I’m Not a Robot: Episodes 9-10

by TeriYaki

This drama gets sweeter each week as Jia and Min-kyu spend more time together and get even closer. Having a human-looking companion has completely transformed Min-kyu’s life and for the first time, he doesn’t have to deal with his problems by himself. But not everyone is happy about their budding friendship and clouds finally appear on the horizon that promise to threaten their bond.

 
EPISODE 9: “I’m cured”

Min-kyu acts out what it would be like if his first love was a robot as he touches Jia’s hair, holds her hand and imagines going to crowded places together. Min-kyu moves verrry close as he imagines a kiss, only to step away when he accepts that it’s just wishful thinking. Min-kyu announces that he’s decided to give the necklace to the last woman in his life.

That night, Min-kyu goes through his keepsakes from Ri-el and thinks, “She always remembered my birthday which is the same day I lost my parents.” Min-kyu reminisces how much her small gestures meant to him while he puts the necklace into a box and wonders, “Will I meet someone like that again? I’m thankful. And that’s enough.”

On her way to the main house, Jia carries her umbrella in spite of the beautiful weather. When she arrives, Min-kyu is nowhere in sight so Jia arranges his mail so that her petition for KM’s business competition is front and center.

Jia thinks of Min-kyu’s almost kiss and is suddenly annoyed, “Wait, but who does he think I am,” and then reminds herself that he’s convinced that she’s a robot. Min-kyu walks in while he tries to explain over the phone that his reservation for an entire restaurant means that not one person can be there. When he’s asked about servers, Min-kyu looks at Jia.

On the way to the restaurant, Min-kyu comments that the weather is perfect for a proposal. When Jia reports that heavy rain is expected, he replies, “That’s even better.”

Pi shows Baek-gyun the video of Min-kyu’s almost kiss and he orders Jia removed from the house right away, alarmed when he learns that she left with Min-kyu.

At the restaurant, Min-kyu mixes hot chocolate, just the way Ri-el liked it. Jia worries that his treasured mug isn’t suitable for a proposal but Min-kyu explains that it very special because Ri-el gave it to him long ago. Min-kyu lights up when Ri-el arrives and he runs to her side.

Baek-gyun asks the team to find Aji-3 as he hurries to the van. Ssan-ip reminds him that she’s in the barn but Pi explains that he’s talking about Jia. On the way to the restaurant, Baek-gyun rants, “I won’t put up with that pervert anymore. He better not lay a finger on Aji-3.”

Ri-el is surprised when she’s served hot chocolate so Min-kyu reminds her how much she used to like it. Ri-el points out that was years ago and when she notices the mug and calls it childish, Min-kyu has to tell her that she gave it to him a long time ago.

In an effort to be polite, Ri-el sips the hot chocolate but calls it too sweet, causing Jia to mutter that she’s insulted Min-kyu twice. Ri-el wants Min-kyu’s answer and Jia is surprised when he admits that they won’t be going on three dates and that there will be no kiss.

Ri-el assumes that Min-kyu wants to get married right away and can’t believe it when he tells her, “No.” She wonders how to tell her father and Min-kyu promises to make it up to him somehow.

Min-kyu gives Ri-el the box and she recognizes the necklace that belonged to his mother. He reminds her that she always wanted to have it so a confused Ri-el asks, “Let me get this straight. Are you proposing or rejecting me?” Min-kyu explains that he wants her to have it as a friend but Ri-el returns it with he explanation that it’s not the kind of gift that she can accept from a friend.

Ri-el stands to leave and suggests that they shake hands as friends. Min-kyu takes her hand and as his allergic reaction begins, Ri-el warns that he’ll regret it when she marries someone else. He agrees, “Of course I’ll regret it. You’ll probably be the first and last woman I’ll ever have in my life.”

Min-kyu’s breathing is labored by the time he grabs his syringe but he doesn’t use it. He recalls that Dr. Oh urged him to get married — if he wanted to die.

Min-kyu’s monitor beeps faster and faster as he drops the syringe and prepares to throw his mother’s necklace into the river, until Jia calls out and brings him to his senses.

Blotches spread onto Min-kyu’s neck but he yells that he wants to be alone and drops onto a nearby bench. When the rash reaches his face, a tear falls just as the expected downpour begins.

