Sunday, October 16, 2016

On the Way to Airport - Episode 8 Summary


Soo Ah stops at Do Woo’s door, torn between knocking and turning back. She ultimately decides to knock, waiting for a long heartbeat before Do Woo answers. The second he does and their eyes meet, Do Woo wastes no time in pulling her into a tight embrace. With a definite shut of the door, the two melt into each other’s arms, giving them the relief they needed. 


Mi Jin checks in on a sleeping Hyo Eun before giving herself the opportunity to explore her friend’s home. She finds a storage room strewn with old junk and recognizes a stuffed animal she’d given Jin Suk years ago. She tosses it in a trash bin, positive the guy doesn’t even remember it was a gift from her. At the sound of the front door, Mi Jin calls out Soo Ah’s name, only to stop at the sight of little bro Je Ah instead. 


At the bar, Jin Suk picks up the tab since Mi Jin obviously isn’t coming back. He nonchalantly asks Hyun-woo about Do Woo but doesn’t get a real answer, so he just laughs it off and heads out. Jin Suk checks to see if there really is anyone upstairs, but the windows are dark. He assumes it’s empty and moves along. 


And just inside, Do Woo and Soo Ah are in the middle of an intense, passionate kiss. They kiss and kiss and kiss, finally releasing all the pent-up emotion from the past few weeks. 


When they come up for air, they briefly look into each other’s eyes before going in for another kiss, this time with more urgency. They bring each other closer as if trying to get as much out of this moment as they can. 


Jin Suk stops by the hospital to check on his mother. Once he confirms the surgery went well, he repeatedly tells the nurse he doesn’t need to go in – he just wants his mom to know he stopped by. Mi Jin treats Je Ah to her special ramyun as they both wonder where Soo Ah could be. Mi Jin can’t shake Soo Ah’s frantic expression before leaving, but she assures Je Ah that Soo Ah must’ve had a legitimate reason. They both start at the sound of the door, but still no Soo Ah. This time, it’s Jin Suk, actually home for once. Jin Suk’s here since it’s closer to the hospital than the old apartment. He eyes Mi Jin and Je Ah suspiciously, but they quickly deny anything going on, while also explaining Soo Ah’s whereabouts. The two hurry out the door, urging Jin Suk to be the one who stays with Hyo Eun. 


Jin Suk calls Mi Jin as soon as she leaves, adamant about knowing if there’s anything between her and Je Ah. Annoyed, she tells him to worry about his own household, and hangs up. As he tries to reach Soo Ah, Jin Suk hears Hyo Eun calling out for water. He tries to give her the drink, but she’s too deep in sleep. Instead, she murmurs for her mom, along with her grandma, Uncle Je Ah, and Annie. Jin Suk pouts that his name is left out. 


Do Woo prepares some coffee for him and Soo Ah. As they rest on the couch and gaze out the window, Do Woo asks Soo Ah if she has a wish. “I hope that nothing changes,” she responds. She hopes that everything will remain the same tomorrow and the day after that, just like yesterday. She averts her eyes as she says this, as if she’s afraid of his answer. 


Do Woo smiles reassuringly and tells her that everything will be the same, and that he believes someone who receives a lot of love will stay strong despite hardship. “Do not forget this moment,” Do Woo says, “It’ll give you strength over and over.” He puts his arm around Soo Ah, and she gladly accepts, resting her head on his shoulder. She lets her eyes close as she thinks back to some of her treasured memories: 


“The night sky view from the cockpit, a cruise ship in Alaska, a glass of beer in Sydney, the sunset in the Dubai desert… And now. Here. The sunrise from the second floor.” 


Back in her apartment, Mi Jin wakes up to a text from Soo Ah saying she’s on her way. Mi Jin immediately calls her to ask where she is. Do Woo drives Soo Ah to Mi Jin’s apartment complex, and they’re silent the whole ride there. Once they arrive, Soo Ah finally breaks the silence by asking what will happen now. Do Woo simply says that they have a “Two No’s” relationship now, getting a small smile out of Soo Ah. He continues, once again telling her that nothing will change. And if she feels at all uncomfortable, she should lie that it’s nothing. To herself and to others. 


