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Plus Nine Boys: Episode 10

There’s a whole lot of squeeing going on in this episode, most of it coming from the boys (and me, let’s just be honest). They finally get their chances to show their ladies how they feel, with differing results — and now that we’ve seen things from the women’s perspective, it’s fun to watch them all start to fall in love. But things are a bit too happy for my comfort, and I worry that a storm cloud is approaching that could threaten everyone’s newfound happiness.

 
Track 10: ”Celebrating you”

Jin-gu is so surprised when Se-young tells him not to answer Go-eun’s call, that he just stares at her for a moment, then grins and slips back into his teasing mode to joke that she must have been really touched by the seaweed soup he got her. Se-young waves him off, flustered by her own outburst, and walks him to his bus stop. She thanks him for the soup and he jokes again, but he looks a bit disappointed that the moment got glossed over.

Jin-gu visits his friend Han Gu to parse out what happened, and Han Gu’s conclusion is that Se-young must like Jin-gu and is jealous of Go-eun. He advises Jin-gu to just kiss her already, but Jin-gu groans that if he tries that a second time, she’ll never be his friend again. Han Gu then tells him to use his favorite method and feel out Se-young’s feelings, but Jin-gu waves that idea off too — the usual stuff won’t work on her.

But his friend is optimistic anyway that things will work out, which gives Jin-gu hope. He thinks to himself that everything besides the woman he likes seems insignificant, as we see Da-in meet Kwang-soo at the theater, and Min-gu happily drawing in a handmade book. Jin-gu narrates that that’s when he discovered a new side to himself, and that that moment is when guys fall in love.

The next morning, Se-young walks into work in a dress, looking like a completely different person with her hair down and wearing the makeup that Go-eun gave her. Jae-bum goes a little glassy-eyed, and Jin-gu literally can’t stop staring and smiling at the pretty. It’s cute how he has to cover his mouth with his hand so as not to give himself away.

As soon as she sits at her desk though, he hides behind his “teasing oppa” facade and pokes at her for dressing up, but he can’t help but ask if she has a date. She says she doesn’t and he becomes hopeful that she dressed up for him. He looks online for signs that a girl is into you, then watches Se-young all day to see if she displays any of the behaviors listed on the site.

He gets excited when Se-young brushes her hair behind her ears (30% proof she likes you, according to the site) and openly beams when she crosses her legs towards him (50% proof). He has to take deep breaths when she flips her hair to show her neck (80%!) and starts actively trying to encourage the final 100% bit of proof — casual touch.

Jin-gu sidles up to Se-young while she’s talking to Jae-bum, loudly complaining that he thinks he’s running a fever in the hopes that she’ll feel his forehead (the boy has no subtlety — he’s practically bonking her in the face with his head). Hilariously, Jae-bum is the one who checks his temperature, earning a frustrated eye-roll.

Da-in’s first cafe customer that morning is a cheerful Kwang-soo, and today she actually looks him in the eye and even smiles a little. Baby steps. Kwang-soo heads straight for Da-in’s daughter Eun-seo who’s off school today, and the two of them play with some animal toys. Kwang-soo asks Eun-seo if she wants to see real animals, and they make puppy-dog eyes at Da-in and try to talk her into agreeing to a trip to the zoo.

At work later, Young-hoon is frustrated that Kwang-soo plans to take Da-in’s daughter on a date with them, pointing out that Da-in never even responds to his calls. But Kwang-soo says that he’s waited ten years for her, so another few days is no big deal. He thinks to himself that at 39-years old, the time for playing hard-to-get is behind him — now he has to be easy to get.

Su-ah’s friends laugh that Min-gu now knows her real name, but lucky for her, Min-gu only thinks the name Bong-sook is cute. She says for the bonkzillionth time that he really has fallen for her, but this time when she says it she’s beaming rather than scoffing. Girl’s got it bad. Her friends remind her that if he knows her name, he’ll find out her other secret soon and dump her.

Min-gu’s friends find the love book he was making for Su-ah, and see her real name written inside. Min-gu giggles at how cute it is, but when his friends’ laughter turns a little mean, he yells at them for making fun. Min-gu takes some selcas with the love book and sends them to Su-ah, telling her that he’s got big plans for their twenty-second day of dating.

The kids’ acting teacher announces that Baek-ji landed a main female role in a movie, and that they’re casting for the main male role next. Dong-gu looks on forlornly as Baek-ji wishes Min-joon luck at the audition, but he stays positive. Later in the hall he stops her to give her a Pororo ring, but he’s shot down when she tells him she doesn’t like Pororo (a children’s cartoon character) anymore because she’s no longer a child.

Dong-gu asks Baek-ji to be his girlfriend again and she turns him down flat, saying she likes Min-joon better because he’s cute, and nice, and a better actor than Dong-gu. Ouch, but HAHA at the OST song from My Name is Kim Sam-soon in the background, as Dong-gu vows to get that movie role with her and become her leading man.

Se-young updates Da-in on the Jin-gu situation but swears she’s not dressed up to impress him or anything, not at all — she just wanted a change. Uh-huh. Da-in says she should date while she’s young because she can’t later, saying that she’s not interested in dating anymore and all she needs is her daughter. Kwang-soo texts her about the zoo trip, and Se-young zeroes in on how weird Da-in is acting, suspecting a new love interest.

Kwang-soo can’t work through the agony of waiting for an answer, and calls her. Da-in declines and hangs up, but he calls again to ask if 10am is a good time, like he didn’t even hear her refusal. She turns him down again so he calls back until she picks up, and he says sadly that now he understands how she must have felt ten years ago. He figures it must have been even harder for her, always waiting for him, and that he knows how lonely she must have felt.

