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Best Love: Episode 9

Did they switch the cameras all of a sudden? Because this episode is GORGEOUS. As if I didn’t love this drama enough already.

Angst can sometimes be frustrating, sometimes satisfying. This is my favorite kind, when it moves the plot — and the emotions, and the character development — swiftly along and gives rise to lots of satisfying moments. Plus! For once a Hong sisters cameo is hilarious AND adds to the drama. I love that they continue to improve their skills and keep surprising viewers, even when we’ve watched all of their work and know all their old tricks.

SONG OF THE DAY

Best Love OST – “나를 잊지 말아요” (Don’t Forget Me) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 9 RECAP

Jin announces that he’s totally over Ae-jung, proud to have conquered what he calls aftereffects from the surgery: “The moment I realized it was because of that song, my heart came out of its hypnosis.”

Disbelieving, Ae-jung has to check for herself, pressing her ear to his chest: “See, it’s beating!” Jin: “If it doesn’t beat, I die.” Ha, true. He adds, “It’s beating kong-dak-kong-dak like normal, it’s not pounding all woo-lung-woo-lung~♥~! like before.” HAHAHA.

Then the realization hits him: “Are you…disappointed?” He gloats at this delicious reversal, and she mutters that she was worried about his “sickly azalea.” Since it’s back to normal, well, bully for him.

Ae-jung points out that it’s odd that his heart would act up ten years after surgery, but he declares that it’s not weird, but unjust. (The word he uses doesn’t have a direct translation, but is used when you feel like you’ve been treated unfairly. Shortchanged by somebody, or fate.) In Jin’s case, he feels the injustice of mistaking his heart’s pounding for love and shaving off his cow mustache.

Looks like both Ae-jung and the cardiologist are smarter than Jin (not surprising, if his IQ is on par with his EQ), as the doctor also notes the oddity of a heart acting up ten years later because of a song. He wonders if the song, used initially to revive a dying heart, has now become necessary to that heart. Okay, maybe not so smart then. (Unless…OH HONG SISTERS. Are you gonna give us gumiho bead v.2.0, except nonsensical-er?)

Ae-jung asks Pil-joo for his medical opinion on a hypothetical scenario: If a person’s heart pounds while the person happens to be looking at a certain other person, could he fool oneself into thinking it’s love when it’s not? She’s eager for him to agree that it’s silly, but Pil-joo supposes it’s possible, and refers to studies about roller coasters causing speeding heart rates that translate into spikes of emotional attachment. If the stimulus repeats, it may be possible for someone to confuse the physical feeling with love.

Just then, Ae-jung’s cell phone rings, and the sound of her ringtone clicks the theory into place — that every time it rang, Jin connected it with her. Now she’s the one to think bitterly, “I feel really wronged.”

Jin meets with Se-ri to declare the CF back on, assuring her that there’ll be no need for more “injustice” to arise, as he is now free of the “weakness” Ae-jung had been holding onto. Se-ri asks if this means it’s untrue that he likes Ae-jung, and immediately he asks, “Who’s saying that? I’ll sue.”

He overhears Jae-seok telling President Moon that Jin was dumped by Ae-jung and is pleased that she says she’ll sue any rumormongers, until she admits she’s a leetle bit satisfied to see Jin brought low. Jae-seok agrees, since they’ve both been on the receiving end of his difficult behavior. President Moon claps: “Gu Ae-jung — good job!”

Pouring salt on that wound, Jae-seok confides that even Ae-jung’s family isn’t that keen on Jin. So what does he do? Bribes Hyung-kyu with ice cream, of course! He assures Ding-Dong that he can speak frankly about what his family says about him.

But the moment the boy says, “Dokko Jin is a butthole—” he shuts him up with a firm, “That’s enough!”

Hyung-kyu holds up a strip of magnetic toys and asks, “Do you want to be stuck together like this with my aunt?” Jin replies, “I thought I did, but I don’t now.” Separating the two blocks, he explains, “I thought I was drawn to her by some incredible force, but that’s disappeared.” Flipping the magnet so the poles repel each other, he demonstrates, “See, it doesn’t stick!” I love that his mode of communication with a 7-year-old is via toy metaphors. How appropriate.

Hyung-kyu takes his magnet and holds it up to Jin’s necklace, which reacts to it, and says, “It sticks!” Jin jerks his neck back and says he won’t be pulled along anymore.

When Ae-jung comes to pick up her nephew, Jin pulls her aside for a chat. Showing her the magnets, he demonstrates his point: “According to rumors, I was chasing you, who didn’t like me, and you ran away.” The magnet with the stick figure of a girl whirls around and “rejects” his boy magnet. Turning the boy magnet around, he continues, “My situation has reversed. I’m going to go on my way.” Click! Now the girl magnet sticks to the boy magnet. “But look, Gu Ae-jung is pulled along.”

He asks if she’s drawn to him, and guesses from her reaction that she is. She protests that she’s not the magnet, and Jin pulls off his heart monitor, eager to see for himself if she’s telling the truth. She refuses, and he gloats that this means she is totally attracted to him.

What they don’t see is that the heart-rate counter, bereft of a wrist to monitor, starts to blink oddly. When Hyung-kyu takes the magnets away, the blinking stops.

Pil-joo’s mother withdraws her objections to his plans to study in China, because it’s the lesser of two evils, and tells him to quit the broadcast. He tells her he’ll stay, which makes her burst out that she hasn’t been able to show her face around after his grand TV gesture with Ae-jung.

I love Pil-joo’s responses, which are kind but firm — he says, “Since you’re so sincere in your opposition, my feelings must have come across sincere, too.” And when she moans about being turned into a loner, he offers, “Then I’ll hang out with you.” Such a good boy, but smart too — ’cause what can Mom say to that?