She gets out of the car just in time for Mi Jin to come out and see her. Mi Jin goes running after Do Woo’s retreating car, stopping to ask Soo Ah who it is. Mi Jin brings Soo Ah inside to interrogate her further. Soo Ah lies that Mi Jin doesn’t know this man, which Mi Jin finds hard to believe. When asked about their relationship, Soo Ah’s mind goes straight to that kiss, though she again lies that it’s nothing and that the man has no interest in her, anyway. 


“I just… I just… I like him so much,” Soo Ah blurts out, bursting into tears. Mi Jin is shocked to hear this come out of her friend, but calmly asks who it is. Immediately regretting her slip, Soo Ah wipes her tears away and repeats that it’s nothing. She insists that her confession was a mistake. Still desperate for more information, Mi Jin asks if Soo Ah knew this man before she was married. Soo Ah replies that if she had, she wouldn’t be sitting here like this now. 


Soo Ah wants to stop the discussion here, but Mi Jin insists she has something important to say: There’s a man who’s been coming on to her lately. And a married man at that. Soo Ah tells her she should stop the man then, to which Mi Jin agrees. For Mi Jin, there’s no reason to involve herself with a married man since they’re the most untrustworthy. She believes they only need more women in order to gain confidence that they’re still useful. And eventually, they just get scared and run off. Soo Ah cuts in that not all of them are like that. Mi Jin’s eyes grow wide as she realizes Soo Ah’s man is married as well. But Soo Ah is done with this conversation. She says over and over that’s nothing, more for her sake than for Mi Jin’s. 


As Mi Jin walks Soo Ah out, we see that Jin Suk is right outside hiding in his car. He watches Soo Ah leave and then calls Mi Jin, demanding to know what they were talking about. At first, Mi Jin freaks that Jin Suk is spying, but then she spits out that she told Soo Ah all about the married man that was bothering her. She hangs up and goes right back into her apartment. Jin Suk chuckles to himself, knowing very well that friendship is much too important to Mi Jin, so she would never tell Soo Ah about them. 


Do Woo returns to the bar, surprised to see Hyun Woo back with groceries. He’s even more surprised to hear that Hyun Woo had the intention of making them breakfast. Hyun Woo explains that after witnessing the kind of fate Do Woo and Soo Ah have had – both with Annie and with Grandma – he realized nothing could stop them. 


Sure, he was the one who got hurt when both his parents had affairs, but Hyun Woo believes his parents must’ve been in a position where they had no other option. He’s able to forgive them now, putting his heart at ease. Do Woo smiles at his friend’s understanding. 


The moment is ruined when a panicked Ji Eun bursts in. She claims that her curator just quit on her and she needs Do Woo to fill in for her. Do Woo doesn’t think he’d be much help, but he knows someone who’d be perfect for the job. Do Woo leaving all the materials with Hye Won. Hye Won is grateful Do Woo recommended her, but she feels as if Do Woo is trying to send her far away. Do Woo coolly replies that he only recommended her because she was needed. So Hye Won agrees to do it, since she feels the most comfortable working. Hye Won: “Work doesn’t betray me.” Ooh, the shade of it all. Even so, she sincerely thanks him for the opportunity. 


Meanwhile, Hyo Eun is reluctant to go to school today, and it takes some convincing before she finally trudges out of the house. Soo Ah then gets a call from Mi Jin, but she’s not in the mood for questions right now. She wishes Mi Jin safe travels, and asks her to look after Jin Suk before hanging up. As she cleans Hyo Eun’s room, Soo Ah receives a text from Do Woo: The weather’s really nice. Would you like to go for a drive? Soo Ah immediately hops on a bus straight to Do Woo’s location. When she arrives, she spots him across the street and waves a hand, revealing the green bracelet Grandma had given her. He stares at the bracelet, making her drop her arm, but they both end up smiling at each other. 


