Erika Song

You know what with that Min Chae crossover this episode, I'm already sold that they're her parents. It's weird to put her at that kind of scene, if Heedo and Yijin are not going to end up.

You are very right that we've seeing him in Heedo's eyes. The Min Chae crossover after the first kiss was also a reminder about that and it's actually one of the best parts. xD

"So rather than a relationship of equals, he had been putting her above himself because a part of him still feels like a failure and unworthy."

I think it's already obvious that he already garnered deep romantic feelings for her while they were growing and becoming closer together, but it's a nice new angle to his relationship with her prior to what they'll continue to harbor in the next episode.

"He wasn't confidently in love with her but protecting her as someone precious?"

It could be from his point of view. So, I am really incline towards the thought that he was scared of their relationship being a romantic one because it might took her away from him and everything that they have, but he didn't realize his actions were already of an in love person. Hence, the repeated phrases of keep a proper distance with the subject and that's where he realized, he kept wavering.

Oh noooo T-T

they were so cute tho in this episode!!

Just wanted to share how I love this episode because it didn't only put justice to the beautiful relationship they already have, but it simply portrayed the worries of going into a romantic relationship. What they already have was already beautiful on its own and Baek Yi Jin probably didn't immediately realize the depth of what they have (though it has always been love for him) and how close it is in becoming a romantic relationship which is very fragile in nature. So, turning that beautiful thing they have into something new, something that isn't as easy as it looks like to navigate—it scared him. Heedo fought for it while Yijin was scared. She stayed at his door until he was ready. And yes, this is the reason why they are going to marry each other at age 25 and 29, and at 26, Heedo will have Minchae. Yes, thank you very much Twenty-five Twenty-one!

I'm with you, he's gotta be her dad!!!

HAHAHHAHA but the build up is satisfying atleast for me, so go on and watch it now!

Beautiful, just beautiful episode!

“If I hadn’t kissed you…would this have not happened?”

The very best thing that I love from this episode is how it portrayed the change between Heedo and Yijin’s dynamic as Heedo already kissed him. Let’s try to view and appreciate Heedo and Yijin’s relationship in a much simpler manner.

Here, in this episode, what we have are just two youths who are best friends—who we all know were going to develop deep feelings for each other—having a very supportive and joyful bond as they’re both growing in life but were suddenly faced into a situation when one of them gambles everything they have and confessed to those romantic feelings. It’s a gamble for Heedo and a frightening change to Baek Yi Jin who has let himself wavered from time to time as he continued his very special relationship with Heedo. It is undeniable that they have feelings for each other, they have this very very special bond, and they are soulmates but a change in that dynamic and that change being a romantic relationship—is not simple. With a romantic relationship, as Yijin said he could disappoint her a lot—they could disappoint one another a lot. There’s jealousy, misunderstandings, differences—it has so many variables and rules that if somehow, they failed, they could lose what they currently have. Hence, there we had Yijin’s reaction and feelings.

“You know…I worry more about whether or not the bruise on your toe healed and things like that.”

He knew, he wavered. He cared for her a lot. He did things that only a person in love would do. And she accepted all of that, while, at first her very special person and a very good friend. But now that she’s sure of her feelings for him with the new year as a sign of her maturity in the face of love, she wanted a change for herself and probably to what they have. So, she gambled. She took the initiative to start a new chapter in their relationship. She kissed him. But he was surprised. He didn’t expect that this will happen. He was already contented with what they had…harboring that best and special relationship. But it already changed that moment she kissed him, and it wasn’t a mistake. She likes him. She even adores him even in his silly moment when he acted like a big kid who’s jealous. He’s scared. A romantic relationship scares him. Still, he can’t lose her. But the thing is, turning what they have into romantic can ruin the beautiful relationship they have. So, he pushes. She wants to admit defeat. She doesn’t want to lose him so whatever kind of love it is, it’s all good…for now.

“Be it a rainbow, this kind of love, or that kind of love…I can’t lose it.”
But then he mustered all his courage, and at the brink of his firm hiding place, he showed himself. And with his big strides, he walked to her and kissed her. They kissed in the snow. He’s going to try, while it’s going to be scary, and while it may disappoint them both. They will try. And we, as spectators to this beautiful change in their relationship, we can only wish that it will turn out good and that it will also be for the best.