Jia covers Min-kyu with her umbrella and at the push of a button, it becomes clear. She sits next to him and when Min-kyu looks at her, his reaction lessens and the monitor returns to normal. By the time the storm is over, Min-kyu is completely recovered. He closes the umbrella and holds out his hand as he suggests, “Let’s go home.”

As they walk away hand-in-hand, Min-kyu confesses that his story about a “friend” was really about him. Jia asks why he decided to be honest and Min-kyu admits, “Because it’s you. I’ve already shown you everything so I’m not embarrassed no matter what I tell you.”

Jia asks why Min-kyu gave Ri-el his necklace and he explains that she’s the first and last woman in his life. Jia suggests that there could be someone else someday but Min-kyu explains that as a robot, she can’t understand how he feels. She does understand that Min-kyu needs her and points out that he’s been holding her hand.

Surprised, Min-kyu lets go and notices that his rash is gone, even though he didn’t inject himself. When they turn a corner, he collides with a gardener and falls down. Worried, the gardener checks to see if he’s all right but Min-kyu freaks out over the contact until he notices that nothing happened.

Min-kyu grabs the gardener’s hand and asks him to touch him. Oh no! The gardener misunderstands and tries to get away but Min-kyu won’t let go. Eventually, Min-kyu speeds away in his car while the gardener chases after him and yells, “Don’t you dare come back!” Hahaha!

Min-kyu tries to call to Dr. Oh while Jia demands to know if he’s crazy. He admits that he must be crazy and Jia decides that his behavior is a result of the breakup.

While Baek-gyun follows his signal, Min-kyu pulls over near a busy walkway. Jia grabs his hand and promises that the crowd will cheer him up but he freezes once he’s surrounded by so many people. Some school kids bump into him and when his allergy doesn’t flare up, Min-kyu presses on.

Min-kyu takes in his surroundings with a look of wonder and offers to buy a stuffed animal that Jia admires. She stops at a hat display and puts on one that reads “Pretty” and picks one for Min-kyu that reads, “Enlisting tomorrow.” When she begs for a selfie, Min-kyu hands over his phone and she snaps a photo of the two of them.

Min-kyu waits outside while Jia buys an ice cream cake and when a child bumps his hand, he’s elated that his monitor proves that he’s all right. He’s giddy when he gets a temporary tattoo and stays symptom free. The tattoo operator tells him that his girlfriend is pretty but Min-kyu answers that he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

 
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Min-kyu braves the crowd

Min-kyu and Jia join a crowd to watch an outdoor performance and he jumps when the person next to him grabs his hand for the wave. A check of his monitor shows that all is well and Min-kyu’s eyes fill with tears as he breathes, “I’m cured. I’m normal now.”

When Dr. Oh calls, Min-kyu walks to a quiet spot and tearfully confesses that his allergy is gone. As a passerby bumps into him, Dr. Oh asks if he wants to get married that badly but Min-kyu is distracted when his monitor suddenly indicates an allergic reaction.

Baek-gyun parks behing Min-kyu’s car and follows his signal down to the crowd.

Jia wonders where Min-kyu wandered off to while he explains to Dr. Oh that he has nothing to treat his allergy. He can hardly breathe but when he turns around and sees Jia, his pulse slows and his rash starts to disappear.

Min-kyu looks at her in amazement and when a couple blocks his view, his symptoms return. As soon as he can see Jia again, Min-kyu returns to normal just when she notices him and waves. When Dr. Oh asks if there’s anyone nearby, Min-kyu admits, “ Someone is here. When I see someone the rashes go away. And when I don’t see someone, the rashes come back.” Jia smiles and waves as a tearful Min-kyu admits, “It’s not a person.”

Min-kyu embraces her as the crowd cheers and he tells her, “It was because you were by my side.” He promises to buy the world’s longest lasting batteries and Jia is speechless when Min-kyu confesses, “Stay with me forever, until I die. You’re now my most precious treasure.”

The crowd roars when Min-kyu kisses her gently on her forehead. Baek-gyun arrives just in time to see the kiss and he reacts by punching Min-kyu. He yells, “How dare you kiss her with those dirty lips? I didn’t send her for this!”