So Mom goes to Ae-jung’s house, intending to find “proof” of her real situation to kill Pil-joo’s liking for Ae-jung. She puzzles over the address: “A yakuza’s girlfriend is supposed to live in a palace.” (Ha, Ae-jung lives on Dandelion Road. Hee! What new flower metaphors will that bring?)

Here she runs into Dad, who confirms that Ae-jung lives here with her family, not in some separate (more lavish) residence. She turns around, worrying, “This isn’t right. It’s much easier to get rid of a girl with secrets. The hardest is the shabby kind.”

Jin tells his managers that his behavior was spurred by his heart surgery, and President Moon welcomes his return. He tells her to hand off the sneaker donation project to Ae-jung — may as well compensate for hassling her, and improve her negative image while he’s at it.

Jin generously adds the use of his van to the deal, and Jae-seok eyes him suspiciously, testing him: “She’ll ride that van to go film herself on dates with that doctor.” Jin nods approvingly: “If needed, tell them to drive it around together.”

Ae-hwan confirms Ae-jung’s acceptance of the reality show with producers, so thankful for this opportunity that he cries. He explains that she’d suffered people’s curses for ten years and finally has landed her first solo show: “As her manager, this is important to me, but as her brother, our Ae-jung is such a good person, please help her do a good job.” Aw, it’s sweet. It almost makes up for his babbling foolishness at other times.

Jenny has come with him and offers to accompany Ae-jung on events from now on — it’ll give her a chance to keep Se-ri in line. Ooh, I like this idea. Ae-jung’s too sweet to put Se-ri down, but I love Jenny’s sassiness, so this could make for some entertaining clashes.

Ae-hwan says eagerly, “Then after we’re married, will we trade places and I’ll watch the cafe?” At which point an indignant Jae-seok bursts out, “No! I’M going to watch noona’s store!”

Jenny enjoys this attention, and cheers Ae-jung’s good fortune: “She’s putting out an album, and doing a variety show. All she needs is to act, and she’ll be a triple crown!” Ae-hwan: “Who do you think she is, Lee Seung-gi?” HAHA.

Cue: Lee Seung-gi!

Jenny rushes over with stars in her eyes and asks for a handshake. Seung-gi receives her praise graciously, but then Ae-hwan notices that they’re both wearing the same scarf. Jenny beams (just as Ae-jung once had), while Seung-gi laughs awkwardly and pulls his sweater over the scarf self-consciously (as Jin once had). HAHA!

Jenny, Ae-hwan, and Jae-seok watch Seung-gi walk off, marveling at how polite and well-mannered he is — just like his image! Jae-seok sighs that he’s the complete opposite of Jin; choking on a sob, he cries, “To think, when I first met hyungnim, I thought he was just like [Seung-gi]!”

Little do they know that as soon as Seung-gi is safely out of sight, he yanks off the scarf with a grimace and thrusts it at his stylist. His voice even changes into that drunk grandpa drawl: “Is this something any old dog or fish could wear?”

Heehee. This may be my favoritest Hong sisters cameo ever. Lee Seung-gi playing Lee Seung-gi, whose real-life image is just like Dokko Jin’s golden boy image, whose supposed “true” backstage personality is just like Dokko Jin’s… Plus, there’s the fact that Seung-gi was originally cast in this role, and now affects a Cha Seung-won-esque nasally growl. AHHH I’m in meta heaven.

It gets even better when Jin steps out of the elevator, and Seung-gi whips his good-boy persona back into place, bowing respectfully to his “sunbae-nim.” Jin mentions the program Seung-gi is MC-ing these days, Steel Heart. (Pwahaha! Kang Chul Shim Jang = Steel Heart. Kang Shim Jang = Strong Heart, Seung-gi’s real-life show.) He suggests that Seung-gi invite Ae-jung to the show, which Seung-gi smoothly deflects, saying it’s up to the writers and producers.

Jin is not to be outdone at his own game, and says that stars like them have pull — “Or are you not at that level yet?” Seung-gi agrees to broach the topic but adds, “Is that so important that it needs my efforts?” Jin counters that if Seung-gi does this, he won’t steal away his refrigerator CF.

That raises Seung-gi’s hackles, and he declares, “I’m Lee Seung-gi! Even you’re not somebody who can just steal my CF so easily!” In that sneer, he orders Jin, “Don’t enter my safety zone!”

Just as they’re going back and forth with the “You’ll do it”s and “No I won’t”s, a crowd gathers to gush over their two favorite stars together. Jin gives the 1-2-3 count, and the men turn on the charm in a flash.

OMG I love this. I can hear a pouty girlfriday stomping her feet from miles away, cursing the manager who scheduled Seung-gi for an odd-numbered episode.

At the bookstore, Pil-joo’s eye is caught by instructional titles like How To Win Her Heart and Dating Techniques. Oh, you adorable nerd, you. He hunkers down to read tips like “Show her an activity you want to do together using a gift.” He thinks of possible activities to do together, a little surprised to catch himself looking at a red bra. Hee! The innocent doc isn’t that innocent.

But no, he opts for a camera instead, thinking they can take pictures together.

Team Ae-jung has received the Steel Heart invite, plus other promo activities and Jin’s van offer. They surmise that Jin must still be clinging to Ae-jung, and she sighs (hiding her smile) that this is soooo annoying, but she’ll have to meet him in person to deal with this.

Too bad Pororo knows when she’s lying, and declares her annoyed act a fake.

The doctor calls Jin in over worries that his heart isn’t working properly, only to have Jin announce that he’s perfectly fine. Smart Doctor counters, “Rather than liking her because heart pounded, isn’t it possible your heart pounded because you like her?” Or to rephrase: Is he sure the chicken came before the egg?