Finally speaking to her sincerely, Kwang-soo swears he won’t ever make her feel that way again – he wants a chance to make it all up to her. He asks her one last time to go to the zoo with him, but she says she has to go and hangs up. Kwang-soo leaves her alone this time, but a few minutes later she sends him a text that she’ll see him tomorrow. Success!

Jin-gu and Se-young both stay late working again, and they’re both still there a couple of hours later, hard at work playing games online just to stay a bit longer in the other’s company. They just happen to finish their “work” at the same time and walk to the bus stop together… well really it’s more like they iiinch to the bus stop together, stretching out the evening as long as possible. Jin-gu breaks the silence and asks her to take him home because he’s scared and she’s tough, which gets him hit but also gets Se-young to smile.

He fake-fusses at her for hitting him, complaining that she likes skinship way too much for only a friend, and offers to take her home. Se-young obliquely asks why he should take her home when he’s not even her boyfriend, which is a giant flashing neon sign of a hint if I ever heard one, and she frowns when he doesn’t take the bait.

Waiting at the bus stop, Jin-gu asks if Se-young is hungry, knowing full well that she’s always hungry. They head to Han Gu’s little restaurant and drink with him, and Han Gu immediately notes that they aren’t sniping at each other like usual. That sets them to sniping at each other like usual, but they quickly switch to making cutesy faces as their friend boggles at them.

Jin-gu heads for the restroom, and Han Gu wastes no time telling Se-young that Jin-gu likes her and only ever talks about her. He gripes about how much alcohol it’s cost him to console Jin-gu over her, which sobers her up, and he leaves right as Jin-gu skips back to the table and gives her a big dorky drunk-grin.

Without the buffer of Han Gu, Se-young plays with her phone and tries to ignore Jin-gu as he stares at her, too drunk for once to guard his besotted expression. His gaze fixes on her lips and he starts to unconsciously lean in, but he stops himself just in time as he remembers the rainy kiss and slap from last spring.

Jin-gu shakes himself a bit more sober and takes a chance, asking Se-young to a movie with him tomorrow. He makes out like he’s doing her this big favor since she has no friends, which gets him rejected. But Se-young looks up movie times anyway, totally just curious to see what’s showing, you know. Somehow they manage to make a date without actually making a date, and Jin-gu grins like the giant lovesick idiot that he is.

In the morning, Mom folds laundry as Dong-gu practices his crying for the movie audition. Jin-gu and Min-gu both fuss at her because the shirts they want to wear on their dates are stained or missing, but when Kwang-soo comes to complain that his sweater shrunk in the wash, she loses her temper and tells him to go get married. But suddenly it dawns on her — he must have a date!

All three guys get spiffed up for their big day and run out the door, leaving Mom to celebrate that Kwang-soo is finally dating. In the elevator, Min-gu demands 22,000 won from each of them in honor of his 22nd day of dating Su-ah, and Kwang-soo pulls rank and makes Jin-gu pay the entire amount, ha.

Kwang-soo hand-details his car, having even bought a car seat for Eun-seo, which is just so sweet. Da-in plays it cool, saying that she’s only here because Eun-seo begged, but seeing the car seat makes her a bit uncomfortable and she insists on taking her car. HAHA, she even makes Kwang-soo sit in the back with Eun-seo. He makes the best of it, singing and dancing in the backseat to Eun-seo’s music, managing to charm at least one of the ladies and making Da-in smile.

Jin-gu waits for Se-young at the movie theater, and when she walks in looking even prettier than the day before, he goes literally slack-jawed. He pulls himself together and teases her as usual, then seriously tells her that she looks really pretty.

During a scary scene in the movie Se-young buries her head in Jin-gu’s shoulder, which makes him so happy that he pretends that it’s still scary just so she won’t lift her head. They both reach for the drink at the same time and end up with his hand on hers. When she tries to pull away he bravely holds tight, and they both look nervous as they watch the movie, kind of holding hands.

Su-ah waits for Min-gu for their date, where she’s approached by a remote control car carrying the love book he made for her. He takes her to a place with an amusement park ride, promising to protect her when she balks at riding it. Halfway through the ride the announcer says that he recognizes Su-ah, and asks if this is another new boyfriend, not taking the hint to shush when she frantically shakes her head. Min-gu yells back to the announcer that he’s wrong, and Su-ah looks upset as the ride continues.

Kwang-soo, Da-in, and Eun-seo have a fun day at the zoo, where Kwang-soo focuses most of his attention on the adorable little girl and gives Da-in her space. At one point Da-in leaves Eun-seo with Kwang-soo for a minute, and when he takes a short call from Mom (asking Da-in’s birthday so she can get their relationship fortune told, haha), Eun-seo wanders off.

Kwang-soo panics because there’s a group of school kids in the park all wearing a similar yellow sweater and backpack that Eun-seo happens to be wearing, but ohthankgoodness, he finds her pretty quickly. Poor Kwang-soo nearly cries in relief as he hugs her, then he ties a giant balloon to her so she won’t get lost again.

They go see the monkeys and Kwang-soo makes them all wear silly glasses, explaining that monkeys don’t like it when you make eye contact. Riiight. Later Kwang-soo takes a map out of his pocket of all the good places he researched to eat, but he finds that Dong-gu has drawn over it in big red letters that he wants to crush Min-joon. Okay, that’s going to be a problem.

It starts to rain and they run for cover, and there’s a sweet moment where Kwang-soo helps Da-in get a leaf out of her hair. He heroically walks off into the rain, but it’s stopped raining by the time he comes back soaking wet and sheepishly carrying two new umbrellas. Awww, he looks disappointed to have his gallant gesture thwarted. Eun-seo is tired now, and Da-in suggests that they head home.

