Chocolate: Episode 12

182 January 8, 2020January 8, 2020

by TeriYaki

After years of suppressing the happy memories of his hometown, our neurosurgeon returns to attend the funeral of an old friend. Having driven through the night to get him there, our chef eventually joins him for his bittersweet homecoming and is reminded of their first meeting as kids. With our doctor far from home, a family crisis leads to a brazen power play and it’s time for his cousin to decide whose side he’s on.

EPISODE 12 RECAP

As Cha-young follows the highway signs to Wando Island, Kang thanks her for driving. When they take the long bridge that leads to the island, Kang remembers teasing Dong-gu about his feelings for Kang’s mother.

Summer, 1992. Dong-gu was at work on a boat when a bandaged Kang confronted him, “Did you cry all night because we’re moving?” Dong-gu had insisted that his swollen eyes were the result of a centipede bite that he got while sleeping.

At Geosung Hospital, a sobbing Seung-hoon holds his mother’s hand as Hye-mi hovers nearby. Seo-hoon arrives with her mascara running down her face as Seung-hoon begs their mother not to die. Hye-mi tries to assure the siblings that Grandma will recover but that doesn’t stop their wailing.

Unable to bear the scene any longer, Hye-mi leaves and her feigned distress immediately leaves her face. She’s surprised to see Joon in the hallway and when she tries to report that Grandma should be fine, he stops her. After speaking with her doctor, Joon knows that his grandmother may not survive and urges his mother to call Kang.

When Hye-mi insists on waiting until Grandma wakes up, Joon argues, “What if she doesn’t?” Joon thinks it would be unfortunate for his grandmother to make her final wishes known without Kang present, since he’s the only legitimate Geosung heir. After Hye-mi pretends that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Joon explains himself, “It means Kang and I may have the same grandmother, but we don’t have the same grandfather.”

On Wando Island, Cha-young parks near the funeral hall and announces, “We’re here.” When Kang gets out of the car, Cha-young informs him that she’ll be taking the express bus home. While Dong-gu’s niece welcomes him (cameo by Yubin), Kang watches Cha-young walk away.

On her way to the bus station, Cha-young realizes that she doesn’t have her phone or wallet but she does have Kang’s car key. As she runs back to the funeral hall, Kang pays his respects to his old friend.

Kang studies an older Dong-gu in the funeral portrait and the memories come flooding back. Kang had promised to return to Wando Island as soon as possible but Dong-gu urged him to forget about the place and live happily with his grandmother and mother in Seoul.

Kang told Dong-gu, “I want to live here with you until the day I die,” and he grabbed the man’s hand to pinkie promise, “I give you my word as a man. I’ll come back…” Unable to contain his sorrow any longer, Dong-gu had thrown his arms around Kang and sobbed. In the present, Kang silently apologizes, “I’m sorry I took so long to come back, Mr. Ha.”

Cha-young returns just as the niece carries a box to the funeral hall. She hands it to Kang and explains, “Uncle Dong-gu wanted to give this to you when you returned to Wando.” Kang finds it filled with chocolate and he smiles at his friend’s portrait while Cha-young watches his tears fall into the box.

Ye-sol’s grandfather is surprised when he arrives at his shop and finds Seon-ae serving steamed buns to some customers. After they leave, Seon-ae points out that he should have locked up while he was gone.

When Seon-ae points out that the weak daughter-in-law that he rejected managed to give birth to the sweet Ye-sol and that his son is devoted to her, he shouts at her to get out. Seon-ae warns, “…you should just accept your son and daughter-in-law. Otherwise, you’ll end up regretting it like me.”

After she returns to the hospice, Seon-ae serves the grandfather’s steamed buns to Ye-sol and when asked if he’s coming to the wedding, Seon-ae urges her to try delivering the invitation again.

Joon sits in his car in the hospice parking lot and recalls asking his mother, “Does Dad also know?” After admitting that Seong-hoon knew nothing, Hye-mi coldly suggested that Joon could be the one to tell him the truth. Still reeling from his mother’s accusation that Grandma used him to strengthen Kang, Joon remembers that Kang’s mother confessed how much Kang hated competing with him.

