Original subtitles

[♪ theme song playing]

PARK MINJAE'S LIST

START DATING...

BETWEEN STEPS

CHARACTERS, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS

THIS DRAMA CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT

[♪ gentle music playing]

-[Youjin] Boo! -You scared me.

[Youjin] I got you.

I was just messing with you.

Sorry, I kept you waiting.

I was just trying to pull a little prank on you.

Did I scare you that badly?

Are you mad?

No.

I just...

hugged you because I like you.

Because I like you so much.

[video game beeping]

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE 1

[Youseong] Mom, is that fun?

EPISODE 8

I don't know. I'm just reading it.

I felt like reading a book.

Did you buy it?

Of course. Would I find it on the street?

I was bored, so I went to the bookstore,

and this one looked interesting.

Is it about how people are lonely or something?

Are you lonely?

Everyone is lonely.

It doesn't matter if you have a husband or kids.

Sometimes I wonder why my life is the way it is.

It's sad and lonely.

Your life is sad and lonely?

I don't know.

Maybe it's menopause.

One minute I feel good, the next I feel awful.

I'm hot, then cold.

I laugh, then I cry. I'm all over the place. Jeez.

I don't know. I'm old now.

I'm old.

It's not because you're old.

It's all because of Lim Youjin.

What's wrong with accepting some fruit from a customer?

Who does she think she is to chew you out like that?

Well, that was actually my fault.

I should've known better than to make a mistake like that.

Yeah, exactly.

It was just a mistake. Right?

That brat shouldn't cry and yell at her mom over that.

She was probably upset herself.

I don't even get what's so upsetting about it,

let alone why she'd throw such a huge tantrum at you over it.

Does she think she's so sophisticated and classy?

At the end of the day, she's still your daughter.

I can't seem to poop. [sighs]

[Youseong] This is all because of you, Dad.

[Yongseok] What is?

If you'd bought Mom expensive fruit and broadened her horizons,

she wouldn't be reading this stupid book now.

What? What book?

[Youseong] One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Just talking about it is pissing me off all over again.

Hey! Lim Youjin!

Come on out.

Your mom is feeling lonely because of you,

and now she is reading this stupid book!

Get out here, you little brat!

Be quiet.

Youjin isn't even in her room right now.

She's out?

I thought she was home. When did she leave?

Yeah, she went to the grocery store.

I asked her to get some tofu. [sighs]

[Youjin] Are you sure nothing's up?

[Minjae] Hmm?

No. Nothing's up.

[Youjin] Hmm.

Nothing's up,

but you suddenly wanted to see me?

Out of nowhere?

[Minjae] Yeah.

[Youjin] You like me that much?

What's so great about me?

Tell me. What is it that you like so much?

Just... everything.

Mmm. No, you have to be specific. Be specific.

[Minjae] Hmm...

[sighs] You're taking way too long to answer.

You're pretty.

I'm pretty. What else?

-What else? -Yeah.

What else?

You're cute.

I'm pretty and cute.

-What else? -What else?

[Minjae] Hmm.

You're nice.

I'm pretty, cute, and nice.

What else?

[chuckles softly] More?

Well, you only said three things.

That I'm pretty, cute, and nice.

Come on, keep going.

Keep going? Just keep going?

Yeah.

Come on, I'm asking you to write a thesis, am I?

You should have enough for two to three pages.

Is that so hard?

[Minjae] Hmm.

Well... What about you?

[Youjin] Hmm?

I mean, there must be things you like about me too.

Go ahead and fill two pages.

[Youjin] Hmm...

You're taking a while too.

I can't say anything.

Because I don't like you.

Huh?

What?

What are you talking about?

You said you liked me.

When did I say that?

You said you liked me before.

When did I say I liked you?

I said I loved you.

[Youjin giggling]

I love you.

Me too.

Hey...

Hey, we're in public. Don't.

What? You've never kissed in public before?

[softly] Come on, don't.

-Are you embarrassed? Your ears are red. -Come on, stop it.

Why?

Stop it.

Come on, what if someone sees us? [chuckles awkwardly] Stop.

Wait, are you mad?

You're even cuter when you're mad.

Don't say I'm cute. I'm older than you.

[Youjin chuckling]

You're so cute.

You're so cute, I want to bite you.

Nom!

Don't bite. Don't bite me.

-I want to. -Don't bite me.

-I want to bite you. -It'll hurt. Stop it.

-Come on, come here. -Stop it.

Nobody's watching.

-[cellphone vibrating] -You're getting a call. Answer it.

