Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food: Episode 3

It's not often that I find myself in the company of a drama that leaves me utterly captivated, so when such a drama does come along, I choose to relish it, one episode at a time. Three episodes in, and it's no longer just love, I'm actually rather besotted with it. And it's not just because of the pretty, because believe you me, there's plenty of it, but for a drama to fully grab my attention it has to speak to me on more than just one level. When looking at a drama through a more superficial lens, you find that the scenes containing all the (highs of) romance are usually the ones which create the most noise. But this drama does well to elevate those moments in a more traditional and linear fashion by giving it a much higher sense of purpose. These moments aren't there to simply cause a stir, rather they're there to capture the essence of two individual characters who, in coming together, pose real questions re the status of relationships, family ties, and of course, age difference. As we come close to foraying into Joon-hee and Jin-ah's newly found relationship, we begin to see undercurrents of the kind of challenges that already lay ahead. Fighting societal pressure is one thing, but striking a balance with each other (first) is going to prove equally challenging, especially when feelings are still raw with passion.

That's not to say that their relationship is looking to be fleeting - far from it. But I do wonder whether the nature of their relationship is building up to be more of a whirlwind romance than anything else at this point in time, as there's still a lot of groundwork to be covered before they even think of treading into deeper waters. But I'm sure Show will take us there when the time comes.

Along with the giddiness and heart thumping reality though, there's also a slight uneasiness which naturally comes with all good things. Joon-hee's protective outburst at the start of the episode, although squee inducing, also carried with it a darker tone, as it painted a relatively new side to his character (glimpses which we'd already seen in earlier eps) - and that is, his tendency to react rather quickly to situations causing them to escalate even further. And although his intervention was well meant, it's his inability to control his anger which bodes on the slightly negative side, for it displays a rashness which seemingly dictates his actions. This also then captures the difference in their personalities, as Jin-ah's mindset appears to be more in line with a generation who are a lot more yielding, both at home and in the professional setting. Of course, I'm generalising here, but I do think age is relative (to some degree) when it comes to changing attitudes and the way we adhere to circumstances.

It was ever so subtle, but when Jin-ah was trying to explain things to her parents, in an effort to smooth things over, Joon-hee's face barely suppressed this child-like pout from forming, upon hearing that she only said to have liked him in order to chase her ex away. And of course, we know that's not all there is to it, but Joon-hee doesn't. And it's adorable how he simply accepts things at face value, but at the same time, it just goes to prove that he's so caught up in his own emotions that he fails to fully understand Jin-ah's predicament. It's frustrating, because on the one hand, Jin-ah is simply doing her best to diffuse the situation by playing it safe, whereas Joon-hee is prone to taking a much quicker route by laying down all his cards at once in an effort to make a clean break - and neither of them are wrong in their approach exactly, but it does cause for a clash in personalities.

I honestly cried when Jin-Ah's mother lashed out at her, because it felt so real. Her antics aren't actually a far cry from the kind of reality I've witnessed within Asian communities. It was a tad dramatic, perhaps, but the sentiments really hit home. Both from a cultural and traditional standpoint, you can't help but sympathise with Jin-ah's trajectory, because her playing it safe isn't just a matter of personality, it's also a matter of survival in a society which is still rather backwards in its treatment of women. Gender inequality still exists, folks!

Admittedly, I was rather annoyed with Joon-hee's little morning strop, because whilst I get why he was annoyed, it doesn't excuse the fact that he was being rather petty about it - dude, there's better ways of handling it! He basically misunderstood the whole situation with her ex at home, thinking she was the one who'd invited him over; and the fact that she was dressed to the nines, meant she was looking to get back with him. And poor Jin-ah was left to defend herself...again, because nobody seems to be giving her the chance. Dammit Joon-hee, listen to the woman first before jumping to conclusions!! The fact that Jin-ah had to coax it out of him was another point of frustration because it shows just how much explaining she has to do before he gets over his own misunderstandings. And even then he should be counting his lucky stars, because Jin-ah was rather patient with him throughout. For Joon-hee, what it basically boils down to is that had she ended it with her ex cleanly, then he wouldn't have dared to come back, under any circumstances. Three. Two. One -----> *arrrrghhhh*

