Cheongdam-dong Alice
Episode 11
Il Nam and In Hwa’s family are furious for the same reason but to two different individuals. The common ground: Han Se Kyung and Cha Seung Jo. Seung Jo just announced that he’s marrying Han Se Kyung.
The confrontation between father and son was to be expected. On the other hand, In Hwa’s brother took all his furry to Tommy Hong who was at that time like a child who got caught doing totally unacceptable. His head was down and his tail hiding between his legs. There was nothing he could say to appease neither In Hwa’s brother nor her mother! But of all the condescending things that was said to Tommy Hong, the one thing that ignited his anger was about him not being a real designer but a matchmaker.
Right after the volcano erupted, that was In Hwa’s family, he went out what appeared to be an interrogation room [for a moment there] and saw Se Kyung. He was about to take his turn to release his exasperation when Seung Jo came to the rescue and shooed him away like that of a dog by his owner.
And where would the dog go? To his safe haven of course! The frustrated Tommy was in for a pleasant surprise. The private investigator he hired brought him a video clip of Yoon Joo and Se Kyung talking about vital information Hong can definitely use against Se Kyung.
The two love birds went to a quiet place and had a serious talk. Seung Jo shared some information to Se Kyung that not everyone knew about him—his childhood, how his mom used him to get the alimony from his dad, his dad telling him not to believe when someone says she loves him for that person will only use him, and how all his experiences made him the kind of person that he is. The guilt was piercing through Se Kyung’s heart she wasn’t able to help it but cry specially when Seung Jo mentioned that it her who showed him the kind of love he could trust, the kind that is not scary.
When Seung Jo formally proposed marriage, kneeling plus the ring and all, she wasn’t able to give him her answer right away. How could she, when she knew her heart wasn’t as pure as him. The love per se was sincere but it was wrapped in lies and secrets. For as long as the secret hasn’t been revealed, that love will remain a “bad love”.
The already bad situation she was in even became more complicated when right at that moment, Tommy Hong contacted her. She chose to check the video message that Tommy Hong sent her than answer Seung Jo right away. In the bathroom, the video message was like a bomb that exploded on her face—as expected, the recording of her and Yoon Joo talking. Her knees lost their will. She melted like a candle.
She was losing her positivity; she was ready to give up but not Seung Jo. He continued to talk to her outside the bathroom door. Se Kyung is his home and he finally found it. He’s not giving up on her. His words seemed to be a source of energy to Se Kyung’s spirit that she decided to come out and pursue her “bad love”.
She made him promise her: One day if she suddenly disappears in Seung Jo’s life, he should tell her he will die. Seung Jo was bewildered but he promised her anyways. She asked him to put the ring on her finger then in return, she made him a promise: In any moment, I won’t ever leave you Seung Jo. If you run away, I will go find you. Even if you tell me to leave, I will stay by you. With this promise Seung Jo looked overwhelmed with happiness. What he doesn’t know was that Se Kyung can already foresee how he might react in the future the moment he learned about her dark secret. He will feel betrayed by the very person he trust so he will push her away but her promise was not to give up on him—not to give up on her love, their love.
Tommy Hong once again watched the video. Smokes are still coming out of his mouth out of anger. He liberated his anger to his secretary. It was good thing that she has a strong heart so she was able to bring him back to his senses with just one loud “SIR!”
He told his secretary that Se Kyung reminded him of himself. He was stepped on by other people just like Se Kyung—the same way and now he has step on her the same way. “It is better to be the one stepping on than be the one being stepped on,” said his secretary. He agrees but part of him understands that the act itself is bad and wondered what end is waiting for people like them.
The news travelled quickly to Yoon Joo. Her husband was still upset while relating to her the bad news. But to her it’s not a bad news at all. It was what she had hoped for to begin with because she doesn’t want her past to become part of her present and future. But hearing such news was not enough. She had rub it in her sister-in-laws already wounded pride. In Hwa, in return probed her to shell out information about Se Kyung and she wanted it all!
