#yeon woo x woo jae

[heretherebedork]

Between Yeon Woo going back for the sweater but then lying about losing it and the moment when Woo Jae asks what he means about leaving without a trace... I'm really wondering how much they've missed between each other's lines and how many times over this could have been solved if one of them just stayed or asked another question or told a small truth instead of a lie.

Woo Jae is waiting for questions he can answer but Yeon Woo is waiting for forgiveness before he says anything and they're both trapped in this loop of waiting and leaving or leaving and waiting. Neither one of them knows how to step up or step forward in the way the other needs.

And that's why they fell apart in the first place. Yeon Woo left behind the sweater, Woo Jae saw and took it back and then Yeon Woo came back for the sweater but felt the need to cover up that he'd left it behind which just convinced Woo Jae that he didn't care and didn't even know he'd left it behind when what he was trying to do was spare his feelings.

And it's this confession. It's this moment when Yeon Woo says his feelings and the fear that comes with voicing them and Woo Jae still walks away because he doesn't hear the words the way he means them because he can't hear them that way, he simply cannot see past his own assumptions.

The way Woo Jae is still hung up that sweater and then seeing his own sweater destroyed with the wine and then just... losing it. Because he never planned on seeing Yeon Woo again, he never thought he'd face these emotions again... or was that what happened?

What does this mean? I am dying, I need to know what happened from Woo Jae's perspective to explain that he didn't just up and leave without any warning or sign.

But, again, that feeds into their relationship. They grew to a certain level of closeness that let them make assumptions about things, lead them to make up white lies as a comfort to each other (or at least Yeon Woo did and that drove Woo Jae away because he doesn't think like that, he doesn't think of white lies to protect people and he thought Yeon Woo deliberately forget and didn't want his sweater, was deliberately rejecting him, rather than protecting his feelings) and that just hurt them both.

Yeon Woo is trying to protect Woo Jae's feelings but because Woo Jae already knows that he left the sweater behind it just feels like a much bigger lie and a much more painful truth about their relationship then it was because all it was was a white lie in the hopes that he'd find the sweater and be able to wear it and show him.

It's this wall between them, built the same way Woo Jae built his characters. Two people confused about their emotions and unable to speak to each other because neither of them is asking the right questions or trying to give the answers. They're just... talking past each other, speaking words they would want to hear. Neither one of them is looking to the other person's perspective.

The door code is his birthday, the password to his laptop is the day they met, everything in Woo Jae's life is still about Yeon Woo because he's never even considered anyone or anything else. His story is about the love that he tried to leave behind but never did, never could, no matter how far he ran.

And this chance for Yeon Woo to see that, to see how much he space he takes up in Woo Jae's life even if he never planned to see him again... that's gotta be something huge but hard to define, to see how big you are in someone's life that you thought cut you out entirely.

And here's where you see the dynamic they shared, the way it was always about Woo Jae pulling back and then Yeon Woo pulling the truth out of him. Woo Jae is silent until Yeon Woo makes it clear he must answer and that's why he's been waiting for the questions, waiting to be asked anything because he can barely answer questions let alone give answers without that.

And the preview for next week where we're going to get more answers and more closure and we're going to, hopefully, find out the answers to the rest of this... and maybe a happy ending? They do both deserve it.

[waitmyturtles]

Alright, I’m calming down, managing my time better while drowning in SHOWS, and have reportbacks on Individual Circumstances and Candy Color Paradox:

1) Individual Circumstances: @bengiyo, I’m co-signed on your stray thoughts -- I also hope, and am looking forward, to the motif of their using the novel as a means of communicating their unspoken thoughts/feelings.

I mentioned in my first review of this show that the K-drama trope of going back and forth between the present and the past, to layer truth on truth non-chronologically, and have the viewer quilt it all together -- for me, it often creates this sense of confusion, almost a little spookiness, like what am I missing? I HAVE to be missing things. (Like the meaning of 1012 on the wine bottle label! I missed that until I read this post on @bengiyo‘s blog. With the last big K-drama I watched, Why Her? -- I am so sure that I am still missing a shit ton of plot lines, but it would be EXHAUSTING to track them all down.)

But I think the sense of missing things is the point of this show so far, and I think that’s what I kinda love about this show. In many ways, we are just as much in the dark as Woo Jae and Yeon Woo are about each other and their own feelings. I love that the novel writing is going (hopefully?!) to end up being Woo Jae’s method of processing the truth about his feelings towards Yeon Woo. I mean, the guy is both in admission AND denial of his feelings for Yeon Woo, all at once. And is drinking and mixing meds at the same time. He’s a walking conundrum. 

I loved sensing the fear that Yeon Woo had when he went back to Woo Jae’s house to find him. (Although I definitely had a WTF moment when Woo Jae just casually strolled in again.) 

I think, maybe, I’m okay with not knowing, yet, what’s up with Yeon Woo and his thoughts towards Woo Jae. I’m okay with being in the dark, and I think that this show is actually doing the dark somewhat beautifully. I feel moved by watching Yeon Woo and Woo Jae begin to open up to each other, even though their sentences (especially during the wine scene) feel a little stilted. I think that’s the point of this show -- the weaving back-and-forth that creates this sense of waiting and anticipation -- and I’m okay accepting it. I see some commentary on the tag about the guys needing to be more clearly communicative, and I agree, but I don’t think that’s the structure of the show that the creators are going for. I’m liking where the preview for the next episode is going, and I think it’s going to be a really good one. Fingers crossed.

2) Candy Color Paradox: This show. Honestly? I thought this was the best episode yet, because it didn’t try to do TOO MUCH. It was a very straightforward plot line -- Onoe tries to do something that Kabu has done in the past, and Kabu hates himself for doing it and doing it well. So Onoe tries to emulate Kabu, to try to make Kabu happy. And that pisses Kabu off and probably breaks his heart a bit. And then Onoe processes it with his homey at the bar. Simple!

I come to this conclusion in part because of all the flashbacks that Onoe had at the bar, and I’m realizing -- there was a LOT of complicated STUFF happening in the earlier episodes, especially with Kabu coming close and pulling back, not admitting his feelings, and only moving forward in his feelings after Inami encouraged Kabu to do so. I’m not sure our young darlings were able to act through all that complicated stuff. But give them a straightforward plot line, and I think it came off as pretty successful. My heart sparkled for Onoe as he came to his realization -- I really felt for him, and I thought Kimura (FINALLY) acted it nicely. 

