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REWATCH: Personal Taste - Ep 7 - Part 2 of 2
Every rose has its thorns
A new day shines over the single stalk of rose that has been set outside GaeIn’s bedroom door, a wish upon it from JinHo, an entreaty for GaeIn to become tough in a world that can be cruel. Stretching out her tiredness, GaeIn steps outside and sees the pretty, ruby blossom. She picks it up and peers at it curiously. JinHo comes out of his own room to see GaeIn holding the rose. She asks him, “Is this…from you?” JinHo imparts some wisdom, “Always remember, roses have thorns. When you understand what that means, you will have conquered the mountain.” He leaves GaeIn looking at the rose, not exactly certain of the lesson in her hand. She takes a sniff at the rose’s pretty scent. GaeIn clearly has a long climb ahead of her.
At M offices, SangJoon is briefing JinHo on the merits of a new project dealing with the construction of a high school gymnasium when JinHo receives a call from the curator of the Dam Art Museum. “Yes, Kim InHee-sshi?” he answers, not unfriendly but clearly exhausted by thoughts anything to do with the Dam Art Gallery and Park GaeIn. InHee wants to give him more insider information. Apparently Director Choi has gone into retreat after his explosive confrontation with his father and has escaped away to his vacation home out of the city. InHee thinks it would be advantageous for JinHo to go seek him out, and naturally, she’ll provide him with the address. “I think he can still help, so don’t give up,” she encourages. He sighs because that is exactly what he wants to do—give up—for all the right reasons (friendship, ethics, love), but can’t completely forgo the project for all the wrong ones (ambition, revenge, money). He tells InHee, “At any rate, thank you.”
When JinHo snaps shut his cell phone, SangJoon asks the obvious question, “Why is Kim InHee calling you when the Dam Art Gallery project is all over and done with?” Since we all know that SangJoon considers his boss a stud of epic proportions, we know what he’s suspecting. He’s not wrong to presume that Kim InHee may have more than a business partnership with JinHo in mind, she clearly wants him to win the bid so she can collect on all those promised meals with him. We know it, and JinHo knows it as well. And so does SangJoon. What SangJoon really wants to know is if the feeling is mutual on JinHo’s part. Of course, JinHo is not very forthcoming and doesn’t say a word, only stares listlessly at the phone in his hand. At that moment, SangJoon’s own cell starts to sing for attention. He glances at the caller ID and a shifty expression crosses his face. He turns away from JinHo and answers, “Unnie? What’s up so early in the morning?” JinHo’s looks up and squints at SangJoon, and mimics in disbelief, “Unnie*?”
*literally means “older sister” and is a form of address between women
At a coffee shop, YoungSun is enjoying a lip-smack-worthy cup of drip by a sunny window seat. It’s a beautiful day and the world is sparkling. As great a spot as any for a confession, as SangJoon sees it. He arrives and reminds himself of the plan of action, “Today the gay-pretending comes to an end. You're about to find out, YoungSun-sshi, that I’m The Perfect Man.”
As soon as he sits down, she fusses over him. She’s noticed that his skin could use some pampering so she’s taken the liberty to bring him some easy water-soluble vitamins and, of course, skincare products. She’s even wrapped them in pretty gift paper. “Once you let your skin go, it may never be restored it to it’s former glory,” she nags, but it’s affectionately done and SangJoon is really touched by her interest in his well-being. He clutches the packages to his chest, and in a giggling voice choked with emotion, “Thanks a bunch, unnie!” She is just as thrilled to be able to pamper her new gay bud. He tries to tell her his secret, “Okay, so unnie, I have a confession to make.” She puts her elbows on the table and leans in, “Go ahead, tell me, tell me.” Looking deeply into her eyes, “The truth is…I’m…” He lowers his voice and in a low baritone, “I’m The Perfect Man.” She stares, “Are you serious?” For a fraction of a second, a wall descends between them and in that fleeting moment, SangJoon decides he’d rather stay gay and keep his new best friend who buys him vitamins and expensive cosmetics rather than tell the truth and lose her. “NO!” he squeals, collapsing in a fit of [fake] hilarity at the possibility that he’s a macho, macho man. She joins in the laughter. SangJoon’s face twists at his own cowardice.
Then, YoungSun tells SangJoon she also has something to ask him. When she hesitates, saying it’s too embarrassing for her to even bring it up with GaeIn, SangJoon fans his fingers and encourages her to let it all out. She ventures, “What…do you think of me…as a woman?” He tries to understand the question, “You mean, are you asking me if I’m attracted to you?” She slaps his hand, no silly, she wants an objective opinion on her womanly charms, her sex appeal; does she still have it? Basically she wants to know if a red-blooded hetero man would think she’s over the hill. She believes her gay friend will be completely honest with her. He declares enthusiastically, “What you talking about? Unnie, you’re fabulous, totally very good!” She brightens, “Right? I think so, too!” At his flattery, she preens, “You’re the best, you’re the only one I can count on!” She tells him she makes a great effort to stay youthful and fit. He stutters, “Oh, unnie, your bod is completely…fabulous…totally…uh…fabulous!” Since SangJoon is not really gay, going into any specific details about certain parts of her anatomy is too awkward for even him. He settles for vague and loud assertions of her body’s general awesomeness. When she’s mollified and convinced of her own hotness, SangJoon wonders why she’s even asking. “There’s just this reason,” she evades. “But as a woman, really, I’m very good?” He twinkles back, “Oh yeah, absolutely.” She tells him that she’s so grateful to have him in her life. They share a little high-five before she heads for the restroom, SangJoon advises her to take her own nappy, trilling, “Unnie, there’s no bidet here.” When she’s gone, he releases his own disgust with himself as now he’s stuck being gay forever. When he calls for a waiter, it’s in his pretend-gay voice, and he again groans at his own shameful behavior.
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