Erika Song

@Ivy You know what, this is my making my head hurt as well T-T I hope the writing is able to discuss all the floating issues around in episode 13. I, for one, didn't particularly like the adults should date adults statement of yijin and how he kept calling them kids in episode 10 tho because it's setting a different tone and could've been the reasons why others feel icky about it. I really really love them as you guys probably know hahahah so I hope this issue will be handled given the fact that it's the writer who setup those things as well >.<

“As you said, YJ and Heedo share a special bond - and I think its value is bigger than whether or not it's romantic, because they have helped each other through things each of them needed support during, for no reason other than that they wanted to. It's a beautiful human connection (among many other ones in the show) that is nice to see being portrayed with tenderness like this show does. That's why I am afraid of the writers potentially "ruining" it so close to the finish line.”

I agree with everything you said here as their relationship growth is evidently steering in a different wheel, I am hoping for a sensible writing here as well. I really do love these two to be together because it was very clear that they are soulmates from the moment they shared at episode 2 and what a lovely thing if they ended up marrying each other and having their own loving family.

I will also appreciate it a lot if the drama will show Yijin’s clear POV on his relationship with and if he has a different stand now from his statement before and I do hope it will be in next episode. The confession of his love for her scene was beautifully done, and I hope the writing choices after the first kiss will also deliver. Angsts will come in the next episodes and I’m sensing that it will touch on this issue as well; it may also serve as a great dilemma for Yijin to rethink if his actions and if he will put a clearer line over their relationship. Since Yijin’s character is written as a dependable one, I have a clear inclination that he will put mini break on their relationship as it seems to me from his conversation with dalkong that he strongly feels that Heedo’s time is more precious than his and by “time” I think it’s her youth and dreams are the things that he’s referring. But then again, he's always been straightforward on sharing his feelings so I cannot be sure.

In another point that you mention that it’s Heedo should be the one to decide whether dalkong should comeback in her life, I understand and I do agree with you on that the girl/woman who needs to make choices for herself and not the man—regardless of age differences. But I still appreciate Yijin’s pure intentions behind his words on that conversation.

Thank you so much for replying to my long comment and this had been an insightful thread I also enjoyed!

I always noticed this comment and I think the reasons why he doesn't hang out much with his peers are these:

- The drama itself doesn't have enough time for that. Lol hahaha <-- BIGGEST REASON JUST KIDDING
- Yijin didn't graduate college, his peers might probably thinking that he's no good; talk about workplace discrimination
- Yijin did hangout with some of his friends on first episode but was treated differently and badly because of his new status; He also caused a riff with his friends there so I doubt he will hang out with them anymore.
- Yijin is a reporter and his peers who are reporter too probably don't have enough time to hangout after their assignments are over; they are all busy! co-workers only can interact if they have drinks after their work
- He's in the same neighborhood with Heedo so he can meet her coincidentally
- As sports reporter he has chances to get closer to heedo because she's his subject.
- Hanging out with the squads such as seungwan cannot be avoided because she's the landlord's daughter
- The beach scene already made them close to the squad are already fond of him and they were the ones who are seeking him out now like how Jiwoong seeked him when his sad because yurim can't attend the concert and jiwoong delivered the photo to yijin
- Lastly, Yijin actually has an older colleague who he calls his sunbaenim but they are already in different departments T-T

So yeah, here are the logical reasons I can come up why he hangs out with highschoolers just in case there are those who are feeling uncomfortable regarding this.

same :(

that's the only thing I didn't like about this drama to be honest, I think they wanted to pull some crazy twist and it was indeed crazy I really couldn't get that off my mind for weeks T-T But neglecting that everything else was so gooood about this one

I love the shampoo song a lot!

Hi, you opened an insightful conversation here regarding Heedo and Yijin's relationship and I hope they will be tackled on the next episodes too. I have always appreciated the way their relationship was written but I do appreciate your insight regarding this. This is a very good discussion of relationship dynamics, social norms and ethics as well.