It totally moved me that both of them were looking at apartments. It was just..... TOO CUTE. This show! Like! It’s just too cute sometimes! IT’S. JUST. CUTE. The guys are dumb sometimes, and cute all the time! And I think that’s why I’ve stuck with it. 

ALRIGHT. BACK TO DIRTY LAUNDRY. Neon and Night, come to mama. I’m GOING to get this one and Bad Buddy finished before the 8th. I MUST. Moonlight Chicken needs my entire heart and soul totally empty before I fill it again!

[aliceisathome]

I was enjoying Individual Circumstances in a kinda 'oh yeah, that's today' way but it crept up on me and it is suddenly EVERYTHING.

I am now furious with myself for not waiting and binge watching because the wait until next Thursday is going to be unbearable. Gah.

[geekygirl24]

Prompt from VirginieAG02 - 3: Individual circumstances (South Korea) I don’t know why, but I wanted to see Ha Yeon Wu wearing the sweater that Seong Wu Jae gave him (the black sweater). We see in the series Seong Wu Jae wearing his gray sweater so they would have matching sweaters (Grey/black). 

[gabrielokun]

[bellarkeandclintashaandsuch]

It’s the way Wu Jae is writing this story to help him move past Yeon Woo, but he starts faltering at the end because he doesn’t understand Yeon Woo. And he can’t finish the ending and resolve the conflict in his story because he can’t understand one of his characters. And that’s when Yeon Woo re-enters his life. And now he’s here again! But Wu Jae still doesn’t understand. And he can’t and won’t explain himself. And he can’t ask Yeon Woo. But he desperately wants to know. But he’s also afraid to know. And Yeon Woo is telling him that his character is afraid? Afraid to speak their relationship into existence because then it’ll end? His character is the one afraid? He’s the one afraid?!

[ryoun]

DAY 3: FAVORITE LEAD COUPLE

ta hwan x ki seung-nyang | empress ki

heo jun-jae x sim chung | legend of the blue sea

lee soo x kyung woo-yeon | more than friends

eun-som x tanya | arthdal chronicles

cha ju-hyeok x seo woo-jin | familiar wife

gong woo-jin x woo seo-ri | still 17

han jun-oh x kang young-hwa | moon in the day

han seon-woo x lee eunsu | soundtrack #1

jin i-soo x lee gang-hyeon | flex x cop

ha eung-yeol x on eunyu | twinkling watermelon

kim dan x lee yeon-seo | angel's last mission: love

yoon min-ju x chae young-ju | brewing love

kang cheol x oh yeon-joo | w

yoon jeongnyeon x hong jooran | jeongnyeon: the star is born

— @whenthegoldrays december k-drama challenge

[whenthegoldrays]

ELLY’S PLAYLISTS

k-dramas

Doctor Slump

haneul x jeongwoo 🍄

My Perfect Stranger

yoon young x hae joon 💌

soon-ae x hee-seop 🍄

My Sweet Mobster

eunha x jihwan 🧸

Cinderella at 2am

yunseo x juwon 🍄

Queen of Tears

hae-in x hyun-woo 🧸

Lovely Runner

sol x sun jae 🧸

Marry My Husband

kang jiwon / jiwon x jihyuk 🧸🪩

jeong su-min / su-min x min-hwan 🧸🪩

Tell Me That You Love Me

moeun x jinwoo 💌

Twinkling Watermelon

eun gyeol x eun yoo 💌🧸

yichan x cheong-ah 💌🧸

on eun yoo 💌🧸🪩

yichan and eun gyeol 🧸

twinklemelon as a whole

my euneun au 💌

Live Up To Your Name

im x yeon kyung 💌

Crash Landing On You

jeong hyeok x se-ri 💌🧸🪩

dan x seung-jun 🧸

The Matchmakers

jung woo x soon deok 🧸

Castaway Diva

seo mok-ha / mok-ha x ki-ho 🍄

Our Beloved Summer

yeon-su x ung 🧸

Familiar Wife

ju-hyeok x wu-jin 💌🧸

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

hye-jin x du-sik

The Wind Blows

do-hun x soo-jin 🧸🍄

Hidden Love (c-drama)

zhizhi x jiaxu 🧸

period dramas

Emma, Jane Austen

frank x jane 💌🧸

Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen

marianne dashwood / marianne & willoughby / marianne x brandon 🧸🪩

The Blue Castle, Lucy Maud Montgomery

valancy x barney 💌

Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

fanny price / fanny x edmund 💌

maria bertram / maria & henry 🧸

Wives and Daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell

molly gibson / cynthia kirkpatrick / cynthia & roger / molly x roger / etc 🍄💌

North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell

margaret hale / margaret x john 🧸

john thornton / my reading playlist 🍄

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

jo march / jo x friedrich 🧸

Poldark (TV)

morwenna x drake 💌🧸

Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare

romeo x juliet 🧸🍄

my ocs

seon-hwa x henry (Hardwick House) 🍄

the álix years 🍄

other

colt x jody (The Fall Guy) 🍄

twilight x yor (Spy x Family) 🍄

rapunzel / rapunzel x eugene (Tangled) 🪩

anna x william (Notting Hill) 🧸🪩

diana & charles (The Crown) 🧸🪩

margaret & peter (The Crown) 🧸

milo x amanda (Milo Murphy’s Law)

phineas x isabella (Phineas and Ferb) 🧸

candace x jeremy (Phineas and Ferb)

barbie & ken (Barbie, 2023) 🧸

💌 = favorite

🧸 = play in order

🍄 = needs work

🪩 = taylor swift centric

[timextoxhajima]

Sonder: Part II

Parts: I II III IV V

member: enhypen heeseung! x oc! woo ki yeom [3rd person pov]

genre: coming of age, slice of life, angst, romance

w/c: 5.2k

warnings: topics on religion, distressed relationships, mental health (I want to leave an a/n here that I grew up with my maternal family being Buddhists so what I've written is based off what I researched online and the way her family practised Buddhism. I'm personally a free-tinker and this narrative is not in any way meant to offend nor support any particular religion.), mentions of death**

synopsis: after being kicked out of her home, Woo Ki Yeom is forced to live life on her own. struggling to find herself in the midst of her chaotic life, she meets lee heeseung, who, like her, can't give any more fucks to life than she does.