Joon finds Kang’s office but Nurse Na-ra informs him that he’s on Wando Island for a funeral. When Tae-hyun shows up, Na-ra hands him Cha-young’s backpack and phone and grumbles about the fact that his sister is with Kang.

The phone rings with a call from Cha-young and when Tae-hyun answers, she asks for a favor. When Tae-hyun tries to remind her that she’s not well, Cha-young hangs up. Tae-hyun explains to a curious Joon and Na-ra that Cha-young needs him to text Kang that she’s waiting for him at a park near the funeral hall.

When Na-ra is full of questions, Tae-hyun guesses that she likes Kang. Joon overhears Tae-hyun tell her that Kang and Cha-young are one another’s first loves, “Their love started in Wando when they were kids. Then they met at Geosung Hospital, and they met again in Greece…They might just be meant for each other.”

Back on Wando Island, a tired Cha-young finds an empty bench on the beach and sits down to wait for Kang. The burial over, Kang stands alone in front of Dong-gu’s headstone with a final wish, “Mr. Ha. Once you get to heaven, make sure to propose to my mom…”

At the hospice, Seon-ae barges into Director Kwon’s office and drags him to the kitchen. She sits him down in front of a table loaded with food and explains that even though they lived together for a year, she has no idea what he likes. When Director Kwon refuses to eat, a desperate Seon-ae grasps his hands, “You said you wanted to eat my cooking. If you don’t eat it today, you will never have a chance.”

Director Kwon frees himself and tells Seon-ae that he remarried after their divorce. His wife died after giving birth to a son, who he sent to live with his grandparents in the States for over ten years. Director Kwon confesses that he never asked his son to come home because he held out hope that Seon-ae would someday return.

Seon-ae’s eyes fill with tears when the guilt laden Director Kwon begs her to stay out of his life. Director Kwon returns to his office and takes out a picture of Min-sung and sobs, “I’m sorry.”

After getting Tae-hyun’s text, Kang searches the park where Cha-young said she would wait. He finds her dozing off while sitting on the bench, his car key clutched in her hand. When Kang kneels in front of Cha-young to throw his jacket over her shoulders, her head falls onto his shoulder.

Kang looks down at Cha-young as he thinks about the rest of Tae-hyun’s text, “…she’s very ill now. She bumped her head and…lost her senses of smell and taste. You’re a doctor, so I want you to take good care of her.” Kang steadies Cha-young and doesn’t move as we learn that he asked Tae-hyun to send him copies of her medical records and MRI.

A distracted Joon aims a hose at a flower bed as two men exit the hospice shouting at one another. When their fight gets physical, Young-sil grabs the hose and turns it on them. Joon tries to stop Young-sil when she hits them and yells that they can’t cause a scene at the hospice, unaware that the men are her relatives. Young-sil explains that her father’s cousin is now a patient at the hospice but his sons only care about his money.

As the brothers resume their fight, Young-sil tells Joon that after toiling all of his life to help them, their father has nothing left but his deposit money. Young-sil hates them for fighting over such a meager amount and guesses, “If there was a thousand times more money involved things would be a lot more cruel and heartless, right?”

Young-sil visits her father’s cousin and tells the unconscious man, “In your next life…Please live for yourself.” Young-sil wipes away her tears when Na-ra summons her to the kitchen.

Young-sil finds Michael’s mother in the kitchen and is shown the ingredient that’s been missing from the stew. Mom explains that when her boys were young, she found some pine mushrooms on the mountain and put them into Michael’s stew, but not his brother’s. Young-sil realizes that Mom did that because Michael was sick.

Later, Young-sil and Michael’s mom wait outside of his room as he tastes her latest recipe. Susan is overjoyed when Michael confirms that this stew is the one that he’s been waiting for.

His wish fulfilled, Michael thanks Susan for bringing him back to Korea. He tearfully promises, “If we’re born again, I’ll be a better son,” and they hug after saying, “I love you.” Out in the hallway, Michael’s mother is relieved when Young-sil confirms that her recipe was what Michael remembered. After looking at Michael one last time through the window, Mom turns to leave.

