Coffee House: Page 9
by javabeans
Oh, it’s good to have Coffee House back. Unfortunately, the four-episode postponement most certainly did set the drama’s ratings back, nearly halving them. It was performing in the 9% to 10% range, but this episode dropped things to a 5.9%. (Giant didn’t have as big a drop — only about 1%, landing at 12.8% — but it did air one episode during the World Cup, while Coffee House did not.) Bummer.
SONG OF THE DAY
T-MAX – “심장이 열 번 뛰기 전에” (Before my heart beats 10 times). As you guys know, I’m not a huge kpop or idol-band fan. But of all the boy bands out there, I have to say that T-MAX is probably my guilty-pleasure favorite; they’ve got hooky melodies and a vaguely old-school kpop flavor that reminds me of groups like Shinhwa. [ Download ]
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PAGE 9 RECAP
After Jin-soo and Eun-young pull back from the kiss, the uncertainty of the moment hangs in the air between them. Jin-soo tries to brush it off, uneasily joking that her birthday gift is a little much, and then asks if this is another attempt to fool Ji-won.
Whatever hope Eun-young may have been harboring in this moment of vulnerability is dashed by his response, and she silently turns away, picks up her umbrella, and walks off.
When it started to rain, Seung-yeon had rushed out with an umbrella, worrying about Jin-soo. Now she finds him walking along in a daze, hardly even registering the pounding rain as he continues to drink from his beer. She attempts to shield him with her umbrella, but he rejects it.
Eun-young returns to the office, where she manages to put on a cheerful smile for her employees’ benefit — they’ve prepared a party to celebrate a new writer contract. As soon as she makes it to the safety of her office, however, she wails in humiliation — what was she thinking? What happens now?
Seung-yeon remains unaware of this development, and runs into Hyun-joo in the building. She explains that she had come in with a cake for Jin-soo, but the Birthday Grinch ordered her to remove all signs of festivity. Hyun-joo invites her to join the office party, then gets the idea to combine both events. Seung-yeon likes this, and decides that she can’t just let Jin-soo’s birthday go uncelebrated after all.
Seung-yeon opens the back door so the publishing house employees can sneak in and grab Jin-soo to escort him forcibly to his own party. I know Seung-yeon’s not the brightest color in the rainbow, so to speak, but you’d think she’d have learned her lesson by now in defying Jin-soo’s direct orders, even when it’s “for his own good” (at least in cases not involving pills and self-hatred). I think she’s lucky this doesn’t backfire her in any great way, ’cause she’s just asking for another Jin-soo smackdown.
This makes for uncomfortable squirming when Jin-soo’s dragged into the gathering. Everyone else assumes that these two ought to be more than happy to party together, given their closeness and all. As if the memory of their kiss weren’t embarrassing enough, comments are made about the kind of present Jin-soo might want, particularly from Eun-young.
The two try to avoid each other’s gazes but are pressured into blowing out the candles together to celebrate both of their days.
Eun-young excuses herself and dashes to the bathroom, where she groans to herself, “Awkward, awkward, oh it’s so awkward!” Jin-soo steps inside with messy cake-smeared hands, and she forces a hearty laugh, trying to play it cool and joking that he got the wrong bathroom. Until he points to the wall — urinal! — to indicate that she’s the one who got the wrong room. Heh.
Trying to think of the best way to deal with this, Eun-young decides that what they need right now is time. And distance. Lots of time and distance. So, she grabs her bag — not noticing that her cell phone is left on the desk — and sneaks out of the office before she’s noticed.
And then runs into him in the elevator, as he also makes his getaway. Awkward! To make things even worse, just as they joke how uncomfortable things would be if the elevator stopped, it stops.
They try pounding on the doors and pushing the alarm button, but no response. Laughing uneasily, they try to pretend this isn’t their idea of a tenth circle of hell and fail miserably at it.
Next door, Ji-won comes back to his office after taking a few days off to cool his head. He’s in a despondent mood, believing his chances with Eun-young to be lost to Jin-soo.
There’s a hilarious moment when he prevents his secretary from opening his blinds. With a tragic air, he gets poetic: “Over the past few months, this window has been the window of memories, reminding me of my beautiful youth. But now… I’ll have to call it the window of hell. What hellish view awaits me once these blinds are opened tonight? I’m afraid to look.”
All the while, his secretary gives him a confused “Whatever, weirdo” look. Finally, Ji-won decides he has to face his demons and orders the blinds opened.
The sight incenses him anew: How dare they party while sending him to stew in his personal hell? Ji-won calls Eun-young’s office and gets Hyun-joo, who explains that Eun-young is currently not in sight. And neither is Jin-soo.
Whatever sultry scenario Ji-won’s imagining, it’s miles away from the embarrassed, stilted conversation Eun-young and Jin-soo are attempting in reality.
Jin-soo muses that the elevator is sorta the same size of the phone booth — does she have some kind of romantic fantasy about catching him alone in these enclosed spaces? That earns him a glare, so he withdraws the statement, but contends that it’s weird that she’s acting so affronted when HE was the one who’d been taken by surprise. His choice of wording raises her hackles, though, because he’s the one who “suffered” her kiss. And she’s all, suffered?!
Eun-young tries to cover up her embarrassment, first laughing it off, then blustering that a kiss takes two participants. Jin-soo counters, “That’s just instinct. And I’m a man.”
Just then, the elevator resumes operation and the doors open, but Eun-young’s not about to let him go on that excuse and grabs him with one hand while jabbing the “door close” button with the other. The doors slide closed just as Seung-yeon, who has come out to look for them, sees them standing together inside. She sees from the display that the elevator stops at the top floor.
