Early Access: Mad For Each Other E10 (Patreon)

E10. Ahhh. We have confirmation and significant OTP progression, huzzah!!

But first, I'm glad to see that the ahjummas successfully intimidate Evil Mom into taking down the malicious post, and officially welcome Min Kyung into their midst. I feel like this must be affirming for Min Kyung on several levels.

Not only is she vindicated of the false accusations, at least in her neighborhood, she has the comfort of knowing that she has people in her corner who would stand up on her behalf and protect her as one of their own. Plus, there's the sense of community that she gains, where she's no longer all alone, all the time. It's no longer her feeling like it's just her against the world; now there're people with her, who would stand with her, against the world. That's awesome.

I love the beat, where Hwi Oh comes tearing down the road towards Min Kyung, because he'd heard the sounds of her blowing on the whistle, and then, at the sight of Min Kyung surrounded by the ahjummas, gets all blustery and protective over her, worried that the ajummas have put her through some hazing ritual, and then, at Min Kyung tipsily declaring that she loves their apartment complex and plans to live there forever, smiles a little smile of amusement and satisfaction to himself. Aw. He just really likes the idea that she's gonna stay, doesn't he?

I basically love that Hwi Oh's general reaction to Min Kyung now, even when she's being all drunk and incessantly blowing on her whistle, is one of smiley amusement. Even after he's brought her home and then finally gets to lie down in his own bed, there isn't a trace of irritation or even exasperation in his face, as he hears her through the wall, blowing on the whistle like there's no tomorrow. He just chuckles to himself and then calls her to remind her that the whistle is for emergencies only. Ahhh. How sweet is he? I love that he's this amused by her. It feels so appreciative and indulgent.

I realize that Hwi Oh is making every effort to let Min Kyung take the lead and dictate the extent and pace of their connection. He doesn't actually pursue her, like most romantic leads might. Instead, he spends time with her without actually testing the boundaries that she's set. She's the one who tells him that she misses him urgently, and that's why he goes over there, to her apartment.

I love that even though Min Kyung's request is weird - that he just sit there with her, and talk to her, until she falls asleep - he just rolls with it. I feel like most people would've been all, "I don't know what to say," but not Hwi Oh. He just thinks for a moment, and just dives right into it, talking about random things like how watching sad movies is supposed to help people with anger management issues and the like. It's just so.. comfortable, the way he just rambles on in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way, as if he's done this a thousand times before. I like that.

And, when she falls asleep, I love how he gets all amused while imagining the kinds of things she might be saying in her dream that causing her to frown in her sleep. It shows just how well he knows her, that he can quote the phrases that she's most likely to reach for, heh.

It's true that he's drawn to her and looks like he might kiss her, but when she wakes up, he hangs back, and denies that he was on the verge of doing anything. She basically has to kiss him first, and then several times more, before he feels confident of her feelings and what she's giving him permission to do, and kisses her back. And those kisses.. so full of raw hunger and tender need, mixed with dorky awkwardness and fun giggles. Omona. Rawr.

How sweet of Hwi Oh, to make Min Kyung that smiley-egg breakfast the next morning. What's his mom talking about, saying that he's not considerate??

On that note, I'm slightly nervous about the moms meeting at the bus-stop and talking about their kids after their visits to the shaman. Are they going to object to their respective offspring dating after hearing the other person's motherly grumbles at the bus-stop?

Ack. How secondhand embarrassing, that the ahjummas hear Hwi Oh saying goodbye to Min Kyung in the morning, when they don't find him in his apartment. I mean, if you can't even have a bit of privacy with your new boyfriend in your own apartment, that's a bit too much, I'd think? The silver lining is that the ahjummas appear to be supportive of the idea of them being an item, with the way they giggle in approval, so there's that.

Dang. The way the episode ends, with Min Kyung coming face to face with someone in a gas mask in the abandoned building, is not what I was expecting. Is this going to be a product of Min Kyung's anxiety again, like when the realtor came to her apartment the last time? Or is she in actual danger? Gah. I'm officially on tenterhooks.

Next episode notes will be out on: Saturday, 28 August 2021!