She pauses when Young-sil tells her, “He’s grateful that you gave birth to him.” After some grumbling, Mom asks Young-sil to thank Susan for the seaweed soup but complains that someone must have helped her since it was exceptional. She asks Young-sil not to share that part before walking away for the last time.

As the sun sets on Wando Island, Cha-young opens her eyes and jumps to her feet when Kang asks, “Did you have a good sleep?” Cha-young asks how long she slept on his shoulder, shocked when Kang tells her, “…about four hours?”

Kang sits Cha-young down and assures her that she didn’t snore or drool. When Cha-young insists that she doesn’t do either of those things, Kang explains, “I was trying to say that it’s okay even if you snore or drool.”

After she calms down, Cha-young asks to borrow some money to take the bus home. Kang suggests that she can go back with him and when she refuses, he informs her that she won’t make it to the last bus in time.

Announcing that he’s hungry, Kang promises that they’ll leave after they eat and when he limps away, a worried Cha-young chases after him. After buying fresh fish at the fish market, Kang announces that he’s taking Cha-young to a restaurant that he knows.

When Joon gets home, he finds his dad with an old family photo. Seung-hoon whines to his father about how hard it was after he passed away and begs him not to take his mother. Joon reaches out to comfort his father but stops himself.

Joon gets a call from Hye-mi that Grandma has regained consciousness and when Seung-hoon hears the news, they head for the hospital. In her room, Grandma looks very afraid when Hye-mi approaches her bed.

Kang and Cha-young stop in front of his mother’s old restaurant. Kang explains that Dong-gu took it over and he smiles when he finds the key in the usual spot. When Kang walks through the door, he’s transported to a happier time as he remembers his mother.

When Cha-young enters, Kang tells her, “My mom was also an amazing cook, just like you.” Kang announces his plan to cook dinner and warns that it may not go well but Cha-young watches happily as he chops, boils and grills.

Seo-hoon returns to the hospital at the same time as Seung-hoon and Joon. When they find Grandma with her eyes closed, Hye-mi explains that she’s been sedated. Seo-hoon notices the two board members in the room and they explain that Grandma summoned them as soon as she woke up.

Seo-hoon and Seung-hoon are shocked when they’re told that Grandma named Hye-mi as the acting chairwoman. When Seo-hoon objects, Seung-hoon comes to his wife’s defense, “…she sacrificed sleep and ran around to grow Geosung to what it is today.”

After instructing the men to leave, Hye-mi pushes Seung-hoon and Seo-hoon out of the room, leaving Joon alone with his grandmother. When he looks down at her, Joon notices that his grandmother is crying.

Cha-young smiles as she surveys Kang’s dishes and when he sits down, she thanks him for the meal and begins to eat. She stops when Kang confesses that he’s seen her MRI and knows that she can’t smell or taste anything, “That’s why I didn’t want to take you to just any restaurant.”

When Kang gently suggests that Cha-young doesn’t have to eat if she doesn’t want to, she starts to cry. Kang hands her some tissue just like he did when they were kids and Cha-young remembers how he gently wiped away her tears. Cha-young utters the same words that she said that day, “I’m just so happy. This food is so delicious, it’s making me unbelievably happy.”

Her words trigger Kang’s memory and he sees himself making the promised chocolate truffles for the girl that he caught eating food meant for the cows (and he’s wearing a Peter Pan t-shirt). Remembering that the girl cried from happiness, Kang asks, “By any chance, did you visit Wando when you were little?” Cha-young hesitates and then nods silently.

Kang’s eyes widen in surprise and he asks Cha-young another question, “By any chance, have you ever been here to Bada Restaurant, back when you were young?” Kang is stunned when Cha-young nods again and his eyes fill with tears as he continues, “Then, do you remember me?” Tears spill from Cha-young’s eyes when she looks up at Kang and nods.