"n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own."

Sim Ji Yeon was the most perfect person to have existed in Ki Yeom's life. Under normal circumstances, the single child is the spoilt one. Unlimited attention from the parents or usually an unlimited amount of pocket money or allowance due to the guilt that piles up from the lack of attention. 

But Ji Yeon was the complete opposite. She grew up with an older brother - Sim Jae Yun, who loved her more than any other sibling Ki Yeom has ever met. Her parents, though spend alot of time working abroad, regularly comes home or brings them along to wherever it was they were working at and treats it like a holiday. They have a border collie that listens to everything they say and a family that quite literally never fights with one another.

All of her friends love her and she probably never feels left out at all. Her parents let her wear and eat what she always wants to and Ji Yeon doesn't spend more than a couple of hours loathing over how useless she is or how unhappy her life is. She never gets angry with the person who gets her order wrong or frustrated when the person infront of her is walking extra slow. She's so secure about herself that even when she's aware someone shits on her behind her back, all she does is smile her pretty smile and shrug her shoulders. 

And on top of all that, Sim Ji Yeon was happy.

During the five years Ki Yeom's family spent falling apart, Ji Yeon had extended a helping hand multiple times. But, it's in Ki Yeom's pride and anguish that these offers of help morphed into pity and sympathy. And one day, Ki Yeom just... gave up. 

Gave up trying to explain, or say 'no, thank you', or that she's not in the mood for a meal she knows Ji Yeon will pay for anyway.

So when Ms. Perfect drops Ki Yeom a text a day after her father had sent her a letter (albeit to the wrong address), her morning is ruined. 

Ji Yeon: Hey, how are you? Please reply me... It's been four years. Ji Yeon: We'll go out for a meal. Ji Yeon: I promise you'll pay for your own food.

Ki Yeom locks her phone and groans herself back into the pillow. 

It's not easy to pretend a friend of 15 years doesn't exist.

But Ki Yeom's phone goes off for an 11am appointment - which is earlier than usual - and forces herself out of bed first. Reply later.

She's pulls the door open, telling herself that she'll get a coffee and a sandwich on the way to work, but first-

Nearly slipping on whatever she stepped on, Ki Yeom stumbles backwards, only managing to catch herself with her legs awkwardly opened and her fingers gripped on the door frame. She looks down, and stares at the envelope with a shoe print on it.

It's the letter from her father.

She looks up and down the corridor - no one. Did the boy leave it here overnight? Reaching for it, she notices a light pencil writing on the envelope itself, right beneath the wrong address.

I thought I should leave it here anyway. It's yours after all.

Sucking in a deep breath, she stares at it. But her second alarm goes off, calling her to fling it mindlessly into her apartment and shut the door.

Lee Heeseung had chosen to come out on his own and live the life he had always wanted. Quiet, but determined, he wanted to experience being out in the open, making new mistakes and learning all the new things. He learned that life was short and that regrets would be regretful. So, with about a grand in his bank account and an apartment that he had found with the help of his brother, he moved.

But don't misunderstand him, no. He does not have the wanderlust for life the way he seems like he does. In fact, he's in an ironic paradox with himself - if that even makes sense.

Heeseung had an epiphany after enrolling in university - he was a sophomore student when he realised his life was slowing down. Slowing down in the sense that life didn't seem to have much to offer him anymore. It was just: class, study, nap, eat, study, sleep, and occasionally have a drink or two with his acquaintances (because it takes much more than a drink or two for Heeseung to consider someone a friend).

And then he thought, what would happen once he's done with university? Will he decide to do a phD or a master's programme and prolong this cycle for another decade-ish or will he graduate and work like any other civilian?

My, God, he thought to himself on one of those nights he couldn't sleep. Doesn't life have so much more to offer? Surely it can't be that everyone's lives and hours are the same everyday?

If you could condense his thoughts and feelings into a sentence, Heeseung was simply rejecting the possibility that life was mundane, and in a bid to force all of life's forces of nature upon himself, he chose to move out on his own.

His motto? Make me want to live.

Heeseung was almost baited upon finding that envelope. He only looked through them when he got home and was on the verge of ripping it open before he noticed he doesn't recognise the name on the envelope. He pauses, fingers dragging along the edge and making out the name.

Woo Ki Yeom.

The unit numbers were easily mistaken - he stayed in 07-33 and whoever this Ki Yeom person was, stayed in 07-38.

He considers tossing out the letter, or even returning it to the letter box downstairs that was meant for the 'wrongly delivered'. But on the way to the lift, he stops himself, and looks down the hallway for the 07-38 unit. Sucking a deep breath, he walks over and knocks on the door, hoping no one would answer and he would have the chance to rip open the letter and read it for himself.

But he's proven wrong when the door opens, and it's the girl he lost a washing machine token to. Just because he wanted to be nice for once. He remembers he hasn't gotten it back though.

"Oh, it's you."

She looks... tired.

"If you're here for the token, I don't have any extra to return. I can pay you a couple of cents or a dollar for it if you're insistent."

Heeseung quickly shakes his head and lifts the letter to show her.

"Uh, this came in my mail. I think they wrote the address wrongly."

She carefully studies the words written on it, and glances up at him through her lashes.

Heeseung panics.

"I figured eight just seemed the most similar to three, so. Are you... Woo Ki Yeom?"

A pause.

"Yeah, thanks."

Heeseung watches as she gently takes the envelope, finding the edge of the flap to tear it open. In a terrible bid to find an excuse to stay, Heeseung blurts out the worst joke ever.

"Mail's not that common nowadays. They don't have your number or email?"

A little smile tries to crack its way through when she finally pulls the letter out, but she doesn't even bother looking at him whilst unfolding the sheet of paper.

"Yeah, they don't have my number or my email."

Oh, my God, she hates me.

"Oh," He mumbles under his breath, wanting to dig a hole and slap himself over the head if he could.

But the girl goes quiet as she continues to straighten out the letter. Her eyes seem hesitant and afraid, like it was someone she was afraid to hear from or someone whom she didn't want to look for her here.