What? Who's calling me?

Mom?

I'll be quiet.

Mom. What's up?

Tofu?

Ah...

The convenience store was out,

so I came to the supermarket on the main road.

You could've just come back if they were out.

You didn't have to go that far.

Well, I was wondering

why it was taking you so long just to get some tofu.

Yeah.

I sent Youseong over.

You haven't seen him?

Youseong?

I haven't seen him.

Yeah.

Oh...

I bought the tofu.

Yeah.

Uh... I'm nearby. I'll be home soon.

I'm on my way now.

Yeah, in the alley.

Well, in like two to three minutes?

-[Minjae mouthing] Are you leaving? Okay. -Yeah.

[Minjae mouthing] Go. Go ahead.

-[door bell chimes] -[Youjin] Yeah.

I already bought it.

-[door bell chimes] -[Youjin speaking indistinctly]

[♪ slow pop music playing over speakers]

[♪ music stops]

[Youseong] We've met at school before, right?

Yes.

[Youseong] What brings you to our neighborhood?

I was just...

[Youseong] Are you here to meet Youjin?

Yes.

So, what's your relationship with Youjin?

Boyfriend?

[Minjae] Pardon?

Are you two dating?

Yes, we're dating.

-We're serious about our relationship. -[Youseong sighs]

[tuts] Serious?

[Minjae] We're seriously and genuinely dating.

Since when?

Well, we first met last fall.

But we parted ways without even exchanging names.

Then we met again this year...

[Youseong] So you've been together since then?

No, not really.

We only started officially dating recently.

So if you only just started dating,

I guess you two haven't gotten that far yet.

Pardon?

Come on, quit playing dumb.

Did you mess around with my sister or not, you little punk?

Gosh, seriously.

[sighs heavily, smacks lips]

First off, our family is extremely conservative and strict.

It's basically the Joseon dynasty.

Oh...

So even if you two are dating, don't cross any lines, okay?

Keep it wholesome and innocent.

You can look at her, but don't touch.

Aren't you going to answer me?

Yeah, sure. I understand. Yeah.

And don't stay out too late, okay?

When the clock hits 10 p.m., you bring her straight home.

Okay.

So does that mean you approve?

You're okay with me dating Youjin?

Well, I'm not her mom or dad.

It's not my place to approve or disapprove.

I'm just laying down some ground rules.

[Minjae] Okay. I understand.

[sighs]

By the way, I have a question.

Sure, go ahead. You can ask me anything.

I heard you had trouble with your leg,

but it looks fine.

Was it from a car accident or something?

Oh, it wasn't a car accident.

I had surgery because I had osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma?

What kind of disease is that?

It's a tumor that develops in the bone or around a joint.

So...

I had part of it amputated.

What?

Wait, by "amputated," you mean...

They cut off your leg?

But your leg...

Uh... I'm missing my right leg below the knee.

I use a prosthetic leg to get around.

Oh...

Oh... I get it.

I'm sorry.

[Youseong] No, you have nothing to be sorry about.

-You... -[Minjae] I'm just sorry.

No, it's nothing to apologize for, but...

I'm sorry.

[Youseong] Mmm.

We're almost done eating, and he's still not back.

I know.

They all go missing whenever they go out to buy tofu.

Call him.

Tell him he doesn't need to look for tofu. Tell him to come back.

Did he take his phone with him?

Yeah, I saw him take it with him earlier.

Right, the tofu.

[groans] I left it there.

[cellphone vibrating]

Hello?

Where are you?

Uh... Hurry back home. We're already done eating.

-[Miyoung sighs in relief] -The tofu?

You lost it?

[Miyoung] What? He lost the tofu?

That darn tofu.

Tell him to just forget about it and come back.

Hey, Dad says to forget about it and just hurry back.

Just forget it and come home, okay?

Hello?

Lim Youseong, are you there?

Hello?

What... Are you there or did you hang up?

I'm still here.

Fine. I'll be there soon.

[♪ pop music playing over speakers]

[door bell chimes]

-You're still here. -Uh...

I was about to leave.

I left that here, so...

Yeah. Here. The tofu.

[door bell chimes]

No matter how I look at it, I just don't think this is okay.

[Minjae] Sorry?

Please stop seeing Youjin.

It's easy to say it's discrimination or prejudice

when it's not about you.

[sighs] But now that it's my own sister,

I just can't get past it.

Please stop seeing my sister.

But that's not something you can decide.

What?

And it's not something I can decide either.

Youjin isn't a kid.