Jin-gu and Se-young walk home after the movie, and Jin-gu teases Se-young for eating again, saying that he feels sorry for her future husband. You mean, the future husband that you hope is you? He suggests a walk, to work off the food she ate of course, not to spend more time together at all.

Their hands bump as they walk but Se-young pulls away, and Jin-gu takes off his jacket to give to her. He stands disarmingly close to button it up for her, then when she’s not looking he ties the sleeves so that her arms are trapped. Hee. He messes up her hair and calls her ugly then moves in close to fix it again, but he switches gears again to squish her face between his huge hands and call her ugly. His lightning-fast changes of tone are understandably confusing to Se-young (and probably to himself as well, as he obviously wants to be romantic but keeps reminding himself to keep it friendly).

She tells him to stop it and he mimics her tone and facial expression, and they do this back and forth until they both suddenly realize how close their faces are and that their puckered lips are only inches apart. Jin-gu stays that way for a long moment, then with Herculean effort he slaps back on his teasing smile and lets go of Se-young’s face. He walks off leaving her to toddle behind him, still strapped tightly into his jacket.

Min-gu brings Su-ah to a pork belly restaurant to cap off their date, catching on that she’s bothered by something. Some kids ride by on a motorcycle and scream a rowdy “Bong-sook-ah!!” but Su-ah pretends she didn’t hear them. Min-gu isn’t convinced, but she drags him into the restaurant.

Kwang-soo shivers and sneezes in the backseat on the way home from the zoo, even as he valiantly assures Da-in that he’s perfectly ~ACHOO~ fine and can drive if she likes. A minute later he’s sound asleep, head in Eun-seo’s lap. Awww.

Even though he feels horrid, Kwang-soo carries a still-sleeping Eun-seo for the walk back to the building, and Da-in thanks him for today. That simple statement makes his (literal) decade, and he can’t stop himself from beaming at her, finally getting a smile in return. Da-in lets him take her hand, and they walk together looking like a family.

When they get to Da-in’s floor she asks for Eun-seo, but Kwang-soo says seriously, “I don’t want to let go,” the statement layered with meaning. Just to make himself clear, he says he’s waited ten years to hold her hand again and he’s not ready to let go, and asks to just stay like that for a moment. But Da-in’s not quite ready to open up completely and takes her daughter inside. Kwang-soo watches their door for a moment, thinking to Da-in that she can take her time, so long as she comes back to him.

Se-young is freed from Jin-gu’s (straight)jacket and gives it back to him. She starts to say something but he interrupts her, saying, “Let’s stop doing this.” Se-young’s face falls, but then he continues, “I lied to you. Wanting to be friends… that was a lie.” He admits that he never wanted to be friends with her in the first place, but was only being patient and waiting for her because she was having a hard time.

Jin-gu: “So… let’s stop being friends.” She doesn’t say a word which embarrasses him, because he’s pretty sure he just confessed while she’s trying to figure out what he meant by all that. Jin-gu starts to babble nervously until Se-young hauls off and kisses him full on the mouth. It’s a quick peck but it floors him, and he can only stare at her.

Now the embarrassed one, Se-young turns to go but Jin-gu manages to snap out of it and he pulls her back. He draws her in for a long kiss, and her eyelashes flutter closed. Jin-gu narrates that he may regret this later, but he doesn’t care.

Kwang-soo lies on his bed smiling at the pictures he took of Da-in and Eun-seo at the zoo, as Da-in does the same thing at her place. Kwang-soo narrates that sometimes you know full well that you’ll regret it, but you can’t help it, as we switch to Min-gu and Su-ah adorably feeding each other lettuce wraps.

Jin-gu and Se-young stand in the park kissing, as Jin-gu concludes, “That’s love.” The next day, Mom peeks in on Kwang-soo who’s wearing a skin mask and listening to sappy music, and she claps her hands and whispers that she knew he had a girl, and thanks the stars that the fortuneteller was right.

 
COMMENTS

I’m so happy for the boys that they’re finally making some progress with the ladies (well, all except Dong-gu) because it was getting really difficult to watch them all dragging around being pathetic. I think it’s great that we got to see the women’s side of things before getting to this point, because it gave us a bit of insight as to why Se-young and Su-ah (if not Da-in) were hesitating to give their guys a chance. So when they finally come together, it makes more sense because we know the fears and hesitations on both sides, and what it’s costing them to make themselves vulnerable again.

I’m most invested in Jin-gu and Se-young’s story, because I also love the best-friends-fall-in-love trope. It’s so sweet to watch a couple of people who already have a comfortable and valuable relationship risk it all in the hopes of something more. It’s riskier than when strangers fall for each other because the strangers have nothing to lose if it doesn’t work, and they can afford to take bigger leaps in pursuit of love. Which is exciting and all, but when you could ruin something you hold dear if it doesn’t work out, it adds another dimension to the story. When you want to preserve the friendship but still stick your neck out just in case it could be more, you have to calculate your moves a lot more carefully and things can be a whole lot more precarious.

Which is why I loved watching Jin-gu “feel out” Se-young, because he walked a very wobbly tightrope between letting her know that he sincerely wants more with her, and playing it close to the vest in case she got the hints but wasn’t interested. He practically gave me whiplash switching back and forth between the joking insults and sibling teasing they’ve always done, and the tiny serious moments when he would say something real, then quickly shift back to the teasing if she didn’t pick up on them. Poor Se-young obviously didn’t know what to think, because it all came off as joke-flirting, but she clearly wanted to read more into the genuine beats Jin-gu was giving to her. It’s just that he backed off of them so fast, she was left wondering if she really interpreted things correctly, which kept her holding him at arm’s length.