At home, Jin takes a refreshing drink of Vitamin Water and rubs his face against the cool bottle…upon which he imagines Ae-jung’s face. He jumps in shock, but a quick glance at his monitor shows he’s still at a safe 87 heart rate.

He sits down for some “mind control time,” and hums a meditative tune, which soon turns into the lyrics for Ae-jung’s “Thumping Heartbeat.”

Ae-jung comes to confront him about his motives for helping her — is he being capricious with his affections again? He says no: “I felt awkward, thankful, and sorry. Awkward for making advances to you, thankful that you turned me down, and sorry for you for liking me after the fact. The things Loser Ddong-ko [butthole] Jin did, the Proper Dokko Jin is straightening out.”

Ae-jung turns to go in disappointment, but changes her mind, frankly telling him that her disappointment and attraction keep her from leaving: “You were right — now that the Loser Ddong-ko Jin who liked me is gone, I’m disappointed, and now that I see the Proper Dokko Jin, I admit I’m attracted.” She asks for ten seconds to confirm that he’ll remain in his safety zone, and clings to his chest.

Going along with it, he holds her tightly. Then he turns her around to back-hug her, while directing her steps toward the stairs that lead to his bedroom.

Panicking, Ae-jung puts a foot out to halt them — so he turns her around and pushes her toward the door, telling her that she can’t even throw herself at him properly.

She asks, “When you were clinging to me, were you intending to stay with me properly? Did you mean to stick with me through the end, without leaving?” He considers this, and she deduces that his heart turned away of its own accord, “without the need for those complicated, realistic thoughts.”

She goes…and his heart thumps. He thinks to himself that he was so busy he didn’t have time for those complicated thoughts.

Jenny hears from Jae-seok about Jin’s change of heart (har), and decides she’ll help Pil-joo in earnest, inviting him to the cafe that night.

Se-ri comes in for an appointment looking tired, dropping hints about the reason for her depression. She reminds Pil-joo that Ae-jung has a bad image and likes somebody else, to which Pil-joo says, “I’m thinking that if I like her even more, it may work out.”

All together now: Awwwww. You are in for a world of hurt.

Se-ri says dispiritedly that it hurts seeing him liking somebody else, which I suppose may be true, but sounds suspiciously false coming from her. That’s the problem with being the manipulating brat who cried wolf; it’s hard to know when you’re not being that.

As Se-ri leaves, she recognizes another patient — Mina, whose smile turns sour the instant she recognizes Se-ri. From Se-ri’s own half-fearful, half-curious response, it’s apparent that she feels lingering guilt, and she slowly approaches Mina. But Mina turns her back, and Se-ri falters.

Even Jin is surprised at how unresponsive his heart is to Ae-jung, and taps it curiously, wondering why he’s not reacting. Perplexed, he asks, “Why do I feel ashamed that it’s behaving so properly?” He decides he has to restore everything to its original state, and takes out the wine bribe returned by Peter Jason, calling it the origin of all this trouble.

He arrives at the cafe, where Ae-jung sits with Jenny and Jae-seok, awaiting Pil-joo. Still stung from earlier, Ae-jung regards him with crossed arms, asking if he’s here to offer more compensation.

He says that he forgot one thing, and announces, “Sorry.” He repeats it loudly and the word echoes in the air — she pointedly ignores it — and he tells her that he hopes she can recover from her hypnosis, as he did. He snaps his fingers, saying he can end it with a count to 25. I’m guessing Jin never played a doctor in a movie. Or a hypnotist.

Instead, Ae-jung pulls the stopper out of the wine bottle and chugs it defiantly. She finishes off the whole bottle in one go, announcing, “I’m all recovered now.”

He worries that she’ll spew it right back out, but she says, “I won’t throw it up. I’ll eat up everything that happened with you, digest it all, and turn it into crap.”

Stumbling, she leaves his table while Jin gapes in concern. Jenny tells him with disdain that he’d better leave, since Pil-joo is on his way: “He’s a truly good man who cares for Ae-jung. Even though Ae-jung lost something precious to him, he was afraid she’d feel upset and bought a new one, lying that he found it. That’s how much he cares for her.”

Now he realizes, “She didn’t buy the pen and lie about finding it?” Jenny informs him that that assumption was all his own.

Pil-joo is still at his clinic, tending to Se-ri, and mentions her comment about watching somebody like someone else. She thinks he finally understands her hint, but deflates when he guesses she’s having a hard time watching Jin liking another woman.

He says that her wan appearance suggests her feelings are genuine, and she sighs, “Yes, they are. I didn’t know they were to this extent, but if I keep looking at him, I keep liking him.” He encourages her to cheer up, and says he’s in the same position.

Jenny loses track of Ae-jung at the cafe, worrying that she’s wandered off in a drunken state. Jin overhears and recognizes the telltale ringtone when Jenny calls Ae-jung, following it to a bench, where he finds her swaying unsteadily. He asks if she’s okay, only to have her repeat his words back at him like a taunting child.

Jenny frets that Ae-jung’s drinking habit will emerge, which would be a Very Bad Thing. Her old scandal about a drunken fight occurred when she had the bad luck to get stuck repeating the words of an easily offended ajumma, who’d spoken rudely to Ae-jung — and when Ae-jung repeated the words back (without malice), the ajumma had created a huge scene.

Thankfully, Jin understands this is just her drunken habit, and asks, “Why didn’t you explain about the pen?” Her drunken garble spouts back, “…didn’t explain.”

