Couple reunite after 23 years thanks to childhood kiss

She did not recall the occasion, but seeing it stirred old memories. She took it from Hung and the next day both had it as their profile pictures.

Hung says: "If two people are meant to be together, they will always return to each other, no matter the distance."

The childhood kiss they shared at three years old was recreated at Gia Hung and Doan Duyen's wedding in 2020. Photo courtesy of the couple

Hung and Duyen, both born in 1994 in Quy Nhon, were children of colleagues. When he turned three, Duyen’s family attended his birthday party. As the only children wearing the traditional ao dai, the adults encouraged them to take photos together. In one of them, Hung kissed Duyen on the cheek, and she scratched his face in response to his surprise maneuver.

The two attended different schools during their early years and only heard about each other through their families. When they met again at a wedding while in grade nine, Hung attempted to approach Duyen, but she walked away, leaving him with unrequited feelings. He would frequently cycle past Duyen's school, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but never succeeded.

After finishing middle school he moved to Hue to study music. He searched for her on Facebook but could not find her since he only knew her by her family nickname "Ly".

In 2017, after graduating from university, he moved to HCMC to start his career. One time, in a game show, he saw Duyen who was a dancer in the opposing team. Though his heart raced, he watched her from a distance, fearing a repeat of her past rejection.

He later tracked down her social media account through mutual acquaintances at the show. He tried to reconnect with her, sending the old photo of them together. Duyen, now recognising him, began meeting him regularly as they had few hometown friends in the city.

Both worked in the arts, and understood each other's professional demands. He would often wait for her after a late-night performance and take her home. He was also an emotional rock during her struggles to build a career alone and far from home.

Gradually she found comfort in his presence.

Six months after reconnecting, he confessed his feelings for her during a ride home one day, asking her "Why don't we be together?" Caught off guard, she declined his proposal.

Undeterred, he continued to message her daily despite repeated rejections. "The more she turned me down, the more persistent I became," he says. This was a long-lost chance he could not let slip away again, he explains.

Six months later, in Quy Nhon, Hung tried again. This time, to his surprise, she said, "Alright, you're too stubborn," and invited him out for a drink. From that day, their friendship gradually blossomed into love.

Gia Hung and Doan Duyen's wedding in Quy Nhon in 2020. Photo courtesy of the couple

After they became a couple Hung would often ask Duyen why she finally accepted his proposal after repeatedly turning him down. Her reply would be that his simple, unpretentious nature earned her respect and affection.

She says: "If it weren't for his patience, we wouldn't have stayed together this long. Hung has taught me valuable lessons."

The two married in Quy Nhon in 2020. For the wedding, they recreated the childhood kiss photo and posted it on social media with the caption, "It took 23 years after a kiss to finally marry her." He believes destiny played a role in their relationship.

After the marriage he respected his wife's boundaries and refrained from doing anything she disliked, which contributed to a peaceful and balanced relationship.

Two years into their marriage, Duyen was diagnosed with severe hyperthyroidism. The illness brought additional complications, including drug allergies, which caused breathing difficulties, tremors and frequent hospitalization.

Her health struggles impacted her mood and behavior, leading to uncontrollable outbursts. Managing work and caring for his wife at the same time, he learned to remain patient, comforting her during her darkest moments, maintaining calm when she lashed out and providing her with support throughout her treatment.

"When things go wrong, it's better to stay positive than to dwell on the negative," he says to explain how he helped her through her illness.

Gia Hung and Doan Duyen with their nearly 3-year-old daughter. Photo courtesy of the couple

He would work long hours, sometimes up to 14 hours a day, to support his wife and children financially, but never fail to take the time off on special occasions like birthdays and their wedding anniversary to compose a song and personally perform it for her.

After several rounds of radiation therapy, Duyen's health has gradually improved.

Hung, now a father to a three-year-old daughter, hopes to find a house where he can set up a music studio and his wife can run dance classes. "It feels like destiny brought us together. After all we've been through, it's no surprise that we've grown so close."