Oh My Baby: Episode 6

by TeriYaki

As our heroine’s scandal gains new momentum, she’s feeling pressured to take drastic action to keep her job. While she struggles with what to do, she’s encouraged by the friendships of the three men who are her best options for having a baby of her own. When our heroine comes up with an unconventional solution, it leads to unexpected consequences for one of those candidates.

  
EPISODE 6: “Hard to hide our feelings”

Alone with Ha-ri in the field, Yi-sang leans forward as if to kiss her but he turns away to cough at the last second. Ha-ri looks understandably confused when Yi-sang complains that it’s windy and heads inside.

On the drive home, Ha-ri wonders, “Was I supposed to kiss him?” She pulls out her phone to consult the internet just as a call from Jae-young comes through. Annoyed, Ha-ri texts that she’s in a meeting which only makes Jae-young more suspicious.

Ha-ri finds some advice that sounds promising, “Give it one more try and hit on him properly,” and she unintentionally reads it out loud. Yi-sang slams on the brakes and squeaks, “What,” but as usual, Ha-ri isn’t aware that she said anything. Ha-ri bickers with Yi-sang, who keeps apologizing because she’s upset, and he agrees when she suggests that they stop talking.

After not speaking for hours, Ha-ri has to clear her throat when Yi-sang nears her house. She points to a spot where he can drop her off but before she exits the car, Ha-ri has to ask, “Do you like guys by any chance?” Assuring Ha-ri that he’s straight, Yi-sang quietly adds, “I hope my apology doesn’t end up keeping you awake at night.”

After Yi-sang drives away, a disappointed Ha-ri walks home and is startled by a well-camouflaged Jae-young. He grills Ha-ri about her overnight trip but she doesn’t want to talk about it. When Jae-young asks if she slept with Yi-sang, Ha-ri answers, “Maybe I should have.”

Still smarting from Yi-sang’s rejection, Ha-ri asks, “Am I unattractive?” Jae-young suddenly can’t look at her and puts on his sunglasses before answering, “If you flirt with a guy, and he shows no reaction, he’s probably a priest, a monk, or asexual.” Satisfied, Ha-ri enters her apartment leaving Jae-young to wonder what exactly happened on the trip to Mureung.

Poor Yi-sang turns out to be the one who can’t sleep. He uses a remote to turn the overhead light on and off as he leans against his statue to ask it, “I should’ve kissed her, right?” When the light is on, a new addition to Yi-sang’s living room display is seen — a framed photograph of his hand with the stamped message, “Good Job!”

At breakfast, Jae-young goes out of his way to annoy Ha-ri and Mom scolds, “You make a great couple, so why won’t you get together already.” After they both squawk at the idea, Mom asks Ha-ri to reply to a text for her. Ha-ri sees that her mother is joining her mountaineering club for an overnight trip to the East Sea and teases, “Who’s the mystery guy?” Mom tells her daughter to focus on her own love life and as she walks away, Ha-ri asks her to bring back some squid.

At Dachae Media, Yeon-ho, Hyo-joo and So-yoon gossip about Ha-ri’s overnight trip within earshot of Manager Kim and Soo-chul. When they conclude that Ha-ri and Yi-sang slept together, Manager Kim confesses, “A sudden overnight trip is also how I got married.”

Ha-ri walks by just then and a colleague exclaims that she’s glowing. The friends joke that they’ll be buying gifts for either a wedding or a baby shower but when a glum Ha-ri stops at the nearby refrigerator, they realize that they jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Yeon-ho complains that Ha-ri hasn’t dated in so long she doesn’t remember what to do. Soo-chul moans that Yi-sang has only had one girlfriend, which means he has no dating experience.

At home, a pajama-clad Yi-sang holds a book titled, “The Joy of Living Alone”. He smiles as his thoughts stray to the near kiss and when his toes curl, Yi-sang tells himself, “Stop it. This is wrong.” His pep talk doesn’t work because Yi-sang imagines himself spinning Ha-ri into his arms and puckering up as he leans her back for a kiss.