What if she's dealing with some illegal activity? And this is just being passed off as an innocent letter? What if this isn't even hers?

Heeseung rubs an eye and purses his lips, unsure of his presense as she starts to read the letter. He was expecting her to finish it, then thank him and close the door.

Or... start crying and rambling about a broken-up boyfriend... or a family member who is knee-deep in debt-

But he's startled instead, when she angrily folds it back up - or rather, crumples it - back into the envelope. She shoves it harshly back into his arms, which shocks him.

Heeseung's eyes widen as she pulls backward, the haphazard letter-in-envelope awkwardly sitting between his arm and stomach. Frowning, he wants to ask her about her attitude and lack of politeness, but he doesn't miss her eyes that are looking down. A sheet of tears have coated them. They got shinier in the last couple of seconds.

"Um," He carefully whispers. "You... alright?"

She looks up at him, and seems embarrassed for a split second.

"It's not mine."

Ain't no way that's not yours.

"Are... you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," She rubs her eyes. "Sorry, I was just busy making dinner. I have to go."

"Right," Heeseung subtly readjusts the envelope and nods.

With pursed lips, she looks at him one more time for acknowledgement. He's quiet, and careful, as he takes a step back and turns to leave, hearing the door close behind him. Heeseung looks down at the envelope and letter, hands slightly trembling at the thought of what content the letter could possibly hold.

Later that night, Heeseung was busy planning out his study schedule alongside his piano tutoring sessions when he notices the envelope and crushed letter sitting at the edge of the dining table. He thinks about the girl's reaction - the letter must belong to her.

There's a little voice in his head going, No! Do NOT read it!

But Heeseung is a busybody and nobody's around to stop him anyway, so he sets aside his headphones and walks toward the coffee table.

Dear Ki,

I'm writing to share that I've gotten a job. I'm sorry if the address on this letter is unclear, but I hope a kind soul will have it delivered to you if it's wrong.

I know what I say now can't undo what has been done, but I hope you will forgive me. I just want to know if you were doing well, and if you were eating and sleeping well. If you have enough money for your meals and for your rent.

If you wanted to know, your grandfather keeps your secrets for you very well. He hasn't once budged about where you work, only the estate where you live, and that's only because a parent knows how another parent feels when their child is not talking to them and fending for themselves.

Your mother and I want to see you soon, so please... write me back soon and we can talk about a meal or a cup of coffee or something. Let us make it up to you. Make things right. I don't want the way we last saw each other to be the way we end forever. We're always praying for you, Ki.

Love,

Dad

Heeseung is almost touched. He folds the letter back up and fits it nicely into the envelope. Then, he grabs a pencil and scribbles gently on the surface where the address has been written.

The next morning, Heeseung wakes up at an ungodly hour - His classes were at 9am. Who even puts a class at 9am? 

Grumbling his way out of bed and into the bathroom and then into the makeshift kitchen for coffee, he spots the letter. He can’t help but wonder what had happened between some parents and a child, for her to move out and quite literally hide from them. Why was she so angry? 

Later, Heeseung gently places the letter on the floor right outside her door. Whatever will happen to it is up to her thereafter. She can toss it up or rip it apart and set it on fire and it would be none of his business. If her parents had done something so unforgiveable, then maybe she should anyway. 

Heeseung straightens himself, then looks out the window to notice the clouds and impending rain. 

Ahn Yoo Hyeon grunts and sighs, tossing the wet wipes into the little trash bag she brought along with her.

"I hope you're eating all the good food up there where it's probably free of charge and not susceptible to import taxes," She winces and wipes the sweat off her chin. Struggling to stand, she takes a deep breath when she's finally up. The late morning sun beats down on her dark hair and her exposed arms, sweat dripping down her back and her chest inside her shirt.

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

Hurriedly grabbing another wet wipe to clean her fingers, she then picks the phone out of her pocket. She squints at the screen.

"Perfect timing."

"No way, you're there?"

"Mhm, just finished cleaning him up."

"Sorry I couldn't be there this year."

"It's fine. World won't stop just cause you can't make it this time."

"Anyway, the team's looking for artists. Planning on doing an international tour or something. If you have any names you'd like to recommend, send them my way."

"Interesting. What's in it for them and for me?" She snickers.

"You'll find out when you get me one or two," He pauses. "Say hi to him for me."

"He knows you'd be here if you could."

Yoo Hyeon looks down at the tombstone: AHN YOO KWON

Despite him being an unusual eight years older than her (with no other siblings in between), he treated her just like any other big brother would (as opposed to the other much-older brothers whom she knew treated their little sisters like princesses).

That was to say, he ruffled her hair everytime she had gotten it done, or stole her food without permission, or the reverse: she would rip the computer plug out from the power socket when he was in the middle of a game. He wasn't one of those 'golden-perfect' older brothers. He was annoying as fuck. 

When her brother had joined a gang, and even if, in fact, he did not, Yoo Hyeon knew that he had mingled with bad company. This was strange and highly unlikely from the start, because she belonged to a family that prized education, contribution to society and hierarchy. 

In hindsight, this could be why her brother even took a liking to those people anyway. Because he had found a place where he could be himself and not be bound to their parents' expectations. If he was born to be a criminal, then maybe it was, in some sick and twisted way, his calling. 

Ironically, it wasn't those people who got him in a coffin. It was a cat who had been beaten up and tortured by a bunch of kids. He had found them in the back of an alley in the middle of the night, thanks to the mewling and crying of the poor mangled thing. 

And upon finding them, you'd think that a 25 year old gangster would have the upper hand against the group of 15 year olds, but they were armed and he was outnumbered. 

They didn't have the intelligence to drop it and run, which was shocking by any measurement, because that's exactly what he had expected.

He was found with gashes to his arms, face and body. Broken ribs, and had died from blunt force to his head with a piece of debris left in that alley from a renovation project nearby.

And all those kids got were a couple of years in juvi because they were 'underaged' and 'misguided'.

The cat survived. And Yoo Hyeon cried to it every other day it felt worse than usual. So when even the cat passed just barely a couple years later, which Yoo Hyeon then found out it was an old cat, she felt like she had lost every remaining piece of her brother. 