Eun-young decides that it’s best to confront this head-on and tells Jin-soo that they ought to stop talking in circles. She starts to speak, but he cuts her off, choosing to speak first:
Jin-soo: “Are you my publisher or my friend? Do you want to make money with me, or have fun? Do you hate me or like me? To me, you only mean one thing, but it seems you always have multiple roles, and it’s too much for me.”
Jin-soo tells her it’s time that they make things clear, just as Eun-young blurts her reply:
Eun-young: “I’m your publisher and your friend. I want to make money with you and have fun with you. I want to kill you out of annoyance, but I like you too. What do you want me to do?”
Jin-soo doesn’t like that answer, and tells her it’s “against the rules” — she has to choose one role and stick with it. Eun-young doesn’t like his response either, which is designed to make things easier on him: “Why am I only allowed to be in the position you designate for me? People can be different things to each other. Don’t relationships change naturally with the times?”
She doesn’t want to be the one always left behind when he pulls his disappearing act, wondering if he’s okay or if he’s dead. She tells him, “I can’t go back to the beginning now. I don’t want to do that, either. You insist that we go back to our original places for your comfort, but now I’m going to act according to my feelings too.”
She adds that she’s a greedy person — on top of those two roles of friend and publisher, she can even add another: “I’m going to be more than that, too. Why can’t I do that?”
That’s tantamount to a declaration, isn’t it? Or at least, it opens the door — which he swiftly closes with a no. “I’ve never thought of you as more than that.”
Eun-young tells him not to lie, not believing that he means it. She thinks he’s shutting her down for the wrong reasons (fear? uncertainty?), and I’m inclined to agree with her. However, he assures her that he’s not lying, and that has the effect of knocking the wind right out of her sails.
Jin-soo repeats that the kiss was just a bodily instinct, and Eun-young now accepts his answer that he only wants her to be a friend. Caustically, she laughs at herself, calling this “the highlight of today’s awkwardness.”
Eun-young manages not to shed any tears as she heads back downstairs, not seeing that their conversation has had a third listener: Seung-yeon, who had followed them up from downstairs.
While Jin-soo is left to brood on the rooftop alone, Seung-yeon trudges out of the building glumly, clutching her balloons. So the romantic chemistry between them wasn’t just a show.
Seung-yeon doesn’t quite understand the reasons behind her reaction, because she hasn’t fully acknowledged that she’s starting to like Jin-soo, so it’s as puzzling as it is depressing.
Passing by a streetside pojangmacha, she sees Ji-won having a drink. Outwardly he laughs and gives her his trademark cheesy salute, but he’s mired in a funk of his own. He talks to Seung-yeon, but the words are directed more at himself as he wonders if this is how Eun-young felt when he cheated on her with Young-mi. If so, he acknowledges that he deserved her anger, and figures he’s earned this feeling. Took him long enough to get it!
At home, Seung-yeon reflects on her mood, wondering if wishing that the couple doesn’t work out is the “normal response” in this situation. She recognizes that a pro ought to be interested in the work, “But why am I only interested in people?” Why is she so bummed out?
She sighs that she must not be qualified; she wasn’t meant for professional success.
Despite her denseness in realizing her feelings, I think Seung-yeon IS aware; she just has a tendency to hide behind her supposed dumb ways as a source of denial. She must be hip to her real reason, because she asks her grandmother if it’s true that Dong-wook really likes her, and wonders if she ought to give it a shot with him.
The party occurred on a Friday, and on Monday, Jin-soo arrives at the book cafe, where he overhears her employees wondering what’s up with Eun-young. She hasn’t come in to work, and nobody knows where she went.
He confirms with Hyun-joo that Eun-young has been gone for the weekend, leaving her cell phone in the office. They’ve checked her home and called around, but haven’t found any trace of her.
Her staff is pretty worried, but Jin-soo has an added reason for concern, thinking back to their rooftop conversation. He spends all day calling her home and trying to get a hold of her, tracking down her various contacts.
Such is his anxiety that I doubt Jin-soo even realizes that their situations have been reversed, for once, and now he’s getting a little taste of what he’s doled out to her for so long.
Ji-won also hears the news and calls the office. He sees Jin-soo through the window and orders Hyun-joo to put him on the line, then rips into him for letting this happen. It’s a little unreasonable to blame Jin-soo for this, but Ji-won’s not acting on reason, and he also believes Jin-soo to be her boyfriend, who therefore has a greater responsibility to make sure she’s okay.
This situation is worrisome because Eun-young has never gone missing before, nor has she purposely remained out of contact. However, Ji-won’s next accusation is particularly cutting: “Why do women always find themselves in these situations around you?”
Ouch, low blow. The words, obviously a not-too-veiled reference to his dead wife, get to Jin-soo. Late that night, he stacks dominoes methodically and keeps calling Eun-young, only to get her voicemail.
Finally, he leaves a message — but as soon as he utters the words, they bring a painful memory back with sharp clarity. They echo the words he’d spoken to his wife Hee-soo, when she’d been out of touch and he’d tried to find her.
The domino tower collapses — symbolism! (Jin-soo resorts to building dominoes when he is at his most stressed, because it’s a way of asserting order from within chaos.) He sits in the dark, stricken at the thought that history might repeat itself.
Meanwhile, things are lighter at the Kang household, where it’s meat-grilling night, Dad’s favorite night of the week. This week they have a special visitor: Dong-wook has been invited, and comes dressed to impress, cleaned up in a suit. This is Seung-yeon’s first move after deciding to give it a try with Dong-wook, and his first activity as her official suitor.
Jin-soo calls Seung-yeon during dinner, explaining the call as mere boredom. She’s surprised, and double-checks the reason for his call. He confirms that he’s “bored to death,” but she can’t quite shake the feeling that something is wrong.