The smart In Hwa was now putting together the pieces of the puzzle. She looked back at those past encounters with Seung Jo when Yoon Joo was around. It can’t be helped since the way Yoon Joo talked about Cha, she sounded like she knows him well.
In the meantime, Se Kyung called to meet Yoon Joo. In Their meeting, Se Kyung showed Yoon Joo the video message sent by Tommy Hong. Se Kyung filled her up with all the updates she had to know; the full story behind the video.
She was in state of panic. She’d accepted it: women like them go to hell in the end. Se Kyung brought her back to her senses. Se Kyung put her back to her place by reminding her who brought this hell into her life—no one but herself. Yoon Joo did it to herself because she didn’t fight for her love; because she acknowledge all the suspicion Seung Jo’s father about people like them with nothing; she made herself a gold digger. And Se Kyung is not planning to follow the same path. She will make her own. She will get her goal without losing her self-worth. Love and business can co-exist unlike what Yoon Joo believes.
Seung Jo very proudly shared to Dong Wook the uproar he created. He was disappointed that instead of support, he got sermon. His friend wasn’t happy with the method he used.
Meanwhile, Se Kyung and Yoon Joo’s meeting turned into a full blown confrontation. Se Kyung was now determined to start her own diary. By that I mean, start to do things her way. Her focus: to protect Seung Jo’s love. She was so determined that Yoon Joo’s reminder of probably losing both [money and love] didn’t shake her. Finally, a new Se Kyung surfaced. The Se Kyung that is strong enough to face the future turbulence that awaits both her and Seung Jo. Would she confess? No. Will she marry him? Yes, she will. Surprisingly, though, she’s asking Yoon Joo’s help like she’s sure the other would give it to her. Her ticket: she will protect Yoon Joo’s position. In one condition though, they will never see each other again.
In Hwa came to Tommy Hong’s office and demanded an explanation— who was the variable in the failed marriage plan between her and Seung Jo. Tommy was caught between two big rocks. One, tell her about the video; or two, wait for Se Kyung’s answer and put In Hwa to the waiting list. His secretary saved him from the difficult situation.
While waiting for Tommy to come back, In hwa noticed a folder labeled Cha Seung Jo. Her curiosity took over and picked up the folder. In the process, she discovered the video with both Se Kyung and Yoon Joo in it. Unfortunately, she would have to wait some other time to know what the video was about. At this point, she was flustered with so many questions unanswered.
Tommy’s visitor was Se Kyung. Not the Se Kyung he was expecting, though. In this visit, she wasn’t there to pick between the two choices he gave her—Paris or hell. She turned the tide which surprised Hong. She presented an argument that made him thinking. He tried to debunk her philosophy behind her proposition but the woman had a good point and for that she gave him two days. The task? To help her fix the relationship between the father and son. The expected result? Happy ending for all of them. If not, they can all go to hell!
In Hwa couldn’t get the video out of her mind. What exactly is the relationship between Se Kyung and Yoon Joo? What is Tommy Hong hiding from her? All these questions were like parasites eating up her brain. She had to do something.
Meanwhile, se Kyung and Seung Joo talked about the wedding and where they will reside after. Seung Jo preferred that they have the wedding in Paris and live there too so he can go back to working in their main office. Se Kyung asked him if no one but them will be in the wedding. Seung Jo mentioned about inviting all their friends and her family. “What about your father?” asked Se Kyung. Instead of answering, Seung Jo changed the topic. Later, she received a call from his dad.
She met with Chairman Il Nam. He tried to discourage her but the effort obviously went down the drain. She was as determined to protect their love as she was when she first declared it in front of Yoon Joo.
She really wanted to figure out what’s keeping Seung Jo from making amends with his father so she spoke to his doctor and friend Dong Wook. When she came to the meeting place, she was welcomed by the giggling of her sister and bestfriend while browsing hers and Seung Jo’s picture together when they first decided to be together.
