I have a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. 🤒

I knew I was coming down with a bug when I woke up this morning. I had no stamina for my usual hour-long morning jog. I almost nodded off during my morning briefing. I lacked pep to entertain clients. But I knew I was dying when, at lunch, I couldn’t taste the cilantro cayenne tahini sauce the chef had prepared for my chicken kabob. So I headed home to nurse my bitch-flu. 😢

It was this scene that revived me.

credit: liveasbutterflies’ tumblr

It wasn’t that I envied WonDeuk and wanted somebody to rub away my migraine. (ha!)

I enjoyed this scene because I was reminded of what I like most about kdramas — the love scene that’s simple and natural, wholesome and comforting, and ever so delicious! This is the secret sauce of kdramas that uplifts me better than any cilantro cayenne tahini sauce when I’m sniffling, shivering and aching all over.

It came as a surprise. When WonDeuk was informed by the young brat MukGoo that the Mayor was a “bad man” who ordered the villagers to do odd jobs and flirted with HongShim while he was away, I thought he would misunderstand and become angry with HongShim. Then, when he saw the two of them whispering outside their house, I expected him to create a turbulent scene and play the jealous husband.

HongShim certainly looked startled and guilty when she heard him ask, “Am I the only one who feels uncomfortable right now? Why isn’t the mayor completing his duties but is instead making a move on a woman who has a husband?”

Jeyoon, too, was surprised to find out that WonDeuk was the husband. When WonDeuk continued to ask, “What reason would a man and woman have to be face to face?” I thought to myself, Ugh! Here we go…another melodrama. I hate melodramas….

But then, HongShim assured him that JY was only there to request them to do a job for him. She quickly ran over to WonDeuk’s side to grab his wrist and lead him away from a confrontation with JY. Phew! I liked that she didn’t hesitate to show whose side she was on: WonDeuk, of course. But what I liked more was SHE was claiming HIM as her husband in front of a former suitor. JY couldn’t possibly misunderstand where her heart and loyalty lay.

Alone together, WonDeuk confronted her.

WD: I heard that the mayor made a move on you while I was gone.
HS: (deflecting) No he didn’t. That (meaning, the load of cut grass on his carrier) looks heavy. Put it down. (then she showed him solicitude). Goodness, it looked like you worked hard. Your face is red.
WD: That’s not why it’s red. It’s red because I’m angry.

Here, I liked how WD could be angry but still show dignity and exercise restraint. He didn’t lose his temper and throw a tantrum.

HS: Are you jealous? (smiling at him)
WD: (resting an arm on his grass carrier. I think he did this to look confident and nonchalant.) Think about it from my perspective. If you found me face to face with another woman, how would you feel? (he thought that he had a winning argument here.)
HS: (pursing her lips to suggest that she was giving this a serious thought) I don’t care. I’d be fine with that.

Lol. Now, WD suddenly looked confused and insecure. He didn’t realize that she was teasing him. AND paying him back for last night when HE teased her with a serious face that he had a reason to return: to pay MukGoo two puns.

Remember this?

lol. He was soooo smug back then so now she was paying him back in his own coin. 😝

Anyway, to continue….

After she teased him, she smiled and ordered him to lie down.

HS: You got sunburn. If we just leave it, it’ll sting later on. It’ll be better if you close your eyes (so she didn’t accidentally put cream in his eyes.)
WD: But I want to look at you. I haven’t seen you for four days.

I liked their simple interaction here. She gently set her hand over his eyes to make him close them. But when she removed her hand, he was still staring at her with big eyes. Lol. She covered them again as he smiled at his little joke. This time he closed his eyes.

HS: It feels refreshing, doesn’t it? Stay like this. (Meaning, just stay still as she applied the cucumber extract). Wow. You really have thick brows.

See here? I liked how innocently she said that. This wasn’t a come-on or a prelude to a seduction. She was really amazed at his brows.

WD: I don’t remember giving you permission to touch them (she removed her hand) but I supposed you’re the only woman who can touch me without permission. (he held her hand and guided it across his brows.)

To me, this whole scene is beautiful for two reasons.

First, there was the subtle expression of affections. Neither one said anything cheesy. Their dialogue was wholesome and sweet. No professions of undying love were exchanged. But the viewers understood that HongShim’s and WonDeuk’s relationship moved to deeper level. In this very mundane and comforting scene, they fell in love with each other.

Second, there was the consent. This is a touchy issue nowadays and this is often misunderstood… so listen up, my readers. Giving HongShim permission to touch him didn’t mean ONLY allowing her to PHYSICALLY touch him.

No.

Although he was guiding her hands over his forehead, his “permission” was not meant EXCLUSIVELY for just his body. His permission actually went beyond that. 

What he meant was that he was giving her the right to CARE for him as a whole PERSON, body and soul. With other people, he had set boundaries or limits to prevent them from becoming too familiar with him. But with HongShim, he was CONSENTING to her touching him, breaching his wall, understanding his vulnerabilities (and jealousy, lol), and seeing his true self … because she was his woman.

😄

Do you see that? That’s why I said that this scene was uplifting like chicken soup for my feverish body. 😷🤒🤧

I’ve to stop here now and rest. If you don’t see me tomorrow, have a good weekend. Stay healthy. 🌺🌸🌼