As for the family… I got a big chuckle over the meat-o-go-round, when Dong-wook extends a piece of lettuce-wrapped meat to Seung-yeon. Dad gives him the eye and grabs the piece for himself, then offers a piece to Seung-yeon himself — note how Dong-wook hangs his head so pathetically in the shot above. But when Seung-yeon tries to eat it, Grandma snatches the piece away. And round and round they go. HA.
Back in his apartment, Jin-soo sits in the dark with his pills. He swallows a mouthful, then thinks back to the fateful day several years ago when he and Eun-young had gone everywhere looking for Hee-soo.
She had left him one last, ominous voicemail message, and they’d feared the worst. While he was driving around in their search, a phone call had come — but he couldn’t answer, staring at it in fear. Eun-young had tried to reassure him with hopeful words, but when she answered the phone, she’d been presented with bad news.
Eun-young and Jin-soo had sped to the site of a bad car accident, where Hee-soo’s car had been overturned.
In the following days, Jin-soo had sunk into deep depression, sleeping with the help of a constant diet of pills while listening to her last message:
Hee-soo’s message: “I’m sorry to worry you. I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t misunderstand. And this… this will be the last time, so don’t be annoyed. You’re doing fine, but why am I not able to do that, stupidly? But you know, you really are mean. You’re too much. You know that, right?”
The wording indicates that she had been having a hard time with life after their separation, and Jin-soo’s ability to move on had hit her particularly hard.
In the morning, Jin-soo is shaken awake. It’s Seung-yeon, here to check on him.
He’s had a rough night but he’s fine now (at least physically speaking), and tries to act like Seung-yeon’s worry is unfounded. She sees the scattered dominoes and pills, but even without those clues she had sensed something was odd — Jin-soo uses “I’m bored” as a euphemism for feeling bad, which is an observation that he’s surprised that she picked up on.
Jin-soo asks Seung-yeon to check his messages for him. It’s like he was in his flashback — he can’t bear to be the one to hear the bad news, and when Seung-yeon picks up the phone, he waits with bated breath. She reports that there’s no message, which is both a relief and a worry. More of a relief, though, and with the worst-case scenario off his mind, Jin-soo suggests breakfast.
As they’re walking, Seung-yeon gets a call on her cell phone, and Jin-soo tenses as she answers it. She doesn’t say anything telling, but he senses that it’s about Eun-young, which she confirms. That was her office, calling to assure that Eun-young has returned to work and is therefore fine.
Not waiting for her to finish speaking, Jin-soo immediately tears down the street, racing for the book cafe at a full sprint. When he gets to the office, he’s drenched in sweat and out of breath. It isn’t until he sees Eun-young through the glass windows that he starts to calm down — she’s conducting a business meeting, looking perfectly fine.
Her employee explains to Jin-soo that Eun-young had taken a weekend trip to Japan to clear her head. She hadn’t even realized that everyone was in a tizzy over her absence, thinking all was fine.
All the while, Jin-soo stares intently at Eun-young through the glass, nearly overwhelmed with relief. I love the look on his face, so loaded with meaning — it’s a look Kang Ji-hwan does particularly well. (And it gets me — Every. Single. Damned. Time.)
When Eun-young catches a glimpse of him, she starts to excuse herself and head out to see him, but he holds up a hand to stop her. He puts on his trademark smile, but now it clashes with the sheen of tears in his eyes.
Trying to act calm, he indicates with a gesture toward the door that he’ll just head back, that there’s no need for her to interrupt her business. Eun-young understands the message and nods, staying in her meeting.
Now sapped of energy, Jin-soo staggers out of the office in a daze, pausing at the threshold as Seung-yeon comes running up, out of breath from chasing him.
Tiredly, Jin-soo suggests they order out instead, and heads back to his place. Trudging along, he misses his footing when he steps on his bottle of pills. His arm reaches to brace himself on the counter, but lands on some supplies instead, and he loses his balance. He collapses to the floor and, in his exhaustion, falls unconscious.
COMMENTS
Several interesting conversations in this episode — namely, the elevator scene and the rooftop scene immediately after. I’m sure most of us would agree that he’s the one who’s being silly for insisting people remain in their clearly delineated boxes, but it’s in character with what we know of him. Jin-soo isn’t stupid enough to think people can only play one role, but this is his coping mechanism, and as we’ve seen with the dominoes and other quirks, Jin-soo tries to enforce a sense of order when he’s feeling vulnerable.
I suspect this is also why he sticks to his wacky plans and extended jokes — because in being erratic and unpredictable, he ensures that he is always the one in control. Control over a situation means control of his feelings and therefore control (or avoidance) of pain.
I’m glad to see that he’s finally seeing how it feels to be on the other side, because it’s true that he’s been a mighty pain to those around him. While it’s hard enough in a professional sense, Eun-young in particular has suffered, but because of her love for him as a friend, she has put up with it, pretty much unconditionally. Jin-soo refuses to play anyone’s game other than his own, but that also means he’s opted out of the Real World Game, too. If he continues this behavior, he might just get locked up in his own world. Furthermore, he may lose his sole link to the real world in Eun-young if he pushes her away one time too many.
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Tags: Coffee House, Ham Eun-jung, Jung Woong-in, Kang Ji-hwan, Park Shi-yeon
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51 nareusha
June 29, 2010 at 6:26 AM
omg. it's only ep 9 .. i think it will end with EY telling JS to not do the same thing to SY that he did to her. i pray this isn't gonna happen ;|...
EY/JS fighting!! TT
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52 Snikki
June 29, 2010 at 6:30 AM
Oh no, JS, you didn't! His rejection of EY and his way of thinking will come back to haunt him. One day when he wants to pursue EY romantically, it might be a li'l too late. I'll be happy with an open ended finale, just as long as I see JS admitting to himself that he loves EY more than just his best friend.
