Grab your tissues as we have an emotional week ahead of us. Despite her earnest efforts to keep her secret hidden, our male lead figures out what happened during the gap he knew nothing about regarding our heroine. And one can only guess what happens next.
On a lighter note, we bid farewell to one ex-fiancé, and the path is now paved for our male lead to freely pursue our leading lady.
Love Next Door Episodes 9 and 10 Highlights
Scared others will hear about the condition since Seung-hyo’s father works at the hospital the ex-fiancé took her to, Seok-ryu tries to get out of there quickly that she almost leaves without hearing the test results. Luckily, it was only an inflammation, but the doctor took a biopsy just in case.
Outside the hospital, we get another confrontation between the ex-fiancé and Seung-hyo, who has just arrived after looking into all the hospitals in the area to find Seok-ryu. This time, Seok-ryu chooses to go with Seung-hyo since they are going in the same direction, anyway. Though he is curious about why Seok-ryu broke off the engagement and why she left him behind earlier, Seung-hyo doesn’t ask anything.
Through flashbacks, we could see that the ex-fiancé was a good guy and not the red flag he was initially introduced as. Seok-ryu was over the moon when he proposed to her and said he wanted to meet her parents. But those plans were put on hold after Seok-ryu was diagnosed with cancer.
It also says a lot about their bond that the ex-fiancé was the first one to learn about Seok-ryu’s illness. She was terrified, but Seok-ryu could confide in only him and told him what she kept from her parents. The ex-fiancé even took a leave of absence in the middle of an important case to stay by Seok-ryu’s side and comfort her.
After getting surgery, Seok-ryu started receiving chemotherapy and the ex-fiancé supported her by her side all this time. Luckily, the treatment went well and Seok-ryu returned to her normal life only to be hit by a severe depression that left her lifeless.
Eventually, the ex-fiancé got sick and tired of staying stuck by Seok-ryu’s side all the time and went to the party we saw him at in the premiere without telling her. As it turns out, the ex-fiancé wasn’t kissing a girl but helping her put on her contact lenses. That night, Seok-ryu and the ex-fiancé got into a huge fight and she decided to end things with him and return to Korea.
In the present time, the ex-fiancé proposes again to Seok-ryu, but she rejects him, arguing she barely has the energy to follow her dream so she can’t pursue love as well. Actually. he wasn’t the only one who got rejected, Seok-ryu turned Seung-hyo down too, using the ex-fiancé’s proposal as an excuse, claiming she still remembers the happy times she shared with the ex-fiancé and that Seung-hyo is only a friend to her.
I have no problem with Seok-ryu choosing either man or living alone if that is truly what she wants. To each their own. But my problem is her lack of honesty with Seung-hyo, making it seem she is still in love with the ex-fiancé while that isn’t necessarily true.
What is more annoying, though, is Seok-ryu’s claim that Seung-hyo isn’t in love with her but follows her around like a duckling follows its mother. Satisfyingly enough, Seung-hyo stands his ground. Seok-ryu is free to feel whatever she feels, but she can’t tell him how he feels.
We can see Seok-ryu is conflicted because of her illness and the possibility of a relapse. Yet, Seung-hyo knows nothing about it and only thinks about the rejection and refuses to be friends with Seok-ryu anymore. Case in point: when a feverish Seung-hyo wakes up and spots Seok-ryu by his side, he is more mad than grateful and tells her to leave.
Through that setup, Seung-hyo stumbles across Seok-ryu’s medical records and learns the truth. As expected, Seung-hyo feels betrayed, having been kept in the dark about something this big. He is mad and wondering if he meant this little to her as a friend. Yet, Seok-ryu keeps brushing it off as nothing. And her lack of seriousness and honesty is making things worse.
Through a voice-over, we learn that Seok-ryu wanted to tell Seung-hyo first about her illness. Surprisingly, Seung-hyo was in the US on a business trip during the time Seok-ryu was receiving chemotherapy and went to her house to see her.
Yet, seeing Seok-ryu had a boyfriend back then, Seung-hyo turned around, ignored her texts, and screened her calls. Now, Seung-hyo blames himself for being a coward and missing all those signs Seok-ryu sent him when she was at her lowest and needed his support.
Further complicating matters, basically everyone learns about Seok-ryu’s condition. Her parents are devastated, crying their eyes out and blaming themselves for not knowing their child was sick. While Mo-eum pretends to be fine before Seok-ryu yet cries in secret.
Luckily, Mo-eum has Dan-ho to confide in about how hard things are for her. Likewise, Dan-ho opens up to her about how he lost his wife to an accident and almost lost his daughter too. Yet thankfully, his daughter survived the surgery and got better.
