Sometimes1

Thanks, I agree with most of the criticism of SY (ML) for not being able to keep the lines clear after the break up in EP3 at his residence.

He's being manipulated by Sa-Yeon (2FL), ML has never been in love or acted like this before. SY plays the victim and he rushes to her side.
-Drunk calls, her friend call claiming something happened to SY
His Father disclosed his health problems, spurring her stealthy proposal.

Somber music, no rings, empty room, everyone left, no celebration.
You would expect that from a rejection, an election night loss, defeat.

You hear him tell himself repeatedly to "get a grip and what's wrong with "

He does curb his behaviour by not calling, texting on her cell phone. You see both ML & FL lead struggle with their emotions, blaming the Spells.

EP6
She acknowledges ML's "Love sick" affection, calling her everyday helped her feel less lonely, ended her being an outcast at work.

It's too early to tell but the 🖐 reappears


We're at EP10.
Beach scene photos they're a couple.

Writers won't resolve this for several more episodes.

There was a break EP3
ML clearly rejected 2FL when she showed up at his residence with toiletries, PJ for her overnight (marking territory 🐶)
She asks if he's upset because she's not listening to him and giving him time/space.

He wanted to lay low to show respect but meeting FL makes him lose his mind. He's not acting rationally.
"Get a grip SY, What's wrong with you SY?" is often heard acknowledging he's not himself.
(EP3-4 explained)

ML's Father initiated 2FL to stay by his side because of illness.

ML and FL have similarities: both don't have friends, social life.
He was consumed by his work until his health, scandal at his employer re Haum CEO.

EP5
At bar friend of ML answers phone of ML he saw it and wasn't picking it up Caller ID Na-yeon (2FL) "We're friends of Na-yeon something happened to her"
Surprise proposal party

ML sending "Cold and Hot messages" 100%

Shaman tells him to FL may be able to lift curse
He's looking for a miracle

Comedic effect: ML is a hot mess. How many liters of water did he drink to flush the love potion PP dance?

2FL/2ML are chasing after leads.

If you watched KTL -Gu Won (ML) = SY (ML) have similar qualities
Attractive, aloof, wealthy men meet FL and chaos erupts
fainting, afraid of bugs
ML can't help themselves become captivated by FL.

EP3
(Joseon flashbacks) Aengo was "dismembered" 🖐 😂
ML & FL both find that online.

EP4
ML continues to be a hot mess, states they've broken up and wanted along time to be respectful by laying low, acting 💔😔

We have 2FL stalking ML+FL and giving old gardener items to curse them.

In defense of ML he's not in right state of mind when he's with FL. He's acting out of character including talking to himself to get a grip. 😂

Beach scene EP 10
🖐

Backstory
ML is told he killed FL in a past life
and FL can lift his curse.

Rewatch EP2 58 min
EP4 beginning confession by ML
He's already gone, can't focus and keeps thinking about FL.

Rewatch the episodes, there's no evidence of an intimate relationship between ML & 2FL
We see the opposite. ML doesn't share his health issues, change of employment, excludes her from events, works +100hrs/wk.
She relentlessly chased him and see her calling him when she's drunk, shows up uninvited to his office.
It's appears to be a one sided obsession that she shags Haum CEO, stalks her BF, works with Gardener to curse ML+FL. (Kathy Bates = Misery)

Euwon- Shaman told ML, he killed FL in a past life and she's the owner of the Box. He seeks her help b/c he's desperate for Karma cure disease.

EP3 2FL is upset and want to get married. He asks for break (his disease) to figure things out. He asks if she can wait a little while. (Shagging Haum CEO isn't waiting for him)

Love Potion sabotaged
EP3 They are going on a trip to cast a Spell to cure his disease
FL trips ML and he notices his heart is racing
ML+FL start to develop feelings for each other by spending time together.
ML looking at FL is affecting him.
ML is struggling with his chest pains, emotions and begins to have dreams of Joseon, FL is triggering him 😂

2FL lives with Dad (Mayor)
ML moved out of family home 2FL doesn't have his passcode.

EP3
ML to 2FL "Let's stop this"
"What reason can I give for you to accept our the breakup?"

(Flashbacks) There's a clip of her being sent to an old lady in a rug. My theory she becomes a student and learns these Spells.

I hope you're enjoying the awkard comedic exchanges between them.

I don't see a problem if the writers meant chaste but I'm leaning towards no entanglements going forward in their relationship is the meaning behind SY asks.

KTL's affable ML Gu Won share similar qualities in their relationship skills.

(Two thirty year old virgins did trigger people works too. )

SY wasn't invested in his two year relationship with 2FL and we see him trying to end it reputedly.

His disease is worsening, becomes desperate hoping for a miracle.

SY meets FL and becomes a hot mess with his actions, dreams and thoughts.
Is she the miracle, a witch that can cast spells and save him?
FL admittedly isn't experienced either, lost her parents at an early age. She is a social, work outcast starving for affection.

She's not prepared for his interest in her, she's accustomed to having one sided crushes.
Both of them are lonely for different reasons: SY hid behind his career and his disease.

The "love potiion" incident allows him to transform and reach out to the FL although the timing wasn't ideal.

What's triggering posts about ML/FL being chaste?

Is it inconceivable in 2023 for 30 yr old's to remain virgins?

ML isn't comfortable with 2FL's touching, pushes her hands away, we don't see any shared intimacy.

FL admits to not having had a real BF on the beach too.

ML wanted time for a clean break end to his previous relationship but 2FL wouldn't cooperate.

He didn't choose to develop feelings for the FL either, they happened.

Love pretzels too but not when your argument isn't logical.

NY is choosing to be unfaithful instead of ending her unhappy relationship.