I still yet to watch this epi. I can't wait to go home!
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53 Penn
June 29, 2010 at 6:34 AM
I'm so glad Coffee House is back. Thank you JB for recapping so quickly. Love you and this drama. Does anyone know what exactly did Jin-soo say to Eun-Young on the phone before his flashback?
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54 choufy
June 29, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Omo EunSoo akwardness is so funny and cute XD
I LOVED LOVED the all elevator-roof top scene.
I KNEW IT, I knew that JS had to make a stupid remark, you punk ! lol
You see : he could have take the high road by remaining silent. But noooooo he had to blame EY. You really look for trouble buddy. (And I would be incline to think that you provoked her to see the bottom line of this kiss but whatever...)
Yes she surprised you with the kiss I agree but Come.On. You can't call yourself a victim when you didn't even try to stop it. Yeah, right : blame your manhood, coward !
And then, when EY is ready to speak, you interrupt her to question her motivations ? Just LISTEN for christ sake !
You just gave her two choices : to be a publisher who wants to make money with you or a friend who plays with you.
In short : in any case EY uses you. Those are the only answers that your own mind could come up with you idiot ! Don't think instead of people : get some friends, talk about it around some soju's shots and next time listeeeen.
EY : Don't tell me to pretend just to make it easy for yourself. I will do now whatever my heart tells me.
*BIG HUG to EY*
I.am.so.proud.of.you. I know it's hard and sad but this is for your own good, you'll see.
I do think JS was sincere with the all I don't think of you more than that. Just like the two gear options up there his mind can't consider EY as a lover possibility (even in the phone booth : is the kiss a part of SY's plan ? Is JW is around somewhere ?).
JS his a master of avoiding his emotions so... (but sweetie, a piece of advice, the more you restrain your emotions the more they will eat you up, just sayin'...).
Oh and JS, just so you know : EY is not HS. Thank you. *kissuuu*
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55 kaedejun
June 29, 2010 at 6:40 AM
oooooooohhhhhh MY GOD! yesss - thanks for the recap!!!! i love it! and i'm so excited to see the final scene when kang ji hwan sees eun young after the torturous weekend.
i only wish you put up more screencaps of DW's makeover - which looks HELLA HOT!!! :P hehehe
as for SY - where's HER makeover!?
sorry - i must sound shallow just paying attention to their looks - but i don't want to think about the meaning behind their actions - it's too torturous to bear. i'd rather keep praying and hoping that things will turn out for the best, and that JS and EY will end up together (in some way or another)
i like that you pointed out that SY's "dumb actions" is her source for denial - it's probably true, and it also makes her less "dumb" than she is
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56 labchick
June 29, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Thanks for the recap JB!!
I for one thoroughly enjoyed both yesterday's and today's episodes even though I watched them live. My korean is improving woot woot.!!!
But wow the writers are doing a fabulous job in keeping us guessing...I'm more than excited the for next one..and I haven't been this excited forever!!!!
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57 labchick
June 29, 2010 at 6:45 AM
@55 kaedejun
I agree..where is HER makeover..I thought her band mate was helping her..
Hopefully it's reserved for her when she becomes successful and kicks Jin Soo' a$$!!!!!
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58 Net-chan
June 29, 2010 at 7:11 AM
Hell I've been waiting for that episode to be broadcasted! Thank you for the recap JB! I don't really understand Jin Soo's wife's message. Wonder what she's talking about. Is it only about his behaviour (his being unaware of how much trouble he is for those around him)? I doubt so.
Kang Ji Hwan is absolutely amazing, as always. I can't get enough of his acting! Park Si Yeon is also doing a great job (the scene of the rooftop, and her constant change of mood... that's so funny xD)!
Again, thanks for the recap JB!
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59 bita
June 29, 2010 at 7:16 AM
I think I won't watch this drama anymore if JS is going to end up with EY, from the very first episode I hoped that JS would end up with SY.
I'm a huge fan of Kang Jihwan and I want to watch his drama but with my expectation of the storyline, it's really disappointing.
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60 amg01
June 29, 2010 at 7:28 AM
@yen_nguyen, I am sorry but I must disagree with you 100%, for somebody to think that being in a bad codependent relationship is
"Cute", all I can say is more power to ya!!!! By the my "fans" already know that I am a "Guy" so I happen to see things differently, the writers are giving us certain parameters where the dynamic of the relationship is acted upon, the parameters for the JS/EY are "Very Bad", so if we take the logical steps we can clearly see that their relationship is doom to failure, The romantic element is the last of my concerns, but how well a character has grown and overcomes his/her shortcomings is what I am interest in a drama and to force a "Romantic" pairing between the couple that have the worst track record in their relationship is "Illogical and Lazy writing" on the part of the writer's.
P.S This coming from a guy who is already a "Grandfather", maybe is the fact that when you are young many people think that a "Bad Relationship "is all they can aspire to, but there is such a thing as being in a "Good and Nurturing" relationship, and those are the ones that last for a long time!!!!!!
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61 pipit
June 29, 2010 at 8:13 AM
I just need to say this....PSY I love you now!
As I already said that I might as well confess that I find you extremely beautiful! Such beauty and acting! I have to fight the temptation to freeze the screen to linger on your expression. I have it bad. Probably karma.
We speculated about the exchange between EUNSOO after the kiss, but this scenario never cross my mind. Way to go show!
Jin Soo...
What am I going to do with you? You're such a disappointment. Eun Young is way to good for you.
I tolerate your selfisness and self-centeredness long enoug expecting that by having SY and JW in your vicinity you'd be more human with each passing episode.
You don't love Eun Young? Yeah, right. You're welcomed to deluding yourself.