COMMENTS

Finally! Kang knows what Tae-hyun and Joon both already know, that he met Cha-young on Wando Island when they were kids. After what’s been a very emotional day, Kang learns that the woman that he’s been trying to avoid for so long is the girl that he made those chocolate truffles for all those years ago. I feel like an idiot because I didn’t notice until this episode that Kang was wearing that Peter Pan t-shirt. It explains why Cha-young called her first love Peter Pan when she confided in Min-sung back when they were together. The tiniest details in this drama end up becoming significant and I’m sure we’re in for more revelations like that before the end.

As lovely as Kang’s deepening feelings for Cha-young are to witness, I’m most anxious to see how Joon is going to handle his mother’s betrayal. Learning that he’s not a legitimate Geosung heir is bad enough, but now Joon has to decide if he’s going to expose that secret to prevent his mother from taking the hospital away from his grandmother. Joon may be devastated by the fact that his grandmother only used him to push Kang, but even more upsetting is the fact that Hye-mi has been using him to get her hands on Geosung Hospital and that she’s willing to sacrifice his grandmother in the process.

Joon may not be as talented at Kang, but he’s definitely smart thanks to his mother. While Hye-mi can get away with misleading the gullible Seung-hoon, Joon is another matter. In an interesting parallel, Joon is faced with a similar situation that Kang confronted when he uncovered the murder plot against Hee-joo. Of course, Kang didn’t have to turn his mother in to the police, but if Joon doesn’t do something, Hye-mi is going to see to it that his grandmother is drugged for the rest of what’s left of her life.

Joon’s time at the hospice has had a profound effect on him, just as it’s had on Kang. Joon has actually warmed up to Young-sil, whose own family issues serve as an uncomfortable reminder about how immature he and Kang have been in their fight for the hospital. In the midst of his father’s distress that he may lose his mother, Joon hesitates to hurt him by revealing that he’s not a legitimate Geosung heir, but his grandmother is in terrible danger.

As awful as their grandmother has been, her rejection of Kang’s mother makes a tiny bit of sense in light of recent developments. Desperate to hand Geosung over to her husband’s legitimate son and then grandchild, Grandma needed to prevent any perceived weakness from hurting either one of them. That’s why she never accepted Kang’s mother and did her best to erase her memory. What I’m wondering is when exactly did Hye-mi learn that her husband wasn’t her father-in-law’s biological son? And if his suicide was precipitated by that revelation, who told him? Why did Kang’s father marry the maid’s daughter and throw away his birthright? I suspect that Hye-mi has been working behind the scenes for years to position herself to take over Geosung, supposedly for Joon’s benefit.

Of course, Kang knows nothing of the life and death drama at home, so he’s free to explore his early memories and his feelings for Cha-young, especially now that he knows that they met when they were young. Kang gave up chocolate after his mother died, fearful that he would return to Wando Island if he ever tasted it again. That promise that he made to Dong-du explains why. Kang really loved Dong-gu, he even wanted him as a stepfather, and the taste of chocolate would have reminded him of the kind man and a happier place. His connection to the young Cha-young will only reinforce how special Wando Island is. It may be that Hye-mi risked everything for no reason because I’m not sure that Kang is in any hurry to go back home.

182

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1 JustMe

January 8, 2020 at 5:10 PM

Those last 3-4 min (when Kang finally realizes who Cha Young is) were literally EVERYTHING I wanted from this show. Despite the cheesy and tropey writing (the writing sometimes feels cheap and ignorant), I just LOVED that scene. The OST, the build-up, the acting was all perfect. If anyone just wants to watch ONE scene from the WHOLE show, it'd be that one.
But also, episode 12 was just all together better than most episodes or maybe the best episode yet. We got to see Kang returning to his old self and Jun being the good guy he really is. Cha young's dongseng has also calmed down.

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egads aka Dame Maggie

January 8, 2020 at 5:26 PM

I've been on the verge of quitting this drama for weeks, but Kang in the last minutes of episode 12 has saved it from the drop pile.

Please drama control yourself now and give us what we want. Good storytelling, more cooking, and actual development in the relationship between the leads.