Then when Jin-gu finally laid it all out there and said he no longer wanted to be friends, he nearly flubbed the whole thing by almost making Se-young think he didn’t want anything to do with her. Thank goodness she’s a straightforward kind of gal and just told him how she felt in her own way, otherwise I could see the not-really-dating non-flirting going on forever. I’m looking forward to a lot more cuteness as they figure out how to speak the same love language.

I’m concerned for the future of Min-gu and Su-ah — not so much because I think Min-gu would hold her past against her, but because I can see Su-ah letting it bother her so much that she tries to make his decisions for him. She could very well try to leave him out of fear that he might leave her. I can see that Min-gu is maturing and learning to treat Su-ah as a person rather than a goddess on a pedestal, and I hope that newfound maturity holds fast when her rough past (and her big secret) come to light.

But I’m the most worried about Kwang-soo and Da-in, mainly because Da-in still hasn’t said a single word about why she left him ten years ago. It’s wonderful that he’s figuring it out himself, and that he’s told her so, but I just wont’t feel like they have a snowball’s chance of making it until they sit down and talk about it. I think it’s a huge mistake to start over without having an honest discussion about what happened between them back then. No amount of cute zoo dates and bonding with her daughter will make up for the fact that they still don’t feel comfortable having a conversation about the past. They’re starting off on shaky ground and it’s making me nervous, as is Mom’s premature celebrating that Kwang-soo will be getting married soon. If he couldn’t do it back when things were pretty good between them, then it will never work now without the two of them getting painfully real and finding a way to not just cover up the past, but truly move on together.

 
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Awwww, they are all just so cute.

My favorite story line is definitely Jingu & Seyoung's! They are so lovely to watch. I feel like I'm rooting for them the most in this show! Their story also makes the most sense for me out of all the couples.

Kwangsoo & Da-in....I'm still really confused as to what Da-in is thinking. I just don't understand her point-of-view. Kwangsoo seems to just be diving back in, but they both have a lot of things in the past they need to resolve so they can move forward properly.

Mingu & Soo-ah are full of cute but I can't help but see problems up ahead. They both have some realities to face, and growing up to do.

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Squeeee central, watch the Se-Young and Jin-gu scenes over and over. They were so romantic Kim Young Kwang... swoon i like him even more now. The way he looks at her in this episode...so cute

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I watched the last part (wherein he said he doesn't want to be friends with Seyoung) more than 10 times. I so love that part. And when I saw the preview for the next episode, I got more excited and worried. I'm worried that something might happen to separate them.

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I think they'll start feeling guilty about Go Eun and Jae Bum. But I hope the latter 2 realise that Se Young and Jin Gu both turned them down in a way, they never said they were interested (but one could also argue that they never firmly said "no" either).

Either way, even if short lived, I'm looking forward to the cute scenes next week. SQUEEEE!

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I squealed watching Se Young and Jin Gu's part :D happy that it happened but for some reason, I think Jin Gu is going to break her heart again later on.

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Thanks for the recap! Yes to all you said in the comments.

I loved the Jin-gu/Se-young moments the most this episode, because you could almost physically see the confused longing hanging between them the while hour - and then that ending scene was perfect. I love that it was kind of blunt and not super romantic, just like them.

Kwang-soo/Dain and Min-gu/Su-ah we're very cute but with an undercurrent of uneasiness that will definitely crack the surface next week. Here's hoping for open communication rather than avoidance and/or noble idiocy.

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So enjoy "being in the moment" sharing their episode of happiness. Love how relatively straight forward this shoe is.

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Are these kisses on tvN? I expect MOAR, dammit!

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Same here. I was hoping for a passionate kiss from my fave OTP, Jingu and Seyoung.

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Hear hear!!

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Is it just me who dies when the guy in dramas (usually if the couple bickers all the time) goes slack-jawed when he sees her walk in all dolled up? It gives such a fluttery feeling.

And finally! It took 10 episodes to get all these developments. Bring on the cute. I am ready.

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I think it's because we have three lovelines in the story that's why it took them 10 episodes before reaching these developments. I just hope Jingu won't do the same mistake he did in the past. But, i'm still worried it might happen in the next episodes, though i think Jingu might do it unintentionally.

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You really think he's going to go around and kiss random girls again? But he's been "clean" for over a year and a half. I have faith in him. I believe he's a changed man with eyes for only one girl. He looked so uncomfortable when Go Eun kissed him without warning.

I do believe they will break up before the end of this drama, but only because they got together too early (episode 10 of a 16-episode drama), not because he will be unfaithful. Jin Gu and Se Young are my OTP whom I am rooting for to be endgame.

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It's actualy a 14 episodes drama, which gives me hope they won't split, maybe just get a bit awkward because of Go Eun and Jae Bum, let's pray!

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Is anyone else hoping that Su-ah's secret is more than just her past, personally I want her to be a transsexual.

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like :)

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Bwahahahahah!!!! Your comment is gold!
Now that you mention it, I DEF want that to be her secret

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daebaaaaak!
Breakthrough idea!

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omo omo! This idea takes the cake...!!

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Its already 1 am and I am squealing over this episode. I skipped watched it without subs but I know the boys are having the time of their life. But then I realized its just episode 10 and I am feeling dreadful about the the succeeding episodes.

I want to buy them a gazillion of talismans!
Thanks for the recap!

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Thanks for the recap LollyPip.

Awwww, Min-Goo and his selfies. :) It tickles my fancy and I just have to smile. Secretly I'm envious (green with envy) - but in a good way because his selfies always turn out nice.

I really enjoy the music in Plus Nine Boys. The music selections playing in the background are seamlessly interlaced and really good. You can count on the music to always be in sync with: 1) the mood of the characters/ current state of mind; 2) whether the scene is taking place in the past or is happening in the present; and 3) the stage in their respective relationships that they are contending with.