I'm upset not because what you said you don't feel. But because you clearly love everything about her. You love how she takes care of everything and makes life easy for you. You love how she knows when to leave you alone whwn you need to be alone and comes to your rescue when you need to be rescued.
How dare you say you love all that but not the person who makes it happen?
Now, let's forget about the LOVE for a moment and focus on what you said you wanted.
You just want to be friend with Eun Young? Are you kidding me?
Have you ever been there when Eun Young need you the most? Don't think so. But she's definitely there when you needed her the most.
Have you ever listened to her problems? Nope, definitely never as you never spare your precious time to willingly listen to her problems so she ended up swallowing what she initialy wanted to share with you.
I can see why you don't want to loose this 'friendship'.
Have a close look inside yourself and be honest whether you need her badly. The answer would probably a resounding yes.
What are you afraid of? Is one of your greatest fears is hurting her? Well, you've gone and done that! You've hurt the most precious person in your life.
Poor Eun Young, I wish grandpa will be able to find a rich, brilliant, gorgeous guy who'll worship the grounds you walk in. Who'll move heaven and earth just to make you happy. A guy who is man enough to gain our respect and admiration. A knigt who'll help you to maintain your composure, and dignity. A guy who'll help you hide your pains from the world.
Jin Soo has SY to look after him when he's in pain. It breaks my heart that Eun Young has to cope all by herself.
Yes, this episode is a great one. Too bad about the rating though. I never understand Korean taste in drama...
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62 lemon
June 29, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Yaye!!! I was so happy when I saw this recap!! :D I love your recaps, so thank you.
This episode kinda seals that Eunyoung and Jinsoo will end up together, right? Well they do have immense chemistry, but I was hoping they stayed longer at the Jinsoo-Seungyeon phase because it was light-hearted and cute.
PS. All those flashbacks in black and white SCARE ME. hahaha
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63 mimi
June 29, 2010 at 8:54 AM
I think it's very credible that Jin Soo has never had any feelings toward Eun-Young because he knew her at the time he was married to and loved his wife. So I think he was honest in that rooftop scene.
@34 KT
Seriously, if you see that there's nothing wrong with that closeup of Park Si-Yeon I would question your eyesight. I have always thought she was pretty and have said she was. But that doesn't cover up a bad botox job. And let's stop w/ the personal insults to posters who seem to disagree w/ you, thank you.
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64 pumpkinattack
June 29, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Thanks for the recap, javabeans!
Yes... I think that JS is toxic. More than rooting for a couple, I hope that he resolves his issues first. Clearly he needs EY, but if this isn't a case for relationship status "It's Complicated," I don't know what is.
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65 Dara
June 29, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Seriously, at this point, what is it in JS that two ladies are after? The way I see it, JS is a trouble man needs to see a shrink. O_O!
I hope the writer will give us a sound reason why JS is holding back later on.
Lots of meaningful scenes in this episode. I love love the way EY stands tall and accepts JS's decision, ten years is enough to move on and leave JS behind. I hope the writer introduces a perfect man for EY later, let her have a life, please.
As for SY, at this point I'm not so sure what is her role in the story anymore. The more I see it , the name 'Coffee House' doesn't give a clue, 'Page one' suits the story better. It can mean 'page one' for everybody, page one for EY to leave JS, page one for JS to realize he can't live without EY and page one for SY entering professional life( which I hardly see at the moment).
All in all, great episode! and the BGM is just right. JS 's face after the sprinting said it all. Poor guy, you can't live your normal life without her, don't ya know?
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66 mawar
June 29, 2010 at 9:24 AM
Dong Wook so adorable .. <3 <3 <3 <3
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67 mmeuh
June 29, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Those who say JS doesn't any feeling for EY are in denial lol It's not necessary to be romantic love, you won't care for someone if you don't have feeling for them, could be your friend, someone who's close to you. It exists many sort of love than just love between man and woman. But I guess in drama people don't go further than that?
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68 Annie
June 29, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Completely lost me! Is the remaining episode going to be about a lighthearted ANGST? It lost it storyline and direction for me, I can't see him with the assistant since the kiss and the way he ran when he heard she was back. So what the next step? They are not that interesting too try make the remaining episode about them getting together, this can't be what it boiled down too. AIGOO,AIGOO
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69 alphabet soup
June 29, 2010 at 10:42 AM
All this talk of botox, honestly who cares? It's the acting that should really matter.
After rewatching the episode (because I'm a complete nerd), I'm pretty sure the main pairing is EY/JS. You don't focus that much time on a purely platonic relationship when there's only 16 episodes in the series.
Also, I feel like SY is taking over the "good friend" role that EY has played for the past 10 years, allowing EY to become JS' new lady ;) hehehehe.
But who knows! This could all just be the EY/JS fan girl talking within me!
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70 Lan
June 29, 2010 at 11:25 AM
@Mimi: I am quite certain if you are working very hard on something and get tired, etc., and a camera is on you all the time, somewhere in between, at some angles we'll find a photo of you looking "not very normal" - no matter how beautiful you are. You'll always find faults and unpleasant things if you are out seeking for them.
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71 Ellie
June 29, 2010 at 11:49 AM
@47 Lan -- Interesting observation. I noticed the difference in EY's hairstyle in JS' flashback but just chalked it up as a big continuity error. But I didn't notice the difference in clothes. Maybe there's another twist in the two flashbacks.
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72 Ted
June 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM
@ 70 Lan
Totally agreed
Just recently, Lee Hyori had a similar problem. Her skin looked just like PSY's. But everybody blamed it on overwork and fatigue.
I don't think its fair to jump into conclusions and say that PSY had Botox. I honestly think she didn't
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73 aberdeen_angus
June 29, 2010 at 12:13 PM
I can't believe that I'm agreeing with Amg1! Haha, well, partially, though. I just don't want him anywhere near the two ladies. At least until he resolves some of his issues ¬¬ (like pumpkinattack said).