The moment he said that, boy was I mad. But not because he was wrong, but because he was right - if that makes any sense, lol.  Only, it took me some time to realise it, as the whole time, I was too busy looking at this solely from Jin-ah's perspective, choosing to sympathise with her instead, and making excuses for what others may clearly identify as being her weakness. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that neither characters are perfect, and both have some growing up to do, before either can commit to a more serious relationship. And I love that, because it starts them off on an equal footing, whereby both have something that they can learn from the other. Undoubtedly, the key with these two is going to be communication.

Objectively speaking, I'm actually rather glad that I'm able to grow angry and frustrated at our main leads, even with the level of chemistry on display, because whilst that's important, it's clear that the writers aren't all just about the romance or presenting the ideal couple to us, rather, it's the context of their relationship which is of equal importance, as is the growth of their individual characters. It's what makes these characters so real and complicated, as people are in the real world.  And the fact that I'm able point out their faults without hating on them completely, is, in my opinion, a mark of good writing, because it doesn't get in the way of my rooting for them, which can easily happen with poor character development or misunderstandings borne out of illogical mishaps/reasoning.

I love that Joon-hee's flight after their argument gave Jin-ah that much needed space to just reflect and sort through her feelings. Because even though she was left fuming (inside) at Joon-hee's words, just as we were, the process of her own realisation (which only proved where Joon-hee was coming from) was so satisfying to watch, as it presented her with a renewed drive to properly break things off with her ex without leaving him any hope of getting back together. You practically see the steeliness in Jin-ah's face as she boldly confronts her ex, spelling it out for him that their relationship is now officially over, and is impossible to mend, for she no longer wants anything to do with him. *fist bumps air*

I had thought that Jin-ah had already made this clear to her ex, but looking back, I don't think she had, mainly because there was still this link between her and her ex which, as feeble as it was, enabled him to keep coming back. Be it the fact that her parents were still in the dark about their breakup, which he then used to his advantage, or the fact that she'd meet up with him whenever he asked her to *cue the classic wrist grab*. The problem is, is that in both these instances, Jin-ah would give into his whims, providing him with the smallest hope for reconciliation. It's as if she'd never really fully detached herself from her ex; and her kindness and habit of playing it safe, further gave him that leverage to continue chasing after her. And it's precisely this "nicety" of hers which perhaps frustrates Joon-hee the most, that and the fact that she never appears to vocalise what she wants clearly enough to set some boundaries. But this time, not only does she make herself loud and clear, but she does so without the intervention of others, courage which we've witnessed before when she first took revenge on her ex. This time however, that courage was fuelled by Joon-hee, making her as determined as ever to cut off any remaining ties with her ex.

I 

I also love how Jin-ah carries her worries with her to work, and shares them with the coffee shop ahjussi who's equally distraught. It's a nice reminder as to how emotions can transfer from one setting to the next, but still remain equally relevant. Her spirit, although crushed after her what Joon-hee had said, and the fact that he's still busy being petty ignoring her, forces Jin-ah to find a new resolve to leave the past behind. And it's at this point that Joon-hee learns from his sister the true facts about Jin-ah's situation with her ex - I did want to throttle the guy here, because the dude has got to start finding out the facts for himself rather than relying on third party snakes details, which he blindly accepts as the truth. Well, at least he feels like an idiot in this scene, behind the wheel no less LOL!

There's definitely an upside to Joon-hee's rashness though, cos since he's so quick on the uptake, it doesn't take him long to seek out Jin-Ah in an effort to make amends. And boy does he react quickly (and rightly so, too!). From here onward, we're rewarded with nothing but feelings of giddiness and heart-fluttering exchanges - be still, my beating heart!