 
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You’re my most precious treasure

Baek-gyun grabs Jia’s hand to drag her away but Min-kyu grabs her other hand and reminds her that he’s her master. Baek-gyun argues that he made her and the two go back and forth until Jia announces that she’s out of battery and switches over to standby mode.

 
EPISODE 10: “I’ll protect you my own way”

Once the van is far enough away, Baek-gyun tells Jia that it’s okay to breathe. She scolds him for following her and risking their cover while he stammers about the kiss. He’s angry that she doesn’t listen to him so Jia apologizes and then closes her eyes for a nap.

While stopped at a light, Baek-gyun gazes at her sleeping form and asks with regret, “What on earth did I do?”

Jia wakes up when Baek-gyun stops in front of her brother’s house. He promises to send her things to her because the test is over — and so is her part-time job.

Back home, Min-kyu insists to Dr. Oh that even though he had contact with many people, he’s perfectly fine. Min-kyu stands in front of his full length mirrors while he holds up his phone to prove his claim.

Dr. Oh is amazed that for the first time in fifteen years, Min-kyu didn’t need medication after human contact. He clarifies that it was because of the robot that’s been with Min-kyu for the past ten days and calls it a miracle. Dr. Oh wants Min-kyu to list everything that happened since the robot appeared so that they can figure out how he was cured.

Pi finally receives the robot part that the team has been waiting for to repair Aji-3.

Jia is hidden out of sight when Jin-bae returns home with his family and she’s forced to go to a sauna so that he doesn’t see her in her Aji-3 outfit. Once she’s settled at the sauna, Jia assures herself that her petition will get Min-kyu to continue with the final round of the KM competition.

Jia tries to relax but an affectionate grandmother and granddaughter remind her of Min-kyu’s kiss. She tells herself to come to her senses but when an affectionate couple walks by, Jia needs to cool down and heads for an ice room.

Jia can’t seem to shake the memory and wonders, “What was the meaning of that kiss? Was he treating me like a kid or a woman?” She reminds herself that Min-kyu only thinks of her as a robot and tries to clear her head but the affectionate couple exchanges kisses nearby.

At home, Min-kyu thinks of Aji-3 and tries to figure out when his cure took place — was it when she yelled at him or saved him from choking? Maybe it happened when she grabbed his hand when he tried to greet her E.T. style? He digs in to the ice cream cake that she bought and remembers how cute she was during his cat-mask experiment.

Min-kyu answers a call from Dr. Oh who wants to know if the robot looks human. After more questions, he learns that Min-kyu told it of his illness and asks how he would feel if he couldn’t see the robot for ten days.

Min-kyu admits that he would miss it and protests that ten days is too long. When Dr. Oh concludes that he must have formed a friendship with the robot, Min-kyu clutches his chest and remembers that a relationship is like a plant that takes root in someone else’s heart.

Baek-gyun sits in the van outside of Min-kyu’s estate and ignores a call from Hok-tal. He sighs when Pi texts, “The part arrived, but there’s a problem.” The KM bumblers watch Baek-gyun from their van down the street and find him somehow familiar. They suddenly remember who he is just when Baek-gyun drives into Min-kyu’s estate.

The Santa Maria team watches the video of Min-kyu’s almost kiss and supports Baek-gyun’s decision not to send Aji-3 back to him. When Pi reminds Baek-gyun that he’s actually talking about Jia, Ssan-ip points out that makes Min-kyu’s behavior perfectly normal.

Because Min-kyu thinks that Jia is Aji-3, Ssan-ip and Hok-tal decide not to send her back, even if that means that they get kicked out. Baek-gyun decides that the time has come for them to leave Min-kyu’s estate.

Min-kyu is happily occupied making a pretty sign for Aji-3 while he thinks of Dr. Oh’s conclusion — she taught him how to be around people. He suggested that Min-kyu should participate in more activities with the robot to be completely cured.

 
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Pretty gets a room of her own

 
Min-kyu’s homemade sign reads “Pretty’s Room” and when he hangs it up he announces, “Aji-3. My treasure.” He jumps when he imagines how Jia as Aji-3 would respond, “So that means you can’t do anything without me, right?” When she strikes a sassy pose and adds with a wink, “Treat your treasure very well,” Min-kyu realizes that she’ll never let him forget what he told her.