Also, grandma can die.

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JustMe

January 8, 2020 at 7:34 PM

sorry grandma but you're toxic and you just gotta go. Also mom needs to calm down and go back to speaking french so her hubby can freak out.

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mugyuljoie is preciousss

January 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM

Mom is equally toxic and dad is stuck in adolescence.

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MeiDramaDreams

January 9, 2020 at 12:49 AM

Perhaps Grandma and the gang needs a taste of Kang’s choco shasha.

mmmmm

January 9, 2020 at 7:27 AM

And after they eat chocolate truffles made by Kang, boom! they become better human beings. // or can they ever?

Kafiyah Bello

January 9, 2020 at 5:04 AM

Me too. I honestly thought she would like and their would be no movement, so when she nodded I screamed PROGRESS, and started singing Etta James's At last.

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Kafiyah Bello

January 9, 2020 at 2:33 PM

She would lie and there

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mmmmm

January 9, 2020 at 7:32 AM

You spoke my mind regarding the three last minutes of the ep. I mean those were MAGICAL (cried my happy tears.) I replayed those nodding scenes like 3-4 times. At last, I said to myself. I love that, for whatever reason, CY began to be true to herself and her feelings, and Kang's facial expression including those teary eyes made me want to possess CY right at that moment. (smirky face)

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Joyrock

January 11, 2020 at 12:50 AM

Yes, episode 12 is my favorite so far!

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vlinder

January 11, 2020 at 5:13 AM

I was already happy with the beach scene! I was ecstatic with the last 3-4 minutes. And the preview where he asks "Can I love you CY?" with the scene of him grabbing her hand (I think) - I have no words to describe my level of happiness. This episode just delivered on what I wanted and expected! LOL. Can't wait for episode 13

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2 Sannakji8

January 8, 2020 at 6:12 PM

Comment was deleted

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3 Sannakji8

January 8, 2020 at 6:13 PM

Why would she be crying eating his food if she has lost her sense of taste and smell? ^_^

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Sunset125

January 8, 2020 at 6:17 PM

Because sometimes food tastes good not because of of its physical properties but because it was prepared with thoughtfulness and love. Food is not good because of itself but because of the context it is consumed. This has been a strong message of this drama.

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Ruckus Likes Drama

January 8, 2020 at 6:55 PM

Oh and I saw the peter pan tshirt too (first by replaying an earlier episode and then in this one) thanks to your observation @sunset125 :)

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Sunset125

January 9, 2020 at 5:43 AM

Clothes have a language in this drama, just like food 😊. I suspect I'll have more to comment on this topic later but I'll let the next ep confirms my theory first.

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vijaya

January 8, 2020 at 9:37 PM

You are absolutely right sunset125,plus she was super hungry and if you look closely the menu is somewhat same that Cha young ate years ago.
My eyes were teary only twice in this drama and that also when Cha young was eating as a kid and now. ..weird ha I mean so many tragic death happened in this drama...felt sad but didn't cried once. I remembered somewhat same scene from the drama called LAST..where main lead was hungry for couple of days and finally he gets his meal in some old tiny inn, the food was simple but way he ate and felt.... He was teary, almost burns his mouth and after finishing the meal the satisfaction ,joy he felt were so real that.my eyes were teary.
Watching hungry people eating makes me cry not dying them..weird
Do I need therapy?
Kang also slept on Cha young's shoulder in theater...does he remember that?

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Sunset125

January 9, 2020 at 5:41 AM

@vijaya *grasp* Is that the same "LAST" drama that stars YKS as the main lead? I saw some parts of it and the end he mentioned a meal and how hungry he was.

Yes, the menu is somewhat the same you are right. That makes the memory even stronger.