Jin: “You didn’t trust me, did you?”
Ae-jung: “Di’n’t trust you.”
Jin: “Then those words about not liking me back — you were really going to cancel them.”
Ae-jung: “…wassss gonna cancel it.”
Jin: “And you brought those potatoes to give to me.”
Ae-jung: “Brought to give you.”
Jin: “And you came to feed the fish.”
Ae-jung: “I came.”
Jin: “I’m sorry.”

Oh, this is so sweet it hurts a little. He knows she’s just parroting after him, but at the same time he also understands that it’s the truth. He’s purposely wording his questions so she’ll confirm his suspicions, but he can recognize the truth of the words, which only serve to emphasize that he was an ass.

He holds her to him, and checks his monitor again — which stays firmly in the safe zone.

When Pil-joo arrives at the cafe, Jenny tells him that they’ve lost a drunk Ae-jung. Pil-joo steps out to join the search, and finds Ae-jung hunched over on the front stoop.

Jin keeps out of sight as Pil-joo attends to her, and quietly walks away looking miserable.

She falls asleep on Pil-joo’s shoulder, and he asks her, “Tomorrow, you’ll take hold of my hand, won’t you?” He sees her hand resting in her lap, and links his pinky with hers to seal their pinky-promise. Awwwww. How can I want so much for one guy to get the girl, and then a second later want so much for his rival to get the girl instead? My heart, SO TORN. Between two fictional men.

Jin goes home to his fish, realizing Ae-jung had fed them after all, and says, “I should’ve raised pets who can talk.” Haha. He says that a dog would’ve barked a response, but accuses them of not making a peep, actually sounding wounded at their betrayal.

Se-ri asks Manager Jang why, ten years ago, he’d readily agreed to Ae-jung’s decision to break up KBSN. Manager Jang is convinced Ae-jung had been backed by somebody, who’d bribed the production company president to agree without a fight. Se-ri’s surprised to hear this, but not even Manager Jang knows who it is.

Se-ri tests out a new budding suspicion, asking whether Mina would know. Manager Jang says that he has a lot of things he’d like to ask her, and that if Se-ri can find her, he wants to be in the loop, promising to make sure that Se-ri’s protected.

Jenny brings a hungover Ae-jung medicine in the morning, left by Pil-joo. She says that she knows why Ae-jung’s feeling conflicted, but she wants to see her happy from now on, and will therefore pretend not to know about that source of conflict. Which…seems woefully backwards to me, but whatever. Jenny’s adorable and loyal, but maybe not the sharpest tack.

Ae-jung sees the Vitamin Water at her bedside and picks it up, holding the bottle to her cheek. She notes, “It’s cold,” and then picks up the packet of medicine, saying, “It’s warm.” OH THE METAPHORS, they are endless.

Her Couple Making shoot is today, and as she’s leaving the house, she stops short to see that Jin has arrived. Concluding that he’s here because he feels uncomfortable after her drunkenness yesterday, she decides that she’ll have to put a clean end to everything. She tells her brother to go without her, and he tells her anxiously that he trusts her to show up for the filming. She nods.

Ae-jung tells Jin that she’s still hungover from his wine, and asks him to help cure it. That’s done with hangover soup, and Ae-jung says that with this meal, she’ll treat all of her physical and mental pains.

He muses that they’ve never just sat together like this before, and she reminds him that it’s because he’s always chased her out. She tells him it was good that he did; if he’d stuck with her, they’d have ended up in the gossip rags. He agrees, saying that the popularity drop wouldn’t have been so bad for her — not like it would for him.

Ae-jung: “If you knew that so well, why didn’t you hold back and not let on that you liked me?”
Jin: “I liked you so much that it didn’t work.”
Ae-jung: “Did you even really like me?”
Jin: “Yes. You saw me, being Ddong-ko Jin in my pathetic one-sided love. I can say this honestly because that’s not the case anymore, but if I hadn’t come to my senses, I would’ve really hit rock bottom and broken my heart.”

She chuckles, and assures him she’s not laughing at him: “It’s just — you turned away not because I was pathetic, and you did like me that much. That feels good.”

He shows her his wrist monitor, saying, “Even if you smile like that, it doesn’t affect me at all.” After all, he’s a master of mind control. Amused, she says jokingly that his heart’s so very proper that she hates it a little, and playfully bites his hand — “I’m just checking to see how good your mind control is. I’ve confirmed that you’re not affected at all.”

With that, she turns her attention to breakfast, saying, “I should eat this and get all better so I’m not affected at all, either.”

Gah, I simultaneously love Jin for the way he looks at her with tenderness, and want to hit him over the head for always checking his monitor, like that hunk of metal has more power than what he suspects his heart is actually feeling. Oh, you stupid, silly man-child-robot.

The romantic scene is set for today’s shoot, wherein Ae-jung is to give Pil-joo her answer. Se-ri tells Pil-joo she doesn’t think Ae-jung will show, and he tells her that he’s nervous enough already without her making jokes.

She says, “You were flustered at first, and now you’re feeling angry, aren’t you? Don’t forget that — be sure to remember how it feels, to make the explanation easy later.”

Jin drops Ae-jung off near the set, and she hesitates before saying:

Ae-jung: “Just as you spoke honestly to me before, I’ll be honest with you now. To be honest, you made me feel aflutter. After meeting you, cherry blossoms bloomed in my heart, and camellias, and even azaleas. But whenever flowers bloom, they also fall at some point. So even though I was excited and happy, I was afraid to hold out my hand. I could only approach you one step at a time, but fortunately the flowers fell on their own. For showing me some really beautiful flowers on a nice spring night, I thank you.”

Throughout this speech, Jin looks completely gobsmacked, and steals several glances at his stubbornly static heart monitor. He can’t understand it: “It’s strange — my heart’s palpitating…”

She turns to leave, but he grabs her wrist and says urgently, “I think something went wrong. I have to confirm it for myself, too.”