Ha-ri suddenly appears and informs Yi-sang that he’s hallucinating because he’s sexually frustrated. He tells the imaginary Ha-ri, “This is me doing my utmost best to hold back,” but she argues that being a gentleman isn’t necessary at their age.

Yi-sang confesses, “Can’t you see that I’ve been making room for you in my heart? If I finally come around to kiss you, then I’ll never let you go.” Ha-ri grumbles that Yi-sang is making a big deal out of a simple kiss and then floats away to find his bedroom.

Hyo-joo submits food photos to Editor Shim, who notices that the ones she requested of the cooking process are missing. Hyo-joo argues they’ll ruin the article’s aesthetic but Editor Shim insists that moms need to see the steps so that the finished dish is suitable for their kids.

When an irate Hyo-joo walks outside to vent, Eu-tteum greets her good-naturedly and gets ignored. Eu-tteum guesses, “Did you get an earful,” only to have Hyo-joo snap that they should stick to polite greetings. He agrees to leave her alone which Hyo-joo immediately regrets when her heel gets caught in a manhole cover and Eu-tteum doesn’t come to her aid.

Soo-chul visits Yi-sang’s apartment and finds his friend moping in the dark. At first he thinks Yi-sang is sick until he mumbles, “I see her when my eyes are open and when they’re closed.” Soo-chul explains that he came over to ask Yi-sang to help Ha-ri with the photoshoot for the infertile couple and urges his heartsick friend to get dressed.

Back at Dachae Media, Yeon-ho hands Ha-ri a product to review so she has an excuse to visit Jambi Studio. Outside, Yi-sang sees Ha-ri’s face in a puddle and reminds himself, “It’s a hallucination.” When Ha-ri asks, “What are you doing,” Yi-sang assumes that she’s not real and waves his hand in front of her.

Confused, Ha-ri waves back and when Yi-sang reaches out to confirm that she’s not there, he recoils when her forehead stops him. After Ha-ri enters the studio, Yi-sang warns himself, “Snap out of it.”

Seated on a couch, Ha-ri remembers reading on the internet about a signal that’s 100% effective, “Rest your head on his shoulder and tilt it 45 degrees.” Ha-ri invites Yi-sang to sit next to her and when he does, she’s distracted by his broad back. Announcing that she’s sleepy, Ha-ri angles her head towards Yi-sang’s shoulder but when he jumps up, she lands on the seat.

Hyo-joo returns to the office to find a pair of fake Gucci sandals on her seat with a note from Eu-tteum, “I hope your feet will be comfortable in these.” Offended, Hyo-joo returns them and Eu-tteum regrets not choosing the Brada ones instead. Oh dear.

Pushing the sandals back towards Hyo-joo, Eu-tteum promises, “Wear these for now. I’ll get you Brada and Ballemciaga next time. It’s 2 for 10 dollars.” At first, Hyo-joo rejects Eu-tteum’s offer but then she thinks better of it. Forcing a smile, Hyo-joo puts on the sandals, “Don’t bother. I’m happy with these.” Delighted to see Hyo-joo wearing his gift, Eu-tteum leaves, but Hyo-joo doesn’t take them off because they’re comfortable.

As Yi-sang loads his car for the photoshoot, he makes it clear that once Soo-chul recovers, he’ll be working again with Ha-ri on the project. At the hospital, Ha-ri and Yi-sang follow the infertile couple when they’re called in to see the doctor and Yi-sang pauses briefly in front of the fertility clinic’s sign. In the doctor’s office, Yi-sang prepares to snap some photos until the sight of the couple’s clasped hands triggers a flashback.

In another hospital, In-ah clutched Yi-sang’s hand while a doctor delivered bad news. Her eyes brimming with tears, In-ah pulled her hand away and then left Yi-sang alone. In the present, Ha-ri notices that Yi-sang is distracted just as he shakes off the painful memory.