I love how he means business the moment he meets her, wanting to hear the truth directly from her mouth as to why she came by his place the night her ex created a scene. And it's telling that this is the first thing he asks her to clarify for him, coz something tells me that smarty pants is onto sommat! Lol and it's hilarious how her flustered state confirms his suspicions at every point, leading to some very playful teasing from Joon-hee's end - arghh that playful banter of theirs is almost too much to handle!!

The thing I most love about this scene though is how they almost instantly clear the air, confirming what I had said earlier about Joon-hee's reasons for getting angry at Jin-ah; his anger wasn't solely directed at her, rather he was angry at how easy she makes it for others to walk all over her. For him, there's no reason that her kindness should be taken for granted, and he hates that it's converted to being a weakness when she herself doesn't fight back, like with her superiors at work. I also love that he doesn't hold back from giving it to her straight, knowing how important it is for her to hear this. It's both endearing and frustrating at the same time, cos on the one hand, we know and she knows that he's absolutely right, of course, which she hilariously finds difficult to admit, and on the other, you know that he's saying it purely for her benefit and that he means well. Plus, the way he confronts her is just so. damn. swoon-worthy that you can't help but let the guy win. Score 1-0 to Joon-hee.

Aaaannd they're back to being kids again, lol. The two quibbling over the umbrella was real funny, cos Joon-hee goes from being super confident and in control to being this annoying and flustered little brat who pesters Jin-ah for an answer when he saw that she was carrying the umbrella he gave to her. He's quick to catch on (thanks to his sister) that her intention was initially to get rid of it as a way of clearing up her past, which of course makes him grumble, knowing that he was included in that equation. But there's this real cute moment where Jin-ah denies whatever he's getting at, only to slip up on her own words, admitting to have gone through a lot of effort just to retrieve it back again (from the dumpster). His cheeky little smile in that moment was pure gold, cos you just know that he's onto her.

Then there's this small beat of silence before he says: 

"looks like you really like that umbrella..." *runs for his life* 

LOL I honestly died laughing, cos he totally views the umbrella as a representation of her feelings for him. And the way he teases her is with such boyish charm, that you can't help but giggle like a high-school girl going through her first crush. I think I replayed that moment way too many times to even care at this point, because their natural chemistry is so on point that it really feels as though you're witnessing two people grow in love for the first time. Plus, her flustered reaction to his flirtatious teasing never gets old!

I love their little walk to the door this episode, because not only were they both dragging their feet, but Joon-hee also took the initiative to halt right in front of her, blocking her access. It's a wonderfully playful moment between the two in which Joon-hee takes the lead by asking whether she'd be willing to spend more time with him. Lol and Joon-hee being the rascal that he is, wondered whether Jin-ah's mind went elsewhere when he asked her that. The boy's killing his noona, people! Make it stop!! 

  The skip in Jin-ah's step at the cinema - so cute! 

LOL I love how awkwardly flustered they got in the cinema hall when they caught a couple making out right in front of them. Both were staring so hard that it legit made me curl up in embarrassment. That, and Joon-hee being ultra-careful with his hands whenever he went for the popcorn; all the while, Jin-ah's just there, drinking away at her pop, appearing to be calm and collected, that is until Joon-he points out that she was drinking from his cup. HAHAHA! And I love the smirk that played on Joon-hee's face, knowing that she was equally flustered, and that her eyes kept wandering to the couple in front. He's so damn observant, and always seems to catch Jin-ah out - it's hilarious.

HA, I love that Joon-hee has a little competitive streak which he carries with him wherever he goes. The scene where she models for him as he sketches a picture of her was beautiful to watch, because even without dialogue, you find that their eyes do all the talking. In the time that they spend together, you can just see how besotted he is with her, so much so that he's still taken aback by her beauty when he observes her up close. And although the picture he draws of her is of the humorous kind, a caricature, I love that she falls in love with it regardless. The way he truly sees her though, is kept a secret in a sketch that he draws at home - reminded me of Titanic, ya'll!

