In this penultimate week, we get a reversal of last week with our second lead couple’s ship sailing smoothly and our main leads’ ship hitting a big hurdle.
After keeping their relationship a secret for a while, they are caught red-handed, and it doesn’t seem like their parents are that pleased to learn about their relationship.
Love Next Door Episodes 13 and 14 Highlights
We catch up with our leads as they revel in their secret dating era. And it is hilarious how no one is suspicious of them, as it will never occur to anyone that those two are dating. The mothers are even looking for spouses to marry off their children, though they don’t need to look far to find a good match.
Adding to the excitement, Seok-ryu passes the written and technical exams on her first trial and now she is a certified food craftsperson. She starts applying for jobs, but unluckily, not a single restaurant calls her in for an interview. Disappointed, Seok-ryu questions if it is possible for her to start afresh at her age.
Wondering if getting a diploma could enhance her chances, Seok-ryu looks into studying abroad. But things happen and Seung-hyo stumbles across those papers. Thus, finding out Seok-ryu was preparing to study abroad behind his back. As expected, he is mad at Seok-ryu for hiding something this big from him and he even questions Seok-ryu’s feelings for him.
Pushed into a corner, Seok-ryu admits to being embarrassed about being jobless, which is why she considered getting a diploma as a means to run away. Sadly, the conversation between our leads doesn’t go well and Seok-ryu tells Seung-hyo not to contact her for a week as she needs some time alone.
Time passes so slowly while our leads are apart and neither of them can focus on work. They both want to call each other but hold back at the last minute. Giving in to her feelings, Seok-ryu calls Seung-hyo first but at that exact moment Seung-hyo gets into an accident while on site and injures his arm.
A panicking Seung-hyo rushes into the ER. She was so worried about Seung-hyo that she almost fainted after hearing the news. Seok-ryu confesses that she loves Seung-hyo and admits that taking a break was a wrong decision. Taking her into his arms, Seung-hyo wraps Seok-ryu in a tight hug and things are sweet again between them.
Meanwhile, we get a big yet unsurprising plot twist about Dan-ho. As it turns out, he has never been married before and that girl wasn’t his daughter but his niece, whom he adopted after the rest of his family died in an accident while on a family trip. Dan-oh missed that trip because of work. And now, he is overwhelmed with guilt, being the only survivor, not allowing himself to pursue the things he enjoys.
Now, it makes sense why, though he clearly likes Mo-eum, Dan-oh turns down her every move. He isn’t confident he can protect anyone. Thus, he ran away when he caught himself developing feelings for Mo-eum. But she isn’t a damsel in distress, needing someone to take care of her. Our girl can hold her own, and I like how Mo-eum didn’t give up easily and held onto Dan-ho, especially after learning the truth.
Luckily, it doesn’t take long for Dan-oh to give in to his feelings and admit to liking Mo-eum, though he does it in front of her mother after carrying a drunk Mo-eum home. As expected, Mo-eum’s mother initially opposes their relationship. But she comes around and accepts Dan-ho after a heart-to-heart chat between our mother-and-daughter duo. This ship is having their happily ever after. Hooray.
As for the other ship, Seung-hyo resolves to not waste another moment apart. He will get married to Seok-ryu and spend the rest of his life with her. But before marriage comes a proposal, and Seung-hyo racks his brain over how to prepare a perfect proposal for Seok-ryu.
But as we already know, this is K-Drama land where nothing goes as planned, and Seung-hyo’s D-day starts on the wrong foot and only gets worse. Still, Seung-hyo doesn’t give up or postpone the proposal. Giving Seok-ryu a warm and sweet speech about wanting to stay by her side forever, Seung-hyo proposes to her with a ring bracelet, but shockingly, Seok-ryu turns him down, leaving Seung-hyo speechless.
No, it isn’t because Seok-ryu wanted a ring. Nor was it because she was sensitive since she was hungry, as Dan-ho funnily assumed. It is because Seok-ryu is so scared of having a relapse. But as Seung-hyo assures her, everyone is going to die in the end, and no one knows the time of their death. So, the only thing we can do is try to make the most of our lives.
Seung-hyo’s words comfort Seok-ryu and help her muster up the courage. She will accept his proposal as long as he hasn’t returned that bracelet. After joking around for a bit, Seung-hyo gives Seok-ryu a tight hug. But they are caught red-handed by their parents, who don’t seem that pleased to see them together in that situation, especially since the mothers got into a huge fight. What perfect timing to get caught!
Love Next Door Episodes 13 and 14 Musings
This is the first time I have watched a K-Drama penultimate week and felt like nothing really happened. Actually, aside from the proposal, we got nothing important. Of course, I appreciate Seung-hyo helping Seok-ryu make cooking videos and reclaim her self-confidence, but isn’t it pretty too late into the plot?
Which brings me to my major gripe. If the drama has those sweet moments in store, why spend a whole 11 episodes of angst and then give us those moments when we barely care? I thought things are going to look up after our leads started dating. But I didn’t feel as excited about it as much as I thought I would be.
The actors are doing all the heavy lifting. But with such poor writing, their hard work is going down the drain. It hurts me to say this, but I can’t wait for this drama to be over. This was the drama I was looking forward to the most, yet sadly, it ended up being a big disappointment. If not for Mo-eum and Dan-ho’s story, I would have dropped it long ago. What a pity!
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Photos and Videos: tvN Drama