Caught on the spur of the moment, Mo-eum gives in to her feelings and kisses a flustered Dan-ho. Realizing what she just did, Mo-eum headbutts Dan-ho and makes a run for it. But what is the use of running away when she lives next door?
Meanwhile, overwhelmed by guilt, Seung-hyo avoids Seok-ryu. And when they cross paths, they get into a fight. Seok-ryu argues she kept her illness a secret to avoid being a burden. She didn’t want to bog everyone down and fall together like dominoes. Seung-hyo counters it is okay to fall and crumble down together. That is how they can get back up. Frustrated, Seok-ryu takes off, leaving Seung-hyo behind.
The next day, Seok-ryu runs away from home, leaving her phone behind. Worried, Seung-hyo looks for Seok-ryu frantically, until he finds her by the seaside. Courtesy of the ex-fiancé, Seung-hyo is now aware of Seok-ryu’s depression. And he won’t let her keep her pain bottled up anymore.
Carrying her on one shoulder and throwing her into the sea, Seung-hyo urges Seok-ryu to let it all out. He doesn’t budge until Seok-ryu starts shouting at him. Why is he mad at her when she is the one who is sick? Seung-hyo admits he isn’t mad at her but at himself for ignoring all those signs she sent him.
Hitting him in the chest, Seok-ryu yells at Seung-hyo for not texting her back then and ignoring her calls. Seok-ryu couldn’t tell her parents because she was scared they would collapse and he was the only one she could reach out to. Seok-ryu then starts crying her heart out and lets all her pain out.
Sitting down to dry off, Seung-hyo tells Seok-ryu to call his father and check the biopsy results. Seok-ryu says she will do it later but Seung-hyo insists on staying by her side no matter what. Luckily, the biopsy is clear. It was just an inflammation Hearing that, Seung-hyo pulls Seok-ryu into a hug and doesn’t let go.
Awaiting Seok-ryu at home is a belated welcome party. And it was funny how the surprise part got spoiled. Everyone sat happily around the table. And I cracked up over their expression when Seok-ryu said she felt her stomach might explode. Yet she only meant she ate a lot and was praising the food.
Watching her from afar, the ex-fiancé figures it is time to take his leave. He calls Seok-ryu for one last time, apologizing for not being able to relate to her pain and accept her for who she is. Seok-ryu apologizes too for getting caught up in her emotions. They part on good terms, promising not to regret their relationship and remember the good times they shared when they were each other’s everything.
In a thoughtful gesture, Seung-hyo helps Seok-ryu bid the ex-fiancé farewell at the airport, though he gets jealous watching them shake hands. After parting ways with the ex-fiancé, Seok-ryu starts crying. And Seung-hyo thoughtfully covers her with his jacket. Now that the exes are finally out of the way, I hope we can finally get the romance we were promised and no more angst. Is that too big of a wish?
Love Next Door Episodes 9 and 10 Musings
It can’t be denied that the ex-fiancé genuinely cared for Seok-ryu and stayed by her side during a tough period of her life. But the way he dealt with her depression wasn’t right. Instead of ghosting her and attending the party, he should have been honest with Seok-ryu. Perhaps, that way she could have opened up to him and got better. At least, they got a proper closure before turning the page on that chapter.
As for the parents, though they are all supportive and affectionate toward Seok-ryu now, this doesn’t erase the harsh treatment they gave Seok-ryu growing up. Had it not been for this tragic turn of events, they would have been pestering Seok-ryu to get a job while pampering their dear son. (Looking at you, Queen of Tears.)
Anyway, I am glad it is all out in the open now. Seung-hyo has learned his lesson and won’t let go of Seok-ryu anymore. It will be fun and exciting to see him proactively making a move on her. And as things stand, Seung-hyo won’t have to wait for long until Seok-ryu reciprocates his feelings.
Mo-eum and Dan-ho’s story remains my favorite part, though. And I adore the cute bond Mo-eum shares with Dan-ho’s daughter, being ecstatic when the daughter wants to hang out with her and wishing to have a daughter like her. No need to worry. That might come true soon, especially considering the abrupt kiss and how Mo-eum has her heart racing whenever she spots Dan-ho.
Proving yet again her versatility, Jung So-min pulled off the emotional scenes this week especially the outburst at the seaside. Likewise, Jung Hae-in nailed the scene where the truth comes out in the open. It is at these moments that the drama shines. So, can’t we cut down on the filler and get more of our leads?
Photos and Videos: tvN Drama