2ND FL "relentlessly chased ML"
No evidence the relationship exists as authentic, equal.
It exists in her mind, resembles one sided obsession on her part that makes him uncomfortable with her physical contact.

NY steals belongings from ML to give to another nutter who's performing curses?

Rewatch the series SY ML is breaking up with 2FL who repeatedly rebuffs him, last time running out of the parked car.

No one will argue ML/FL are flawless, that's a red herring.

(Read this slowly)
SY (Hot and Cold) towards FL because he didn't want to develop feelings for her and wanted to be respectful by "acting broken hearted over ending his relationship with 2FL.

He wanted time.

It's funny how you can't accept 2FL is 100% for not letting go, surprises him with engagement party, shows up uninvited at his office, can't take a hint.

ML never confessed "love" in two years but is in love with FL who he met recently (past lives, love potion aside)

Both 2FL/2ML are clueless to the desires of ML/FL

The only chemistry we see is between ML/FL.

Do you have an expertise in making pretzels?

NY 2FL is the stalker, chasing after SY ML who succumbs and became her BF?
There's no evidence of intimacy, reciprocity so SY is rightfully allowed to shag Haum CEO because she's lonely?

You communicate your unhappiness, can't resolve it, you terminate the relationship.

SY is a workaholic +100hrs p/wk. and we have no clips of ML+2FL being an authentic couple.

You should pity the ML who's trapped and has tried repeatedly to break, end it.

2ML rejects FL 2x
Breadcrumbs/misdirection: 2ML is on phone telling someone its over gifting the house deposit and changing his number. Coincidence his new residence is sharing a house with FL who doesn't feel butterflies from him.

Synopsis FL is lonely outcast starving for affection lowest grade Civil Servant.
ML is unhappy after meeting FL because his plan to be respectful "sad/heartbroken" is thwarted because he's thinking about Hong Jo all the time.

2FL/2ML are pursuing ML/FL still/now.

We don't see Aeng Cho's daily life but we see the struggling Hong Jo (lowest grade Civil Servant, being a lonely outcast) in the present day.

You may be reading too much into this "Pure and whole"
ML is channeling his Joseon era and present day chaste role.
Hypothesis: ML and FL are both virgins.

We haven't seen any intimate, romantic interest from the ML towards the 2FL to date.
We have seen him push away her hands repeatedly and ask for them to a break.
He works +100hrs p/wk. and didn't make time for her.
2FL is shagging Haum CEO and ML doesn't fill her loneliness.
ML's father pushed 2FL to stay beside him and triggered the proposal party
ML succumbed to 2FL after her stalking him relentlessly but there's no evidence he gave up his virginity.
After meeting FL he's conflicted and upset because he wanted to show respect and "act heartbroken" but his romantic feelings have become a problem.

FL admitted she's never had a "proper boyfriend" (relationship) and is jealous the ML hasn't broken up with his gf/fiancée.

2ML is pursuing FL. Hong Jo is not pursuing 2ML.

She uses the 2ML learn about relationships, breaking up to try to understand the situation from the ML perspective.

This makes perfect sense if you're inexperienced, only had one sided love interests.

Her spending time with 2ML is verifying no romantic interest, no butterflies.

Synopsis FL was a lonely outcast, lowest level civil servant (grade) who ate alone, excluded by her colleagues until the ML entered her life (again). He's shown up at the eventful moments. We don't see FL with supporting friends either. She's overjoyed when the Landlady returns for a visit.

She's conflicted b/c ML coming to her b/c "a Love Spell" caused her to be wary of the "fake" feelings.
It took several episodes to clear up genuine or fake feelings.
Hesitation, being vulnerable, being honest with your feelings to oneself or to another person is messy and not linear.

ML hasn't been drunk until meeting FL
Fortunately 2nd FL couldn't roofie him so he's pure still.
Two virgins (ML and FL)

Breadcrumbs and/or misdirection:
Flashbacks
A Shaman tries to seduce a prince/king and is dismembered.
An old lady (Shaman) being delivered a young girl (past Hong Jo) wrapped up in a rug. Did Hon jo became a witch, inherit those books?

ML & FL meeting each other from time to time ( same past life) He's nobility and she's poor.

Present: Bloody hand, gardener doing curses/ black magic with items belonging to ML delivered by 2FL.
Hon jo is the "owner of the books" according to the Shaman in the Senior Care facility
Hon jo is a witch casting spells, ML "accidently" drinks it. HJ is now casting spells to protect ML.

ML remembers her from past life, FL is acknowledging she cared for him for a "long time" but hasn't remembered/accepted past life (memory) yet.

2ndFL chased ML
ML's father, Mayor (2nd Fl father) seem more interested in the coupling.
We have not seen them in any intimate settings.

Meets FL and complains to her, his acting to be heartbroken b/c of the break up break up isn't going smoothly.

The illness gave 2nd FL an opportunity to sneak in an engagement. We don't see them wearing rings, spending time together. Sexless couple?

ML worked +100 hours per week never declared he loved his girlfriend/fiancée in the two years they dated.
ML has repeatedly ask for a break, break up but she runs away, refusing to cooperate.

Samantha and Rachel may not share your angst in adding some misdirection, suspense with past lives, Karma, Black magic, curses to this fantasy rom com.

The overall quality of this drama easily beats many Heartbeat, My Lovely Liar in it's storytelling.

Both main and supporting actors are doing well in their delivery.
Annoying 2nd FL/ML, awkward product placement/sponsorship.

It shares some similarities with Crash Landing Upon You when FL is lost in the market and ML holds up a scented candle.

How do you miss AOS, AOS2, Mr. Queen (fantasy rom com) MDL ratings 8.9-9.0