Me Too, Flower: Episode 12

by orangy911

We get some more plot movement, but I’m afraid my heart feels a little cold. Winter’s hit and Snow Queen Hwa Young’s bitchiness is freezing my love for this drama.

Episode 12

After Bong Sun and Dal hang up, Hwa Young tells Jae Hee to mingle with the guests. He should get to know the Chairman’s daughter. He reluctantly gets up. Dal asks Hwa Young why she’s pushing Jae Hee towards the Chairman’s daughter, and Hwa Young replies that the daughter is someone who matches Jae Hee’s status. Neither Dal nor Jae Hee’s girlfriend are worthy of being with Jae Hee.

Dal holds back tears and mutters that the daughter was just lucky to meet rich parents. I feel a twinge of pity for her. Jae Hee wanders over to where Dr. Park and the Chairman’s daughter converse about exhaust pipes. He turns to his “friend” and bluntly makes fun of him for stealing money and getting away with it.

He makes everyone uncomfortable and Hwa Young steps in to diffuse the tension by introducing Dal. The “friend” compliments Dal on her beauty and gives her his business card, saying his company might need a model in the future. The Chairman’s daughter asks for Jae Hee’s business card, and he replies that he doesn’t carry one. He abruptly leaves, ignoring the laser beams flashing from Hwa Young’s eyes.

At Jae Hee’s departure, Dal’s rich ex-boyfriend arrives and starts to rip on Dal for being a gold-digger. He asks how she attended this event; did she finally grab a big fish? Dr. Park tells him to stop and Dal runs out, but not before colliding with a waiter. She stands in the cold trying to find a taxi, which is when Jae Hee sees her. He gets out of his own taxi and tells Dal that he’ll drop her off.

Back in the bakery, Hwa Young asks why Dr. Park stepped in to help Dal and he replies that he just wanted to. Just then, Hwa Young gets a phone call from her assistant about another news report about the noise marketing stunt. She heads to the office, leaving Dr. Park lonely and bored.

Jae Hee answers a phone call from Bong Sun and Dal looks on in jealousy as he warmly assures Bong Sun that he’ll be at her house soon. She’s cooked a meal for him and he tells her he wants some egg rolls. After they hang up, Dal notes how different he seems when he speaks to his girlfriend.

Bong Sun finds that she’s run out of eggs, so she heads to the neighborhood market to buy some. On the way back home, she notices Jae Hee get out of the taxi. He runs to the other side and opens the door for Dal, who suddenly ambushes him and pulls him aside for a kiss. He pushes her off but she steals another kiss. Okay, so he drags Bong Sun by the arm this way and that, but he can’t stop Dal from manhandling him?

Bong Sun stares in disbelief and falls to the ground as Jae Hee and Dal break apart. They turn to see Bong Sun and Dal calls out “unni,” which shocks Jae Hee. He runs to Bong Sun and Dal gasps in surprise after realizing that Bong Sun is the “other woman.”

Jae Hee tries to convince Bong Sun that he didn’t know she and Dal were sisters, and that what Bong Sun saw is a misunderstanding. He was just dropping Dal off at home and has no interest in her. Bong Sun avoids looking at Jae Hee, and she tells him that she doesn’t know what to believe.

She brings up his cardigan and he yells that Dal just borrowed it. Nothing happened between them. Bong Sun tells him to shut up; he’s the same guy who bought Dal a bag and dropped her off before. Hwa Young was right; Bong Sun doesn’t know much about Jae Hee after all. There’s no end to his secrets.

Bong Sun tells Jae Hee that he’s no different from those rich men who drink with women hanging on their arms. Jae Hee’s temper flares and he tells her that she needs to stop with the accusations. If his girlfriend won’t trust him, who will? He snaps that he doesn’t need a woman who distrusts him. Oh no no no. You bad boy. That’s how you’re going to solve this situation?

Dal thinks back to Jae Hee’s note to Bong Sun and scoffs at how absurd everything is. Bong Sun stomps in and orders Dal to leave. Dal holds her head up high and responds that she needs her clothes. Bong Sun asks when Dal started to meet Jae Hee, and Dal retorts that it was before she moved into this crappy house. She also adds that she slept with Jae Hee at his apartment.

Bong Sun tells her to shove it; Jae Hee would never do that. Dal calls Bong Sun a hypocrite for going out with a rich man and laughs that Jae Hee is going to dump Bong Sun soon enough. They start screaming and pulling each other’s hair until Bong Sun yells that it doesn’t matter anymore. She and Jae Hee are through. Dal can keep the bastard.

A heartbroken Bong Sun goes back to her room and sobs on her bed. Sigh. Give her a break, Writer Kim.

Jae Hee comes to Hwa Young’s office and announces that Perche needs to call a press conference. He’s going to apologize and admit that the company was behind the noise marketing ploy. Hwa Young adamantly refuses. Doing that would tarnish Perche’s reputation and she’s worked too hard to let the company hit rock bottom.