In the waiting area, Ha-ri expresses hope that the couple will have success with their second attempt at pregnancy. When Yi-sang muses, “You have to sacrifice so much for a being that doesn’t exist,” Ha-ri points to a mother and father with a newborn and marvels, “When you look at a mom looking at her baby, isn’t it amazing?” Yi-sang asks if that’s why women choose a baby over the person they love but Ha-ri insists that she’d never let go of the person that she loves because finding love is a miracle too.

At home, Ha-ri installs the hand held shower head she’s been given to review in Jae-young’s bathroom. When Jae-young grabs it to look at it more closely, he’s positioned behind Ha-ri as if in a back hug.

After Ha-ri smacks his hand away, Jae-young tells her, “You’re… so tiny. I can hug you with just one arm.” When Jae-young suggests that Ha-ri should exercise to increase her strength, she offers to beat him up.

Ha-ri records video of Jae-young bathing Do-ah with the product. When she urges him to relax, Jae-young confesses that his ex-wife usually bathed Do-ah so he’s still a novice. Feeling bad, Ha-ri reminds Jae-young that she’ll always be around to help as Do-ah’s “aunt” but he insists that “stranger” is a better description. Jae-young explains that the only way that they can be considered family is if they’re married.

After a long night, Editor Shim calls Ha-ri from the hospital to report that she won’t be at work. Her message delivered, Editor Shim returns to her daughter’s room to hold her sick baby so that she can get some work done on her laptop. When she hangs up after taking a call from her older daughter’s day care, Editor Shim tells herself, “I can do this alone.”

At the office, when Vice President Joo asks for Editor Shim, Ha-ri explains that she took the day off. Unhappy to see his suspended employee, Vice President Joo reminds the staff about a report that he needs and leaves.

Ha-ri decides to escape to Jambi Studio but after a call, she runs off. In the studio, Yi-sang and Soo-chul are surprised that Ha-ri is late but when Soo-chul gets a text, they understand why she’s not there.

At his clinic, Jae-young also gets a text while examining Eun-young’s twins. He prescribes antibiotics for one of her sons and when Eun-young asks for enough for both boys, at a discount, it starts an argument. Jae-young grabs his phone and after checking his text, he shows Eun-young an online article about Ha-ri, titled, “The Shocking Sperm Lady”.

Over at Dachae Media, Yeon-ho, Hyo-joo and So-yoon are bombarded with phone calls. Eu-tteum is concerned when Yeon-ho shouts, “Hasn’t anyone heard from Ha-ri?” Downstairs at Jambi Studio, Soo-chul is worried because Ha-ri’s personal information was published and Yi-sang walks out without a word.

When Ha-ri exits the local police station, she answers a call from Eun-young. Ha-ri explains that she asked the police to remove the offending article and Eun-young reports that she’s working to get Ha-ri’s personal information removed along with the hate comments that were posted. Ha-ri notices that she’s attracting attention and Eun-young warns, “Don’t be intimidated, okay?”

Hoping to avoid attention, Ha-ri turns down an alleyway on her way home. She’s uneasy when she senses someone behind her and Ha-ri quickens her steps until she’s running. Eu-tteum catches up to Ha-ri just as Yi-sang and Jae-young arrive on the scene and they’re surprised to find themselves together again.

At a noodle restaurant, Eu-tteum explains that he got Ha-ri’s address at work while Yi-sang happened to be walking by. Ever helpful, Jae-young tells Ha-ri, “This is your fault for not answering your phone,” but she explains that she had to turn it off because it wouldn’t stop ringing.

Eu-tteum warns Ha-ri not to read what’s being said about her but she already knows that she’s being called “Sperm Lady” and “gold-digger”. Jae-young advises Ha-ri to take some time off and Eu-tteum agrees, while Yi-sang assures her that things will calm down once a new scandal pops up.

Yi-sang offers Ha-ri his help but Jae-young asks what kind of help a colleague can provide. After Eu-tteum offers to help as well, the men argue over who’s best suited to assist her.

After dinner, Ha-ri steps outside while the men argue over who will pay the bill. Some drunk men recognize her and shout out, “Sperm Lady,” but Ha-ri tells them they have the wrong person. One of the men grabs Ha-ri’s wrist and after informing her that he fathered triplets, he offers his “assistance.”

