Erika Song

Jungkook and many kpop-idols are tuning to this this drama like us, well, all of them have got good taste! ♡

lmao, there's no controversy to begin with just battle of minds and different insights. lol xD it's a very good drama so let's support it!^^

I also want to watch that hug scene but I'm guessing that he hugs her not only just because of concern but because he's really in need of a hug as well? Lol. I just want him to be hugged on that earlier moment in episode 10, because boy was so down because he was being humiliated at his work environment.

Hmm, yes I do get the translation, but I just don't think it's a straight-cut romantic confession...he surely loves her and I don't believe it is platonic, but I still won't interpret is as clear-cut romantic feelings tho hehe, I do think they still have a long way to go and more development for their feelings to truly turned into romantic feelings...But, I guess this is very much open to interpretation, it's just this is the way I see it so it's all good. But I'm also glad because he just loves her and do not expect nothing in return. It's just he just loves her own his own will. I think that already is amazing and very telling on the healthy relationship they have now and will be having in the future!

Just wanted to drop by again, but I don't think Yijin fully loves Heedo romantically as of this moment...not just yet...there...for me...but he knows it's love and it is not platonic either. Just love in its purest form with affection and respect to the person who Hee Do is! But everything will slowly get there...soon. Let's enjoy more of their precious bonding and intimate moments from now on!

That only proves what a great actress Kim Tae Ri is!

Hi, I do respect your thought, but just wanted to share mine as well. I do not have problem with the confession scene and I don't think it is out of Yijin's character. In first four episodes, I've always think of Yijin who 's someone that is really sincere with his words and has been straightforward ever since. Also, Heedo has been earnestly wanting to hear his answer on what he thinks of their relationship, so he answered her with his sincerity just like what he always do. For me, since Yijin has been really matured compared to Heedo, he has already figured what it was and realized earlier that it was love. I do not think of his love as mere platonic, because for me it clearly isn't, but I won't call it romantic because for me it has been always more special than that. It is just love in its purest form. I don't think his confession is inappropriate given that context of kind of love, also, other than the word "confession", I believe the right term was "acknowledgement". What happened at the bridge scene was just acknowledgement of what their relationship is.

As for the part that Heedo should fully figure out what their relationship is before Yijin said those words, for me, Yijin has already given her enough time for that. He's just happy when she called their relationship as rainbow, but it was Heedo who was earnestly waiting for his answer.

I very much liked that the writer didn't portray Heedo's feelings/crush for Yijin as something just to make fun of because she's still a teen and what's more amusing is she even showed Yijin's perspective on what really it is.

The continuation of the scene happened in episode 10 and from there, I do think it already solidified as just acknowledgement of what it is and not just a confession of love that can be misinterpreted as confession of a romantic love (which it isn't really). It's also very healthy, if you ask me because Yijin just wanted Heedo to hear that and is just happy if what he said made her happy, in which Heedo replied as it really made her happy. Before that confession, Heedo only knows one person who loves her and that is her dad who has already passed away, but now, she also has Baek Yi Jin who loves, cares and roots for her. I think that is already very telling of a healthy relationship they currently have and what it will look like in the future as they become both prepared to develop it into even something more.

Lastly, commonly in real events that confession could've turned into "I will wait for you" or the older guy pressuring the younger girl into a romantic relationship, but Yijin has been nothing but respectful and literally ask nothing from her, so I think it was a pure and beautiful scene. But again these are just my interpretations^^ Just happy to share this.

I also agree that there will be nothing "real" romantic moment will be shown unless Heedo turned 20 (or 19), which is South Korea's legal age. But since they may fall apart during 24 and 20 timeline, romance will happen by 25 and 21.

Maybe, I have a different perception on the word "platonic", but whatever that love confession was—I think it was beautiful and just very simple. He just loves her for who she is and what she does, it's not romantic but something I would still not interpret as platonic, just something vague and in between and something that the receiver will surely love to hear.