I haven't cried once in this drama despite all the tragic deaths, so you're not weird and no therapy is needed 🙂. Some people cry in sadness some cry at joy and food brings joy in this drama, especially to our FL 😊

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ohduhree

January 9, 2020 at 12:23 AM

Good point. But I was somehow expecting them to expound on that scene.. curious if her mind overcame her physical inability (i know it sounds impossible). Or maybe I just wanna be privy to Cha young's thoughts--did she say those exact words on purpose to remind kang? Was she expecting him to remember or was it her subconscious unable to hide anymore the need to reveal herself to him..I am curious about a lot of things.

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Sunset125

January 9, 2020 at 5:08 AM

@audrey11 please see my comment bellow 😊

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Ruckus Likes Drama

January 9, 2020 at 6:48 AM

I dont think it was deliberate. She is an emotional person and she really is free with her tears. Kang does do something super nice - he takes her home where his mom's spirit/memory lives and cooks and then explains why no other place was good enough for her (that dialogue is so sensitive!).
So she just says what comes to her mind. @sunset125 says it beautifully... what the food tastes like is all about the context and feelings it is served with.

Oh and I am not sure if she realizes that she is copying herself. I guess the storyteller is just hinting at how she, a person who appreciates good food and kind gestures often feels happy when she is faced with food served with feeling. CY has said that she has been an object of pity many times so think,if someone she loves shares love and not pity would the taste matter? She is crying out of happiness and she says that.

Btw in this drama they dont show Kang's home near the hospice and i guess that is because figuratively and literally his home is the restaurant in Wando.

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Ruckus Likes Drama

January 9, 2020 at 6:49 AM

And i am forever curious about CY, Kang and Jun's thoughts :)

In solidarity!

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egads aka Dame Maggie

January 8, 2020 at 6:31 PM

My thought was that she was kind of pretending because she saw the care and effort that he put into making it. She didn't know that he knew she had lost her sense of taste and smell, and she was doing her best to both honor the meal, and she was also remembering the first meal he made her.

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Ruckus Likes Drama

January 8, 2020 at 6:54 PM

Hi...
He thinks that she might just be pretending and forcing herself for his sake, which is why he tells her that he knows. But she tears up because I think this food is like chocolate to her... her sense of taste might not work but she remembers the feel from that day years ago...

Also, given their context... he thinks she is coming for the first time but she has been to the restaurant before... before her mom abandonement and building collapse trauma... she is also super emotional as she has come to a place of happy memories with her "peter pan"!

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mmmmm

January 9, 2020 at 7:35 AM

This.

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Miky

January 8, 2020 at 6:39 PM

She cried because it brought back memories and even without her smell and taste his food consoled her in her darkest moment just like when she was a child(and was abandoned and hungry)...It wasn't the taste of the food but the gesture and what it meant for her...

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hazelnuts

January 8, 2020 at 7:26 PM

I think it was the memories finally repeating in itself at present. She being back with his first love, being able to finally reminisce childhood with his first love. 💙

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Kwan

January 10, 2020 at 1:21 PM

Because she remembered how it tasted when she was young.

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4 MeiDramaDreams

January 8, 2020 at 6:38 PM

Finally the build up from the last 12 episodes has come to a satisfying revelation. All the little details the writer took to show how Kang unknowingly longs for the life he once had from his childhood were put together very well. And he finally has the chance to express his feelings for the present Cha Young in the same way that he did for the past Cha Young in a way he does best and something that’s probably closer to his heart than being a surgeon. They still have some hurdles to overcome and more importantly, he still needs to verbally express how he feels just so that there aren’t more misunderstanding between them.

I have no more words left for the Grandmother except to say she is loathsome and her daughter-in-law is equally so. Would it be too surprising to hope that Joon rises to the occasion to save and heal them all?

And way to go to brother Tae Hyun! He’s coming through for big sister big time this episode. Both he and the nurse who’s crushing on Kang actually make a more suitable couple.

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ar_arguably romantic

January 8, 2020 at 7:55 PM

I love how Taehyun was sort of like bitchily going "you better not put your paws on my sister's man!" to that nurse and then followed it up with a respectful please.

I did find it sort of embarrassing to claim that Cha Young was Kang's first love too since I don't think Kang ever fell for Cha Young until the present timeline. He was just being that guy who is so nice to everyone.

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