The Great Seducer: On Sejoo, Part 2

While our attention was split between TH and SH, and their parents, let’s not lose sight of SeJoo. I’ve been checking tumblr and a large number of the posters pity this guy. lol.

I don’t think they see beyond his pretty smile and I don’t think they understand his silent moments. So, it’s no wonder then that when he stopped smiling and became even more silent, like in this week’s episodes, they didn’t notice anything amiss.

Haven’t they heard of the expression, “Still waters run deep”? Or how about these Shakespearean lines spoken by Julius Caesar?

Yon Cassius hath a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

lol. Cassius would later participate in the assassination of Julius Caesar.

I think SeJoo has something up his sleeves. Perhaps not a dagger like Cassius, but an ace up his sleeves. 😉

I think he instigated the very public and humiliating breakup with TaeHee when he tipped off SooJi that SH was out with TaeHee.  SooJi wouldn’t have suspected anything if SJoo didn’t pester KyungJoo about the whereabouts of TaeHee.

From Episode 17

SJoo: Why isn’t TaeHee with you?
KJ: What? (well, she nervously glanced at SJ) Well, she has a lot of homework.
SJoo: Ahh… (not looking at KJ, and trying NOT to sound interested) Tell her to come over. Everything is on the house today. (Then looking straight at her.)
KJ: (sounding nervous) She went out of the city to do a project.
SJoo: Really? Then I’ll pack up some food for you. You know where she lives right? I’ll go with you. (looking at SJ)
KJ: No, she went very far. She might not come home tonight.

There! That infernal SJoo!!!! He knew his questions rattled KJ who wasn’t used to lying to him. He wanted that seed of doubt planted in SJ’s head that TH’s and SH’s conspicuous absence wasn’t coincidental. He wanted her to suspect that SH was out with TH. But what for?? If he was truly SH’s friend, he should have been covering up for him. What a friend!

SJ: I really can’t eat meat tonight. I’m leaving. (Yup, she lost her appetite.)
KJ: Already?
SJoo: Bye.

Later on, he continued with the interrogation because that moron KJ was an easy target.

SJoo: You know, I doubt TH and SH will come back to Seoul at this hour.
KJ: Did you know that they’ve been dating?

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Stupid KJ. Of course, SJoo didn’t know but she just confirmed it. That is called a leading statement. He had asked a question without really asking a question. The question was: are TH and SH together? KJ’s reply gave him the information he wanted confirm.

KJ should have deflected and said, “What?! SH is with her?? That’s news to me (expressing incredulity). She went with her classmates.”

That’s why SJoo snorted because he now ascertained that SH lied and betrayed them for TH.

KJ was an idiot. And now she began chatting merrily, spilling the beans, thinking that SJoo was a confidante.

KJ: Oh I see. SJ said SH would come so I figured you two thought they broke up.
SJoo: SJ doesn’t know yet. But who cares? They’re free to date again. (He spoke as if he supported the two dating when he actually didn’t.)
KJ: That’s true. SH is keeping this a secret.

Blabbermouth KJ. Without ANY prodding from SJoo, she just revealed AND CONFIRMED SJoo’s suspicion that SH is double-crossing his own friends.

KJ: Do you think it’ll be okay for SJ to find out?

Cow.

SJoo: Hey. You can’t hide love. I’m sure SJ took notice too.
KJ: Right?

Fuckwit. With friends her, who needs enemies? 🙄

Then, SJ returned to their clubhouse. I hope he didn’t hear SJ talking to herself and wondering when SH dropped by to drop off the anemones because those flowers were from SJoo. Not SH, but SJoo.

He sighed when he saw her touching the flowers because the flowers were appropriate for the moment. Those flowers were betrayal, futile love, unrequited love.  He was the one who remembered. And I bet he was going to propose with those flowers, saying that HE remembered. He remembered that those were her favorite flowers because he loved her, wouldn’t betray her, would be by her side and so on. Unlike SH, he would be there for her.

credit: psalm40speakstome

 

You see, in SJoo’s mind, SH had always been stringing SJ. This was what SJoo said to SJ that day after SH was hospitalized for alcohol overdose.

Let’s not forget that SJoo claimed himself to be SJ’s defender. He was his “damage control.”

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He already proved that he would physically defend her, even from SH if SH hurt her. See how fast his reaction was when it looked as if SH was going to hit SJ?

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In SJoo’s mind, he was a much better proposition than SH would ever be to SJ. And he thought that with SH out of the way, he had a chance with her, but all she could think about was SH.