I love that he catches himself when he calls her cute, almost as if even he found it to be a little strange and unexpected - it's adorable, cos he was waiting to see how she'd react to it. What's funny is that it didn't even phases her in the least, rather it got her gushing like a school kid to think that someone would still find her cute at her age. Taking that as his cue, I love that Joon-hee goes onto confirm that she is indeed cute, and that it's not about age, but rather about perspective. Beauty and cuteness is in the eye of the beholder, folks - we've been schooled, by Joon-hee! And LOL at Jin-ah fishing for more compliments, and with success, too - you go, girl. On a side note, I'm loving how Son Ye-jin is portraying, her character; She's got that fine balance between innocence and maturity down to a T, and her cuteness, far from being grating (like I normally find in other dramas) is actually really tame; in my eyes, Jin-ah is the real definition of cuteness. She doesn't have to try hard, she's just naturally cute.

LOL I love how Joon-hee can't seem to give up on that damn umbrella of his!! He's determined to give it more meaning than it already carries, when he cautiously asks whether Jin-ah would ever look to throw it out again. This guy and his metaphors, love it! And all the while, I'm just sat here with my face split into two from all that smiling. Damn you, Joon-hee.

Although every episode so far is proving to be a highlight, I must admit, the last 10-15 minutes of this episode was utterly delightful. The way Joon-hee tentatively introduces his noona to his world by spending the night teaching her how to play computer games, or the moments they seek each other out at work just to spend some more time together, and how they both look to impress the other every opportunity they get - it's definitely a new phase in their relationship, they just haven't made it official yet. But I love the growing momentum of all these little moments in sequence; it's like they're already dating, but have yet to declare it to one another. And that buildup wherein both are trying to build to confidence to get to this point is just so well done, that you're left hanging on to the edge of your seat. It's not even the dramatic kind of tension, but the tension's still there, gradually building up with each interaction.

The moment when they were both walking side by side, close enough to hold hands, was nerve wracking, cos you see how desperately Joon-hee wants for their hands to intertwine, not just by his nervous glances, but also his body language - the way draws close to her with every step, but still misses his timing. And that sharp intake of breath and the way he releases it which shows just how nervous he is. It's the same when they drive home, but this time, we also see Jin-ah wanting the same thing as Joon-hee, only she's waiting for him to make the first move. Such simple gestures, but so much said through them.

That SMILE which spreads across his face the moment he sees his noona, though! 

In the final moments, just when you think our couple are ready to call it a day, without any major breakthrough, THIS happens:

 Ahhh, the lead up to that one moment captured in the screenshot was so perfect, that words just wouldn't do it justice. The way the two kept glancing at the other for confirmation, how Joon-hee became tense and nervous at every point in the discussion, how the mood changed the moment he declared that he was only 99% successful when it comes to dating as there's still a woman out there whose heart he's not been able to capture. In that moment, both Joon-hee and Jin-ah know who he's referring to, and at this point, it's already become a confession of sorts which puts the ball in Jin-ah's court. When her snake of a colleague talks of making a move on Joon-hee before it's too late, Jin-ah's facial expressions grow significantly bolder as she plucks up the courage to make the first move, determined not to miss this chance. And I love how once they're back at the table, we see the change in Jin-ah's expressions as she gathers her courage one step at a step at a time. The moment her colleague begins to make her move, the camera pans to Jin-ah's hand underneath the table and we see how she gradually, but with firm resolve, moves it over to where Joon-hee's hand is. She allows it to hover for a split second, before taking a firm hold of it. And Joon-hee's reaction? priceless! Have a feeling those hiccups are going to continue for a good while, hehe. 

The hands! Bringing back all those Healer feels!

Truth be told, episode four is still pending on my list of things to watch. Not because of the lack of interest, but because I'm worried whether or not my heart would be able to handle it. I find myself indulging in this drama at a much more leisurely pace, allowing myself plenty of time to recover from all the heart-racing chemistry on display. The feels are strong with this one, people! And it's only a matter of time before it reaches critical level, and then, BOOM!

💛💛💛💛💛