A romantic relationship is a gamble, but it’s better to gamble than to lose everything without trying, right? Both knew that the kiss already changed everything they have and moving away from it might be the reason why they would lose one another and every beautiful thing they have just because one of them is scared. It’s alright, Heedo is also as capable as Yijin, and just like how she taught Yijin with the wisdom that came from her youth and all her experiences, perseverance, and losses in life, she’ll also guide and provide support to their new relationship.

As we’re to witness a new transition in their relationship in the next episode, I think it’s safe to put an end to all the misjudgments that some of us have thought or felt with the growing relationship of Heedo and Yijin and that it’s safe to assert that the four year-age gap has never been a problem to the both of them. Yijin met Heedo as a youth who’s thrown away into the abyss of adulthood; Heedo too, met him at the prime of her youth who’s struggling to keep her dreams. Despite her younger age, Heedo has given him more and he accepted all of that—he acknowledged all of it. He treated Heedo like his equal with full of respect and admiration. She inspired him, and in return, he never treated her as someone with lesser wisdom because she’s four years younger. She became his very best friend as he navigates his new life, and she uplifted his spirits when he was mentally weak even when he disappeared and walked away from everything because he got scared. He hid with her when he was being chased, he let her teach him new things and he has drawn inspiration to her to do well. He became a reporter because she showed herself to him. I think acknowledging all of these is a very good start to why everything that happened to their relationship has been nothing but beautiful. It’s just not her youth that he fell in love with her, but all the things that she’s able to give him rooted from all her very own experiences in life, while different from what he had, still inspired him to get by. Heedo has something that Yijin lacks and Heedo too—Yijin also has something that she lacks. They complement each other best and they continue to learn by being beside each other. I think it’s a healthy relationship that people can also learn when navigating their relationships as well.

YES YES YES YES THE ONLY MINCHAE EPISODE CROSS OVER I LOVE XD

OKAY SO WHAT WE HAVE THERE WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL EPISODE!

I wish I can also express my thoughts better in writing, but I've been always tangled with so many typos and grammatical errors. I've been looking forward to that post of the author and I'm so glad she wrote another one for that!

Lmao, the preview for episode 13 is gold! I didn't think that you can get away with a kiss just by putting something in your mouth like a bun 🤣🤣

For why Yijin didn't kiss Heedo back in episode 12, here's also a good analysis regarding Yijin's feelings and thoughts. Of course we are going to get more (and hopefully) of Yijin's insight with his growing relationship with Heedo, but here's also a good post by @/sexyglances. ^^
Link: https://sexyglances.tumblr.com/post/679490627145203712/the-kiss-and-why-it-didnt-go-any-further

Question: Were others as uncomfortable as me when Yijin in ep12 said, 'It doesn't matter that she (heed) doesn't know what she's doing; I know.' Maybe it's a mistranslation, but in the present version, it came across as paternalistic and very odd.

Answer:
"...firstly, i hear two implied endings to this line:

1. she doesn't have to know what she's doing, because i know what she’s doing towards me.
2. she doesn't have to know what she's doing, because i know what i’m doing towards her.
i believe that both of these endings exist at the same time; they are equally implied within the first part of the line, and are equally important for the negotiation of meaning behind it.

what comes across to me in both of these versions is a statement of trust and a vow of reliability.

in the first instance, i hear the meaning of even if hee do doesn’t understand the full meaning of her actions, i trust her to do things the right way. even if she doesn’t realize what her actions towards me imply, i see her feelings and accept them. even if it takes her a long time to translate her feelings and actions into words, i know her well enough to understand her without her needing to explain herself. i know what she’s doing about our relationship and i’m going to stay by her side until she sees it through. i know her well enough to see her heart.
in the second instance, what comes to focus is the difference between yi jin and the “cutie pie character” (never letting him outlive this) in the way they approach a potential romantic relationship with hee do. while the “cutie pie character” doesn’t know what he’s doing, as he’s just as likely to be serious about his relationship with hee do as he is to get tired of her after abusing her feelings, yi jin knows what he’s doing. while the ex-boyfriend is careless about how he treats hee do, yi jin is careful to never hurt her feelings, to never overstep or take advantage of her. while the ex-boyfriend doesn’t know hee do well enough to harbor any real feelings towards her as a person and not just a pretty face or a successful fencer, yi jin knows every facet of her personality and knows that there is real feeling behind his actions towards her, and her actions towards him. while the “cutie pie character” will approach the relationship without responsibility towards hee do’s needs and feelings and prioritize his own, yi jin naturally puts hee do’s needs first and doesn’t even dare to cross the line between friendship-coded behavior and romance-coded behavior, because he values her emotional well-being more than his own. so hee do doesn’t have to know what she’s doing in terms of their relationship, or whether she’s doing things the right way, because she can count on yi jin to know what he’s doing. she can make mistakes for both of them, because he is careful not to make any.