Dong Wook shared the vital information to Se Kyung. He mentioned about Seung Jo’s constant dream about his dad funeral which Don Wook interpreted as guilt for letting go of his father’s hand for valid reasons of course. But despite the reasons, the guilt is there and it continuously haunts Seung Jo. Despite that, he’s not making the first move to fix their relationship either because of his fear of rejection.
The very persistent and persevering Se Kyung met with the chairman again with her drawings and awards that her father collected. At first, the chairman was irritated that she’s came without setting and appointment first. Se Kyung didn’t mind the harsh welcome. She went straight to her point. She encouraged the chairman to acknowledge Seung Jo even for just once. She continued by telling him what Seung Jo mentioned to her in the past about him wanting his father to see his success and not his failures. She encouraged the chairman to praise his son once in a while.
After she left, the chairman browsed her art work and some of them put a smile on his face. Then he remembered Seung Jo’s drawings and how talented he was for a young boy his age.
While at work, Se Kyung received a text message from Hong wanting to meet her. On her way out, In Hwa stopped her with questions about her relationship with Seo Yoon Joo. She kept it short, and she didn’t lie: they were not closed then, and they are not. In Hwa on the other hand seemed to have come up with a plan. She asked her employee to buy her a tablet case that’s very similar to that of Tommy Hong.
The meeting with Tommy went well. He accepted her proposal. His secretary asked him why he accepted it. He said he wasn’t sure but he just knew he had to. Does part of him want someone similar to his past situation to succeed?
In Hwa’s plan materialized when she came back to Tommy’s office and got a hold of his tablet with the help of another one with the same casing. She was able to upload the video into hers without Hong’s knowledge. Thanks to that delivery person she hired to come at exactly the perfect time. When Tommy returned to her, she pretended like she was still curious about Se Kyung. His answer wasn’t focus on Se Kyung instead, it was Seung Jo. Seung Jo is not cut out for marriage for convenience. This answer only made her suspect more.
Seung Jo visited Se Kyung’s family and asked for their daughter’s hands in marriage. The father objected. Her father is bothered by the huge difference in their social strata and he could not accept a man who cut his ties with his father for a son-in-law. Seung Jo was disappointed. On the other hand, Se Kyung suggested that he should trust her and follow what she suggests him to do. The first was for him to attend his grandfather’s memorial rites. He felt exhausted that things are not going his way and now Se Kyung wants her to do something he really doesn’t want to do. Like a child, he leaned his head on her shoulder.
Se Kyung didn’t stop encouraging him to attend the memorial rites even after he already left so off he went. His presence was both a surprise and a delight to his relatives. His dad didn’t show much emotions but his silence was like an agreement to everyone else.
In Hwa finally saw the video. It was so loaded with shocking revelation that she looked like she was going to explode out of madness! The viewing was interrupted by the presence of Yoon Joo who was also an essential character in the whole “scheme”. She labeled both girls, flower snakes (gold diggers).
Meanwhile, Se Kyung congratulated Seung Jo for being able to celebrate the memorial with his father. She wanted to give him a high five but he didn’t want to. In the end she got what she wants. Oh, the power of love!
Reaction:
Finally, Se Kyung decided to do what she wants to do. The love may still be not as pure in my opinion for not telling the truth but at least it is heading toward something more positive. I am glad that the struggle to get the chairman’s blessing wasn’t so dramatic like those melodramas in the past.
I have given up on this drama being a rom com because no matter how I look at it, it really was more romance drama than a romantic comedy. The writer leaned towards the drama of the romance than anything else. I still like it though. This change in Se Kyung’s persona is very refreshing. It is more fitting. It gives her character life. I mean if she plans to face her trials head on, then she should know how to speak up and because that’s exactly what she is doing, I’m loving her character even more.
I am so disappointed in myself for not being able to keep up with this drama as much as I want to but that just how it is sometimes. Regardless, I am doing my best to be updated with my reviews so I hope all of you readers will bear with me. Thank you so much for your time and let me know what you think. This blog is mainly for people who loves Korean dramas to talk and discuss the dramas we all love watching. J
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