Do Woo takes them to one of the people keeping Grandma’s ornaments. They happily put themselves to use at the old man’s home, helping him out with some outdoor work. Do Woo apologizes to the man for having to take back something that was given to him, but the man doesn’t see it that way. He shares that Grandma was always good to people in hopes that everything would work out for Do Woo. He’s sure that Grandma’s real wish was to have Do Woo visit different people and different places – to just live differently. 


The man leaves to search for the ornament, leaving Do Woo and Soo Ah alone. Do Woo comments on their beautiful surroundings, making Soo Ah remember the times she’d lived on Jeju Island with her parents. They left after little Je Ah was born and Soo Ah hasn’t been back since. Though she doesn’t know Jeju Island well, she remembers waiting for her parents to come home from work and seeing a wide, empty field. She also remembers looking up and seeing many power lines. She smiles brightly as she pictures those images in her head. Do Woo watches her speak with a thoughtful expression and then suddenly asks, “Do you want to live in a place like that?” Omg. I’m pretty sure I look about as dumbfounded as Soo Ah right now. 


Our couple collects the ornament and moves on to the next location. After picking up another item, Do Woo finds Soo Ah strolling down the walkway, raising her arms and patting the air. He asks her what she’s doing, and she smiles, saying she’s doing her last in-flight check. She pats the air again, pretending they’re the overhead bins. Do Woo pats the “bins” as well, suggesting they now take off. 


The drive back is another silent one, though there’s an extra tinge of sadness in the air. Do Woo thanks Soo Ah for her help today, holding out his hand. When Soo Ah takes it, he places his other hand on top of hers. Soo Ah reveals that she’s going to Oakland for real tomorrow, so they say their goodbyes, both reluctant to let go. 


Soo Ah rushes into the hospital to see her mother-in-law, who’s refusing to perform her physical therapy. Soo Ah exchanges looks with the nurse and they nod in silent agreement. When Young-sook’s not paying attention, the two bend her leg, forcing her to do the exercise. Soo Ah tells her mother-in-law that Hyun Joo unni will watch Hyo Eun tomorrow, and then Je Ah will watch her the day after. 


Her mother-in-law suggests Hyo Eun come by the hospital if she wants, and even suggests Soo Ah cut her pay a little, considering the situation. Soo Ah smiles and calls her mother-in-law cute, hee. 


Hyo Eun’s teacher calls to report that Hyo Eun didn’t show up to class. Soo Ah gets a hold of her and finds her by the school’s playground. Hyo Eun found school bearable with soccer, but now that she can’t play, the bullying has gotten worse. For now, Soo Ah has Hyo Eun go to class so they can figure things out later. As soon as Hyo Eun walks into the school, she’s targeted by three young boys who shove her around. Thankfully, Soo Ah sees this, but the boys just go laughing off. And when Soo Ah tries to tell Hyo Eun’s teacher, the teacher merely smiles nervously, saying the boys must’ve been joking around. Soo Ah takes Hyo Eun home for the day and as they walk hand in hand, Soo Ah reassures Hyo Eun that it’ll all pass, and she’ll be an adult soon. 


After letting Mary visit Annie, Do Woo drives her to the airport. The conversation is kept casual until Soo Ah’s name is brought up. Do Woo senses Mary’s discomfort and says, “Hyo Eun’s mom helped me a lot after what happened.” He also reveals that Soo Ah was the last person his mother saw before she passed. He thinks of Mary as a special person, so he’s saying this to make her feel more at ease. 

However, this only makes Mary feel more conflicted. When they arrive at the airport, she watches him from the mirror as he handles her luggage. In her thoughts, she tells Annie she doesn’t know what the right path is as she grips the box full of evidence from her accident. In the end, she decides to leave the box in Do Woo’s backseat. 