He replies that they have reap what they have sown. Hwa Young might have started this, but he’s also responsible for the mess they’re in. She pleads for him to give her a day. She’ll figure something out. Ugh. I’m sure she will. And sure enough, after Jae Hee leaves, Hwa Young calls the company lawyer. Jae Hee, you still have way too much faith in this woman.

Dal opens Bong Sun’s gate just as Jae Hee rings the doorbell. She asks if he really likes Bong Sun, but he brushes past her without answering. Dal sighs that at least Bong Sun is loved by someone.

Bong Sun trashes the meal that she slaved over (which makes my heart hurt. All. That. Food…) and Jae Hee tells her that they need to talk. Bong Sun replies that she doesn’t have anything to say, nor does she want to hear his excuses. He gives her a warning: if she says they’re over one more time, then he’ll really break up with her. Tsk. You know that’s going to backfire on you.

She responds that she wants to sleep, and Jae Hee shouts that he trusted Bong Sun and defended her against Hwa Young. She asks why and he reveals that an article about Perche’s marketing stunt is circulating. The reporter claims that she received inside information from a neighborhood female officer. Bong Sun denies that it was her, and Jae Hee wonders if she’s telling the truth. They bitterly separate, stewing over their hurt feelings.

Bong Sun and the other officers practice shooting targets, but she finds herself distracted from yesterday’s events. She misses the bull’s eye repeatedly while Maru shows off his awesome shooting skills. Later, as they do stretching exercises, Bong Sun asks if Maru could kill someone for her, and he replies that her relationship is much too dramatic. I’ll say. They haven’t even gone out for a month and she already wants to murder him.

Dal bursts into Hwa Young’s office and informs witch lady that Bong Sun isn’t her blood sister. Hwa Young is slightly taken aback by that but she keeps calm. Dal snides that she’ll never forgive Hwa Young for setting her up and stabbing her pride. Hwa Young smiles and reminds Dal that she’ll have to give up her car, clothes, and car before doing anything rash.

Dal goes to see Dr. Park and requests a consultation. She provides an analogy:

There’s a hungry beggar who meets an ahjumma who sells hotcakes. The ahjumma tempts the beggar with a hotcake, but she throws in a muddy puddle. The beggar has two choices: pick up the hotcake and eat it or refuse it and keep some self-respect. Which one should the beggar choose?

Dr. Park responds that it’s up to Dal’s…er..the beggar’s principles. The beggar chooses based on what’s more important to her, and that’s what shapes who the beggar becomes. Dal responds that he’s supposed to choose for her! He responds that it’s not his job to choose. He’s merely a guide. She huffs that he’s useless and leaves after telling him to watch her luggage.

Maru and Bong Sun visit a convenience store and she asks why he always buys disposables razors. She can buy him an electric shaver. He immediately declines and she notes his strange behavior. In the patrol car, she inquires if he has a crush on the cashier girl at the store, and he gives a sheepish smile. He asks if she’s still fighting with Jae Hee, and she advises him not to fall in love. It’s too complicated. He shakes his head and replies that he wants to fall in love at least 100 times. Hehe.

They notice a bunch of protestors outside of Perche and Bong Sun recalls her encounter with the journalist. She belatedly realizes that she did slip a little bit of information and decides to visit Jae Hee, who is conversing with the parking manager about the sudden drop in customers.

Dal stares at her own advertisement and comtemplates her hotcake dilemma. Young Hee approaches her for an autograph and Dal readily signs the notebook. She looks at the poster again and decides to pick up the hotcake and eat it. As she moves to the exit, Bong Sun comes down the stairs. The stepsisters glare at each other, and Bong Sun tells Dal not to eat too many eggs at the sauna. She farts too much already. Kek.

Jae Hee tries to get a hold of Hwa Young when Bong Sun walks in. They both apologize for their harsh words. Bong Sun admits that she accidently confirmed that the noise marketing was initiated by Perche to the reporter at the launching party. Jae Hee assures her that she doesn’t have to worry; he’s handling it.

Bong Sun heads back to the police station, but gets a call from her sunbae that she’s being sued by Perche for slander. She stomps back into Jae Hee’s office and demands to know if he filed the lawsuit. If not him, was it Hwa Young? He stands dumbfounded at her outburst and she tells him to ask his business partner about what’s happening.

Dal meets with Hwa Young to tell her that Bong Sun wants to break up with Jae Hee. She muses that Hwa Young wants to hurt Bong Sun because Jae Hee loves her, not Hwa Young. As a result, Dal gets pelted in the face with water and Hwa Young tosses her a handkerchief. Dal coolly tells Hwa Young that she wants to continue modeling; otherwise, she’s going to tell Jae Hee about their partnership. Hwa Young responds that she’ll keep Dal as a model…for now.

Bong Sun’s sunbae tells her that she needs to wait for the court’s ruling to know whether she’s guilty or not. She insists that she’s innocent, but her sunbae responds that her word alone can’t solve a lawsuit. He advises her to work it out with the other party. If only it were that easy.

Bong Sun comes back to the station and gets a warm greeting from her cuddly, reasonable father. He stopped by after seeing the news report because he was so worried about her. She rolls her eyes and goes up to the kitchen area with Dad hot on her heels. Bong Sun’s supervisor wonders why Jae Hee is suing his girlfriend.