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74 jinn
June 29, 2010 at 12:21 PM
What a great episode! I agree with alphabet soup, I also think this just about cemented the JS-EY pairing. But I don't really care because at this point in the story I'm finding JS to be such a jerk. After the rooftop scene, I keep thinking EY deserves someone better and SY is better off with DW.
Having said that, I think this goes to show how great KJH is as an actor (and of course, how talented the writers are in this drama ). One minute I love him, the next not so much, which is really how we often feel about the people that we care about in our lives when you think about it.
I must say, PSY is catching up in the acting department! Her reactions to the situation is so real that you can't help but relate to her character. So, yeah, I will erase from my memory her My Girl days. Kudos to the casting staff for choosing her for this role.
I have nothing much to say about Eun Jung. Except for that adorable scene with DW, she didn't have a lot of screen time. I wasn't a big fan of DW but after this episode, I'm sold! The guy is H.O.T!
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75 Rachael
June 29, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Oh man, after this episode it makes me wonder if there will be the back and forth between Jin-soo and Eun-young, but a triangle for Seung-yeon. Dong-wook versus "Ice Cream" (as I'm blanking on his name)! I think that would be so cute to witness if that would happen. It would balance out the potential continued melo-drama between Jin-soo and Eun-young then.
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76 Houstontwin
June 29, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Re: Alphabetsoup
I think that the beginning of the series predisposed me to expect and want the SY/JS pairing. There were so many kdrama cliches pointing in that direction. But "alphabetsoup" is very persuasive. Almost all of the "relationship" time has been devoted to EY/JS. I think that it would be very hard for the writers to redirect the drama at this point and build a convincing relationship between SY and JS. On the other hand only a few seconds per episode have been given to SY/DW, so I am not sure if that relationship will work out either.
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77 Hannelora
June 29, 2010 at 1:08 PM
I also think that EJ is deserved to someone better than JS. In ep. 11-12, JS is set free from EJ. After that, I hope EJ will meet someone more handsome, better than JS, so that he will regret how to loose her, and run to catch her back. Probably JS must be changed after he is free from EJ.
SJ is better end up with DW, who can give good breath for her, than JS.
Because the story tends to happiness, live with every moments in current, and think of current happiness than the past, or the future, as the director and Park was interviewed around 23. June. Thus, I believed that JS can push behind the past in the next epsolides, and can recognise his feelings to EJ. Now his turn to catch EJ again, otherwise he will regret in his life.
I like EJ the most. She can settle her felling just some days after JS denied his feeling in the kiss scene. Now she is free from him, she can live happyy herself than running him.
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78 mimi
June 29, 2010 at 1:30 PM
@Lan and Ted
I was talking about her lips, not her skin. The bumps on her lips reveal Botox.
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79 whatsupalisa
June 29, 2010 at 1:48 PM
i know this is the purpose of dramas but why do storylines have to be so twisted and complicated?
can't they just admit their love for each other and live happily ever after?
i am such a girl
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80 Hannelora
June 29, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Now I am waiting for the appearance of lawyer Park. It is really fun if he is handsome, talent and care EJ....I hope that she can meet blind date, and it leads to how jealeous JS is...haha
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81 CG
June 29, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Thanks for recap! So the secret of the death of his ex-wife is revealed? I hope not yet completely, because seeing the flashback for myself I didn't really feel like it was in its entirety. I hope Writer Lee actually explains what'd happened to her. I feel like there's currently a gap somewhere in the scheme of things unveiled (about his ex-wife).
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82 Kay
June 29, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Thanks for the recap as usual ,JB!!!!
I like this ep but I gotta say this…
My heart was stopped for like a few second when EY got rejected on the rooftop. Like she couldn't bring herself to believe him, but JS ( you jerk!!!Ghhrrr!!) firmly assured that he’s not lying . The look(s) she had there was a mix of sad, disappointed, yet accepted and self-satirized… .. SHE GAVE UP!!! FINALLY!!!! She want him to be happy so she accept his answer and go along with it I am glad the she managed not to shed any tears as she walk away!!!!!
*Hug EY**
She was brave, honest and endearing there.
Where can we find such a wonderful girl?
And thumb up for PSY , who portrayed and breathed life into the EY character. It feels real and believable. My heart went all out of her. She is such a extraordinary herorin in Kdrama. It's even better when she sticked with her previous plan (take a get-away) and came back as if nothing has happened. She is still the cool and fabulous Chief SEY
EY never fails us , doesn’t she?
Gotta love her!!!
And JS! Where do I start with you, jerk*? I just know I am going to mad at you in these up-coming episodes... but …. You are such an a**hole, bastard, stupid jerk and a freaking LIAR!!!!
What?
Suffered? Uh, sure!!!
Male instinct?!?! lolz
What 's a great way to hurt a girl!!! You seemed to enjoy THE KISS even more than her, then turned around and shamelessly jerked about it . Oh, wait, have you even tried to push her out? Or you was just too into it to forget about everything else?
What? Come again!!!
You never think of her more than a friend??? lolz
Yeah right!!! Please don’t make me laugh!!!Why didnt you look at her when you rejected her ? What with the behavior like, you 're about to die, when she 's out of your sight for just only 1 day, you-in-denial jerk? Why did you have to run like a mad man just to see her back , safe and well, without any following act? Friends don’t act that way ok sweetie? Are you still trying to lie to yourself after all these ,you coward?
Know what? You deserve to be put in Hell and suffered until you realize and learn to accept your love. That is your penalty for being an such cold heart a**hole and hurting EY.