Actually, I earlier said in this site that I felt mixed emotions with the kiss scene because Heedo is still younger than Yijin and Yijin has more experienced with Heedo as you said when it comes to relationships and it concerned me on what kind of reaction Yijin will react upon or whether he'll kiss her back because given the mood of the kiss it might turn differently because he's a man and definitely older than Heedo, that's why I felt a little worried and concern that they showed kissing that early. I was actually hoping that at 25 & 21 timeline when they're probably away for each other for a year. However, as I get to rewatch the scene, I come to understand some of the artistic choices that director and the writer wanted to convey at the scene by making Heedo kiss him and by making Yijin stay still as she did. From my own perspective, we can also view art such as a drama not just on its literal sense but also poetically—for me, poetically, the scene was delicate and raw. If you also noticed their shadows when they didn't kiss yet, Heedo has a warm shadow and Yijin has a cold shadow (blue) and after Heedo's kiss their shadows exchanged. In a color theory created form a Tiktok account, color blue is Yijin's color and symbolizes maturity, meanwhile, warm color or red which Heedo always wear is a symbol of youth and passion. I think by making Heedo color blue after they kiss is a symbol of maturity and her finally realizing the depth of her feelings with Yijin. It's also good to learn other factors that led to the kiss scene was because there were theories that 2000 could be the end of the world and it was probably a courageous moment for Heedo to kiss her best friend and soulmate (aka Yijin).

I also appreciated that Yijin didn't kiss her back as it didn't only make the scene more delicate but on taking that scene literally, he pulled some matured choices there instead of taking advantage the situation, which I believe is very hard from his side knowing his strong feelings for her. It's Heedo's first kiss and their first kiss. Also, Heedo just turned 20 (internationally Heedo can still be at 18), I really appreciated that the writing let him stay still as Heedo navigate on her recognized feelings for Yijin.

For the scene with Heedo’s ex-boyfriend, while you got a point that Yijin did stray away that potential romantic interest of Heedo, for some it “might” felt grooming but from what I understood from the context of their conversation that “dalkong/sweetie-pie” said that Yijin is only toying with Heedo and there is another line in which that dalkong said that’s he’s not over with her yet. The “he’s not over with her yet” I believe can interpreted into two ways: (1) He’s enraged that he’s dumped and want to play with her for a while and probably take advantage of her before breaking up with her; or (2) He still sincerely likes her. I doubt that it is number (2) and there’s a chance that Yijin probably interpreted that as the number (1). It didn’t help that dalkong enraged Yijin by telling him that he’s only toying with Heedo (or taking advantage as an older guy). If you rewatched that conversation scene, it is only after the “toying statement” from dalkong that Yijin reacted differently and while it may “feel” like grooming to others that he’s shooing potential romantic interests of Heedo taking into account she’s still a minor who’s about to become legal, I don’t think he did that to show his jealousy, but it’s probably his sense of responsibility and protectiveness towards Heedo—his friend, confidant, and the girl he cherishes a lot.

Hadn’t the word toying and dalkong’s choice of words had been different, I might think differently of Yijin too, but it was only at those words where he only became enraged. Dalkong suggested that he's toying with Heedo but Yijin emphasized that Heedo cannot be toyed by anyone and that includes him. This is also an important scene for me because it showed that Yijin is aware that Heedo is a minor without any good experiences with romantic relationships and for that, he will not cross the line, until both have acknowledged the depths of their feelings and matured enough to commit into that. I don’t think it is Yijin who will make a move over Heedo or decide whether Heedo is already matured, but it will probably be Heedo who will affirm him as they both grow together. Actually, I’m curious on how the writer will transition their relationship into romantic one, because at episode 12 it’s already hinted that it’s already highly progressing into that because both have evident feelings for one another, and I guess this 24 & 20 timeline will be used for that.

Lastly, I don’t want to turn away with this insightful conversation, however, the reason probably why others may feel comfortable also at this is because it is common and there were other age gaps that are worse than this. I even know one at 17 and 27 and I don’t think it is right, but I won’t consider it grooming from what you said of its definition, because there’s not even probably waiting for the girl to be at a legal as they suddenly become a couple while the girl is still 17 close to being 18, so probably, compared to Yijin people are more forgiving because there are really worse case of age gaps right here. However, I consider your points that Yijin is still more experienced in romantic relationships, and you are not only referring to him but other relationships as well, so I understand and respect your insight on that matter. So aside that people find common of that age gap, Yijin and Heedo’s relationship while he knew she was still in senior highschool, they still met as two youth who become each other’s confidant and both have met the needs of each other at an emotional level so for most, what they have is a healthy relationship rooted from their special bond. Still, as the writing is starting to conclude their relationship and transitioning it into a romantic one, like you I am hoping for a sensible writing that would fit perfectly with Yijin’s principles and would not disservice the special bond that she created for Yijin and Heedo.