He surprises her — and even himself, I think — with the kiss. Yet when he pulls back, his monitor is still stuck at 88.

He can’t believe it, and says disbelievingly, “It didn’t have any effect.” He disagrees with that assessment, but to Ae-jung’s vulnerable heart, those words hurt. She tells him with an edge to her voice, “Thank you for confirming that you don’t feel anything.”

She walks away. Jin can’t accept it, and takes off the monitor — finally, like a sane person. Running the stopwatch, he starts a manual count of his pulse.

And by the time his minute beeps its end, he’s at 130 heartbeats.

Filming commences, and Se-ri introduces the question of the day: whether Ae-jung will show. Then she turns to Pil-joo, addressing him without her words being caught on the microphone.

Se-ri: “You’re feeling nervous and excited at starting a relationship with Ae-jung unni, aren’t you? But I don’t want to stand by and watch, so I’ll have to tell you. The feeling I told you to remember — that’s how I feel right now. Because I like you.”

Shocker! But that’s the moment when Ae-jung appears at the end of the bridge, kicking off the show. Se-ri resumes her MC duties, posing the question of whether Ae-jung is here to accept, or reject.

Ae-jung walks slowly toward Pil-joo, but at the last minute stops, turning around to look back…

She doesn’t see Jin, who’s on his way, and turns back to face Pil-joo. While she stands there in place, he looks at her with a serious, tense expression. Finally, she resumes her steps and meets him in the middle of the stage. He steps forward and holds out his hand to her, as Se-ri narrates, “Gu Ae-jung, please make your decision.”

Ae-jung takes his hand tentatively, almost reluctantly, and joins him inside the heart-shaped wreath, the moment commemorated with a bright burst of fireworks.

Se-ri watches unhappily, MC-ing in a flat voice, while Pil-joo breaks into a smile.

Jin arrives at the edge of the bridge, just about to call out Ae-jung’s name when the fireworks explode. He clutches his chest painfully just as the background song (posted at top) narrates, “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.”

He gasps out, “Gu Ae-jung, it hurts so much. It feels like I’m dying.”

 
COMMENTS

Muahahaha! I LOVE angst like this. The kind where you feel for the hero, especially when he emotes his pain so well, but also find it satisfying because he deserves to stew after his punkass behavior. When you’ve got a cocky bastard treating our awesome heroine so poorly on so many occasions, you can’t just have her forgive everything in the blink of an eye, and it’s gratifying to make him experience a little self-inflicted misery.

Especially when he was so dumb as to believe his stupid monitor, of all things, instead of his actual feelings! Heh. It’s like he’s so out of touch with human emotions that he’d rather trust science than himself — it’s a wee bit absurd that he’s so firmly in denial that he’d override his feelings based on some numbers spouted by a machine. But I guess it’s fittingly backward, for the man who thought pounding heart leads to love, rather than the other way around.

In fact, I’d have thought the heartrate-denial eye-rollingly fantastical, except for the fact that it gave us the chance to see Jin entertain growing suspicions that his scientific method, so to speak, is deeply flawed. What starts as puzzled speculation (Why is my heart not responding?) turns to increasing doubt, and Cha Seung-won plays those moments so well that you feel like you’re actually watching someone experience an epiphany in slow motion. A sharper tool — hehe — might not have been so slow about that motion, but this is our sexy dim bastard we’re talking about.

Can’t WAIT to watch him suffer in Episode 10. Does that make me sadistic? Wait, don’t answer that.

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Thank you much for recap. Finally a kiss.

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Just love how Seung Gi acted..hahaha..because it was support to b his..hahhaha..Just lurve the Hong sister...ang DB sisters...ahhaha

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I actually didn't finish watching or reading your wonderful recap yet, but I think that the magnets in close proximity to the watch wiped all or a portion of the watch's software, causing it to malfunction.

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It was already malfunctioning back in ep 8(?). I remember it was constantly at 75 that's why Dokki Jin thinks he's "normal" again.

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Its chessy but I dont hate it...or should I say I LOVE it! is weirdly cute and new in a way. Hope there will be more cute and chessy scenes like these.

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I. love. this. drama. so. much! Thanks again for the brilliant recap!

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the Hong sisters did it again :) MGIAG was my fave drama for 2010 and Best Love's shaping up to be my fave for 2011... awesome cast + great script = happy me

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Oh thank you! Aside from Girlfriday, I thought I was the only one who had MGIAG at the top of their 2010 drama list. I really liked it in so many different levels and so far, that's my fave Hong Sisters drama too. I know the second leads weren't the strongest point in that one (YB's were better), but I loved everything. I'm still playing the song 여우비 (Fox Rain) to this day.

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Thank you for the recap.It was brilliant.

Oh man the drama just keeps getting better.I laughed so loud when I saw the LSG and CSW fake persona scene.

I must really stop watching it like at 3am for the raw.I keep waking my family up by laughing too much.

The poignant moments last night..too good.My heart my poor poor heart. But even more Pil Joo Pil JOO!!!

Oh gah...ep 10 bring it on! :-)

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“Gu Ae-jung, it hurts so much. It feels like I’m dying.” oh I die when I saw how hurt he is.

thanks for the beautiful recap!

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he ends up getting hurt more than AJ.. breaks my heart =((((

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First, I thought Best Love might be my favorite Hong sisters' drama, but no. Now I think it might be my favorite romcom kdrama ever. I love that Aejung is so emotionally mature, dignified, and assertive compared to other romcom heroines, and nice in a believable way. It's refreshing. I mean, that, plus the zillion other things about this drama that just leave its competitors in the dust.