I still haven't warmed up to Kwang-Soo & Da-In starting a relationship over again and rekindling their romance.

Past the age of Manin's kdrama toddlers, but I'm always delighted to see the Dong-Gu/Baek-Ji/Min-Joon triangle play out. Glad that Dong-Gu took Baek-Ji's rejection in stride and avowed to himself to become the leading man. Awwww Dong-Gu...Motivation!

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Thanks LollyPip for the recap!.

I feel very worried about uncle, because Da-In isn't open about her feelings and she treats Kwang-Soo as a flower painted in a wall. On the other hand, lets be real: a man have to be full in love to marry a single mother (unless he is in the same spot and they share similar set of problems) even in our more open western societies. When they were single and without any burdens, they didn't work out. With a child is even tougher (you have to deal with another person who is more significant to that person than you'll ever be, and that is hard).

She is no longer prime material, and she should be grateful for someone to go out of his way for her after all she did to him in the first place, and with such a complicated life. He is fully dateable, and I hope he finds a better woman. Besides, he is very fragile, and I fear a second rejection will ship him in a lonely life for good. I haven't seen any development in Da-In's character in relation to him, except giving him (and herself) a possibility (which is a really big change for her, to be honest).

Sorry dear ladies. I am a man, and that is my point of view (REALLY hope I am not offending someone). Da-In is a damaged good and bad news, not because she is a mother (which just makes everything more complicated), but because she didn't mature over her wounds. Uncle is her mirror, but I see him outgrowing over his ¨working only¨ role a lot more than her ¨mother only¨ role.

If I had a friend in the same spot I would worry for him and be ready for the worst, and to help him pick the pieces.

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She is no longer prime material... she is a damaged good

Da In is not a material, a good, or a commodity. She is a person. I mean, I'm not particularly fond on her character, but I don't like seeing women spoken of in this way either.

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Harsh, dude really harsh.

I am a single mother.

Da-in does seem quite guarded and one might worry about a lack of warmth.

Regardless: DO NOT DISS THE SINGLE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD.

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Being a man doesn't give you the right to name a woman damaged good. Sorry but not sorry, are you.

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>She is no longer prime material, and she should be grateful for someone to go out of his way for her after all she did to him in the first place

I hate the Da-In character but that is just so wrong. She is a person, she might be crazy or even bad or both but she is not a material of any kind and she doesn't have to be grateful for the attention of anyone.

>He is fully dateable, and I hope he finds a better woman.

Well, he is emotionally stunted and acted like a creepy stalker, he needs LOTS of therapy, same as her, doesn't mean he can't date but he's far from just being a fragile guy.

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Sorry dear ladies? Condescending much?

The bad news here is Kwang Soo -- the ever oblivious suitor who hasn't moved an emotional muscle, or apparently a brain cell, in 10 years.

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OH,WOW BIG SUPRISE you're a guy, you're also clearly showing you're EPIC ignorance! Parenting is no easy thing, if you're a single parent you're doing the work of TWO people on a daily basis and in my eyes, a HERO.
Single parents should be applauded NOT denigrated, thank you for your ridiculous opinion. Do you actually KNOW any single parents?

"When they were single and without any burdens, they didn’t work out. With a child is even tougher (you have to deal with another person who is more significant to that person than you’ll ever be, and that is hard)."

This is utter BULL! My mum worked hard at her marriage everyday BUT MR. EXPERT it TAKES TWO PEOPLE to make ANY relationship WORK! Which you would know if you had EVER been in a healthy relationship.

Let me teach you something you clearly don't know
women are EQUAL to men. They are NOT AN OBJECT, and you should be grateful ANY woman would go out with someone like you.
FEMINISM IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

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I was thinking, Kwang Soo might be the father of Dain's child. I remember her friend telling KS that her married life has been difficult esp. "with her condition". I wonder if the condition she was talking about is she was already pregnant when she got married.

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She's definitely not his child... Kwang-soo and Da-in broke up ten years ago, and Eun-seo is only four years old.

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Well that was weird, I somehow got logged out then back in with a different username. Sorry!

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And here I was wondering who the hell Shiny was and why they had the fancy orange box indicating that they were somebody from the site when I could have just read the next comment. :)

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Hi Jessa,
But the math doesn't add up. They broke up for 10 years but the kid is not even 9 years old right?

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Kwang-soo and Da-in aren't fun to watch together.

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They are not fun, but they are very deep. A pair of people trying to get rid of their wall and giving themselves a second chance?. A lot of people don't try to improve their lives over the "I am too old/stupid/poor/etc" excuses ("I am a mother now", "the program can't air without me"). All four men are interesting since they have their own issues, experiences, and maturity levels. They also behaves according their age expectations, which is very realistic. It is the deepest (profound?) Drama I am currently seeing while airing.

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I agree, owl. Soooo much effort on one party's part and not only no effort, its negative effort! Like constantly trying to push back forward advancement. GIVE IT UP, KWANG SOO!!
That's my personal wish la

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No they aren't. Kwang soo's interactions with Da In are very painful to watch. He acts all stalkerish with her and she shoots him down every time. No encouragement at all, except for her showing up at the concert at the last minute and the outing at the zoo.

I wish Kwang-Soo can find someone who is healthier for him, but maybe he needs to go through this process in order to get over Da In and find someone else.

Da In's problem is that she doesn't communicate with him. Not at all. Honestly, negative feedback is better than no feed back, or maybe she is communicating but he's just not getting it.

So, as a viewer, I'm just not sure if

a) she's warming up to him,
b) doesn't want to have anything to do with him
c) Just giving in to him due to his clear doggedness and his inability to take NO for an answer.