For the age gap, to be honest, since Heedo is already 19 and in my country, 18 is already a legal age, I do not really mind this a lot as long as boundaries are respected. And using the current context of their relationship, I think what's more important is they can meet each other emotionally, which I do believe they are able to do so through comforting each other the best way possible and by inspiring each other. Also, I do not believe their relationship at this point will reach being lovers and start dating, since it was already implied by the writer and because Yijin probably have a sense that Heedo is still not ready for it and he's still older than her. My issue with this "age gap issue brought by other viewers" as I've seen on other sites as well, is how they were iffy with Yijin's confession and there were actually some who were saying it was weird or deeming that as inappropriate when their relationship has been beautiful all along and respectful for what it really is—friendship, rainbow, love or whatever you call it. I do think those kind of comments irked others as it kinda ruins the mood of a seemingly good flow.

Just for clarifications, even though I do not mind their age gap and how their relationship is growing during this timeline, because for me, it really needs to happen to build up the 2521 timeline, however, I'm also not in full favor of physical intimacy at the moment other than what they've currently portrayed (but I think a hug is fine since it provides comfort and in my opinion, it should've not be deemed as malicious really), because I think Heedo is not yet prepared for that especially a kiss and as you guys said though the age gap is not really that huge for me, she's still at her last year in high school. However, I do believe this should have not been really a big concern in the first place because this is so impossible to happen given the writer's foreshadowing and Yijin's personality. He knows better, I just trust him lol, so he'll never really cross that line, unless the right time has come and Heedo is ready and lastly, if their feelings are not as vague as today and have really solidified as romantic.

I also agree that Yijin will have another romantic confession, because this confession as the way I see it is just acknowledgement of their beautiful relationship and what they currently have.

Lastly, I respect your thoughts regarding this matter and I will not view you as a hater or any other viewer who really loves the show, but I just hope that they will not only look at what's been developing at 23 and 19 timeline as just something inappropriate when their relationship is developing in a healthy manner.

This is really good to know! ♡

I think it is to acknowledge their feelings and perception of their special relationship in a healthy way. Also, taking that age gap issue, I am really happy that the writer didn't make Heedo's confession while still funny as just something not valid because she's still at 19 (or 18). I think that would be so unfair to Heedo and would definitely wound her heart and self perception even more.

Tbh, I think the way Yijin confessed to Heedo was so beautiful and while sincere, it is doesn't add pressure to Heedo and to the viewers as well. In fact, he's just happy that Hee do knows she's being loved by him. He'll continue caring, rooting and loving Heedo and it won't cross that boundary until she's ready and the timing's right.

Also, if they will be wounded in the 24 and 20 timeline, it will be probably more hurtful and would make their feelings deeper to form a romantic love at the 25 and 21 timeline.

I believe the age gap was presented in the story in the earlier part to present some boundaries in the relationship of Yijin and Heedo as we are seeing now and to make it even more special, as we can see that what they have now is deeper and more special than common romantic love shown in other media (just for me, because more than physical relations, I prefer and I love what yijin and heedo have now). Also, it was like an agent to push the timeline of 2521.

I think the issue that @Ivy and some others are pointing out including myself is the repeated mentioning of age gap by other viewers that makes it rather a big of an issue, hence putting aside how Yijin's behavior towards Heedo is just simply love and has been pure respectful. The more that it is also being talk about and being framed as just "platonic" by some viewers when it clearly wasn't just it, feels also disservice to their beautiful relationship, even Heedo knows that it isn't just a friendly relationship, hence she called it as rainbow. But here's Yijin who's definitely more mature than Heedo and already knew that it's love but will not pressure her into it and is just happy that she knows she's being loved by him.

Moreover, as the age gap issue is being put in a bad light, I also felt like some other viewers want to hinder Yijin and Heedo's relationship growth. I personally think the scene in episode 10 is a pure moment and the scene that unfolded before that was beautifully shot. And tbh, the repeated mentioning of it as a big issue just spoils beautiful intimate moments shared by the two that is of course also written by the writer who wrote the age gap differences.

Yes, I agree. With Yurim, he is obviously just like a brother, but with Heedo, there's care, affection, adoration, respect, amusement and the strong sense to protect her. Even I couldn't just put a single word on his relationship with Heedo, so let's really all just settle with the word "love". ^_^

I think it's unfair to generalized that koreans are bashing 2521 due to the aga gap issue. 2521 is popular and we have western and eastern viewers so some of the age-gap issues may came from other countries. As far as I know, koreans are not that worried about the age-gap issue (just correct me if i'm wrong).