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i'm thinking just the same. so far the best romcom

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ohmygod, my thoughts exactly! yes an emotionally mature and knows-what-she-wants-i-will-fight-for-it heroine is so refreshing plus GHJ is just perfect for the role, I am soo loving her now..

definitely one of (if not THE) best rom-com evahhh!!!

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This episode is PERFECTION! This drama is killing me softly..episode after episode.

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does anyone know where can i watch this raw? I can't wait for the subs anymore :P

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or if you prefer a download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VGSCT2OE

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Thanks a million :)

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Best. Cameo. Ever.
So funny as a mini-Dokko Jin.
Seungi-ah! :D Loved the sound effects for his scarf. And I love how his real MC role for Strong Heart ties in perfectly for "Steel Heart" since the motto of this drama is all about the heart! <3

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I love how despite the fact that a first kiss is usually a huge thing in a drama, it wasn't the most important thing that happened this episode.

Personally, I found the scene where she hugs him and he wraps his arms tightly around her, and begins pushing her towards the stairs to his bedroom incredibly intense and well executed (not to mention quite sexy). It moved me way more than the kiss scene, but I'm not worried about the whole making out quality thing... we still have 7 more episodes to go, there's plenty of time left.

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amen to plenty of skinship, making-out, smooching..

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Thanks a mill, JB-- I'm in Drama Heaven!

And, GF, just cuz you didn't recap this one, don't think that we didn't get oodles of vicarious delight from imagining your reaction to your adorable Puppy's adorable cameo....

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lee seung gi as baby dokko jin.yay!

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Same here.I want dokko jin suffer alot infact I want all lead man to suffer alot too.usually its the girl or 2nd lead man.I don’t he get the girl easily.I want the end with phil joo because he so oh deserved it.is that makes me evil?sadistic.haha but this drama makes me want that.oh I love this kinda angst,usually hate it and skip it but damn this drama makes me don’t want to miss it for a second.oh deugeun2 for tonight and I hope jin get his ultimate pain and boating time of phil joo-ae jung.

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thanks for the recap...

i'm just wondering since the title is greatest love, do u think maybe the Hong Sisters will actually give us a totally unexpected ending????

will Jin die in the end and the sweet doc PJ will be with our female lead this time around?

i do feel for the 2 guys, you root for the first one and then onto the next...omo, what can a girl do? although we all know that she likes Jin a lot more and treats the doc to be just her friend....

but there's more to the Natl Treasures' separation than what they're letting on...i wonder what happened 10 years ago??? i'm sure it's again somehow related to Jin's heart sx....

can't wait for tomorrow's ep....

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Okay,

The next Hong Sisters drama I want the theme to be the "Winning Geek of a Second Lead"

I wish they would pick Yoon Kye Sang but I do still have some nerves and rationality about me - a Mr. Bennet might proclaim them quite weak and sickly, but there they are (and must remain till tomorrow's episode!)

How wonderful would it be to have a second lead come out of nowhere and win! I love Dokko Jin, don't get me wrong, but what am I supposed to do with my love for Pil Joo!? I hate the idea of him ending up with Se Ri but giving him to spinsterdom or a scenario where he watches from some local bush as Ae Jung becomes a smug married is even worse. *Maybe he'll pull a Kim Hyun Joong from BOF and become a serial variety show persona - how awful!*

Since I doubt this drama will end in an open marriage where she shares the respectable hunks of perfect testosterone (...breathe in...breathe out...) I would need a cure for these emotions of know-how-it's-going-to-end-you-fool woe.

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T_T_T i really feel bad for Jin even though by the end of last episode i was like -'muahaha...she will leave u n u will wind up crying for her'--- but i can't take this....seeing him hurt like that clutching and gasping...AH!!! THE ANGST!!! its killing me :'(

And Pil-joo is in his own way so deserving....if sm guy asked me in my drunken sleep would you hold my hand tomorrow...??- i'll die in my sleep...even before i get the chance to hold his hand..... :'(

GYAAAAHH!!!! wat the!!! only halfway through n the angst is really driving me nuts. I fear to think what will happen when Pil-joo gets his heart broken and him n Ae-jung n Jin are all struggling with their 'otoke!!!' n 'where to n what path to take' .... dis is so mad ... :@

o, btw- lee seung-gi- brilliant cameo :D and his 1-2-3 n smile flash with Jin- cracked me up big time :P

just wanted to ask...since its mentioned seung-gi in real life is like Jin. Is dat really true?? That vain?? Hmmm...if it is true....boo...its kind of a let down in a way. he's such a cutie. Anyways, it will probably take more dan dt for me to hate him or Dokko Jin for that matter....so yay baby!!! :P

o n thank you for the recap :)

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No one said Seung-gi was like Dokko Jin's character in real life. -_-' LSG is a nice guy...like too nice.

Sighs. <3

*Dissolves into a puddle of goo*

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aahhh...i think i must hav misunderstood that part a bit while reading.
dats why i was wondering how he seemed so nice in 1 night 2 days :D
phew! so glad its all naught... yay :D

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I bet they (HoDong and SeungGi) are going to react this scene in 1n2d XD though it's a different channel right? ....

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I think the implication was that Seunggi is considered a 'golden boy' in real life, like Dokko Jin is considered in the world of this drama, not that he's known as being vain. He's actually notorious for being extremely well-mannered and polite, which is why this cameo is even more hilarious.

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no way! lee seung gi is so nice. Too nice, actually. You just have to watch 1 night 2 days to know who he is, and the other members, too.

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this drama is truly awesome! there's always something new.

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Never have I grown to love a drama so much. I really didn't like the story in the beginning. But now I'm hooked!

