It was painful to watch because not only I was able to relate to it and thus predicted the flow and everything else, but also because I knew why that happened and the correct solution to it.
My first love and I (I was also her first) also had to break up after 3 years of relationship. We thought it was because we were drifting apart, have less time, arguing, and we can't reconcile our differences and new life. However, for the next 11 years, we realized we were wrong.
It wasn't because of our differences and new lives and all that, it was because we were too young and still immature and lacks insight and experiences. The real problems were we weren't willing to be flexible, we had this fantasy of what a relationship looks like, and it was all about me me and me (ie each of you is the center instead of no one being in the center).
That's exactly what happened to them. They had this fantastical image of what a relationship is and their new situations no longer align to that. They came to the conclusion that it's time to go their separate ways. They were not capable of analyzing things properly. They didn't have to break up, they just need to wake up.
A relationship isn't all about bells and whistles, it is also about flexibility and understanding. No one is at the center. The only center is the gravity that is pulling you together, and that is love and relationship. You both made that decision and that was your gravitational force. Just like how the Sun is the center of gravity that is pulling the planets together.
In the end, in our case, we simply finally fully closed our story after 11 years since our break up. Unfortunately for us, it is too late to be together.
But for our couple in this story, they still have a chance to SHINE.
Different models of story structure in creative writing:
- Three-act Structure (most common in Western works) - Four-act Structure (me: best for live-action) - Five Elements Plot (me: best for novels) - KiShōTenKetsu (most common in CJK works)
This show seems to be using Kishōtenketsu, so I'm expecting low ratings in Western-users dominated sites like MDL. We'll see if Kishōtenketsu will work for this story.
If you are confused with the timelines, it basically boils down to:1. Present time. In E01, this was 6 months…
a. As of E02, Momo hasn't appeared in Past 2.0. b. Past 2.0 is primarily about BaRa and her crush. c. Part 1.0 is also primarily about BaRa and her crush, with Momo and Dr. Shin's budding love as close secondary. d. Present is where Momo, her mother, and Dr. Shin comes to the front, while BaRa and her crush becomes secondary.
I suspect that they will all converge and some weird connections will surface or unexpected relationships created.
Momo's black dress in E01 was super awesome for her. She also nailed how to carry it well without looking like a 50-year old melodrama mother. 😆 Perfection!
Ooohhh!! I love this far more than Mad Concrete Love (which I already dropped) and Climax (which I might drop…
In any case, the question of the synopsis is something you'll learn to answer once you're #Forever28, and that answer is actually very simple: the "soul" or the consciousness, not the body.
But for those who hasn't reached #Forever28, they haven't realized that yet. Though there are a few Forever28s who are avoiding this by saying it only happens in fiction. 😅
Sure, in our age and time, it only happens in fiction. But there is an enlightenment that comes from realizing that you're in love with the soul/consciousness and not the body.
So, let's see how the writer will play this philosophical plot. And I hope the director pulls this well, otherwise, it'll be a waste.
The ironic thing with "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" is that it isn't even "Dubai" at all.
1. The "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" is a Korean invention inspired by and based on the "Dubai Chocolate".
2. This "Dubai Chocolate" is itself not "Dubai" either. The idea came from a British-Egyptian entreprenuer, she is not a chef nor baker. The recipe was actually purely developed by a Filipino pastry chef she partnered with, and they released under her brand name.
In other words, the "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" that is very popular in Korea since 2025 is (a) a Korean invention, and (b) inspired by and based on "Dubai Chocolate", a Filipino-made recipe. Not a single thing in it is "Dubai". It's purely Korean __and__ Filipino.
For the semi-finals focusing on regional flavors and unique Korean inventions, it is very ironic they always talk about "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" and "Dubai Chocolate" without acknowledging that it's purely Korean and Filipino, respectively.
Sure, the idea came from a British-Egyptian entrepreneur, but ideas are not Copyrightable nor Patentable. 🤪 And regardless, she's not Dubaian at all. The only thing "Dubai" in it is her flagship store is in Dubai. 😁
Sometimes the way we name our products is very silly. We all want to be proud of our own and promote our respective cultures, bet we name our products that guarantees the majority of people will misunderstand its origins.
Koreans, be proud of "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate", it's a Korean invention. Just like how Filipinos are with "Dubai Chocolate".
Hopefully in Episode 8 we'll hear someone mention that.
Let's call out the main plot!(Potential spoiler!!)
The fathers of the ML and FL were in competition. The ML's father was framed. The real corrupt was the FL's father. The ML's father found solid proof against the FL's father, so he was murdered and framed to cover it all up.
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages". - Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre. - The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words: 1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love". 2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress. 3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
From the comments it seems that this show does not have romance at all. Why is the romance tag in the genres then?…
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages". - Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre. - The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words: 1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love". 2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress. 3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
It's a genre not "romantic love". It is correct. Romance as a genre has nothing to do with "romantic love", it's just one aspect of it but not mandatory.
To quote myself:
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages". - Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre. - The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words: 1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love". 2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress. 3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages". - Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre. - The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words: 1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love". 2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress. 3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
1 
My first love and I (I was also her first) also had to break up after 3 years of relationship. We thought it was because we were drifting apart, have less time, arguing, and we can't reconcile our differences and new life. However, for the next 11 years, we realized we were wrong.