Ri-el barges into Yoo-chul’s office to invite him out for a drink. She’s annoyed that Min-kyu rejected her proposal and wants to know if he’s involved with someone else but Yoo-chul admits that they never discuss anything personal.

Yoo-chul suggests that Ri-el should marry him instead and gives her the green light to kiss him but they’re interrupted when her phone rings. Min-kyu tells Ri-el that he wants the three dates, the kiss and marriage and Yoo-chul looks dejected when Ri-el accepts a date.

Riel promises Yoo-chul a drink another time on her way out. Yoo-chul tries to get back to work but when Director Yoon reports that the Santa Maria team is now based at Min-kyu’s estate, he loses his temper.

Ri-el gets back to work and is intrigued by Jia’s heart lamps when she sees the projects that made the final round of the business competition.

A distracted Jia visits Sun-hye, who decides that Baek-gyun was right all along and calls Min-kyu a perverted psycho. Jia insists that she’s wrong and explains that he’s just clueless about how to behave around people.

Jia admits that now that she knows Min-kyu better, she realizes that he’s not a pervert or a psycho, he’s just awkward because he’s been alone for so long. Jia asks Sun-hye what she thinks will happen when Min-kyu finds out that she’s not a robot. Sun-hye doesn’t think she should worry about that since she’ll never see him again. When Jia looks stunned, Sun-hye asks why she’s upset — is it because of Baek-gyun or…

Jia decides that she has to go back for her suitcase because it contains her heart lamp but Sun-hye reminds her that Baek-gyun promised to return it. Jia wants to make sure that Mi-kyu read the petition and promises not to be long but stops to answer her phone.

Jia learns that a new team leader decided to move ahead with the competition and that she’ll be contacted soon with details. As Jia and Sun-hye cheer her good fortune, her excitement disappears when she’s reminded that she never has to go back to her part-time job again.

At the mansion, Min-kyu calls Baek-gyun when Aji-3 doesn’t show up. They meet outside where Baek-gyun explains that now that test phase is over, he plans to find a new investor and leave the estate.

Min-kyu insists that Aji-3 belongs to KM Financial but Baek-gyun plans to return their money when he gets new funding. Min-kyu rejects the proposal and is scandalized when Baek-gyun threatens to reveal that he’s a pervert who treated a robot sexually — all because of that kiss on the forehead. Min-kyu tries to explain but Baek-gyun shuts him down and announces that they’re no longer business partners.

After a meeting with a potential investor, Baek-gyun learns that it will be harder than he thought to find someone else because his tainted reputation in the U.S. followed him to Korea.

Dressed as Aji-3, Jia walks up to Min-kyu’s gate and calls Pi for her suitcase. She promises that Ssan-ip will bring it and warns Jia, “You can’t ever go into the house.”

Jia hangs up and wonders why she can’t go inside just when Butler Sung pulls up in his cart.

Once Jia is back in Min-kyu’s house, she isn’t sure what to do and hides when she hears his voice. She peers out from behind a chair and is startled to see Min-kyu staring right at her. Thrilled, Min-kyu pulls her into a hug and praises, “You escaped because you missed me, didn’t you? Good job. You did a really good job.”

Min-kyu is happy that his training paid off but first he wants to scold Aji-3 because she has no heart. He plans to fix that by having her learn more about him every day so that he can plant roots in her hard drive. Jia warns that will use up the battery unless she goes into power-saving mode, but that means that she can’t do any work. Haha, smart girl!

Min-kyu sits her down to conserve her battery and asks for her to go into friend mode. He cutely explains that someone asked him to describe their relationship and asks how she thinks he answered. He knocks her on the forehead and testily confesses, “I said you’re an ungrateful robot who abandoned me and left with another guy!” But Min-kyu also admits that she’s the first friend that he’s made in fifteen years.

Min-kyu adds that he’s about to spend lots of money to keep her with him even though Baek-gyun wants to keep them apart. Min-kyu plans to target the research team and scoffs when Jia asks if he plans to beg for their help. He assures the fauxbot that he’ll protect her his own way.