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However much I enjoy this drama, I hate how the Hong sisters always dummify one of their characters -_-'' Can we please have a drama where both leads are fully functioning human beings with normal to above IQs!?

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And omg, that last line "I feel like I'm dying"...the Hong sisters wouldn't turn it around so that it'd become literal would they? I would dearly love to avoid a hospital scene and have him stew in agony instead (I am also quite sadistic, muahahaa).

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OH MY GAWD!! I love this show! YAY for Dokko Jin!

But the ending really left me freaked out! It feels like he's dying? WTF? Oh man, oh man, oh man! I can't wait for next episode!

BTW, his doctor did say there could be something wrong with his heart monitor. Watch Jin be taken to the hospital, and Ae-Jung rushes to his side.

EEEE! I get chills just thinking about it!

LOVE THIS SHOW!!

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My Royal Oracle mentioned several things to me this morning.

1. Mina's baby could possibly be the evil manager's illegitimate child.
2. Dokko Jin will go to the hospital or Hollywood and return with life-changing news. (She wasn't clear about it- she saw the letter 'HO******' and I filled in the blanks)
3. The innocent Doctor is NOT that innocent!

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wow that kiss.... mmmmmmmm

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That Lee Seung-gi cameo just made my day. Metalicious!

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but this is our sexy dim bastard we’re talking about.

- I LOL-ed at that. True true.

I loved ALL your recaps and commentaries. Can't get enough of it! I've read Koala's playground recaps before reading yours but i still prefer dramabeans.com

I caaaaan't wait for tonight episode 10! GAAAH

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don't hate me, hong sisters! how come my heart is so much in the safe zone for this drama?? ='( this feeling sucks so much. as far as the writing goes, this one is much better than some of their earlier works, but i like it the same as "you're beautiful" and "yb" was only very okay.

sighh. i don't know why i'm not falling in love here. everything seems to be there, and i'm loving gong hyo jin oh-so-much! but my heart isn't thumping at 130 beats per minute. whyyy?!

so sad here..

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I'm falling for PJ now...though I think DJ is hot..but well, PJ is the perfect husband .... and I will definetely chose him to become my partner... *drooling*

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The more I look at that picture with LSG and CSW hugging, the more I think they could pass as father and son in real life. But maybe it's just my imagination :D
Indeed I was glued to my laptop's monitor while watching their part. I replayed that part several times. Still laughing like a crazy when they hug each other. This drama is just too great to believe it is real. I am gonna crazy waaahhhh someone help me haha

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Maybe MBC was reading this when you said they needed pretty pretty cameras. :D

I'm really loving this drama most out of all the trendies airing right now. There's more plot movement here than in others. Like in LTM, hardly anything has changed, whereas BL has been around town and back. Can't wait to see where they take us next!

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thank u!!! for the song "don't forget me".. i was DYING to get that song!!!best song...THANK U..

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i seriously LOVED this episode.
Lee Seung-gi's cameo was so hilarious, i had to watch it again a second time just for the pure goodness of it.

Cha Seung-won's acting was amazing towards the end. his face in disbelief to his watch monitor. oh gad, i'm loving him so much right now. even though his laughs can be a bit over-exaggerated, i love in love with it. i cracks me up every time.

as for Mr. Nerd-Doctor. so adorable in so many ways. the pinky-promise thing and his dorky smile. just all the different faces he makes...makes me swoon. i'm so scared of what pain the future may bring....i know it's coming..but ;A;

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Thanks JB. This episode sounds awesome! I can't wait to watch it.

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perfect

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HONG SISTERS!!!!!!! OH MY HONG SISTERS!!!!!!!! WHY YOU ALWAYS DO THIS TO US!!!!

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OMG.......gyus, I am dying already...Iam forcing myself not to read the recap until subs are out ,only reading your comments and they just kill me even more...I cant wait to watch Lee Seung Gi ,please all subbing teams,save our souls and get the subs soon,OK?????

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OMG.......guys, I am dying already...Iam forcing myself not to read the recap until subs are out ,only reading your comments and they just kill me even more...I cant wait to watch Lee Seung Gi ,please all subbing teams,save our souls and get the subs soon,OK?????

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I want to say that I really love all of you dramabeaners. these days I'm just as addicted to your comments as I am to dramas. Kamsahamida! Toda Raba! Mars ath Grath!

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Was reading the recap during lunch... Couldn't wipe off the goofy grin on my face the rest of the day, LOL. Man, couldn't wait for the subs to be up!

This drama is now on the top of my To-Buy-DVD list! Looks like I'll be stalking the video shop for the next couple months..

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I can't wait to watch Lee Seunggi playing an evil version of himself!!

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This is just random...but I love to see CSW in suits particularly waistcoats! Therefore to me, he looked his best during the kiss...

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The kiss was very touching in its urgency and sweetness, but the look he gives her after was what done me in.

It's the "Who are you, GAJ?" confusion he keeps feeling and wondering about. Little by little, his protective wall of "I am Dokko Jin!" is crumbling.

OMG! I just imagined how it's gonna feel when he finally says, "Sarange, GAJ" with that voice and that face.

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Arrrrgggghhh!
Blocked at work! Will have to wait until 5 EST when I get home!

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I heard CSW was a big-time model before he got into acting. That explains why he wears clothes (esp. suits) so well.

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He is! I scoured the net and read up on his biography during my post-city hall withdrawal days...lol.

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think the same about him in waistcoats. he always looks awesome, but at the kiss scene he's just breathtaking.
literally

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breath.taking.literally.
*sigh*

This is random, yesterday, my husband who has never uttered a single word about my kdrama addiction,
finally said something: "so what's with this shirtless man as your desktop wallpaper??"

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omg. you made me laugh!!!

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LOL!

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And what did you say to him?