Jin Suk’s about to take off to Sydney once again, with both Mi Jin and Joo Hyun on board. And as the flight attendants greet the passengers inside, we see that Hye Won and Ji Eun are on this flight as well. Meanwhile, Soo Ah visits Hyun Joo unni to gain some courage before visiting Hyo Eun’s teacher. They both find school scary these days, but Hyun Joo urges Soo Ah to go in strong for Hyo Eun’s sake. 


Mi Jin helps Ji Eun get comfortable in her seat, switching to banmal as they joke around. Of course, Hye Won doesn’t know they’re friends and wonders why their flight attendant is speaking that way. Ji-eun says it’s okay since Mi Jin knows her, and that Mi Jin even knows Do Woo. Hye Won looks up at that. Gah, take it back, take it back! 

Mi Jin is surprised too, and assumes that Hye Won must be Annie’s mother then. At Annie’s name, Ji Eun jumps up from her seat and feigns airsickness, urging Mi Jin to follow her. She tells Mi Jin not to mention setting up Annie with Hyo Eun as roommates. Mi Jin doesn’t see why not, especially since Hyo Eun’s dad is the pilot. Ji Eun freaks out even more and says not to mention any of this to Hye Won. 


Oh no. Hye Won has been standing outside the curtain this whole time, and Mi Jin and Ji Eun definitely weren’t talking very quietly. Joo Hyun catches Hye Won eavesdropping and has her seated before Ji-eun comes out. 

Joo Hyun joins Mi Jin in the back and confirms that the Do Woo they were talking about was that Do Woo. Joo-hyun recalls the time Do Woo and Soo Ah seemed to be in a serious conversation in the back, figuring her suspicions must’ve been true. Though this seemed impossible to Mi Jin before, it all starts to make sense as she remembers Soo Ah’s mystery man was married. 

That night, Hyo Eun locks herself in her room, refusing to go to school tomorrow. Soo Ah gives up trying to get inside and says from the door that things may be tough now, but they’ll get better. She begins to say that the boys who hit her are just kids when Hyo Eun suddenly swings the door open. 


“‘Just?’” Hyo Eun repeats, “Then what about your work? Would you like it if I said it was ‘just’ work?” She wonders why she’s the one who always has to make sacrifices and why everything has to revolve around Soo Ah and Jin Suk’s work schedule. 

So, Hyo Eun says, she wants to stay home quietly so as not to mess with their precious schedules. She delivers the final blow by saying Soo Ah has never given up something that’s hers. Instead, Soo Ah always goes out, leaving other people to take care of Hyo Eun. And with that, Hyo Eun locks herself in her room again. 

Later, Soo Ah lets Jin Suk know by text that Hyo Eun’s been having issues at school and that she may need to stay at home. Frustrated with it all, she pounds her chest and lets out a deep breath.

Soo Ah visits the teacher the next day to deliver the same message, but the teacher insists Hyo Eun would need a treatment letter in order for it not to be an unexcused absence. Soo Ah brings up the kids who’d hit Hyo Eun as a good enough excuse. Though the teacher understands, she thinks that rather than scolding the kids, Soo Ah needs evidence. She urges Soo Ah to check with the CCTV footage from the hallway. 


When Soo Ah comes home and yells out reminders to Hyo Eun, she momentarily panics when she doesn’t get a response. She quickly unlocks Hyo Eun’s door with a spare key, relieved to find her daughter still asleep and perfectly fine. Back in uniform, Soo Ah is ready to leave for her next flight. She turns back to the house, remembering Hyo Eun’s angry words the night before. They’re still in her head as she makes her way to work. 


Do Woo decides to visit a name on Grandma’s list he doesn’t recognize, and along the way, he stops when he sees an airplane flying just above. He sends Soo Ah one last farewell message. On a shuttle bus, Soo Ah writes out a reply saying that she’s on her way to the airport, and while this is the way she always goes, she’s scared today. She’s scared something might happen. She then erases the entire text and replies with a simple: I’m on the way to the airport. I’ll return safely. 


