Park Shin Hye as Jeon Sooyoung.
Love.
It wasn't easy, that is what we all know.
It is a thing that frightens Sooyoung the most, no matter how gentle and careful anyone could be towards her heart, she still feared love and its feelings.
The cause of Sooyoung's phobia on love was because she had witnessed what love could do to the other person. She was terrified of that person becoming just like what her former boyfriend was: Possessive, obsessive, abusive.
During her previous relationship, Sooyoung, at first, thought that he was a little bit jealous and that he would have been soothed by her words when she tells him otherwise from his delusional perspectives. But then, things started getting out of hand and her former boyfriend had lost control of his usual cool tempers.
One time, Sooyoung was spending time with her family, celebrating thanksgiving when he appeared out of the blue by charging in through the room, not even bothered to greet her parents as he forcefully got her up and dragged her out of the house. He had lost his temper for no reason and had started to scream obscene words at her, warning her not to go out without him. Sooyoung was so terrified and concerned with his behavior that when she tried to explain that she was just celebrating thanksgiving with her parents and all of a sudden, he struck her on the face and continuously dragged her into the car and drove her back home.
At the beginning of the relationship, Ki Young had not been like that towards her. He was gentle, kind, sensitive and loved her. Later on, he changed for the worse. His tempers and behaviors were getting out of hand that Sooyoung wasn't able to console him or calm him down. He was able to leave dark bruises all over her body and hurt her mentally that the words he said managed to crumble her happiness and confidence into pieces to the point that she was afraid to love again and to be loved in return.
Sooyoung was relieved that she had escaped out of the relationship and did not want to deal with love like the love that she was imprisoned in. It had suffocated her and was close to beating her to death. None of her family knew about him abusing her physically as she had hid her scars and bruises properly so she wouldn't burden them by her constant pleas but they were aware of his sudden outbursts and almost called the police on him when he forced her out of her own home.
Ki Young taught Sooyoung to fear love, to get away from it in order for her not to be hurt physically and psychologically. He had taught her a lot of different things when it comes to love. And because of that, the insecurity increased in her emotions.
He was also the reason she had cut ties with her first love and a close friend, Joon-gi.
Ki Young was really possessive and obsessive with her that he'd act like a raging bull when anyone dares to get close to Sooyoung. Even when she's with her family, he finds every single way to steer her away from them. And because of that, Sooyoung barely had any friends and some close relationships, So Joon-gi was the only remnant of a close relationship she had, and she had lost him because of Ki Young.
She missed Joon-gi dearly. He was everything that Ki Young wasn't. The warmth in Joon-gi made Sooyoung feel very secure when his arms are wrapped around her frame protectively, and she longed to feel his presence even if it is just for once.
Sooyoung was walking her cart filled with her groceries in the supermarket, deep in thought that she had not come to realize she had accidentally bumped into the person she longed to see the most.
SY: I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Please forgive me.
She wasn't looking closely at the person but when she lifted her head up, Sooyoung's breath stopped briefly.
Joon-gi.
He was standing right in front of her with his cart and another woman with her arm linked with his. The woman clearly looked eligible enough to be his lover. The way they were linking arms together and the diamond ring on the woman's finger just makes it true. Sooyoung's mouth trembled, her breath coming back shortly after it stopped for a bit. The sight of Joon-gi coming out all of a sudden was unexpected as they had not seen each other in 6 years as far as she knew. The feeling of a heartache and love sickness came and hit Sooyoung with a strong blow that she didn't have the time to see it coming.
J: Sooyoung? Is that you?
The familiar, deep tone in his voice made her heart weak with love that she almost forgot herself with her cart carrying her groceries. Of course, Joon-gi was and still is her first love after-all, but she snapped out of it as soon as her eyes landed back again on the woman's ring.
And so with no answer and avoiding looking into his eyes, Sooyoung pushed her cart to the other side and pushed past him, her heart crushing once again as this was the second time of her to leave Joon-gi with no answers to the questions he desperately wanted to ask of her.
At the moment, her eyes glazed itself with tears as she headed for the cashier to leave the place as quick as possible to avoid going into the intersection he was waiting for her in. Sooyoung, mumbling her hello as the cashier exchanged her greeting, impatiently and quickly pulled out her credit card as the cashier scanned her items, trying to hurry away from the supermarket as fast as possible.
After paying for her groceries and putting them in the cart, Sooyoung walked out with a shaky breath, trying to hold back the tears that are beginning to form in her eyes as she paced towards her car. The thought of Joon-gi married to another woman bothered Sooyoung in many ways but she understood that the man wouldn't stay single his whole life. Hell, she doesn't expect her feelings for him to be reciprocated. Of course, after losing contact and not seeing each other for 6 years, she wouldn't expect anything other than resentment towards her for cutting ties with him.
Sooyoung was deeply in love with Joon-gi. even during her relationship with Ki Young, the only person who could make her heart flutter with happiness was him. The feelings she felt for him was stronger than what she felt for Ki Young. Ki Young then became aware that Joon-gi might steal her away from him and so, he forced her to cut ties with him.
Alas, she still felt terrified when it comes to love, but the longing for him is becoming harder for Sooyoung to bear, and the ache in her heart increased greatly when she remembered that he had married already.