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I said something like this: “uh..oh..it’s different you now, I don’t like him because of his abs or something...but uhmm..I’m drawn to him because of his characters in his dramas..he’s sooo....well, it’s totally different with us women..I’m not imagining him or anything...I’M NOT!!”

And he just snorted at me.

*phew*

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omo omo. now i'm really laughing!!!! poor hubbie

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i don't have a husband, but yesterday i was at work with soompi, dramabeans, koalas... lots of sites opened cause i was madly looking for news from episode 9. when a guy from the computing office came, he wanted to check my laptop... i just panicked, didn't know what to do, so i practically shooed him out of my office. i think i treated him very badly cause when he finally came to check my laptop (with all the evidence banished) he avoided to look at me and didn't speak a word. haha
poor guy

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:) Saw some typos on my answer above..yeah I was nervous answering him and that was never happened before. But no damage done Antonia, all I can say is when a married woman is smitten with CSW..uhmm it's a win-win situation. O...kay, I.am.done.

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Best part of that story is he is going to go tell everyone, "There's this girl, up on the third floor in Accounting, she must have a TON of porn on her computer. I'm sure of it."

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yes...He looks so yummy during that scene..I was thinking maybe the PD made him dress up for the kiss scene....with his height and trim figure...he look soooo fine in the waistcoats and short-sleeved tight fitting shirts....

still drooling here...careful of the puddle

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talking abt the wrist monitor, isnt it a known fact that magnet create havoc to electronic devices?

didnt read all the remarks so not sure if anyone pointed out that b4.

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Ding dong!!!

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You know what I want for my birthday? ALL the hong sisters leading men EVER (except for the fantasy couple lead- haven't seen that). All wrapped up with a pretty bow on top. And with the edition of Jeremy and Pil Joo and sexy-gumiho-hunter.
How hot are the lead men in this drama? So cute. I can not pick one. Can't they just make Ae jung a polygamist? Man. I'm glad I'm not her. Actually I wish I was her. Then atleast I'd have a choice between the two smokin hotties. I would keep both of them. Like Jenny. She's a girl after my own heart.
Also although I ADORE the others (especially DGCH-the best and MGIAG- the cutest and YB -the sexiest) I think Best love might dethrone DGCH as my fave Hong sisters drama ever.

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And I love lee Seung Gi. I have always loved him. But more so now. He is too cute. Just adore his mini-dokko jin-ness. He does it so well! I would adore a cameo from jan geun suk. It woildve been so incredible if woong ah and tae kyung met dokko jin. * dies of hot overload* But lSG returning as Woong-Ah wouldve been kick Ass! Is it weird that I want to eat him? Yummers. *goes back and watches MGIAG for the 6th time*

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can you really watch gumiho six times? that drama is sooo sad!

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But its so cutsey toooo! They are like one of my fave couples ever. But Dokko Jin and ae jung are catching up fast!

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Most favorite scene of this episode - when Jin and Ae-Jung finally get to sit down and finish a meal together, peacefully.

I personally think this is one of Ae-Jung's most attractive moments with her genuine smile and elegant dress (not really liking her fashion sense most of the times). And off course, the unconscious tenderness that was emanating off Dokko-Jin. The subtle changes in expression by Dokko-Jin were awesome.

Just to mention something about the scene where Ae-Jung almost drank the whole bottle of wine...I think there was also a play of word "soli (sorry)" which means "sound" in Korean. Dokko-Jin wanted to apologize, but couldn't say it out loud, therefore, he asked if Ae-Jung hears a sound (while in his heart he meant to say sorry instead of soli)......

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Thanks for that!
I was a little confused when he asked if she could hear him, and she said no, when clearly she had heard something.
Now it makes sense.

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oh yeah...no wonder...
sound = soori
I heard that word a lot in CYHMH ..LOL

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Yes, the scene where Don Ju is hugging Woori on the floor, and he keeps saying "mak soori" for voice.
I love that pair, LOVE THEM!

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okay you guys cleared something up for me bok soo/ mok soori! I've noticed that koreans tend to make m sound like b and n sounds like d and b like p etc. those two words ( revenge and voice/sound) sound a like and I was wondering like if the same word was used for both things and why that should be.

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I was watching this through live stream and totally missed the kiss as the stream act up at the most inoppurtune time buhahahaha. but the hug-backhug scene left me breatheless. This is rom-com at its finest. I'm not a Hong sister afficionado at all but this is really, really good so far.

Lee Seung Gi as bb Dokko Jin was priceless!

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I know it’s been said before, anyway I have to say it: BEST EPISODE EVER!!!! DAEBAK, AWESOME, as Pantyman would say PERRRRRRRFECT.
It could’t be better. it has laughs and tears and hugs and a kiss, and Ding DOng-Jin moments...

All I can think is about the hug and then the hug and the hug and the kiss and the hug and the kiss. I’m still affected by episode 9. really it affected me even physically. My heart was beating really fast, I just can’t breath. Hyperventilating. My head was going to explode!!!

Hong Sister you are amazing but please don’t make any harm to my Heartbreaker Jin cause I would never ever forgive you
Team AeJin keep strong!!!!!

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Random anecdote: I teach ESL, and some of my Korean students (upper elementary school level) were talking about "panties" and "pantyman" today (and snickering) and all I could think about was CSW.

(OK, I was already thinking about him, but still...)

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awww...kids these days...they grow up so fast..LOL. Poor Ma'am have to keep a straight face during class no?

Btw, why is the tick-box for replies notifications missing in the comment section....such a hassle to check...wish I could see all updated comments without going thru all of them...

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ahhh~ can't wait for episode 10!!!
loves!!

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Totally fascinated by his lumberjack fingers!!

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