s in love with Woon Ho because he was wearing Hyun Jin’s jacket at the time they met, which had Hyun Jin’s name tag on it. Hence, we now have two girls in love with the same guy. Of course, this crushes Bo Ra, who is now trying her best to prove to her friend that she is NOT in love with Woon Ho, and thus, she steps aside.

The moments between Bo Ra and Woon Ho are sweet and endearing, as it’s clear that these two have real chemistry. Bo Ra isn’t necessarily a wallflower and even takes the initiative to ask Woon Ho out on a date. This occurs right before Yeon Do reveals the truth about the object of her affections. We have tender moments of Bo Ra and Woon Ho eating ice cream, Woon Ho helping a drunk Bo Ra on a field trip, and an especially precious moment under a plum tree.

I was a bit put off by Yeon Do’s reaction when she finds out the truth of Bo Ra’s feelings for Woon Ho. After all, it wasn’t entirely Bo Ra’s fault regarding the mistaken identity. But Yeon Do quickly redeems herself when she realizes that Woon Ho is also in love with Bo Ra, and she encourages her friend to not let anyone stand in her way.

Woon Ho’s mother and brother live in New Zealand, and his father sends him back to the country. We aren’t given an explanation as to why, but it’s here that we get a tearful goodbye between Woon Ho and Bo Ra at the train platform as he sets off. I love how Koreans emote. It always feels so genuine and heartfelt, and we feel the pain of separation as Woon Ho sobs as the train pulls away, and Bo Ra is also left sobbing on the platform.

In the final act of the film, we get another major twist. Woon Ho and Bo Ra are able to maintain contact (only via email) until some time after the new year. Bo Ra is entering college, and we can only assume that Woon Ho is doing the same. Woon Ho vows to return to Korea to be with Bo Ra, but suddenly, all communication stops. Bo Ra’s emails go unanswered, and even when she attempts to call his pager, there is no response. Believing that Woon Ho has lost interest, she angrily and tearfully leaves a message and vents her frustrations, vowing to never want to see or speak with him again.

Now, I’ve seen enough movies and shows over 45+ years to recognize when something is up, and I had a strong suspicion that something happened to Woon Ho. Given his love and devotion for Bo Ra, there was no way he would lose interest. Of course, as a somewhat insecure young woman just out of high school, Bo Ra’s reaction wasn’t a surprise either. The last thing she would suspect is that something tragic has taken place.

Sure enough, as we jump some fifteen or twenty years later, Woon Ho’s brother contacts Bo Ra and invites her to a photography exhibit. Bo Ra is shocked to see that nearly every photograph on display has something to do with her. And it is here that Woon Ho’s brother tells her that Woon Ho died back in 2001.

I found two things frustrating about the ending, despite not really having a major issue with it. First, I don’t care who you are, when you find out that someone has died—especially someone close to you—you want to know how it happened. And Bo Ra never asks the obvious question, and Woon Ho’s brother never tells her. I’ve had close friends pass away in the last few years, and my first thought is, “What happened? How did they die?” And when someone dies young, it’s frankly, a very obvious question.

And second, I wish they’d extended the ending a bit more. More talk and conversation between Bo Ra and Woon Ho’s brother would have been nice. I’m sure Bo Ra would have had a million questions about him. But the exchange is much too brief given the situation. I’d be curious what ended up on the cutting floor during this sequence.

I saw Kim Yoo Jung in “Backstreet Rookie” which was a disappointment. My only minor criticism is when she cries. Her wailing and sobbing almost felt forced at times. Older Bo Ra—played by Han Hyo Joo—felt much more tender and real. Perhaps because Hyo Joo is older and a much more seasoned actress. As she sits and watches the videos that Woon Ho made from years ago, it was much easier to empathize with her.

The movie reminded me a little bit of the classic film “The Man In the Moon,” a story of two sisters who fall in love with the same boy, which ends tragically. Part of me wished this film had more depth like that movie, especially in the end. However, the fantastic acting of Han Hyo Joo and Byun Woo Suk (Woon Ho) really made the ending powerful and heartfelt.

This was a film that was much better than I thought it would be. There is something that has always captivated me regarding good coming-of-age stories and romances. Perhaps because many of these stories involve first-time experiences that come from a place of innocence and childlike wonder. And they are always heartbreaking when tragedy occurs. But then, that’s life, isn’t it? Not every romance will have a “happily ever after” ending.

Perhaps the message here is to cherish the time you have with loved ones. Don’t take them for granted because you never know when time is suddenly up. Relationships are about moments, however brief or long they may be.