Her parents may have forbidden them both to get tattoos, but she remembers the first time he showed her his first one. It was a little wave, the kind that a white girl would have on her arm, which was funny. 

Then over time, he decorated himself with them, since he no longer cared what their parents thought.

But these were all just fragments of memories now. 

Death is a funny thing, for with his death came Yoo Hyeon's call-to-action, and by 'action', she meant opening her own tattoo parlour without ever getting a single one on herself. Getting over it was one thing, but making sure that it was with reason is another.

Yoo Hyeon will carry this reason and mission for the rest of her life.

"Ki Yeom," Ahn Yoo Hyeon calls out. In between her fingers is a thin stack of papers. "Pay goes out today. Check your deck." 

You'd think the person who owns a tattoo parlour would be covered in tattoos, or at least, one. But Ahn Yoo Hyeon grew up in a household that condemned tattoos and in a bid to seal it with a nail (and by seal it with a nail, she really means offer a slap in their faces), she opened her own tattoo parlour without ever getting one. 

Whether this story was true... well, Ki Yeom had no way of verifying. 

"Thanks," She takes the deck and flips through them. 

Ms. Ahn had always been very perceptive - which is ironic, considering how little you can read from her face and her tone. So Ki Yeom isn't really surprised when the woman of few words starts another conversation. 

"You look troubled," She pulls off her sunglasses and her fringe topples over her forehead. Ki Yeom had wondered a few times if Ms. Ahn had a boyfriend. "Which is strange considering your paycheck this month." 

Ki Yeom looks up from the deck and looks at her for a moment. A knowing exchange. They are both children of family feuds that cannot be reversed.

"I wish I could give you advice," Yoo Hyeon lays a tiny smile, pressing the arms of her sunglasses against her own stomach to fold it. "But I'm not in any position to share any."

"Is it true? What they say about your family and that they didn't like tattoos?"

"Oh, they hated them. Thought of it as vandalism and lack of respect to the body. The funny thing is, I see what they mean. After all, it's a choice you make to permanently alter your body, even if it's minute and unnecessary. But it's not up to them to decide what strangers do to their bodies." 

Ki Yeom is slightly stunned at the honesty and openness.

"What, surprised I shared so easily?" Yoo Hyeon chuckles and reopens her sunglasses. "You did well this month. More clients are asking for you."

She holds out a hand for the deck, which Ki Yeom returns. "I try my best." 

"Do you still dream those dreams? The ones that give you your ideas?" 

"Sometimes. But it's not like all my ideas are from my dreams." 

She hums in response and slots her deck back into the folder. "Continue the good work. What you have... It's a talent that not many people have."

An awkward pause.

"Say, I just had an old client... Works for an art establishment over in Europe... He called and asked if I had any recommendations to let join their team of artists."

Ki Yeom straightens her tilted head. She turns and looks around, making sure nobody's eavesdropping.

"I'm- I'm just a tattoo artist."

"Whose job entails strangers trusting you covering their body in permanent ink. I think you'd enjoy this... challenge."

Another knowing silence.

"What is it that's keeping you here?" Yoo Hyeon squints, just slightly. She tilts her head now, as if trying to split Ki Yeom open and read through her memories like a book. "If the thing that's keeping you here isn't bringing you joy or any benefit to your life, then perhaps it's time to move on. Don't let the mistakes you couldn't fix create more mistakes in your life. Else, what's the whole point of the phrase 'Learn from your mistakes'?"

Her words are so sharp, so direct, so fast - it's like she had rehearsed them. They sit in Ki Yeom's heart and her brain and her throat.

"Drop me a text if you're interested. When you think the world is against you, that's when you know it's time to see the rest of the world and realise that the rest of the world actually doesn't care," Yoo Hyeon opens her sunglasses and fits them on her head. She turns around to the front desk and tidies up the remaining decks for the other tattoo artists. "And last I heard from this place, everybody seems to hate you anyway, hmm?"

Clearing her throat, Ki Yeom realises her palms are sweating into the deck.

"Thank you for the offer."

Yoo Hyeon picks up her purse, ready to leave. "You have only yourself to thank that the offer came by, else I wouldn't have even offered it in the first place. But I'll let you know... I'd be vastly disappointed if you reject it. Because then you just might have to work here for the rest of your life."

She offers an animated, stretched out smile, then turns and walks out the door.

The day passes like any other day, other than Ki Yeom's colleagues talking about their decks. Only Jun Yeol and Soo Min had the courage and were good enough friends with Ki Yeom to share each other's. Of course, Ki Yeom had topped sales again.

It was late and most of the other artists have gone home, leaving only them and one or two others with clients who have harder pieces.

"At this rate, you might as well buy the parlour and take over for Ms Ahn," Jun Yeol flips through Ki Yeom's deck.

"Speaking of Ms Ahn, I thought I saw her speaking to you this afternoon when she came in," Soo Min pushed herself over from her working space, the rollers making a frequent squeak-squeak noise as she rolls Jun Yeol's deck up in her hands.

"Oh, my God, I jinxed it?" Jun Yeol closes Ki Yeom's deck and places it back on her desk, arm resting on the edge and turning to look at her in slight disbelief. "Call me a sorceress."

"Soceror," Soo Min rolls her eyes.

"Words should not be bound by gender."

Soo Min glares at him. A cheeky silence as Jun Yeol gets up and snatches his deck from Soo Min's hands.

"She offered me a gig," Ki Yeom whispers, just loud enough for them to hear. Jun Yeol and Soo Min both turn to her.

"In some art organisation. In Europe."

"What?"

"That's crazy!" Jun Yeol's jaw drops, unfolding his deck and mindlessly hurtling it onto Ki Yeom's desk. "What did you say?"

"What's crazier is that she probably rejected it."

"I told her I'd think about it."

"Let me guess, until you die?" Soo Min raises a brow.

"You're a horrible comfort person!" Jun Yeol lands a palm on the backseat of Soo Min's chair and twirls her to face the opposite direction. "Well, what's keeping you thinking? What are the concerns?"

Soo Min squeaks back to face the party of two, looking around to make sure nobody else was listening.

"I don't know. I just... it feels so far."

"Isn't that the point? You're not happy here. Find your happiness elsewhere."