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>No encouragement at all

There is plenty of encouragement on ep 10. Now she calls him oppa, she goes on a zoo date, she holds his hand and actually tells him she appreciated the day. The show clearly wants to show she is warming up to him and she just needed to know he would be reliable this time.
My personal opinion is they are both acting crazy but there is not that much room for doubts about her feelings anymore.

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My personal opinion is that the scriptwriter has neglected to really develop either character, has not paid nearly enough attention to the natural dynamics of a couple like this, and completely ignores the child except as a cute plot device.

Neither character has a trace of charm and that's a pretty central element of a romantic comedy. Kwang Soo's actions are borderline stalkerish and unappealing, Da In has the defences of a newly divorced woman up, and then for no apparent reason meets KS at the concert, still almost completely silent and wearing an incredibly unattractive dress and hairdo -- why? Also, her scenes with people other than Kwang Soo don't make her seem very likeable either, which is as much the writer's fault as the actress's. And unless Daddy was a monster, I'd think the kid would have a few problems with Mommy dating again.

Everything about this storyline seems strained in comparison to the natural unfolding of the other three plotlines.

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Did she really say she is newly divorced? I remember the Mom asking but I don't remember her answer, anyway, you are right, her actions and his are not natural.
I must confess I've finally realized I'm still with this show only for Mingu's storyline, the rest is odd and I know it should not be enough but I just hate dropping shows after the middle. I'm stubborn like that. :)

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What the heck, tvN? Where are my realistic cable kisses? I forgive you for the chaste library kiss because SungJae and ChoRong are idols (although if EunJi could do it, I would think all of A Pink had permission to do it), but even Jin Gu and Se Young's was nothing more than a lip press. Nonetheless, I melted. It was cute when he tricked her with the unending scary scene and with his nonchalant "I'm just taking off my jacket because I'm hot." Also, when he refused to let go of her hand so she couldn't drink her Coke. However, I can do without the unnecessary ugly calling (c'mon, are you five?), but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to he only does it as a defense mechanism.

I am crazy curious what Se Young had started to say before Jin Gu interrupted her to confess because I need for her to tell him she likes him. When he apologized for his dick move two years ago, he apologized because he played with her feelings, not because he knew she liked him back then. Now that they are together, he is going to attribute it to the miyeok guk without knowing how long she has liked him. Regardless, thank goodness he confessed first before force-kissing her again. I was worried he would repeat history when he drunkenly inched closer to her over chimaek.

Kwang Soo has gotten awfully hard to watch. I can't take him desperately forcing himself onto Da In. Not only is she NOT WORTH IT, but I can't stand clingy people. If she doesn't pick up after the fifth call, then maybe she doesn't want to go out with you. Stop calling. I don't like Da In neither, but I can't blame her for rejecting Kwang Soo's relentless dates. Maybe she doesn't like him in that way anymore and doesn't want him in her and her daughter's lives. Yes, she owes him an explanation of why she dumped him ten years ago, but at the same time, Kwang Soo should consider the possibility that she fell out of love with him and move on with his life. This is why I hate the Telefairy's advice of finding his future wife amongst his ex-girlfriends because Kwang Soo seems to be forcing this relationship based on a crock psychic.

Eun Seo doesn't talk, does she? I can't remember her saying more than two words this whole drama, even when the adults were playing with her. I wish another child actress who could emote better had played her part; perhaps one from Dong Gu's acting class. Unless this is what the writers were going for. Like mother, like daughter -- Mom doesn't talk, daughter doesn't talk.

Min Gu and Su Ah are so cute, which makes it worse because she is living a lie. I wish her real age had been revealed before her real name. Since Min Gu prides himself on being called oppa, the fallout is going to be brutal.

The boys' elevator ride was one of my favorite scenes this episode. The family just has a chemistry unlike the couples' chemistries. When they all got mad at Mom, I couldn't help but think "Ungrateful bastards...

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...She does your laundry for you, yet you still complain." Mom seems to care only about her brother's love life; she does not even notice her sons are dating, too. I am glad they reduced Dong Gu's individual scenes because his love line is ridiculous.

Thanks for the recap, LollyPip!

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The boys complaining despite the Mother doing the laundry for them - I'd thought that what families do - take each other for granted. It's not stellar, but it showed their close and comfortable relationship. Like Mom's constant nagging for KS to get hitched up, even putting him down sometimes. Generally, people do take their families for granted, up to a point of course. :-)

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Actually, the boys complaining because their mother/sister didn't do their laundry right was one of the highlights of the show. I found it damn hilarious, because it showed their different personalities and the different ways in which they reacted with mom. And Mom and Kwang-Soo's conversation was the funniest ever.

Oddly enough, my favorite scenes in this drama are when the boys are together or interacting as a family with their mom/older sister.

So loved the scene in the elevator with Min Goo taking money for his twenty second day from his Hyung and Samchon - Priceless!

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yea, ive had my suspicions for several weeks now but this episode confirms it... the little girl who plays eun-seo is the most boring child actor ive ever seen in a kdrama. i keep wishing she were a more active/endearing kid, but she's so... blah. though i suppose you could be on to something with the like mother like daughter thing~

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Gosh KS should really review his actions, he is literately forcing himself on her and Da-in is been uncomfortable the whole hour. I actually feel sorry for both of them, they're both stuck in the past. She can't let go of the pain she felt and he can't let go of their happy moments in the past and wants relive everything. Oh man I so hope they man up and TALK and lay everything in the open so that they can start fresh.

Jin-gu and Se-young had my heart fluttering! Finally!
I am so glad he was truthful to her by saying he doesn't want to be friends her.