with yi jin, hee do can be vulnerable enough to do things by instinct instead of by logic, by feeling instead of by thought, because yi jin trusts her instincts and feelings, and because yi jin is committed to always putting her first.
as this line is the culmination of yi jin’s speech, all of these meanings are encoded in the statements he makes before this one and supported by his previous behavior and words towards hee do. if yi jin’s reaction towards the ex-boyfriend seems out of proportion to the conversation, that’s because yi jin’s feelings are much bigger than the ex-boyfriend’s. it’s because he cares intensely while the ex-boyfriend is willing to toy with him and hee do that yi jin gets really angry, because who is this person to question their intentions towards each other when his own do not come from a place of genuine love? who is this person to accuse yi jin or hee do of not knowing what they’re doing, when he clearly doesn’t know the consequences of his own actions?

if anyone is being “paternalistic” in this situation, it’s the ex-boyfriend, who keeps infantilizing hee do by calling her by a pet name, and tries to verbally “win” the right to date her, as if the matter should be solved between him and yi jin, without taking hee do’s opinion as a factor at all. yi jin is clearly uncomfortable with this conversation from the start, and systematically counters the ex’s usage of the pet name by placing emphasis on hee do’s name in his sentences (it’s not always translated but listen and you’ll hear it), thus continuously asserting her autonomy as a person and not the idea of a girlfriend. when the ex questions hee do’s judgement, yi jin implies that even if hee do is unable to put a name to her actions and feelings, he trusts her to know what she’s doing, and she can rely on him to know what he's doing.
interpretations are subjective, and your feelings are valid -- but i hope my analysis helps you understand the line in the way that i do."

Full blog post link: https://kestrel-of-herran.tumblr.com/post/679600778177118208/were-others-as-uncomfortable-as-me-when-yijin-in

Here's a very good interpretation of Yijin's confrontation with Heedo's ex-sweetiepie from a tumblr user @/kestrel-of-herran. I only got the excerpt from her answer, I hope this help others as well! I'll be putting it in a spoiler.

I'll probably not be able to immediately watch episode 14 and 15, but here's just me commenting an appreciation shoutouts to my beloveds! 💖💖 I love you so much Baekdo! I love you Taeyang squads! Uri Heedo and Yijin, I love love love you both so much! Seungwanie, Yurimie, and Jiwoongie, fighting!

Yes, I agree that we need something concrete and I hope that the setup the the writer "sort of" created will be properly addressed as well or at least have a good resolution before the romance between them finally bloom.

"I think they've been walking this fine line between showing their different places in life right now but also showing how they can still relate it one another?" I think so too, but episode 12 like I said is where their romantic affections became much clearer. In my own interpretation, from episode 2-11 there's still a fuzzy line over it, but I loved that because it was still special. While that special bond is still there at episode 12, it's obvious they are heading to romance direction, so I agree with the opinion of others here that at least we should get some Yijin's point of view before the romance finally happen and I think episode 13 will be good for that.

I also do not take much of an issue with the age gap because as I said earlier they still meet an emotional level and for me that's the most important. It's not everyday that you meet someone you connect the way they did. And, also you are right that he didn't do any advances, which I commend him for that. Yijin also treats Heedo like his equal evident from their past interactions so it isn't really a problem to me. But, probably the choices of the production to let Heedo always wear a uniform and Yijin a suit, could also affect visual interpretation of others. It isn't also much helpful that the writer added "Adult should date adults" principle on Yijin's side. I hope it will be addressed as the conversation with Heedo's ex in episode 12 feels like it could be elaborated better so others will not be confused anymore. A kiss already happened even if it's Heedo who initiated, so atleast I am expecting Yijin's POV too. I have already read some insights regarding that issue and why people can still uncomfortable at it, though I don't fully agree with all of their points, I will hope that the writing will not ruin their special bond.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!

I actually want to cry over this two! Lol. Hahahaha. I love angsts and I'm in the mood of crying so I hope they will give it to me. But, of course, I am rooting for their happy ending with Minchae so the writer better give us that. 😂