It wasn't because of our differences and new lives and all that, it was because we were too young and still immature and lacks insight and experiences. The real problems were we weren't willing to be flexible, we had this fantasy of what a relationship looks like, and it was all about me me and me (ie each of you is the center instead of no one being in the center).
That's exactly what happened to them. They had this fantastical image of what a relationship is and their new situations no longer align to that. They came to the conclusion that it's time to go their separate ways. They were not capable of analyzing things properly. They didn't have to break up, they just need to wake up.
A relationship isn't all about bells and whistles, it is also about flexibility and understanding. No one is at the center. The only center is the gravity that is pulling you together, and that is love and relationship. You both made that decision and that was your gravitational force. Just like how the Sun is the center of gravity that is pulling the planets together.
In the end, in our case, we simply finally fully closed our story after 11 years since our break up. Unfortunately for us, it is too late to be together.
But for our couple in this story, they still have a chance to SHINE.
- Three-act Structure (most common in Western works)
- Four-act Structure (me: best for live-action)
- Five Elements Plot (me: best for novels)
- KiShōTenKetsu (most common in CJK works)
This show seems to be using Kishōtenketsu, so I'm expecting low ratings in Western-users dominated sites like MDL. We'll see if Kishōtenketsu will work for this story.
b. Past 2.0 is primarily about BaRa and her crush.
c. Part 1.0 is also primarily about BaRa and her crush, with Momo and Dr. Shin's budding love as close secondary.
d. Present is where Momo, her mother, and Dr. Shin comes to the front, while BaRa and her crush becomes secondary.
I suspect that they will all converge and some weird connections will surface or unexpected relationships created.
1. Present time. In E01, this was 6 months after the diving accident of Momo. Of course the present time is moving forward.
2. Past 1.0 is 6 months before Momo's accident.
3. Past 2.0 is 9 years (I can't remember exactly) ago.
There's more below.
But for those who hasn't reached #Forever28, they haven't realized that yet. Though there are a few Forever28s who are avoiding this by saying it only happens in fiction. 😅
Sure, in our age and time, it only happens in fiction. But there is an enlightenment that comes from realizing that you're in love with the soul/consciousness and not the body.
So, let's see how the writer will play this philosophical plot. And I hope the director pulls this well, otherwise, it'll be a waste.
This is what I want from shows of this type and genre: complexity and philosophical.
1. The "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" is a Korean invention inspired by and based on the "Dubai Chocolate".
2. This "Dubai Chocolate" is itself not "Dubai" either. The idea came from a British-Egyptian entreprenuer, she is not a chef nor baker. The recipe was actually purely developed by a Filipino pastry chef she partnered with, and they released under her brand name.
In other words, the "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" that is very popular in Korea since 2025 is (a) a Korean invention, and (b) inspired by and based on "Dubai Chocolate", a Filipino-made recipe. Not a single thing in it is "Dubai". It's purely Korean __and__ Filipino.
For the semi-finals focusing on regional flavors and unique Korean inventions, it is very ironic they always talk about "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate" and "Dubai Chocolate" without acknowledging that it's purely Korean and Filipino, respectively.
Sure, the idea came from a British-Egyptian entrepreneur, but ideas are not Copyrightable nor Patentable. 🤪 And regardless, she's not Dubaian at all. The only thing "Dubai" in it is her flagship store is in Dubai. 😁
Sometimes the way we name our products is very silly. We all want to be proud of our own and promote our respective cultures, bet we name our products that guarantees the majority of people will misunderstand its origins.
Koreans, be proud of "Dubai Chewy Cookie Chocolate", it's a Korean invention. Just like how Filipinos are with "Dubai Chocolate".
Hopefully in Episode 8 we'll hear someone mention that.
The ML's father was framed. The real corrupt was the FL's father.
The ML's father found solid proof against the FL's father, so he was murdered and framed to cover it all up.
(Potential spoiler!!)
They just need to mesh the two sides better so the flow is smooth. Other than that, it's enjoyable.
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages".
- Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre.
- The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words:
1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love".
2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress.
3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
I hope that makes it clearer and less confusing.
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages".
- Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre.
- The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words:
1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love".
2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress.
3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
I hope that makes it clearer and less confusing.
To quote myself:
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages".
- Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre.
- The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words:
1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love".
2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress.
3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
I hope that makes it clearer and less confusing.
***
The constant confusion about "Romance as a genre".
The word "Romance" simply means "Rome" or "from Rome" or by "Romans".
- Languages that evolved from Roman/Latin are called "Romance Languages".
- Literature written in Romance Languages are called "Romance" genre.
- The "Romantic Era", or "Romanticism", was a European period where Europeans were looking back at the time period of the emergence of Romance (as a genre) literature, using it to counter rationalism. Meaning, it's all about individualism, nature, emotions, individualism.
In other words:
1. "Romance Languages" doesn't mean those languages are "romantic love".
2. "Romance as a genre" doesn't mean it is mandatory to have "romantic love". Based on the origin of this genre up to the present time, this genre is about taking on a heartfelt mission to save someone or change something. Being chilvaric—and chivalric doesn't mean rescuing a damsel in distress.
3. "Romantic Era" doesn't mean Europeans were all lovey-dovey touchy-feely romantically involved. Nor does "Romanticism" mean being or espousing being romantically involved.
So, yes, this work qualifies as "Romance" as a genre.
I hope that makes it clearer and less confusing.