"Will you shut up?" Jun Yeol smacks her over the head, earning a harsh wince and a feigned punch from her. "It's a big deal. Not everyone can uproot and move away from a whole life they've known here. Plus, you have your grandfather, right? I mean I know you're not close but it's not like he's there. He's here. Everyone's here."

"She literally doesn't have any friends here - no offence - but if she can flourish elsewhere, I don't see why she should stay bound here like a poor dog chained to his-"

Then the parlour door swings open, the keychains hanging on the handle ringing as it does.

"Hi. I'm looking for Ki Yeom, I saw somewhere that she worked here."

Soo Min and Jun Yeol look from above Ki Yeom's head, then down at her face as she was backfacing the front door.

Ki Yeom didn't have to turn around to know who it was. She whirls around in the chair, standing as she does. "Who told you I worked here?"

Sim Ji Yeon forces out a sad smile, lips parting to find an answer. "I... I googled you. Took me a couple of minutes, but it wasn't that hard to find your name. Here."

Ki Yeom rubs the back of her neck, turning around to look at her colleagues. Jun Yeol rushes to her side, back facing the stranger as well.

"You look like you need help. Who's she?"

Soo Min shifts her chair so Ki Yeom and Jun Yeol blocks her from the stranger's vision.

"Uh... Long story short: Childhood friend. Fell out because... I didn't like that she was so happy and so nice to me and I felt like she was pitying me after I fell out with my family."

Jun Yeol scowls at her. "'Didn't like that she was so happy'? What are you, allergic to being happy?"

Soo Min swats him on the arm. "You were just telling her to stay here in this miserable place just a couple of minutes ago!"

"They are two very different things, bitch!" His eyes are about to pop out his head. "And did I just hear you call this place a 'miserable' one?"

"Alright, shut up. The two of you. I'm fine. I'll handle it."

Jun Yeol is about to protest when Soo Min reaches out, flicking her fist into his groin. He crouches over, cheeks puffed and lips pursed.

"I'll- I'll get you for that... later."

Then she drags him away from the front door's view.

Ki Yeom must admit, she's not all that surprised Sim Ji Yeon is here. She is persistent and diligent in all the right ways there is as a student and as a person, but that didn't mean that this personality trait wasn't annoying in other contexts.

"I know you've been reading my texts. I just wanted to know how you were doing. I don't know anything about you anymore and I just can't stand to know that... I no longer know anything about you and your life."

The street side lamp outside was illuminating the pavement behind her like she was an angel. Ki Yeom almost wanted to scoff at this sight.

"I don't know why it matters that you don't know anything. My parents don't know anything. Nobody knows anything, but I'm fine and well."

Ki Yeom can see that the words have stung her. Ji Yeon, like the last time she had seen her a couple of years ago, still looked as perfect as ever. Perfectly dyed brown hair, the type that makes her even prettier, but not bright enough for corporate jobs to turn her away. She has that clean girl look going on. White off-shoulder top and flared jeans and slip-on sandals. The ultimate casual pretty-girl look.

"It matters because I care. It matters because you basically disappeared, and for the last couple of years, I've been stuck wondering what I've done wrong. And if it was my fault that the friendship has turned sour."

"It's not your fault, it's mine. For being an ass."

"So at least tell me how you were being an ass. You have so much spine to be out here making a life for your own but you don't have a spine enough to tell me why I had to google you?"

Ki Yeom sharply tilts her head. "'Spine to be out here'? Have you... forgotten why I was even made to be out here making a life for myself?"

The taller clears her throat and looks down at her feet. "I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant."

Something beeps from behind them at the cashier's. A client awkwardly passes them and leaves.

"Look, I..." Ji Yeon sucks in a deep breath and sighs, gently shaking her head. "I just want to know what happened. And if after all the clearing up, you still hate me and our paths have just... diverged too far and too long ago, then I will just have to make peace with it. But I can't just leave this... it's like abandoning my house without reason."

And the world is even quieter than before.

Suddenly, there's one more thing that is keeping Ki Yeom from leaving, and she hasn't even had this conversation with Ji Yeon.

Heeseung doesn't do it often, but he has his door slightly ajar so he can see if the girl has come home. He hopes she doesn't notice it, because he knows it's creepy and weird and he's kind of an ass because he just wanted to see if he could get a glimpse of-

Ding.

The lift doors open, and he can just barely make out a shadow passing down his corridor. He carefully places his pen down, and makes his way to the door, head carefully peeking out-

"You are quite the busybody, aren't you?"

She uses a fist to shove the door into the apartment, the handle jamming into his stomach.

"Ah-" He groans, clearing his throat and moving backwards, fingers gripping the door. "Well... Humans are only... curious. The letter yesterday was obviously yours."

She squints at him. "You read it, didn't you?"

"Well-"

She kicks the door, pushing him off balance.

"Yes," He quickly admits. "I'm sorry! It just... you crumpled it all up and threw it back in my hands and you looked like you were about to cry so I got curious and-"

"Breached my privacy and read a letter that you knew wasn't yours?"

"Euhhhhhhh..." He squeaks, slightly shrugging his shoulders. "I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I know it's none of my business. Your life is yours, and I couldn't care less-"

"So why were you waiting for me to come back?" She perks up a brow.

"I mean- If you knew someone was going through a hard time, wouldn't you care?"

"Not if this person meant nothing to me."

"You're kind of harsh."

"And you're kind of nosy."

"Okay, okay! I'm nosy and you're sad, I get it."

Ki Yeom rolls her eyes and turns around to make her way back to her own apartment.

"Just so you know! I don't normally care either!" He partially shouts down the corridor as she unlocks her door. "I just-"

SLAM!

"...Am kind of going through an exisistential crisis too."

Heeseung sighs heavily, throwing his head back in frustration. Stepping backwards, he gently gets the door shut, turning around to look at the pile of lecture notes sitting at his desk. There's a gnawing, frustrating feeling in his chest.

Why does it feel like the world is so happening, and he's just a boring loser trying to find entertainment?

He thinks that maybe this mindset is selfish, and that some people would rather live their life in quiet peace. But why does he have the hunger for stories, for gossip and to learn the secrets of others? Is he not worth life's ups-and-downs? Is he so mundane that he will live a mundane life and die a mundane death?

Pathetic, he thinks to himself. He dragged himself all the way out here to find himself, to figure out what life means... and yet he's finding it in other people's demise.