Back at Do Woo’s place, Suk meets with the woman who’d worked for them prior to Hye Won. The woman reveals that Hye Won hadn’t been married, but she’d lived with her partner. She’d left him early on, which is why they never registered their marriage. When Suk asks about Annie, the woman continues, “She was raised by her dad.” To Suk’s surprise, as soon as Hye Won had given birth, she’d left the child with the father. 

Do Woo arrives at his destination: the pottery house Annie always used to visit. And there, he’s greeted by the owner he’d talked to before. 

In Sydney, Mi Jin panics to see Hye Won and Ji Eun in the same hotel, with Jin Suk sitting only a few feet away. Mi Jin lets Hye Won and Ji Eun take the first elevator, but Hye Won is too fixated on Jin Suk. She finally gets on the elevator, but not without giving Mi Jin a chilling look. When the doors shut, Mi Jin finally takes a breath, thinking that everyone’s in the know but Soo Ah. 


Soo Ah sighs at a text from Jin Suk telling her to send Hyo Eun to school no matter what. She then gets a call from Hyo Eun, scared to see that she’s home alone. Feeling scatterbrained, Soo Ah first tells Hyo Eun to go to the hospital to see Young-sook, and then remembers to tell her that Hyun-joo will be coming to babysit soon. Hyo Eun doesn’t look too reassured as she hangs up, though. 

Soo Ah doesn’t feel reassured by her own words either – she gets the bus driver to let her off. As she rushes in the opposite direction of the airport, she’s bombarded with worry after worry: She forgot to tell Hyun-joo to take Hyo Eun to the doctor’s for a note, she forgot to tell Hyo Eun about the kimbap, she—… 

She looks up and something makes her feet come to an abrupt stop. She sees a woman on a balcony, hanging out her laundry to dry. Just as Hyun Joo did in the story she’d told, Soo Ah notices how peaceful the woman looks. And it makes her wonder why she’s crazily running around like this. 


Breaking her gaze from the woman, Soo Ah picks up her phone and calls her superior: “I won’t be able to make today’s flight. I’m sorry.” She promises to submit an official resignation letter and hangs up, the phone dropping to her side. With tears in her eyes, Soo Ah takes one last look at the woman above.

Personal Thought:

Okay, I admit now, the chemistry between Lee Sang Yoon and Kim Ha Neul is daebak. This girl can manage to portray her character very well and I guess she has the capability to make the chemistry feels real on screen. She got the same feeling like the last time she played Seo Yi Soo on A Gentleman's Dignity. And since then, Kim Ha Neul is one of the actress I would see when she plays drama on screen. 

Considering her background for her right attitude, there's no wonder that she wishes everything will remain the same and nothing would be changed. Having affairs is not a right thing to do no matter what the reasons is. Yet, there's a possibility for it to happen since in life, things might not always go the same way, like feelings for example. Having been married for a long time with Jin Suk and how she lives with him gives the possibility of change in feelings since there is no spark at all now. 

I know some people might complain that a long term marriage should have a stable relationship instead. But think about it, how are you going to go through when it's only you who works for the marriage to work? It's Soo Ah who always there for her daughter and Jin Suk is always the one who push his responsibility to her. Will you still maintain that kind of relationship? Yes, of course if it's for the sake of the children. But, if you meet someone who is able to give you a better life? 

It's a selfish thing for Jin Suk to take his hands off from Hyo Eun's problem. Is she his real daughter? Oh Gosh, now you push Soo Ah to quit her job. Her dream job. Now, I have a feeling that things would soon change. 

Anw, I really like the OST, 'Only You....' it makes the chemistry between the two couple feels more real. Yeay for this drama. Still one of the drama I'm waiting for each weeks. 

No comments:

Post a Comment