DNA Lover: Episodes 9-10

by Dramaddictally

Our leads are falling in love this week. Since their first kiss, they’ve moved on to handholding, trips to the sea, and trying to change each other (at the DNA level). While our overprotective firefighter backs off to let love breathe, our interloping dating columnist is trying to drum up drama.

 
EPISODES 9-10

Following their kiss in the hospital bed last week, So-jin and Yeon-woo are suddenly close as can be, joking around, making future plans, and even exchanging gifts. When So-jin receives a pair of fancy heels, she tells Yeon-woo not to worry about her running away (because she’s certain he’s her fated lover). But when she whips out a couple item (matching DNA-strand bracelets), he’s not as psyched as she is to partake in wearing them. Although, he concedes.

Since they’re officially dating now, the bulk of these episodes has our new couple finding ways to show they care. So-jin thinks of Yeon-woo non-stop, never wanting to get off the phone, and she’s already got her heart set on a happy ending. At the same time, Yeon-woo is surprising himself (and everyone else) by wanting to get closer to her, rather than keep his cool and safe distance. In a lovely one-liner, he tells us: “Love is a game where the one who keeps their distance wins. But this woman makes me want to lose the game.” (Awww. That’s actually sweet, in a player-ish way.)

But while Yeon-woo is trying to lower his cool, So-jin is trying to gain some nonchalance. Jealousy is weighing on her at every turn — where any woman that Yeon-woo is in contact with is a possible threat. And while most of these ladies are nothing to worry about, there is a specific woman that’s coming on strong: our polyamorous protagonist, who suddenly has her eyes on only one man.

Mi-eun visits So-jin’s office, wearing the same brand of shoes that Yeon-woo gifted So-jin, and makes it seem like they got their footwear from the same person. Then she blathers on about how they dated for three years and have a deep connection — leaving So-jin anxious and fuming, but unwilling to show her upset. So-jin believes that Yeon-woo is her destiny, but Mi-eun says she doesn’t believe in destiny (a.k.a., she’s ready to fight for him).

With anxiety rampant and nowhere to direct it, So-jin decides to try to alter Yeon-woo’s DNA. She’s wants to turn off his cheater gene and activate the unexpressed monogamy gene (which is evidently recessive?) and then she can finally sleep at night. To do this, she bottles up a gene-suppressing spritz and tells him to use it daily. He agrees, but only if, in return, she’ll go on a trip with him abroad (which our homebody heroine is reluctant to do).

Things get even worse for So-jin when she admits to Yeon-woo that she loves him. (She loves him a lot! In her words.) And Yeon-woo doesn’t say anything back. Actually, he gets awkward, changes the subject, and then high-tails it out of there. But, as we learn, our male lead has deep-seated trauma due to his father’s infidelity and his mother’s obsession with holding onto the marriage in spite of it. The truth is, Yeon-woo doesn’t want to burden anyone by connecting to them. He won’t say “I love you” unless he’s sure he can mean it forever (which is a pretty tall order).

And while So-jin is infuriated that he didn’t say it back, we see Yeon-woo spritzing himself with the playboy-suppressant mist on the daily. So, he’s trying! He also tries to covertly indicate to So-jin that not everybody has the same skills when it comes to love. What’s easy for some people to say directly is really difficult for others — but it doesn’t mean they don’t feel it.

To show her how he feels about her, he suggests a trip to the seaside. En route, he reaches over to hold her hand in the car. Ohhhh! This is the first time this drama gave me legit feels. And once they’re on the sand, it’s walking, talking, and handholding central. They’re adorable. And our man is really coming around.

But when you’re on Episode 10 and this much closeness occurs, there’s only one direction for our elation to go — and that’s down. Just as our leads are starting to think they’re finding their groove together, they get in a fight. So-jin is optimistic, assuming their relationship could (or will) last forever, but Yeon-woo is more realistic and isn’t certain how things will go. He understands that it could end at some point — not that he wants it to — but that it could. However, So-jin wants to hear him express his love and commit to happily ever after.

To close our week, we finally get confirmation that the basketball jersey that So-jin swiped for DNA purposes (back in Episode 3) does indeed belong to Kang-hoon. Of course, we had this suspicion since then, but what I didn’t understand until now is that Yeon-woo has known the whole time. So, what does this mean? First, Kang-hoon is So-jin’s DNA Lover. And second, Yeon-woo is still a liar! Is he keeping it from So-jin so she’ll fall for him anyway? (This guy. Just when I was starting to like him.)

Anyway, Yeon-woo tells Mi-eun about the DNA mix-up, and she then tells Kang-hoon. It seems So-jin is the only one out of the loop. Except, just as the episode ends, So-jin is standing in the doorway looking shocked, just after Mi-eun has revealed the news to Kang-hoon. So, it seems that So-jin knows.

I just have to say, it would make me soooooo happy if Kang-hoon gets the girl. Am I going to suffer the worst case of second lead syndrome in my history of bouts with the illness? Perhaps. But I am really excited for next week to see how this pans out. Kang-hoon had just started to back off and stop being so protective of So-jin now that she and Yeon-woo are dating. He’s still worried (and advising her not to fall in love so fast), but he was trying not to get involved and to let her have what she wants. But with our heroine’s unalterable belief in DNA lovers, will this affect what she wants?

And about the other two, I’m torn. I like Yeon-woo and Mi-eun as people, but I’m not sure they’re a great fit either. I have a sneaking suspicion that if Mi-eun got Yeon-woo all to herself, she might not want him anymore (ya know, the whole thrill of the chase). And Yeon-woo, little by little, is actually changing his ways and opening up. So, I’d say we have two viable options for our leading lady at this point. And even though I’m team white t-shirt and biceps firefighter, if Yeon-woo can get his lies of omission under control, I might let him win me over.

 
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