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If I were there in the clubhouse, like his guardian angel 😇,  I would have told him that the cello recital was a bad mistake. Music, like poetry, could have different a myriad of interpretations, depending on the listener. 🙄

For SJ, the plaintive strain of the cello matched her loneliness because she was missing SH. But for SJoo, the melancholic music matched his unrequited love for her. lol. There was a disconnect between the two.

Thus, SJ totally didn’t anticipate SJoo’s kiss. And didn’t welcome it. How would YOU feel if you were daydreaming of Lee MinHo kissing you, and Lee Man-Soo kissed you instead. That’s one rude awakening,  I tell you. 😂

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After this moment, SJoo knew it was hopeless for him to go on. There was no way he could beat SH. Recall, too, when he and KJ talked about kissing. She said you could tell if you were in love/loved with just one kiss. 🤣 (Why is this girl a walking encyclopedia of useless facts?) I think he knew it then that SJ didn’t love HIM.

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At this point, I couldn’t help remembering what he said before when SH suggested marriage with SJ. He SNEERED at the idea of them getting married, and he went back to their clubhouse to ascertain that nothing occurred while he was temporarily gone.

Wouldn’t I be too paranoid to assume that now he was rejected by SJ, he’d make sure that neither SJ nor SH would get their chance at love and happiness, too? Could he be this spiteful? Hmmm… Let’s see what will happen in the next episodes.  🙂

Hence, it was interesting to note his reaction to SH’s reappearance at their clubhouse. The first thing he did was reproach him for causing SJ to worry all weekend.

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Did you have fun?

Now, this question would have been innocuous enough IF WE DIDN’T know what transpired while SH was away. For sure, while SH was “having fun,” SJoo was having a disastrous time — with SJ pining away for SH, and him unable to declare his feelings for SJ AND getting rejected because he wasn’t SH.

To me, his question, “Did you have fun?” concealed his RESENTMENT.

SJoo: SJ worries about you every day but you went on a trip. Did you have fun? 
SH: How did you know? Ahhh. Ko Kyung Joo, seriously.
SJoo: It’s okay. SJ doesn’t know.

That was a lie. SJ did know because HE made sure that SJ knew.

SJ: But why are you still seeing TaeHee? Does she have something on you? (He’s holding with a camera) Or do you like her so much that you must go on seeing her behind our backs? Tell me. You went on the trip and kept it from SooJi, knowing she’d get upset.

His sole concern here was SJ’s emotional welfare. He thought SH should have been more careful not to get SJ upset, like he had made SJ’s happiness the center of his life.

SH: It’s not a secret. TH and I can’t be together.
SJ: Are you Romeo and Juliet? Why can’t you be together?

From what SH said at the gravesite, he was protecting the two women he loved. He was protecting his dead’s mom’s reputation from public opprobrium once they discovered about her hit-and-run. He was sparing TH from knowing that his mom almost killed her in that hit-and-run. Note: SH didn’t trust SJ and SJoo with the truth; only TaeHee.

SJ: If you can’t date her, come back to reality.
SH: Don’t worry. I’m going to anyway.
SJ: You’re such a jerk. I’m excited. I’ll get to see your nasty side after such a long time.
SH: How are things with you and SJ?
SJ: We, of all people, can’t be together, don’t you think?

credit: moonysnowy

Then, SJ arrives and the whole dynamics changed. The first thing she said was, “Wow. You’re here!” Suddenly, she perked up to see SH there.

SH sensed that something was off between the two but they denied anything was wrong between the two.

SJ: It’s all your fault. You disappeared over the weekend.
SJoo: She’s right.

lol. Again, I think SJoo meant something else, here. SJoo meant that the fall-out from the kiss was SH’s fault. He tried to make a move, but SJ was so out of it because she was worrying about SH.

When they sat down, SJoo tried to get SH to appease SJ.  This reminded me of the scene at the beach house when he advise SH to inform SJ of his plans to stargaze with TH. He wanted him to be honest with SJ.

Now, he tried to prod SH to end with TH and to say it in front of TH so TH wouldn’t get jealous anymore.

SJ: Why weren’t you here? Where were you? What did you do?
SJoo: He’ll answer, so give him time to breathe. He has this master plan. Right?

SH raised his eyebrows. He looked surprised. This was the first he’d heard of a “master plan.” He only said that he would “come back to reality” but he didn’t say that he had a plan for SJ’s and SJoo’s joint consumption and amusement.