Min-gu is adorable with a simple soul, I love him!
Soo-ah or should I say Bong Sook had probably a wild youth that caused her all kinds of trouble.
Oh the name thing really had me rolling, it reminded of Kim Sam Soon, when she wanted to change her name and Hyun-bin went to great lengths to stop her because he likes her real name! Awww memories.

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OMG what an idiot, this comment was supposed to end down in the page. Sorry. Please remove it.

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I noticed that about eun suh as well. Just not very lovable coz very lacking in interaction with whomever is playing with her. At the same time, kwang soo really needs to tone down his desperate attempts!!

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I personally don't think Sooah is living a lie, by definition. I think Mingu is still so invested on her appearance rather than her personality. He's hasn't fully appreciated who she is, rather than what she looks like. I dont mean that in a cynical or negative way, but the boy needs to read the book and not judge it by the cover.

On the other hand, Sooah has had a hard time opening up because of her own struggle for identity. She comes off as tough and confident, but that's just a facade she created for her real self. Her character is three dimensional, and it jolts you to question yourself which of her characterisations is the most sincere one. Is it yeoshin Sooah? Tough ol' Bongsook? Or the poor girl, full of flaws, who is caught between the two identities and who wants to be appreciated? The complexities of her character is just brilliant, and definitely the reason why I think her character is the most well-written in this drama.

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I agree about the cable kisses..... Kim Young Kwang can kiss so much better than this.

His first kiss with Han Groo in Can We Get Married was amazing. But whatis this lip press here...

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I thought little Eun Seo was really cute in this episode and last. No, she's not very actor-y or charismatic/cute like many child actors, but I think the lack of emoting conveys the kind of child she is -- she seems to be one of those watchful, quiet kids who's quite happy with her own company. I think she has a quite distinct personality. And it makes sense to me that someone like Da In, as a single mother, would have a little girl like Eun Seo. Like you said, like mother, like daughter. I don't know if it was intentional on the part of the writers, but it really works for me.

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I've been appreciating Eun Soo and how different she is than the typical precocious kdrama kid who can suck up all the oxygen in the room. If she were different it would be a different show. And I agree that a chatty or emotional child would probably have been discouraged by the excessively contained Da In.

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You giys are prob right. It is unique enough of a feature that so many noticed it. It did strike me that she was very much like her mom as well. It was hard to know if she actually warmed to kwang soo too despite his vovert attempts at getting closer. So like mom even in that aspect!,

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LOL so so awkward, poor KS!

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I think he kissed her like that because he was afraid she'd slap him any second. Notice he wanted to kiss her the whole time, he didn't want to risk it by sticking his tongue in her throat. LOL

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This episode was almost perfect for me - almost coz i still cant stand Da In. But i was all a flutter for se young. That awkwardness, that wishing for more but dont know how to get there feeling and then the move to hold her hand and keep it there!!! Ahhhh, i was getting arrhythmias. Haha.

I so loved it. Thanks for the recap!

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And why do koreans always look to the internet for love advice?! That is such a common theme in their dramas. Is that for real? Do people do that these days?

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That website JG was looking up was really good. And yeah it used to be the Cosmo where you get love advice, but now it's the internet of course.

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Se Young looks really hot when she's all dolled up... very Princess Diaries.. hehe

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Okay. I may get slaughtered here, but Jin-Gu's lips are starting to bug me. (Did he have that smile surgery?) I feel so petty. And I like the drama. But it's just creeping me out. (And now it looks to me like Go-Eun had it too. Or is it me? Am I just projecting a joker smile on everyone?)

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I like the smile

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I think it's adorable!

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I see it, too. It's a bit distracting.

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Thank you. I like him as an actor. And I think he's so cute when he smiles, but even when he isn't smiling (example, the photo where the hand is on his forehead) the corners of his lips still curve upwards.

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You know, its about the same smile as lee seunggi. Look carefully - they could be brothers!

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Thanks Lollypip, for the recap!

This episode cracked me up!

The scene where JG checked the internet for signs that SY's interested in him had me in stitches. Touches ear and shows wrist, crossed legs with feet pointing, shows nape of the neck - scenes from other dramas immediately flashes by.

It's JG seeking a third party's affirmation that SY's into him! Brings back memories too - did similar things when younger. While not believing a single word of such 'signs' or 'quizzes', I'd check them out anyway and derive some gleeful pleasure when those signs/quizzes checks out with my current flame. Ha ha... it's good to be young and have the hots for someone, eh?

And the Mom, after the boys complained about the laundry, when it suddenly dawned on her that KS might be dating someone, her expression was priceless!! All those prayers, talismans and lunches with the fortune-teller is about to bear fruit.1

Yes, I do love this episode for the funnies, but even more for JG and SY finding each other. I was glad and happy JG called SY pretty when he meant it, instead of hiding his true feelings behind jokes; that he restrained himself from kissing her when the moments were not quiet right and that he confessed his interest in her, albeit in a roundabout way. I love em all!! :-D

And with 6 episodes to go, I wonder what mishaps await my favourite couple?

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Dain and Kwangsoo are not a happy story ...I feel like they are setting Kwangsoo up for another rejection *smh*

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Hey guys
Can anyone recommend me other dramas with the story of best-friends-fall-in-love trope

I really love Jingu/Se Youngs storyline - it gives me the feeeeelllsss!! Need to watch more like it.

Thanks

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In Time With You! It's Taiwanese, not Korean, but it's about best friends that fall in love (or were actually in love all along and just didn't know it) and it is so. good. One of my all-time favorites!

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Thank you soo much. I have watched a few twainese shows and liked them. Will watch this very soon. Can't wait :)

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I am gladly recommending one of my favourite dramas: Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs. Reviewed by Girlfriday on DB>>http://www.dramabeans.com/2011/03/bottom-of-the-9th-with-2-outs-series-review
Lots of feeeeelsss awaiting you.