However, I love KJH acting so much though( yet I couldn’t stand JS actions sometimes!!!) His face expression when he saw her .... was just EPIC!!! Many different emotion were delivered without words and the tear in his eyes was so ... beautiful done. ( This is not love, then what is it?!?!?) My friend’d never do that to me!!! Get it JS,you punk?
You'd better wake up soon and put yourself together before it 's too late, my Dear writer!!!
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83 BA
June 29, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Thanks for the recap- these 2 weeks have been SO LONG!
Okay, so I know their relationship is extremely dysfunctional at the moment but I am all for JS/EJ!
Also, as much as I think DW is a cutie, I dont think SY really appreciates him enough. And what happened to the friend from the beginning? Ya know, the one who got her that job in the first place?
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84 pabo ceo reom
June 29, 2010 at 3:30 PM
It's baaaaaack!
I couldn't wait for my next caffeine fix. It's been so long. Gosh, I love this drama to pieces!
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85 Miaka-chan
June 29, 2010 at 4:22 PM
I'm finally back after a hiatus i did post in soompi, SY/JS shippers came back!
After episode 9 and 10, my strong conviction for SY/JS be couple is more stronger than before. I could be wrong again...but right now with episode 10. The line is up for SY/JS relationship.
I wouldn't tell nothing about episode 10 until everyone see it.
But about episode 9 ...yes i will said something
So some a speculation going wrong, SY didn't see the kiss but heart about the kiss. I Want to Know Goodbye song was there when SY take her balloon be sad and go.....
Also do like about the after kiss, when JS said it's going with SY synopsy to EY. Well in a time like that [kiss scene], why JS said another girl name to EY?
I know about SY synopsy ^=^, but why he do need to said something like that? Do JS have constantly SY name in his HEAD LOL... that a cute part. Because he do said seriously when he said that...
When JS refuse to EY, he didn't turn to watch her leave......
When he did call SY, i do find he pretty vulnerable....BUT HE ONLY GIVE THIS IMAGE to SY only. When he is like that, only SY do see him like that. SY understand that he isn't good at all.. did go to see him .
Episode 10 ....
Just said something, ...everyone will like SY better after this episode ^^!!! for people who doesn't like SY ...you would!
SEUNG YEON & JIN SOO HWAITING ...CONTINUE LIKE THAT you would end together !!
Miaka-chan
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86 Kay
June 29, 2010 at 5:14 PM
OMGEEE!!!!
Have you seen Ep 10 yet, JB?
I really hope you'd recap and give us some insight tonight!!!!!
Because JS seriouly drive me crazy!!!!I ( For real!!!)
I want to kick his butt, slap his face,.... and throw him to the ocean to feed the fishes for being such a mean jerk!!!
Is there anyway we can get into his head? I NEED to know what the heck the has in there to behave like that!!!!!
PLEASE!!!!!!! DO US A FAVOR TONIGHT!!!!
Thanks in advance ^^
All the fans are so confused right now. And it 's not even funny
I have a feeling that we dont need to wait to E12 for the dramatic change, because the last 5 minutes of E.10 did.that.to.me.already!!!
I felt so out of tune right now....
*sigh*
Sorry for the rant!!!!
Just cant help it ~~
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87 kc
June 29, 2010 at 6:59 PM
I just watched Episode 9. it kind of fell flat just cuz... . Whew hearing the news of PHY death and the news that PSY is devestated and "might not be able to return to work" makes me wonder what Sunabe PYO will do to help her ease herself out from mourning?
I wish I could kick JS ass and just get him moving on any proper direction! And knowing that Episode 12 is just around the corner what will happen next?
I wonder.... will they just continue with JS/SY tandem and just excuse EY from the picture? I mean even is PSY returns how well can she cope infront of the camera? It will be really really hard on her. And if she does pull thru would it show against her acting abilities...knowing that this drama is her starter in romance-comedy? I hope she has a good support when she resumes or when she chooses to return.
Any thoughts on this javabeans?
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88 sarahbelle
June 29, 2010 at 7:49 PM
wow... jeez. i don't even...
*sheepish* I haven't been to your blog in um, a while, and uh... wow. I know I'm really out of the drama loop when there's a kang ji hwan drama that I a) had no idea existed and b) haven't been spazzing about since it was a rumor, which I surely would've been doing if I had been visiting your blog.
...I blame unemployment.
I'm employed again, so I'll be rectifying the lack of a dramabeans link in my toolbar as soon as I get to the office tomorrow. sheesh.
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89 CG
June 29, 2010 at 8:37 PM
I think I'm so glad Coffee House is back on schedule that Lee Jin-Soo's behavior is excusable for me. Not that I'm justifying his (unsavory) actions. The argument on the rooftop did it in for me, Seo Eun-Young is definitely the only person who can one-up writer Lee in a game of wits. Or at least, she can fight back with audacity.
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90 lettuce
June 29, 2010 at 8:40 PM
holy schmokes. javabeans you are very quick. so are viikii subbers, so are you fellow fans. non korean-speaking me just caught up with episode 9, after vowing not to read the recap before watching it with my own eyes. but bummer when I came here again to finally read the recaps, Park Yong Ha was found dead, which makes me feel a bit flat. anyways here's what i;ve gotta say:
@pipit:
although I agree Jin Soo is a mean jerk, i think he does care about Eun Young genuinely, more than he's willing to admit, e.g. when her neck / spine was injured and he saw her crying in the hospital. also after their angry conversation on the phone when she subsequently cried and got drunk. Also not to forget the lengths he's gone to get Ji Won away from Eun Young (childish and mean? yes. but kinda funny? yes too. and it shows his loyalty to EY). I sense that since the Eun Young he knew doesn't usually show weakness, he's really not used to be the one who's there for her.
For the rooftop scene, that rejection was painful and I hate him a little for it, but at the same time I can't blame him and I don't know what's going on in his head. Is it that he's so full of defense mechanism, is it denial because of his ex-wife, is it simply that he doesn't have a clue / hasn't realise it yet. Or was he plain-faced lying? I'm getting a headache.