Perhaps this life wasn't for him. Perhaps he belongs in a sheltered home, away from life's trials and tribulations. Perhaps God knows he's too soft and fragile for it.

PART III

[dangerousstrawberryshark]

K-pop Boy Bands Stations

Seventeen

Choi Seung-Cheol (S. Coups)

...

Yoon Jeong- Han (Jeonghan)

...

Joshua Hong (Joshua)

...

Wen Jun-Hui (Jun)

...

Kwon Soon-Yeung (Hoshi)

...

Jeon Won-Woo (Wonwoo)

...

Lee Ji-Hoon (Woozi)

...

Lee Seok-Min (DK)

...

Kim Ming-Gyu (Mingyu)

...

Xu Ming Hao (The8)

...

Boo Seung-Kwan (Seungkwan)

...

Hansol Vernon Chwe (Vernon)

...

Lee Chan (Dino)

...

TXT

Choi Soo-Bin (Soobin)

Choi Yeon-Jun (Yeonjun)

Choi Beom-Gyu (Beomgyu)

Kang Tae-Hyun (Taehyun)

Kai Kamal Huenging (Huening Kai)

Monsta X

Sohn Hyun-Woo (Shownu)

Lee Min-Hyuk (Minhyuk)

Yoo Ki-Hyun (Kihyun)

Chae Hyung-Won (Hyung-won)

Lee Joo-Heon (Jooheon)

Im Chang-Kyun (I.M)

EXO

Kim Jun-Myeon (Suho)

Kim Min Seok (Xiumin)

Byun Baek-Hyun (Baekhyun)

Kim Jong-Dae (Chen)

Park Chan-Yeol (Chanyeol)

Do Kyung-Soo (D.O)

Kim Jong-In (Kai)

Oh Se-Hun (Sehun)

Zhang Jiashuni (Lay)

Li Jiasheng (Kris)

Lu Han (Luhan)

Huang Zitao (Tao)

Stray Kids

Christopher Chan (Bang Chan)

Lee Min-Ho (Lee Know)

Seo Chang-Bin (Changbin)

Hwang Hyun-Jin (HyunJin)

Han Ji-Sang (Han)

Felix Lee (Felix)

Kim Seung-Min (Seungmin)

Yang Jeong-In (I.N)

Kim Woo-Jin (Woojin)

NCT

Lee Tae-Yong (Taeyong)

Moon Tae-Il (Taeil)

Seo Young-Ho (Johnny)

Nakamoto Yuta (Yuta)

Qian Kun (Kun)

Kim Dong-Young (Doyoung)

(Korean Name) Lee Young-Heum (Ten)

Jeong Yoon-Oh (Jaehyun)

Dong Si-Cheng (Winwin)

Kim Jung-Woo (Jungwoo)

Huang Xuxi (Lucas)

Mark Lee (Mark)

Xiao Dejun (Xiaojun)

Wong Kunhang (Hendery)

Huang Ren Jun (Renjun)

Lee Je-No (Jeno)

Lee Dong-Hyuck (Haechan)

Na Jae-Min (Jaemin)

Liu YangYang (Yangyang)

Osaki Shotaro (Shotaro)

Jung Sung-Chan (Sungchan)

Zhong Chen-Le (Chenie)

Park Ji-Sung (Jisung)

ENHYPEN

Yang Jung-Won (Jungwon)

Lee Hee-Seung (Heeseung)

Jay Park (Jay)

Jake Sim (Jake)

Park Sung-Hoon (Sunghoon)

Kim Seon-Woo (Sunoo)

BTS

Kim Nam-Joon

Kim Seok-Jin

Min Yoongi

Jung Ho-Seok

Park Ji-Min

Kim Tae-Hyung

Jeon Jung-kook

Solo Artists

Lee Ho-Seok (Wonho)

Kang Dong-Ho (Baekho.)

Cho Seung-Youn (Woodz.)

[consumeronionbulletin]

Crash Course in Romance (2023)

Really enjoyed this show. The writing and story felt familiar, but the actors were good enough that it still seems fresh. Could have done with 50% less obsessed crazy stalker people though.

What Worked

The leads were fun to watch both separately and together. The overall relationships were interesting and the drama does a good job of making something that should be rather dull (math class) seem exciting. Even the most detestable people in the show still had some moments of sympathy as well, which makes them seem like real people, and it also makes the show feel safer rather than super stressful.

What Didn't Work

The weird murder plot, but this was less offensive than most and they didn't allow it to take over the show.

The Performances

Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon. I'm not sure if it's groundbreaking to take a character that is super common in romance (the plucky young woman who just wants to take care of her family, but OMG life is terrible) and just age her up 15 years. Sadly, it kind of feels that way. In any case, this actor is great, she's apparently a big deal in K-film and I'm so glad we got to see her here.

Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol. He's not all that different from the character he played in Hospital Playlist (I enjoyed him in that), but his story is different enough that it still seemed interesting. Jung Kyung-ho did a great job as a lead, and I liked all the different character moments the writers put out there for him. Not all of them stuck (for example, the tragic student death that he seems to have forgotten about after five episodes), but overall it was more hits than misses.

Oh Eui-shik as Nam Jae-woo. Every time I see a character in these dramas who is on the Asperger's spectrum, I start to wonder if the writers are ticking a box or something. But as long as they make sure and put in the work to make the character feel real, then I'm okay with it. Oh Eui-shik did the work, and I was okay with it.

Lee Bong-ryun as Kim Young-joo. I enjoyed seeing her in Hometown Cha x 3 and she did a great job here (though her character is a little more one-note here). I felt her romance arc at the end was actually kind of nice.

Roh Yoon-seo as Nam Hae-yi. Really good job by a young actress who was only in her second drama. Hopefully, she'll have a long career, because she was fun to watch and the character was well done as well.

Jang Young-nam as Jang Seo-jin. The only other role I've seen her in was as kind of a bad person in IOK2NBO. She wasn't a great person here, but I had alot more sympathy for her, partly because the actor did a good job of making her relatable even during all the crazy plot stuff. I'm glad the writers left the character in a pretty good place overall.

Kim Mi-kyung as Haeng-seon's mother. I have already raved about how cool this actor is in other places. She was only in two episodes, and her character didn't even get a real name, but it was still just nice to see her on screen.