She's an adult.

She made the decision for herself,

and no one has the right to interfere.

Hmm...

She's not a kid, she's an adult?

Then what about you?

You're even more of an adult than she is.

You're more of an adult, so act like one.

If some naive girl says she likes you,

you don't just go, "Yay, I hit the jackpot!"

You tell her no

and to find someone better.

That's what an adult would do. Am I wrong?

[chuckles softly]

Firstly, Youjin isn't some jackpot. She's a person.

[Youseong] Don't get hung up on words.

Why do you keep speaking informally to me?

What if I am?

You think I'm in any mood to be polite in a situation like this, sir?

-If you're done, I'm leaving. -Wait.

Do you really like Youjin?

Yes, I really do.

I genuinely like her a lot.

If you like her, you should let her go.

You know what they say.

"If you love someone, set them free."

You really are selfish, you know.

[Youseong sighs]

So you're saying you really can't break up with her?

[scoffs] Well, as I said, that's not something I can decide.

Well, stop putting it all on her.

I'm not putting it on her.

I can't go into every little detail with you right now,

but Youjin cares about me so much,

and she's put so much into this relationship.

After all the love and effort she's given me,

I owe it to her to give this everything I've got.

Unless her feelings for me change or she falls for someone else,

I may give up on other things,

but I'll never give up on Youjin.

[♪ emotional music playing]

[keyboard clacking]

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY POKER?

JUST WATCH THIS!

All right, everyone.

Here are three tips for playing poker.

First, remember your cards and your opponent's.

And second, keep a close eye on your opponent.

You want to watch for signs like darting eyes,

stiff posture, or trembling hands.

Then you can catch them bluffing.

And third...

[inhales sharply]

[♪ quirky music builds]

Would you like to bet?

[♪ quirky music playing]

[Chansoo] Half the pot.

Five, four, three, two...

[Hangyeol] Call.

Call.

Would you like to bet?

-Five, four, three, two... -[Hangyeol sighs heavily]

Fold.

[Chansoo] You're such a coward.

I'm not a coward.

I just had a bad hand.

So think it through before you fold.

Well, I keep getting lousy hands.

What am I supposed to do?

All in.

Don't look away.

Keep your eyes right here.

If you're scared, you can fold.

[Minjae] Are you serious right now?

What the hell are you doing?

You're gambling at school? Seriously?

We're not gambling.

We're just having a little fun on our lunch break.

What's the big deal?

[Chansoo] We're not betting money.

We're betting candy.

I don't care what it is.

Who said you could bring this stuff to school?

A needle thief becomes an ox thief.

You don't notice your clothes getting wet in a drizzle.

Once you get hooked on this stuff,

it'll ruin your life and tear your family apart.

Don't you know how dangerous gambling addiction is?

[mumbling] You don't even have a family...

[Minjae tuts]

[chuckling nervously] Sorry.

I'm really sorry.

I mean, this... This would get you in serious trouble anywhere.

And you actually brought it to school?

Who brought this?

Who was it?

[Hangyeol] Why did Sejin have to bring this...

Was it you?

I'm sorry.

You get a few compliments, and now you can do whatever?

No. I'm sorry.

Throw it all out.

-Okay. -Get rid of it. Now.

[Taeho] Never bring this here again.

[Hangyeol grunts]

Hey, where did Lim Youjin go again, leaving her seat empty?

Right, Youjin said she needed to study at the library,

so I told her she could go.

Oh...

Youjin is the most sensible one here.

[♪ stealthy music playing]

[Youjin] Professor.

Yes?

Our genius Professor Talking Hat.

Do you know how to play poker?

No.

[Youjin] Come on, you know how. Teach me.

Poker takes both strategy and luck.

But actually, it's just a simple game of probability.

If you can do basic math,

even an elementary school kid can pick it up.

What are the odds of drawing an ace first?

1 in 13.

7.7%.

7.7.

If your first card is an ace,

that leaves only three aces among the remaining 51 cards.

The odds of drawing another ace are 3 in 51...

which is 5.9%.

Right. 5.9%.

That's much lower than your chance of getting that first ace.

[stutters]

What... how did you do that?

You have to remember every card to do this.

You have to be smart.

Wow.

I'm saying you can't do it because you're dumb.

Well, there are plenty of other poker techniques too,

but when it comes down to it,

the key skill is assessing the situation to make the right decision,

maximizing your chances of making the best possible hand

while calculating your opponent's odds, predicting what they're holding,

and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Oh.

[hesitates] There must be a foolproof system.