While I think there's hope for them, it's better for them not to be together if they can't overcome all those angst, cos it will end more bitterly. Whatever happens I hope at the end of the day, if not becoming lovers, they remain as great friends because they do care for each other.
ahh i've gone on and on. btw, how good is Dong Wook, suit up? swoon. swoon. even I find a little delight in looking at scruffy Ji Won too.
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91 klesis
June 29, 2010 at 8:58 PM
Hm. I just hope that the writers come up with a good storyline to please all types of fans (if that's even possible): the EY/JS camp, the SY/JS camp, the ones who think JS should end up alone...
I don't care, really, as long as it's a good story and it's convincing enough. I'm sure KJH will be able to pull it off.
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92 SparrowBell
June 29, 2010 at 9:01 PM
After ep 9 & 10, I totally lost interest in JS. Being with a broken guy is difficult ... how many times one's heart has to break before he finally gets to his sense. If I were EY, I would dump him and move on. If JS was about early 20s, maybe, it's still forgivable, past 30 yrs ... maybe, it's incorrigible.
This drama is just not cute enough. The truth is, if I want serious romance drama, I probably wouldn't come to kdrama ...
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93 Kay
June 29, 2010 at 9:04 PM
@ lettuce:
I always find reason to defend JS and support EunSoo ship too
But have you see Ep10?
My head is all messed up after that?
Please tell me that do think of his actions then!!!
No matter what is his reasons, JS is a mean jerk!!!
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94 amg01
June 29, 2010 at 10:46 PM
I for one believe that Jin-soo did the right thing.
Jin-soo knows that he has a bad relationship with Eun-young, and he knows that he is a "selfish bastard", but in their relationship he is not the only one at fault "He is the one with the mental Illness, and she is the enabler" so in this situation one is a guilty as the other.
But he is not the one that cross the line when it came to the romantic part she did, so Jin-soo gave her an option he ask her to choose which role did she wanted to play in his life (Business Partner or her Boy Toy), but she could only choose one not both, the problem is that she got greedy, and she pay for it, why do people are getting angry at him is not logical, because he was willing to compromise, not just in the way she wanted him to compromise. So far like I said before he has shown that he does care about her but he has never cross the line from being a "Spoiled Brat", to playing with her feelings in a romantic way, that's why I agree with him, even when he is the biggest "A"Hole, he never started the "Romantic Tango" she did.
P.S. The reason why he was so worried about her when she was gone was beacuse he was afraid that she was going to hurt herself, just like his ex-wife did, not because he was expressing romantic feelings towards her!!!!!!
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95 mmeuh
June 29, 2010 at 11:14 PM
@Amg1: I'm not saying he's in love with EY or anyone. Why people keep trying to assume thing like that? it's a puzzle to me lol is it important that he doesn't love EY? lol I'll only say he cares for her, she's more than a friend (no, not lover) He heard she's ok and came back to work but still ran to her. To me it's pretty obvious lol think about your best friend, would you do the same thing? or just breathe out of relief then go to eat breakfast with your secretary?
Again, opinion is opinion. Nobody sees the same thing.
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96 pipit
June 29, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Guys...guys.....as much as CH brings a breath of fresh air don't forget this is kdrama we're watching. In which there are set of patterns and standardise gestures and portrayals with equally standardise translation.
And that's why SY got a strong supporter in the first place. It's the doing of her role which is the testimony of how well those standardise concepts has been understood/perceived by its audiences. That's why people in this corner are in heaven when Jin Soo shows a concern for her. And the same could be said for those who wish for EUNSOO's happy ending.
Although I'm in this corner, I'd like to think that I'm beeing fair enough in saying that if we take all these standardise concepts of portrayal in kdrama in to heart, this would translate that Jin Soo loves Eun Young. Not just the ordinary lame/tame love, for the portrayals in this show or Jin Soo's gestures are way beyond the regular dose of portrayal of love in kdrama. This could only mean that he desperately, irrevocably, widely in love with her.
But I agree with you if we're talking only about what we've seen so far, I'd say that he cares for Eun Young deeply. And he also loves her dearly. Not nessarily in a romantic sense. And as for SY.....I would say any body who hopes for a romance is delutional and crazy. His feeling for his secretary is far far far away from romantic. He just shows her his humaninty. It doesn't even compare to a deep connection that exist between him in Eun Young.
But please don't forget. This is kdrama we're watching......
Hence the shipping continues!
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97 lettuce
June 30, 2010 at 1:38 AM
@ Kay
no I haven't watched ep 10, I'll wait for subs and recap. But uh oh what you said worries me. Have to admit I forgave most of his episode 9 meanness by that epic run to her office at the end of the episode. And mostly the irresistible charm of Kang Ji Hwan.
I'm an EunSoo shipper and I'm worried that the ship is sinking, not because of the Seung-yeon ship, but that tiny (tiiiny!) bit of creeping thought telling me JinSoo is better off alone.
Ah wonderful K-dramaland... never been invested in a drama like this for so long. For a second I even thought seriously about getting a segway.
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98 random
June 30, 2010 at 1:39 AM
anyone know where to watch episode 11 preview?
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99 ambs
June 30, 2010 at 1:47 AM
i'll repeat this again when the ep 10 recap comes out and have other things to say but at this point i just want EY to be happy. whatever JS, live well being the frustrating guy you are !R@KJ
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100 ambs
June 30, 2010 at 1:51 AM
@87
okay i know this is really selfish but i REALLY HOPE they don't change whatever ending they were going with because of the suicide thing. i hope PSY is okay... i can't imagine how i'd feel if a close friend did that. ugh.
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