Dad yells at Bong Sun, asking her how she could create such a mess. Is she stupid? He tells her that whether or not she’s done something wrong is not the point; it’s the court’s ruling that determines her innocence. Bong Sun responds that he’s not even worried about her. He’s worried about what’ll happen to his reputation among police officers.

She reminds him that she’s not a child. She’s over thirty years old and this is her workplace. He has no right coming here and embarrassing her in front of her colleagues.

Dal goes to Dr. Park’s office and tries to persuade him to let her stay the night. He kicks her out, but she waits outside until he relents. He asks if she has no friends and she nods her head. Aw. I understand why but that’s still sad. Dr. Park stays overnight as well because his apartment is under construction.

Jae Hee goes to the police station but the police chief tells him that Bong Sun already left. The chief asks Jae Hee if they could talk and they head to a cafe. As they drink tea, the chief tells Jae Hee that rumors of the lawsuit have reached the top dogs in the police department and Bong Sun might lose her job. He asks Jae Hee to reconsider his actions for the sake of Bong Sun.

Bong Sun barges into Hwa Young’s office and declares that this lawsuit move is low, even for her. Hwa Young smirks and replies that there’s an easy solution: If Bong Sun admits her guilt, then Perche can retract the lawsuit. Perche’s reputation will be salvaged and Jae Hee can perserve his life’s work.

Jae Hee walks in and yells at Bong Sun to go outside, but she refuses. She’s done being treated like a rag doll by him and Hwa Young. They have no right to rule her life. She whirls around and challenges Hwa Young to try her best at proving Bong Sun’s guilt. Before she leaves, she firmly states to Jae Hee that their relationship is no more.

He replies that they’ll talk about it later and Bong Sun tells him that there’s no need. She walks out and Hwa Young yells that this is all Bong Sun’s fault. Jae Hee shoots back that this is Perche’s responsibility. Hwa Young cuts Jae Hee a (completely ridiculous) deal; she’ll retract the lawsuit if Jae Hee breaks up with Bong Sun. He hesistates, and then declares that he’ll break up with Bong Sun.

Comments:

I really wish I had something interesting to say besides “omfgsomeonekillHwaYoung.” I’m running out of things to call Hwa Young. I guess I should thankful that she’s actually an effective villain. Or…maybe it’s the other way around. I honestly don’t know anymore. I’m relieved that the conflict actually makes sense in the narrative though.

Bong Sun did confirm the noise marketing ploy, which gave the journalist confidence to run the story. The lawsuit seems ridiculous because Hwa Young the biatch is the one who pulled the bag theft fake-out, but it’s also not a crazy plot device that the writer threw in out of desperation. Jae Hee’s noble idiot dilemma makes some sense. I loathe it but it serves a point.

The lawsuit can actually do some damage to Bong Sun’s career, which prods Jae Hee to figure out his priorities. Bong Sun’s job is her source of income and pride. He’s willing to give up his company’s reputation to save Bong Sun’s job because she’s more important to him than anything right now.

Hwa Young’s “solution” to the news report fiasco does save Perche’s reputation and retracting the lawsuit will allow Bong Sun to keep her job. The immense downside is that Bong Sun remains guilty, which would kill her own sense of justice. In addition, the fact that she was sued can’t be erased easily. Her colleagues won’t look at her in the same way, even if she is innocent.

This make-up and break-up game is making me dizzy, but this separation might not be a bad thing. Some time apart gives Jae Hee time to set Hwa Young straight and for Bong Sun to realize that her worth doesn’t come strictly from Jae Hee’s love. In the police station, she essentially blames herself for her sucky love life. She tells herself that she shouldn’t have expected much from her life; she’s always been like this. But her dysfunctional relationship with Jae Hee stems from the middling monster of a third wheel. Maybe some alone time will allow her to re-evaluate her far-from-hopeless life.

On another note, Dal’s metaphor exemplifies how self-absorbed she remains. She neglects the fact that the “muddy puddle” her hotcake fell in is her relationship with her sister. Now, Bong Sun isn’t easy to get along with and they’re technically not blood-related, but Bong Sun has been feeding and housing Dal for months even though she’s not required to. Dal helped Hwa Young drive a nail into another woman’s heart…and for what? Clothes? Is she happy in the company of snobby chaebols who constantly belittle her? I feel no sense of gratitude from her and her spoiled princess personality is shaped by her pushover of a stepmother. I’m not even going to touch the topic of Bong Sun’s parents. Ugh.

I’m just disappointed that Dal hasn’t shown a lot of growth. I thought that being under Hwa Young’s reign of terror would help her realize how empty her materialistic aspirations are. She shows flashes of depth, and it’s to Seo Hyo Rim’s credit that I’ve liked her for this long. But that’s the problem. All we see are flashes. I base my attraction to a drama on whether or not I feel for or connect with the characters. So far, I’ve only found Dal mildly amusing. I don’t expect her to volunteer at an orphanage and give all her clothes to charity, but she’s starting to grate on my nerves.

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