This is just my guess, but they acknowledged their feelings at 23 & 19. At 23 in Korean age, Yijin throughout the days when they separated, he slowly learned that he developed deep feelings for Heedo, also, remember the first scene in episode 6 with his mom saying that he should find a love that lets each other grow, so I'm guessing that it is. At 19, Heedo got a crush on Yijin but she hasn't learned the depth of her feelings yet and just 3 seconds before she turned 20 (korean age), she owned up to her feelings therefore leading her to kiss Yijin as she meet another year of growth; with the end world theory being one of the factors why she got the courage to confessed it to him through a kiss. But, major reasons probably are (1) maturity that led her to kiss Yijin and (2) her own realizations of her feelings.

In the updated tvN description, by 24 & 20 they will be both wounded so I'm guessing that they couldn't just pursue romantic relationship when they already had the time to do so. Also, as much as I love them, it will be good if Baek Yijin won't pursue it right away at the early stage of Heedo's life or atleast while she's not graduate highschool. Yijin is a responsible man so he might "also" think that romantic relationship can be a hindrance to Heedo's dreams and studies at the moment, so I'm guessing he will weight things first and while he's at that, a rift will already caused them to be hurt before they finally commit to a romantic relationship therefore leading them to meet again and fully fall in love at 25 & 21. But anyway, these are my interpretations, the writing has always been unpredictable so something big will probably will happen at episode 13 or 14.

This is absolutely not only the kiss will get from there, there's no way that this is the only one.^^

I love what they have so much! They are so MVPs for episode 12!

My favorite parts for episode 12
- Yeji's arc on quitting fencing
- Seungwan's bravery and her upright principles-
- Seungwan's scene with Jiwoong and Jiwoong confronting Seungwan that her only fault what she has a friend like him
- Seungwan and her mother
- Yeji and Seungwan's new start and climbing the school gate T-T
- Heedo and Yurim getting a cake and silly arguing about the candles (But, Heedo was right tho, 1 candle is just right!! LOL)
- Yijin's intense conversation with Heedo's ex-boyfriend ---> which I believed addressed the concerns regarding Heedo's age and being a minor in law and their blossoming romance; this scene proved how Yijin has nothing but pure intensions for Heedo (I rewatched this many times just to further understand every single thing he said xD)

For the kiss scene, I still got mixed emotions to it but I love how delicate, raw and beautifully shot it was, even the acting was so delicate. I hope to see more of Yijin's emotions in the next episode but I think it was beautiful too that he only stayed still that's why we've got that delicate scene.

I agree with you and the writing and directing choices towards the kiss is more delicate, raw and beautiful.

I agree with the scene of Yijin with Heedo's ex-sweetie pie! That was so intense and you can see his purest intentions for Heedo. I love that.

MVP mother-daughter relationship; healthy example of parental guidance T-T

I love that scene as well!

She's a very principled person and I want her to lead a fulfilling life!

I love her so much, she's definitely a best girl!

I don't think he will kiss her back because, while I do know that he loves her, I think he wants to protect her more at this time and he probably doesn't want to lead her astray especially not now (from what I understand with his conversation with Heedo's ex-boyfriend who Yijin believes has ill-intentions to Heedo). But, this drama has always been unpredictable so we'll definitely see what changes will occur at their relationship only at the next episode!

I wrote some commentary for everything I felt and thought about episode 12 here: https://underdevelopedbutterfly.tumblr.com/post/679266090584522752/my-thoughts-and-everything-else-i-felt-for

Today's episode is where my emotions took different rides and the acting at the last scene, that was delicate and beautiful. But, what stood out to me, most especially is the story arcs of Yeji and Seungwan, they are my both MVPs! I love you, girls!

I do think he already realized his feelings for Heedo and it was confirmed when he was confronted by Heedo's ex boyfriend? Though, I am with you I don't think he will kiss her back yet.