Jin-bae sets bonus envelopes in front of Ssan-ip and Hok-tal while Min-kyu assures them that they don’t have to be thankful. Hok-tal isn’t thankful at all because he has no intention of accepting the envelopes, until Ssan-ip shows him what’s inside.

When Pi shows up, Jin-bae doubles the offer and when she refuses that, Min-kyu offers everything that he had Jin-bae prepare. Pi ignores the cascade of envelopes that fall onto the table and warns Min-kyu to return the robot that he stole and then drags Ssan-ip and Hok-tal away.

Butler Sung makes his own pitch to the team. Gone are the burdensome restrictions and he explains that they can now use the swimming pool, but Pi refuses to be swayed.

At the mansion, Min-kyu checks the time and frets that the team will come for Aji-3 soon. He asks her how he should convince them and is told, “Those who die with a full stomach look better.” Min-kyu catches on and asks if he should order food from a hotel or a catering service.

When Min-kyu suggests hiring a famous chef, Jia lets out an exasperated groan and points out that money hasn’t worked on the team. She suggests that he should personally prepare a meal but Min-kyu refuses to cook for those jerks until she sweetly asks, “Do you want to lose your precious treasure?”

Min-kyu takes out the dishes that his mother used when she cooked for guests and warns that the team had better feel honored. Things don’t go so well in the kitchen because Min-kyu has never prepared so much food before. When she offers to help, Min-kyu worries about her battery and orders Aji-3 to sit down. Min-kyu cuts his finger and a concerned Jia asks, “Why are you cooking as if it’s combat?” Min-ku tensely explains, “Because this meal is the only way to protect you.”

 
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Cooking to protect his treasure

 
COMMENTS

I can’t imagine how Jia and Min-kyu can get any sweeter, but those two managed to surpass all previous levels this week. They just light up whenever they’re together and it’s impossible not to see that they’re falling in love, even though one of them is supposed to be a robot. I don’t see how the charade can carry on much longer and now that Min-kyu’s allergy is showing signs of improvement, it may soon be time for Jia to step out of Aji-3’s shadow (and that pink dress).

Min-kyu’s meeting with Ri-el proved just how frozen he is in time and how ill suited they are for each other. He’s romanticized everything about Ri-el to the point that he doesn’t even see who she really is. She’s looking for a power marriage while Min-kyu needs a companion who genuinely cares about him. Jia can see how poorly Ri-el treats the fragile Min-kyu but he’s totally oblivious. How sad was it when Ri-el made fun of the mug that Min-kyu cherished for fifteen years? She didn’t even remember it and Min-kyu hasn’t forgotten a detail about her! When Ri-el left after he turned down her proposal, Min-kyu hit rock bottom and I thought he was ready to die when he didn’t use that syringe. Thank goodness Jia came to his rescue when the heavens opened with that torrential downpour. I think that’s when he was cured because for the first time, Min-kyu wasn’t alone.

As encouraging as it was to see Min-kyu and Jia grow closer, it was maddening to watch Baek-gyun and his team turn on Min-kyu. I don’t understand why the team is so surprised that the allergic-to-humans Min-kyu would develop feelings of friendship for Jia as Aji-3. They’re the ones who recruited her to keep their project afloat and the fact that she’s spent so much time with him is their fault. Add to that the fact that Jia is Aji-3’s model, isn’t it obvious that Baek-gyun must have feelings of his own for his robot because he certainly isn’t over his ex-girlfriend? The outrage over Min-kyu’s innocent kiss after he just discovered that he might have found the cure for his allergy was disappointing and I really hope that this doesn’t drag out. I’d like to see the Santa Maria team work with Min-kyu, not against him. That may just happen once the fight over Daeyang Shipbuilding and KM Financial intensifies.

Eventually, Min-kyu will need to confront his enemies within KM Financial because they pose a very real danger to Aji-3 and by extension, to Jia. If he wants to protect his most precious treasure, I think that Min-kyu is going to have to face the trauma from his past to fight for his company and I’m hoping that Madame X will join him in that fight. I can’t wait to have that mystery solved but for now, I’m just happy to see the story allow Min-kyu out into the world. Just in time, because with Ri-el and Yoo-chul at KM and Ri-el’s father desperate to marry her to money, it’s only a matter of time before Min-kyu is challenged.

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