SJ: A master plan? Is it something fun? (looking at them)
SH: Yoon Tae Hee. (They exchanged looks.)
SJ: I doubted it, but was true. You spent the weekend with her. Did you lie to us?
SH: Our bet is off anyway. Should I tell you everything?
SJ: How is our bet off?

Such a short memory. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

SJ: (continuing) You want information from me about the woman your dad is seeing.
SH: Are we going to discuss that here?
SJ: Why not? Can’t SeJoo know? Because your dad will look bad?
SH: No. Who cares? It’s us.
SJ: After I see what you do to TH, I’ll tell you who it is.
SJoo: Leave the adults alone. Both of you.
SH: How can I stop now that I know?

Meaning he couldn’t tamp down his curiosity to know the identity of this dad’s new lover.

SH: (continuing) That wouldn’t be like us, would it?
SJ: I’m curious though. What face will she make when you abandon her? Does she like you a lot? (He looked away.) If you aren’t sure, date her for a bit longer. I’m sure that would be more fun.

Note: his target was his dad. Her target was TH because TH “stole” SH from her. SH sighed and stood up.

SH: There’s no need to delay this. But TH has nothing to do with this. I’ll make the call whether you tell me about my dad’s woman or not. I’ll do as I please.

Throughout this scene, it appeared as if SJoo was an outsider. But let’s make no mistake here: he started the ball rolling here when he told SJ that SH had a plan to breakup with TH (again?! for the umpteenth time??).  SH was caught off guard.

That night, SH found TH’s letter left on his door to forgive her. He agonized about what to do as he looked his portrait of his mom and his drawing of TH.

Next day, at the bar, SJ asked him if he was going to reveal the bet to TH. SH was half-drunk already to numb him from the pain of what he was about to do.

SJ: Will you tell her today?
SH: About what?
SJ: That you approached her with a purpose. (Meaning, the bet)
SH: What for?

In his calculation, revealing their deception would be more hurtful than just breaking up with TH. He didn’t want TH to know about their bet/deception. For now, he wanted to deal with his mom-vs-TH problem so he was planning to break up with her.

SJoo: (arriving and overhearing their conversation) Yes. Why would you say that? Then it will be all over for you, HyeJeong and Ko KyungJoo, too.
SJ: I don’t mind.
SJoo: That’s a lie. Leave that card in play. This evening will damage TaeHee’s ego enough.

See that? While the two, SJ and SH, were still playing blackjack, SJoo was already playing poker. He anticipated that this breakup wouldn’t be the end of SH-TH’s romance.

This breakup with TaeHee was public. However, the ace up their sleeve would be the DISCLOSURE, later on, that the pursuit, the courtship, the breakup and TH’s heartache were all methodically planned like a game from the very beginning. If this breakup was humiliating and painful, the realization that the humiliation and the pain were deliberate would be ten times more devastating. That meant that she had been nothing but their plaything.

Note: as far as SH was concerned, the game ended here. He didn’t expect any more entanglements with TH after this. But for SJoo, he was already anticipating the crueler ending. To me, he knew best how to assassinate both his friends because he studied them well.

But who knows? He could still change in the next couple of episodes.  🙂

 

8 Comments On “The Great Seducer: On Sejoo, Part 2”

  1. yes!! Maybe people miss the point with SeJoo because he can be subtle in his schemes. SeJoo’s fangirls are just impressed with this “puppy” who is suffering because of his unrequited love while always, always caring for SooJi’s needs. And they probably just ignore the rest.

  2. The fangirls are definitely ignoring the rest. Take that scene at his restaurant when his two friends dropped by. He only introduced his friends to SooJi and he ignored KyungJoo who was sitting right there at the table. Where were his manners, that rudesby! 😖

    I get that he only singled out SJ because she’s glamorous and an asset to him, and that his friends were also rich and beautiful people. But come on now, I thought KJ was already in his friend group.

    He didn’t change much, did he? He still looked down on KJ.

    I must point this out. These fangirls who are crushing hard on SJ? They’re KyungJoo’s comrades. 😂 If SJ and Sjoo were real people, they wouldn’t want to spend time in the company of these fangirls anyway. Truth. 😆

  3. Thank you!! you picked up on the very things I mentioned in the rant post you made.

    Everything Sejoo had done and said is purposeful and people are completely blind when it comes to him. To the extent that they want Sejoo and Teehee to be friends…wow lol. They also gush over the fact that he called SH when TH got drunk at his restaurant. He said he had no one else to call… no he had Kyun Too lol

    He was the instigator in these past few episodes. He did everything to make Sooji realise that SH was with TH. He instigated public humiliation and had the cheek to say when will he stop cleaning up after his friends.