The High School Kiddos. I think they all did a good job. The writers didn't try and make them too cutesy or turn it into an afterschool special. They were fun to watch when they were on screen, and they all had good moments in the show.

The Gang of Bad Mothers With Money. I kind of enjoyed their antics, even if it felt like the writers were giving them the job of creating pointless drama at times. They were funny when they needed to be, and detestable when they needed to be, but none of them were too memorable.

The Evil Baddie Assistant Guy. Kind of a spoiler though it's not really a huge secret. I think the actor did a decent job of playing subtle with a character that slowly turns into a mustache twirling villain by the end of the series. I didn't need an interesting villain, in fact I'd rather not bother with him at all, but if you have to have a murder spree in your drama, this guy is an acceptable choice.

TL; DR:

Fun little romance / relationship drama with good casting that hit a sweet spot between familiar and fresh. Had some funny moments, and a few genuine feels but you knew going in that you'd end up with a HEA.

[heretherebedork]

If they can manage any kind of emotional landing next week, Individual circumstances might turn into one of my favorite Korean BLs and I absolutely did not expect that but apparently all the emotional notes are hitting me right this time around. I seriously adore these two and their serious damage. Apparently, it works.

[waitmyturtles]

Quick notes on two ongoing dramas, The New Employee and Individual Circumstances, which I picked up last night:

1) LOVED THE SNUGGLY COMFORT of the last episode of The New Employee. I am a huge proponent of quiet and intimate comfort serving as radical displays of love. (Like Kinou Nani Tabeta: eating dinner together, the smiles, the chats, everything.) Jong Chan is such a melty. I’ll be interested to see how Kwon Hyuk acts out Jong Chan’s reaction to the news about Seung Hyun. This was an episode that was like a pair of warm pajamas. Loved every minute.

2) I picked up Individual Circumstances after another fabulous color analysis by the amazing @respectthepetty. INTERESTING SHOW STRUCTURE. I agree with what @respectthepetty and I were saying in the comments of her post -- I legit had no idea what was happening for the first couple episodes. Like I said in the comments -- the sort of dramatic feeling I got while watching the show, without having very much by way of context to understand what was happening, was giving a little bit of Eternal Yesterday for me. But the fourth episode opened things up.

I went through this heavily when I watched SBS’s Why Her? last year. The K-drama trope of keeping you in the damn dark, episode after freaking episode -- I can’t help but like it. It keeps things weird and a little spooky, kinda? 

My heart totally broke for Woo Jae when they panned to the sweatshirt that was left behind. I love that that was the signal -- along with what Yeon Woo said about misinterpretations with matching outfits. I heard my heart crack. And I LOVE that feeling, GAH -- Korea!!!! You do this all the time, and you do it so well. 

Two very good shows! Annnnnnnd, a dose of dumb tonight with Candy Color Paradox -- let’s see wtf happens there. I do love my awkward CCP boys, though!

[aliceisathome]

If Woo Jae hadn't been able to rustle up a full meal for sick Yeon Woo I'd have thought they were cellmates when they met, not college roommates. That student accommodation is GRIM.

Anyway thank you Yeon Woo for not touching your drunk friend when he fell on top of you. And I'm now getting that they're not ex boyfriends but Woo Jae basically had a massive crush on his himbo friend and had to run away. Poor baby.

Random thought - I am profoundly grateful that we don't have to be all-round fixers, support staff and bodyguards to our authors in the UK. I don't think I would have made it six months as an editor.

[shinyempirerpg]

A-B-C

An Yu Jin (IVE) — Sugar Rush Cha Eun Woo — sunflower Christopher Bang — bluehour Choi Beom Gyu — LittleJoanna Choi San — sonogong Choi Soo Bin — Bonvoyage Choi Ye Rim — Cherry Choi Yeon Jun — Nahida

D-E-F

Fukutomi Tsuki — Eunoia

G-H-I

Hanni Pham — Kamek Han Yu Jin (ZB1) — Dumpling Hirai Momo — Kamek Hwang Hyun Jin — Némesis Hwang Ye Ji — Dalí

J-K-L

Jake Sim — Darimda Jang Won Young — jellypop Jeon Jung Kook — genos Jeon So Yeon — Bluey Jeon Won Woo — Zag Jeong Yun Oh — Blue Joshua Hong —sonogong Jung Woo Young — wang Kang Seul Gi — bluehour Kang Tae Hyun — shinyland Kim Chae Won — Kamek Kim Jennie — Promqueen Kim Ji Woong — Gaku Kim Ji Soo — Lynx Kim Min Ji— Hype Girl Kim Min Gyu — Than Kim Min Jeong (Winter) — Leixah Kim Seon Woo (Sunoo) — shinyland Kim Tae Hyung (V) — Bonvoyage Kim Yoo Jung — Pebbles Lalisa Manoban — Peach Lee Chae Min — Rotten Lee Chan (Dino) — Gatitos Lee Felix — shinyland Lee Min Ho (Lee Know) — Bonvoyage Lee Hee Seung — badlands Lee Ju Yeon — Nahida

M-N-O

Min Yoon Gi — Gatitos Minatozaki Sana — ReiRei Miyawaki Sakura — soul Myung Jae Hyun — Hype Girl Na Jae Min — poppy Nakamura Kazuha — ReiRei Naoi Rei — Darimda Ning Yi Zhuo — jellypop

P-Q-R

Park Ji Won (ESteem Model) — Gaku Park Jong Seong (JAY) — butch Park Sung Ho — Hype Girl Park Sung Hoon — Dumpling

S-T-U Seol Yoon Ah — kitty Shen Quan Rui (Ricky) — Disaster Shim Ja Yoon — Nahida Shin Yu Na — Peach Sung Han Bin — Sugar Rush Song Yuqi — ReiRei Stephen Yoon (Keeho) — soul

V-W-X

Wang Yi Xiang (Nicholas) — Gaku Won Ji Min — whiskerssmile

Y-Z

Yang Jung Won — caracolcito Yoo Ji Min (Karina) — whiskerssmile Yoon Jeong Han — Darimda Zhang Hao — whiskerssmile Zhou Tzu Yu — darum

[gabrielokun]