I don't even think it was flirty whispers in the side of Yijin just "their special moment", maybe it is the viewers who are getting malicious thoughts over something that can be interpreted as an intimate yet still pure moment between the two. Again, intimacy can be achieved by many things like how they enjoyed that moment together in the beach while appreciating the sea sounds, whispering to each other and just talking about simple things.

I swear nothing inappropriate behavior is happening, just two youths (yes, Yijin who is forced to fend for himself alone while navigating the adult world alone) with a very special bond, sharing comfort, admiring each other in the best way possible and pursuing happiness together. Even their affectionate stares are just soo sweet and pure in my opinion. I particularly love the scene in episode 10 where Hee Do was standing and starting at Yijin while he was listening on the sea sounds. That moment is pure and just beautiful!

There's an updated description on tvN's website so they will be wounded at the age of 20 and 24.

I swear I did not think any of their actions was an intentional flirting, it's time that people view intimacy as something that can also be achieved through deep conversations, affectionate stares and just being there for each other when they were at their lowest. Them admiring each other and showing signs of affection are not wrong in my own opinion unless one pursue inappropriate behaviors without the consent of another and through the use of deception...

It's obvious that what they have is not "merely" platonic but doesn't fit into the common manifestation of romance either. It's also obvious that both have special feelings for one another. The slow-mos are their own perspectives every time they are feeling a different affection to one another and I don't think its bad to feel that way especially because they do not take inappropriate actions to it.

While I'm a fan of Yijin and Heedo's interactions and I'm one of those people who strong believe that what they have is not strictly platonic but not full-blown romance either, I do not see that there was a single moment where they became flirtatious. Maybe, I'm being so generous, but I view everything they do while still intimate, is still pure and innocent.

Onto the other controversial scenes:
- The ice cream scene was part of Yijin's prank to Hee Do, he's smiling because once Hee Do saw that part he assumed that they were gonna have that carefree happy moment.
- The slow-mo, stares and their intense gazes to each other when Hee Do was asking Yijin of what he thinks of their relationship while rather intense is a pivotal scene so they can confront and acknowledged their emotions to each other. It was bound to happen regardless of their ages.

With that, for me, what matters is the next steps they will take once they became both romantically in love (which as of the moment is only lingering on that concept but not fully developed into that) as Heedo is still considered as minor in their korea despite her age being 19 and 18 (internationally). Will Yijin intimidate Heedo into the relationship and go beyond the boundaries and invade her personal spaces and trick her into getting her innocence while he knows that it's inappropriate given Heedo's age and current maturity level? (Though I believe, given the era and Korea's conservative culture at that time and even though Yijin had girlfriends in highschool which is surely short-lived, I don't believe he has even experienced on that. *Also, eastern countries are not that sexually-liberated as western countries, so if that's what you guys are worried about, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN based on Yijin's personality.)

Anyway, if that really happens though it's very impossible, I do believe that's the moment where we should be worried. Yijin after confessing his love for Hee Do was just glad that she knows he loves her, I think that's already a green flag and people should really stop worrying about that age gap or Heedo still being in highschool when in fact, she's a senior and is about to graduate soon! YES HEEDO DOESN'T KNOW MANY THINGS YET LIKE THE LETTUCE SCENE, but I do think people keep forgetting here that Heedo wasn't raised in an environment where she works in their house, all she knows is fencing. She's an athlete, she already has a career on that and also, she's mature as a fencing player.

What kind of love Yijin and Heedo have for one another, it just can't be defined, it's just love. No pressure. No grand gestures needed. No need to date. Just pure comfort, respect and admiration for each other's vigor and strength. They will continue what kind of relationship they have now. It's rainbow. It's love. And I believe this is what they will do until the right time comes for the both of them.

I just summarized what is the new theory is all about hehe. You can further read the theory from the link I posted above.

Yi jin is adopted and his real surname is Kim. It also matches with the conversation he had with his father.

His father did say, "You were my greatest consolation ten years ago..."