In tears, Ha-ri hits the man and when she shouts at him, Eu-tteum, Jae-young and Yi-sang come running. They demand to know why Ha-ri is crying but the man who grabbed her claims that he’s the victim. He threatens to call the police, explaining, “That crazy cow will be buried deep once I’m through with her.”

When Yi-sang advances on him menacingly, the man explains, “We saw her photo online and just acknowledged that we recognized her. But she…kicked me and hit me with her purse.” When he calls Ha-ri, “That crazy Sperm Lady,” it’s too much for Yi-sang, who’s about to punch the man in the face until a tearful Ha-ri begs, “Please don’t. Let’s just go.”

After the three men accompany Ha-ri all the way home, Eu-tteum scribbles something on a notepad and asks her, “That guy from earlier. Should we report him?” Ha-ri chuckles when she sees Eu-tteum’s very bad sketch and admits, “If you make me laugh like this, I’ll shake it off and sleep well.”

After thanking her protectors, Ha-ri is accompanied inside by Jae-young after he refuses to use his own entrance. When Eu-tteum asks if they’re a couple, Yi-sang assures him that they’re just friends. Yi-sang looks thoughtful when Eu-tteum announces that he’ll have to work harder to protect Ha-ri from now on.

Later, Jae-young tries to enter Ha-ri’s place but she’s jammed a spoon in the door’s latch. He manages to get inside anyway, with Do-ah strapped to his back, and holds up some comic books that he explains help whenever he’s sad.

Over comics and beer, Ha-ri points out that even though she’s capable of raising a baby, it’s not an option because she’s not married and she doesn’t expect that to change even after forty years. Ha-ri does appreciate that the scandal has proved who her true friends are and she begrudgingly admits that Jae-young is one of them.

Ha-ri jumps up when Do-ah cries and seeing his daughter in Ha-ri’s arms leads Jae-young to ask, “Do you want to marry me?” Ha-ri thinks Jae-young is joking but he’s serious, “It’s hard to get sperm. Why don’t you just raise Do-ah as your own?” After Ha-ri explains, “I don’t need a man,” Jae-young is surprised to hear that she sees him that way.

The next day, a woman in the mountaineering club mentions to Mom that Ha-ri’s name is all over the internet. After calling Ha-ri “Sperm Lady”, the woman labels her a criminal and an enraged Mom lunges at her and pulls her hair.

Outside of Dachae Media, Yi-sang approaches a nervous Ha-ri and asks why she can’t go inside. Ha-ri explains that Vice President Joo wanted to see her before everyone arrives for work, which means she has reason to be scared.

In an effort to cheer her up, Yi-sang shows Ha-ri the photos from Mureung. Disappointed because she wasn’t able to preview the photos with him, Yi-sang promises, “Next time…for sure.”

In his office, Vice President Joo explains that the chairman wants the magazine to publish Ha-ri’s apology. Editor Shim refuses to make Ha-ri’s personal business public and when Vice President Joo insists, she calls him dense.

When Ha-ri speaks up, she reasons that an apology won’t necessarily win back readers and suggests appealing to them for understanding. Vice President Joo makes it clear that the apology isn’t optional and when Ha-ri asks if a drop in ad sales will mean another suspension, he tells her, “This time, you’ll get fired.”

At the end of the work day, Ha-ri asks Editor Shim for advice but all she says is, “Don’t trust Mr. Joo. He’s a jerk, too,” When Editor Shim answers a call from her husband, Ha-ri is surprised by the cute voice she uses to greet him.

After having to listen to the staff complain about dealing with her scandal, Ha-ri tells Yeon-ho, Hyo-joo and So-yoon, “I’m sorry for making you take care of my mess. I told you that I’m your future, but I take it back. I don’t want any of you to go through this.”

At home, Ha-ri is writing her letter of apology when her mother returns a day early from her trip. Angry, Mom tosses the squid that Ha-ri requested at her feet and snaps, “Don’t let yourself feel small just because I’m angry at you. And don’t blame yourself or feel like you made a mistake…I know very well that you did nothing wrong.”

