The plot thickens in our penultimate week with the revelation of some secrets we didn’t even know existed. And for some of our characters, it’s time for them to step out of their comfort zone and follow the leading of their hearts.
EPISODES 13-14 WEECAP
*Inhales deeply and exhales slowly.* Ji-ho really went to save this Mi-ho woman and fractured his arm on the pavement in the process! But at least he didn’t actually get hit by the truck, so there will be no rioting. Instead, we get lots of cute moments between Sang-eun and Ji-ho in the hospital after she scolds him for not taking permission from her before getting hurt.
Ji-ho’s colleagues also come to visit, and his boss is the most upset of them all. “How dare they hurt one of mine?” he seethes. Do you hear that, you miserable Truck of Doom? Lol. It’s really sweet how he tells Ji-ho not to mind the gossip going on about him at work because they believe in him and the sincerity he shows towards his wife. But his boss won’t be the boss if he doesn’t threaten to kill Ji-ho if he ever gets hurt again. Heh.
Ji-ho himself doesn’t plan on relieving the experience. Not with Sang-eun wanting to nurse him back to health with her cooking. He is obviously horrified by the thought of cleaning up after her, and Gwang-nam can relate. So Gwang-nam comes up with a win-win solution: he temporarily moves into Ji-ho’s apartment — which is good for him because he gets a break from stuffy Mi-ho. And by giving up his room for Ji-ho, Sang-eun gets to spend time with her boyfriend on her turf.
By the way, I think this is one of the very few dramas I’ve seen where a house has spare rooms. Usually, this trope forces couples to share a room from the get go, and it leaves me to wonder if most K-drama characters live in single bedroom apartments. But then again, it wouldn’t be a drama if Sang-eun doesn’t find a way to sneak out of her room and end up using Ji-ho’s one good arm as a pillow. Heh.
For someone who spent many years as a loner, Ji-ho has really won with Sang-eun and the people at work who have his back. It’s just further proof that sometimes, found families are better than those with blood ties. Heck, every single blood relation in this drama sucks, from Ji-ho and his aunt’s family to Gwang-nam and his sisters. And while Sang-eun and the Eena group aren’t blood related, they are still a “family” and their relationship sucks too.
But the award for suckiest family goes to the Kangjin group, who as a whole are more worried about losing grasp of the Eena group than the fact that their youngest son is going through the heartbreak of his life. Hae-jin’s brother and dumb decisions are best of friends, but going behind everybody’s back in an attempt to arrange a marriage of his own with Sang-eun? Come on! I’m glad his father slapped the idea out of his head. Literally!
I genuinely felt bad for Hae-jin this week, because he doesn’t deserve the kind of family he has. And I liked that he sincerely apologized to Sang-eun for dragging her into his mess. Hae-jin has finally given up on a romance between himself and Sang-eun, and with Ji-ho returning the alimony to Ji-eun, she has also boarded the giving up train with regards to Ji-ho.
But saying goodbye to the one you love hurts, and in his most lonely moment, Hae-jin gets some much needed comfort from the unlikeliest of all sources: Jamie the cat! It was such a bittersweet moment to witness, and I don’t think anything else could have broken his defenses and led him to pour out those tears he’d been holding inside.
There’s nothing like a good crying session and the desire to protect a loved one to awaken a sleeping giant. Thus, Hae-jin formally announces that he’s retiring as a celebrity and taking up his role as a chaebol son. And it’s so satisfying to watch his brother flip out on hearing the news. Heh. Hae-jin is coming for the entire Kangjin group, and his brothers had better be shaking in their boots.
By the way, chaebol Hae-jin looks really good as he’s finally found clothes in his size! And as his wardrobe improves, so does his confidence. But I want this career switch decision to be more of what he wants for himself than a means to protect Sang-eun.
While digging into Eena group as part of his Operation Protect Sang-eun, Ji-ho discovers the most twisted of all plot twists: Mi-ho is Sang-eun’s birth mother! Now, that is something I did not see coming. Apparently, she abandoned Sang-eun at birth and returned to pick her at the orphanage for the Jamie Project. Pfft. What did I say earlier on about blood families in this drama?
To further complicate things, Mi-ho had a relationship with Eena group’s chairman before Sang-eun was born, and from all indications, Sang-eun might be his biological daughter. It cannot get any more makjang than this! And now it makes sense as to why Mi-ho is fighting for Sang-eun’s place in Eena group.
Ji-ho is conflicted about his discovery as Mi-ho doesn’t want to admit to being Sang-eun’s mother — to her, she’d rather be punished for her actions by never being acknowledged as a mother by Sang-eun. Give me a break ma’am! She is so ridiculous if she thinks this is punishment enough. And I’m sorry, but I really don’t buy this sudden surge of motherhood affection.
But like Ji-ho’s colleague said, it’s only victims of such cases that can determine if what they felt was abuse or love. And Sang-eun leans more towards the love side. As much as she (claims to) hates Mi-ho, the woman raised her, and Sang-eun doesn’t want to file charges or punish her. Okay, girl, I hear you.
Sang-eun is too busy learning to clean up after herself and thinking of a new career path to press charges anyway. Plus, thanks to Ji-ho’s push, Mi-ho finally apologizes to her, and Sang-eun accepts the apology. I have an uneasy feeling about the whole thing, and I know this plot line is far from being resolved. But with a week left in the show, how much more makjang can the story go?
For now, I choose to focus on happier things like Ji-ho admitting to Sang-eun that he wanted to cancel their contract after the first dinner together out of fear that he was rushing things. But then he wanted one more dinner, and then another, until five whole years passed. Cute. But what’s cuter is Ji-ho mustering all his last nerves for a, “Could you stay with me tonight?” And you bet she can! Especially after all that sex-ed and tips she’s learned from Gwang-nam. Heh. These besties are a bunch of clowns, and this part was one of the highlights of the week.
Speaking of which, destination Canada seems to be in the works again for Gwang-nam, who wants to pursue his dreams of being a singer. (By the way, he’s got a really nice voice.) I really want him to travel for real this time. And while I’m kinda sad because I’ll miss him, I’m pleased that he’s taking steps towards his happiness, and detaching himself from Sang-eun to be independent.
Sang-eun has a number of things going on for her right now. Meanwhile, for the longest time Gwang-nam has been stuck in a stagnant place. Thankfully, being Hae-jin’s bodyguard turned out to be one of the best things that happened to him as it gave him the push he needed to explore the possibility of a life outside of his comfort zone. Gwang-nam has stayed too long in everyone else’s shadow, and now that he’s set to spread his wings and fly, I’ll be rooting for him every step of the way.