Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do

## Yi-jin and Hee-do

> We have the strength to get back up again. So let's be as frustrated as we want when things are tough. Let's be as sad as we want. And let's get back up together. Even if we're not together, let's get back up together. I'll be your strength to help you back up again. I'll make sure it happens.
>
> - Na Hee-do to Baek Yi-jin, Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do are a relationship on the K-Drama, "Twenty-Five Twenty-One." Hee-Do and Yi-Jin meet in 1998 for the first time due to an incident involving Hee-Do's peeing boy statue. They soon becomes friend and share a supportive bond as they navigate personal struggles and share dreams.

## Story

Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin's relationship is a multifaceted journey that evolves through intricate moments, shaping their connection from initial acquaintance to a complex romance filled with emotional peaks and valleys.

The summer of 1998 marks the genesis of their story. Hee-do, a determined high school fencer, faces adversity when her club shuts down due to financial constraints triggered by the IMF crisis. Her passion for fencing leads her to consider transferring to Tae Yang High School, where her idol, Go Yu-rim, studies. Amidst familial conflict about her fencing ambitions, Hee-do encounters Yi-jin, a paperboy with a past tied to a chaebol family that faced bankruptcy due to the crisis. Their first meeting, sparked by a confrontation over a broken statue, lays the foundation for a bond that gradually deepens over time.

As Hee-do perseveres to join Tae Yang High School, Yi-jin becomes a steady presence in her life. They share aspirations, fears, and personal struggles, forming a genuine friendship. Yi-jin, despite his family's financial downfall, becomes Hee-do's confidant, providing unwavering support during her pursuit of fencing excellence.

Their connection intensifies when Yi-jin unexpectedly departs without a proper farewell, leaving Hee-do feeling abandoned yet understanding of his departure. Despite the physical separation, their emotional bond remains resilient, with each finding solace in memories and moments shared during their time together.

Yi-Jin's return to Seoul rekindles their connection, but Hee-do's involvement with a new boyfriend brings confusion and emotional turmoil. Misunderstandings arise, leading to confessions of feelings and a complex web of emotions between them. Their love deepens, but Yi-jin's emotional distance grows due to the pressures of his career and the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.

This phase marks a turning point in their relationship. Yi-jin's emotional withdrawal creates uncertainty, leaving their once-solid bond fragile. The narrative, once filled with shared dreams and mutual support, takes an uncertain turn, leaving viewers questioning the future of their love story.

A glimpse into the future, where Hee-do's daughter watches an interview where Yi-jin congratulates Hee-do on her recent wedding, adds layers of ambiguity. The fate of their relationship remains enigmatic, open to interpretation, and shrouded in the complexity of their shared experiences and emotional entanglements.

## Relationship Timeline

### July 1998

* Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin meet for the first time due to an incident involving Hee-do's peeing boy statue. This marks their memorable, albeit confrontational, first encounter.
* They meet again at a DVD/comic book store where Yi-jin works. He rescues Hee-do from a potentially dangerous situation at a club.
* Hee-do shares her dream of becoming a fencing rival to her idol, and Yi-jin opens up about his family's bankruptcy.

### Summer-Fall 1998

* Hee-do successfully transfers to Tae Yang High School to pursue her fencing dreams. She and Yi-jin spend time together, supporting each other's aspirations and bonding over their dreams.
* Yi-jin unexpectedly leaves town without saying goodbye to Hee-do, causing her disappointment but also understanding his decision.

### Winter 1998

* Despite their physical separation, their bond grows stronger through recordings and memories. Yi-Jin returns Hee-Do's sword with a message confirming he knows about her joining the national team.

### Spring-Summer 1999

* Yi-jin returns to Seoul and reunites with Hee-do, discovering she has a new boyfriend named Jung Ho-jin.
* Confusion arises when Hee-do mistakenly confesses her feelings to Yi-jin, causing some emotional turbulence between them.
* Yi-jin becomes more protective of Hee-do, expressing his love for her, although Hee-do's feelings aren't as strong at that point.

### Winter 2000

* Hee-do kisses Yi-jin on New Year's Eve, signifying a shift in their relationship.
* After some emotional conflicts and misunderstandings, Yi-jin finally confesses his love to Hee-Do, and they officially become a couple.

### Fall-Winter 2001

* The narrative becomes rushed, with Yi-Jin's emotional distance increasing due to his coverage of 9/11. He decides to emotionally shut Hee-Do out, leading to speculation and confusion about the future of their relationship.
* Hee-do breaks the news to the couple’s common friends, hinting that the couple has now decided to maintain distance. However, she is forced to reach out to him to cancel their couple’s mobile plans. As a result, they speak again but this time, Yi-jin informs Hee-do that he couldn’t fall back on her because of the trauma he experienced while reporting the 9/11 attacks. He chose to keep the pain to himself for he felt that it would be better if the trauma affect one of them instead of engulfing her in it.
* Hee-do expresses her belief that their relationship only thrives in happiness, not during challenging times.
* The couple's fights intensify, leading to a significant emotional distance between them.
* Hee-do makes a tough choice and decides to initiate the breakup due to the growing rift between them. Regretting hurtful words spoken during their arguments, Hee-do confides in her diary, pouring out genuine emotions and sentiments she deeply regrets.
* Yi-jin unexpectedly comes across Hee-do's lost diary just before his departure for New York. Through the diary's revelations, Yi-jin gains profound insight into Hee-do's inner turmoil and the emotional distress she concealed while he was preoccupied with work. The diary's contents deeply affect Yi-jin, unveiling the depth of Hee-do's concealed pain and struggles.
* In a last-ditch attempt to address their unresolved issues, Yi-jin intercepts Hee-do before leaving the country. The emotional confrontation culminates in a heartrending farewell between the two, laden with unspoken emotions and unresolved sentiments.

### 2009

* Hee-do's daughter, Min-chae, watches an interview between Yi-jin and Hee-do, indicating a significant passage of time. In the interview, Yi-jin congratulates Hee-do on her recent wedding, suggesting they might not be together anymore or could be hiding their relationship from the public eye.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/twenty-five-twenty-one-yi-jin-hee-do-relationship-timeline-48772309
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.thediarist.ph/twenty-five-twenty-one-the-ending-that-broke-our-hearts/
3. ↑ https://www.news18.com/news/movies/twenty-five-twenty-one-ending-explained-nam-joo-hyuk-kim-tae-ri-show-ends-on-heartbreaking-note-4938596.html