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Thank you sooooo much. Will watch in this week fo sho :)

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Anyone know where i can find bottom of the 9th now? My hard disk crashed and I have been trying to find it ever since....Appreciate the help:)

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Batch file available here : http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/viewtopic_55409.htm

It's an old file, not sure if it's still seeding though.

Eng subs available at subscene.com

Good luck!

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Awww. I love you guys!!! Thanks so much!! *off to go search...

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I recommend Long Vacation. It's a pretty old j-drama, but it has a great friends-to-lovers romance and is available on youtube. Just watched it for the first time & it's already a favorite.

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That goes on the list then. Thank you very kamsa :)

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Thanks for the recap. And so true..I was also hoping the guys dragging themselves and the plot dragging was ...dragging. Glad things are moving along.

I really feel Da In might go back to her ex-husband. Because if she was non-communicative with Kwang Soo and unhealed because of that relationship, she carried it into her marital life. (I think) and her ex-husband might be the one to benefit from her getting to know herself. So that might be the trouble coming up.

Love the Su-ah/Bong Sook storyline. This aspect of the story is the totally whollly new storyline, the only thing that is a real mystery and is real newness in the story. Although i guess seeing how little Dong Gu will do in his career is also hinting at newness.

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The boys do really all have stalkerish tendencies, don't they. xD

Oh, don't bash on the little girl. The little girl made me realize how often children are treated as a simple prop in dramas. The only thing they ever do with her is pick her up like a bag of flour or sth. Poor baby. At least the 9er kids are treated more seriously (as in: they get to say things).

I'm afraid the big SooAh-secret is no big deal at all - like the big DaIn-mystery was no mystery at all. :( Hope they think up something clever, not just some insecurity thing, god knows she got enough of those.

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Gosh KS should really review his actions, he is literately forcing himself on her and Da-in is been uncomfortable the whole hour. I actually feel sorry for both of them, they’re both stuck in the past. She can’t let go of the pain she felt and he can’t let go of their happy moments in the past and wants relive everything. Oh man I so hope they man up and TALK and lay everything in the open so that they can start fresh.

Jin-gu and Se-young had my heart fluttering! Finally!
I am so glad he was truthful to her by saying he doesn’t want to be friends her.

Min-gu is adorable with a simple soul, I love him!
Soo-ah or should I say Bong Sook had probably a wild youth that caused her all kinds of trouble.
Oh the name thing really had me rolling, it reminded of Kim Sam Soon, when she wanted to change her name and Hyun-bin went to great lengths to stop her because he likes her real name! Awww memories.

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If "naesoong" were a form of martial arts, I think Dain definitely has the black belt. The woman harbors deep longings and dark desires towards Kwangsoo but is going to have him no other way than crawling, groveling and begging her to take him back. They exasperate me so much. Ughhhhh, Kwangsoo, wake up and find yourself another woman! The samgyopsal-inhaling museum curator is better than this woman!

The reason I like Seyoung is because she has none of this naesoong, so far anyway. She does not pretend to be something else. But now she and Jingu are going out, maybe she will start to have a little more naesoong, to look prettier to her man.

I think Bongsook's secret is that she has chewed her fair share of gum.

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I totally agree about DI but wasn't SY pretending to be friends with JG? I mean, how do you go back to being friends with a guy if you think he is a jerk anyway? And if you were really his friend why would you not even let him explain? I don't understand the SY character. Btw, there were so many scenes of her just eating and talking about food, she is a cardboard person to me and the writer just pushes her in this or that direction. But a lot of people like and seem to understand her so it's a puzzle to me. :)

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I don't think she was pretending to be friends with JG. I think she decided that all she could ever be with him was a friend until she found out about his year-long bus rides with her and sea urchin miyeok soup (which, by the way, is one of the yummiest things I've ever had).

I think her insatiable appetite is supposed to show how different she is from other girls as well. Normally a Korean girl would act as if she survives on dewdrops and would not stuff herself in front of her love interest. But this girl is not afraid to show her keen enjoyment of food (and probably gratification of a lot of other bodily senses). I think that's one of the things in her JG fell for.

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>sea urchin miyeok soup (which, by the way, is one of the yummiest things I’ve ever had)

Really? I always get curious to try the food on dramas though I confess the seaweed soup is always on the bottom of my list. :)

My puzzlement with her being friends with him without believing he changed is that basically she is accepting to be friends with a guy she thinks is still a jerk. If they had at least a scene in which it showed she believed he was sorry for kissing her a second time. It was strange for me, either I'd be a real friend and give the guy a chance to explain or I wouldn't be friends with him again but they just jumped to him texting, talking, being nice, time passing and she is in the friend zone again.

About the hungry girl thing, it's just that it has become such a trope for me that I lost patience with this. I need to know more about the girl and every single scene she is either eating or talking about food, it feels like lazy writing. Even mysterious BS is more realistic than her for me and she got a lot more time.

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In my opinion, just what I thought when I watched, Se young thought Jin Gu was a playboy jerk, but she was basically in love with him. She was really hurt but still cared for him deeply. She really wanted him to prove to her that he cared, but he responded by backing off. She also doesn't want to make the people around them, at work, uncomfortable by fighting outright.

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Oh did anyone know that Jae Bum oppa was acting with SY in Shark as well. He was the class bully...heee. Just thought I share this little trivia.

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gahhh..i still have butterflies in my stomach because of Jin gu and Se-young..seriously, i look like a lovesick fool as well with a stupid grin on my face..can't help it..still swooning eventhough i watched it a lot times already.

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