The next morning at work, Manager Kim does his best to convince Ha-ri that her apology will prevent their clients from withdrawing their ads. Ha-ri worries that an admission of guilt will give them an excuse to pull their ads anyway and she assures Manager Kim that she’s come up with a solution.

A flashback shows Ha-ri writing the opening lines of her submission, “I have endometriosis. My ovaries are 40 years old. And the possibility for me to get naturally pregnant is less than seven percent. I’m subfertile.”

In a bookstore, Eu-tteum picks up the latest issue of The Baby and opens it to Ha-ri’s piece. Ha-ri’s mother reads her daughter’s article at the same time as Yi-sang, Jae-young and the staff at the magazine, and they all learn that Ha-ri’s doctor estimated that Ha-ri has just six months left to have a baby.

Ha-ri’s mother, Eu-tteum, Yi-sang and Jae-young all look thoughtful after finishing Ha-ri’s article, which concludes, “I’d like to share my story with you every month and find the answer to this together. Am I not allowed to have a baby without getting married?” Outside of Dachae Media, Ha-ri turns back to look at the building as if she’s leaving it for the last time before walking away.

Later that day, Yi-sang pauses outside of a urologist’s office. After a deep sigh, Yi-sang goes inside and when he sees the doctor, he has to calm his nerves before he can ask, “Is there a way for me to have a baby?”

  
COMMENTS

Oh My Baby just threw a huge curve ball with that final scene and it turns out that we’re dealing with two cases of infertility, Ha-ri’s and Yi-sang’s. I honestly can’t wait for the next episode because I want to know what prompted Yi-sang to take the huge step of consulting a doctor about his problem. Is it because he wants to be the one to give Ha-ri a baby of her own? Or was he inspired by Ha-ri’s brave reveal in the latest issue of The Baby? Whatever the reason, Yi-sang is finally confronting the issue that is behind his commitment to never marrying or having children.

While Oh My Baby hasn’t been shy about discussing women’s fertility issues, it’s only hinted at male infertility in regards to sperm donation. The only reason a couple qualifies for sperm donation is because the husband has been found to be infertile. I expected male infertility to get more attention with the introduction of the infertile couple that Ha-ri and Yi-sang are working with. I never expected that Yi-sang was burdened with such a challenge himself, but with that knowledge, his character suddenly comes into focus.

No wonder Yi-sang doesn’t want to officially join Jambi Studio, it must be torture for him to be surrounded by babies. It explains why he doesn’t want to visit his family home, because Yi-sang seemingly hasn’t shared his news with anyone and there’s always the inevitable pressure to marry and start a family. It also makes sense of Yi-sang’s commitment to live a solitary life because he doesn’t want to cause another woman the pain that his issue caused In-ah before she finally broke off their engagement.

With In-ah gone, Yi-sang’s solution was to ignore his problem but thanks to Ha-ri, he’s discovered that giving up without a fight only leads to deep regret. While Ha-ri hasn’t come to any definitive conclusions as to how to deal with her waning fertility, she’s exploring every option even if it’s just to dismiss it. She’s giving single motherhood serious consideration in spite of societal norms and in spite of the scandal that’s spinning out of control.

While the scandal has made Ha-ri a target of haters, she’s right, it’s proved who her friends are and there are three really good men who have her back. But now that we’ve learned that Yi-sang probably has fertility issues, what does that mean for his budding romance with Ha-ri? How can two subfertile individuals have a baby of their own, with so few chances left for Ha-ri? Could Yi-sang marry Ha-ri, making her eligible to legally use a sperm donor, or does Oh My Baby have something else in mind?

Oh My Baby has certainly discussed female fertility issues pretty thoroughly but the fact that they’re tackling the issue from the male’s perspective is awfully brave. I imagine that there are difficult days ahead not only for Ha-ri, but for Yi-sang as well, as they pursue what it would take to have a baby, hopefully together, because Yi-sang has fallen hard for Ha-ri.

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