Or at least that's what her eyes told her so.
A sound of a footstep was drawing close to Sooyoung but she made no heed to it and continued to pack the groceries into the trunk of the car. When she was finally done, she took a deep breath to try to stifle the heartache, but the familiar scent of an aftershave mixed with Calvin Klein's Eternity caused her to flinch and slip out a gasp as she turned around and found herself face to face with Joon-gi.
At that moment, Sooyoung felt paralyzed. Her body movement stood still on the ground, the sound of her heartbeat beating faster than ever and the sound felt so loud to her ears that it was agonizing.
JG: It's been a while, Sooyoung.
Seoul's cold wind blew through Sooyoung's chestnut colored hair as she stood still, unable to utter a word but continuously staring at Joon-gi, with tears in her eyes like she was ready to cry at any moment even if she tried to move her lips to speak. She didn't know how to face him after all these years. After he tried to contact her so many times to ask about her or to beg for her to speak to him, to tell him what was wrong, she never contacted him back. That was when everything went wrong and it was all because of that bastard of her boyfriend.
Joon-gi was aware about Ki Young and had heard her complaints about him and tried to persuade her to break up with him, that she deserved someone better. Someone who's able to love her like she's the only woman in the world. And that's what Joon-gi did. He loved her too much, despite his popularity among women and them asking him out, he'd declined politely because he was willing to spend the rest of his life together with Sooyoung, even if he had to wait for 30 years just to be with her.
To him, she was the love of his life and his sun, the thought of living without her just adds more pain to his heartache.
Sooyoung, oblivious to his secret love confession for her, chose to stay with Ki Young despite his bad treatment towards her. Oh, how Joon-gi desperately wanted to beat that bastard with his bare hands for hurting his woman.
As the two of them faced each other in the cold, breezy morning. Sooyoung's mouth trembled uncontrollably, and the tears had escaped from their dungeons and were overflowing, smearing her cheeks with tears as her sight had gone blurry due to her crying.
Sooyoung had not noticed that Joon-gi had taken her into his arms, wrapping them around her protectively just like before, crushing her with a tight hug, the feeling of secureness rushing back into her as she sobbed into his arms, with his fingers running soothingly through her hair and whispering comforting words to her.
SY: I-I'm s-s-sorry.
Sooyoung was a complete sobbing mess in Joon-gi's arms that for a moment, an affectionate smile was written on his face as he keeps her secure in his arms and soothes her.
A few moments later, he was in her car and was the one driving while she was giving him directions to her apartment.
While they were in the car, they took their time asking one another question after question, beginning with Sooyoung's first question of the day.
SY: That woman whom you were with in the supermarket...who is she?
Joon-gi steered the vehicle as he turned it right, letting the question linger for a while, emitting a grin at the sight of Sooyoung fighting back her jealousy by trying to keep it low and cool.
JG: She's my sister-in-law. We went to get groceries together since Jin Gu is away for business. Don't worry, she only thinks of me as her younger brother. Nothing to worry about.
Sooyoung's shoulders sag in relief and smiling secretly to herself, Joon-gi took a quick glance and noticed how happy she looked as he smiles at how beautiful she looked when she's happy.
JG: What about Ki Young?
SY: I've ended things with him 2 years ago. He didn't take it well.
JG: Good riddance.
Sooyoung looked sideways at him as she suddenly bursts into laughter. The sound of her giggling just makes Joon-gi fall in love deeper with her. She looked so adorable and carefree like that.
When they arrived home, her home particularly, they stayed seated in the car as he turns off the engine. Leaning back against the driver's seat and turning to face Sooyoung with a smile on his face that beams like the moon, Joon-gi brought his hand on top of hers, entwining their fingers together and looking into her eyes to see that there was reciprocated love. And at that moment, Joon-gi was ready to risk it all for her.
JG: There was one woman in my life whom I am very much in love with and I plan to spend the rest of my life with her. And that happens to be you, Sooyoung. It has always been you.
As he said those words, Sooyoung can feel her heart thumping loudly against her chest, leaving her almost breathless, her lips beginning to form into the biggest smile he had ever seen from her with a couple of tears about to be shed.
SY: I admit I'm scared of love. It was because of Ki Young. But when I'm with you, I just couldn't help myself. I can not suppress the feelings that I have for you for years. If I could turn back time, I would have replaced Ki Young with you. But what's done is done and what matters is that we're here together. No one to object our love for each other. And yes, I want to spend the rest of my life with you as well.
Tears already started trickling down her cheeks but she was joyful. Joon-gi, extremely touched by her sweet words, immediately lunged and kissed her ferociously and passionately, pouring his love out for her as he pressed her body against the front seat. Sooyoung also kissing him back with the same fervor and passion.
As The two of them pulled away, feverish on both sides and lips swollen, the atmosphere in the car suddenly felt hot beneath their skin and then, they got out of the car and carried out the groceries to Sooyoung's home, holding hands and smiling at one another.
After unpacking the groceries, the couple spent the rest of the day just cuddling on Sooyoung's bed and being lovey dovey with each other, taking their sweet time with one another as there's no hurry in what's to come next for them.