    The ace of the bet… Sooji will announce their marriage and let her know that SH won her over by seducing her. That’s my guess but we’ll see.

  4. 😖I read those comments about matching up TH and SJoo and I wanted to throw my stress ball at those posters for giving me stress. Too bad stress balls aren’t baseballs, though. 🤣

    Yes, I wondered why SJoo didn’t call up KyungJoo. Doesn’t he have her number? And when SJ said she was going to drop by, why didn’t he go out and tell SH to get the hell out of there before the Wicked Witch swooped in? It would be funny if the white car that just passed by TH and SH in the closing shot was hers.

    His duality is coming out now. I like it when he said that their parents should be involved in their game. But part of me wondered suspiciously “Why not? What are you plotting to do with the parents?”

    Also that brief scene when he introduced SJ to his friends. He looked enthusiastic and …normal? Like a boy proudly introducing his girlfriend to his friends. If his love/obsession for SJ had been reciprocated, he wouldn’t have been such a tortured soul like right now. He was so perky in Episodes 13 to 16, when he thought he had a chance to win SJ.

  5. Great post, and I totally agree! I keep seeing posts from people about how Se Joo is the most normal and only “sane” person in the trio. Say What?! If anything, I think he can be the most cruel because I do believe he’s the smartest of the Trio. We’ve seen how Shi Hyun is really not the sharpest guy around and Soo Ji, well, her narcissism blinds her to a lot. Se Joo, however, is intelligent and quite good at reading people which makes him a much better schemer and manipulator. Where Soo Ji is all hot emotions, Se Joo is cool and much more rational, which makes him the more dangerous in my view.

    One thing that did puzzle me for ep.17-20 is why Se Joo kissed Kyung Joo? At first, I thought he might have been “letting her down easy” but as @packmule3 pointed out, he’s never really cared about KJ feelings. He seemed shocked when she stated that his kiss confirmed for her that she didn’t have feelings for him (which was of course a lie). Was he looking for an ego boost? I didn’t really understand why that scene was there.

  6. Maybe he’s Jekyll and Hyde. 🙂

    I was hoping that he finally sensed in her a kindred spirit. He had told her to leave their friends be, and asked her “how long they had to clean up after their friends.”

    Here’s their conversation:

    KJ: Does SH really like TH?
    SJ: TH would know. There’s really no way of telling how someone feels.

    I’m not sure. My sense here is that he’s reflecting more about himself and his situation with SooJi, and he was only half-listening/half-interested in TH and SH’s problems.

    KJ: How could he do THAT if he really liked her?
    SJ: Did she like SH a lot?

    Good thing he didn’t tell her about the bet, and he changed topic.

    KJ: Very much. That’s why she’s holding back.

    But so is SH. He was holding back. The worst damage was to tell her that it was all for a bet.

    SJ: KyungJoo. Do you really know how you feel?
    KJ: Does anyone know accurately how they feel? How can they know?
    SJ: You can tell for sure after you kiss someone. You might not like me that much either.

    Here, that word “either” jumped out at me. I thought he was comparing KJ with SooJi and was recalling the kiss between him and SooJi them. He was telling KyungJoo that perhaps after kissing him, SHE too would realize (like SooJi did), that he wasn’t Prince Charming but the Froggy.

    Then he gave KJ a peck.

    KJ: Hey, I don’t think I like you that much. I guess I just liked you as a friend. Oh my gosh. This is embarrassing.

    lol. He was probably hoping that he could keep her on his side. He finally realized that KJ was a good and loyal friend (although gullible), a keeper. But that was quick-thinking of KJ to hide her feelings like that.

    I agree with you. I had to laugh when you said that SH wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed… given that he didn’t know what the tools were in the toolbox.

  7. Thanks for your take on the SJoo/KJ scene. Yeah, SH is not very smart here. In that sense, he mirrors a lot of K Drama heroines who are always portrayed as bottom of class ranking, but just so cute and loveable.

  8. Also that brief scene when he introduced SJ to his friends. He looked enthusiastic and …normal? Like a boy proudly introducing his girlfriend to his friends. If his love/obsession for SJ had been reciprocated, he wouldn’t have been such a tortured soul like right now. He was so perky in Episodes 13 to 16, when he thought he had a chance to win SJ.

    – and as he keeps turning her down and she grows more affected by sihyun dismissing her, I’m expecting for him to do something, what it is I don’t know lol

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