Like a cheat sheet or something?

You know, I've seen that in movies.

Calculating the odds with an algorithm, like a computer.

Yeah, I made one in elementary school.

In elementary school?

I got bored, so I made one.

Then... could I have it?

Think of it as saving my life, and give it to me. Please?

And what will you do in return?

What?

That's three times I've saved you. And you expect me to do it for free?

Do you have no shame?

Uh... Well, what do you want me to do?

Mmm... First,

bow to me three times.

-Bow? -[Jihoon] Yeah.

Bow three times, and be my slave forever.

Be your slave forever?

Okay. I was kidding about the forever part. Just 30 years.

Three years?

No, I can't do that.

It's too long.

We're not done. Where are you going?

I have a class. You should go too.

Aren't you going?

Professor, you're just kidding about making me your slave.

I told you, I'm not going into math.

I hate memorizing formulas, and proofs are hard.

Everyone in the department is a genius.

I know I wouldn't have any fun there.

I'd just have a hard time.

Then how about three months?

Just one semester, until we hire a new TA.

Just answer the phone and run some errands. That's it.

[muttering] 560.

224,848.

Equals 1 over 595.

The answer is 0.16807%.

[♪ pensive music playing]

There. Does that make sense?

Well...

If you don't get it, just memorize it.

Uh... Theoretical probabilities rarely match

what you actually observe in practice.

Or every mathematician or probability expert

would be getting rich at casinos.

The outcome of a game of chance is also affected by the number of trials.

Maybe that's what they call luck in this game.

Anything else besides luck?

Mind games?

Mind games?

I just sent you the revised slides and the updated graph.

Okay, I'll take a look.

[mouse clicking]

Well done. You can go home now.

Okay. I'll get going.

[Minjae] Okay.

Minjae,

I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused today.

Okay.

Hey, never bring that stuff to school again.

The two kinds of people I hate most are gamblers

and people who make no effort and leave everything to luck.

Okay.

You see, I've got such high hopes for you.

Don't let me down.

Okay, got it.

[Sejin sighs]

By the way,

who's giving the presentation for KEIT?

Once you leave, there won't be anyone to do it.

Is Taeho doing it?

A junior shouldn't handle it when we have senior members, right?

That...

Well, it's not about being a junior member.

I'm not going to the States.

What?

But you said you were doing your postdoc in the States.

Well, I can do my postdoc anywhere and, mmm...

Anyway, I'm not going. I'm staying here.

But the professor said it's a great opportunity.

Why aren't you going?

It's a great opportunity.

That's just how things turned out.

Yeah.

[door opens]

[Youjin] I'm back.

[whispering] Go.

[Sejin] Library? You seem busy.

Yeah. I was reading papers on torque sensors.

I'll send my review by tomorrow.

Okay. Thanks.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Do you want to grab dinner?

I have something to tell you too.

Uh, I'm supposed to see a movie with Subin.

Is it important?

No, not really.

Ah... Then let's do it another day.

Tomorrow? Or the day after.

Any day works for me.

We could do that. Sure. Okay.

I'm late. Sorry, but I have to head out. I'll call you.

[Minjae] Okay, I'll call you later.

Actually, why don't you call me when you...

-head home? -[door closes]

[♪ dramatic showdown music playing]

[♪ music fades]

[Sejin] Do you want beer?

-[refrigerator door opens] -No.

I don't want alcohol clouding my judgment.

[Sejin scoffs]

[grunts softly]

[♪ slow tense music playing]

Like I said, we're playing seven-card stud.

Well, it's one hand only, so we're skipping the betting rounds.

Half pot, double bet, minimum bet, quarter pot, full pot...

We don't need any of that.

No folding.

We're going all in.

[♪ music swells sharply with drum roll]

[♪ music fades]

Pick the cards.

The dealer is supposed to pick the cards.

I pick the cards?

You're a player, not the dealer.

What? So you're going to be the dealer?

No, we need someone else.

[Subin] Thank you.

[♪ comical music playing]

[Subin] Unit 301.

-[doorbell chiming] -[♪ comical music continues playing]

-[Youjin] Subin. You made it. -[Subin] Yeah.

[Youjin] Come in, come in.

What's that?

[Subin] Huh? Ah...

I heard you should bring a gift when you visit a new home.

-You didn't need to. It's so heavy. -[Subin chuckles softly]

Hello.

Yes. Hello.

What are you doing?

[Youjin] Oh boy.

-You can sit over there. -[Subin] Okay.

[Youjin] Did you have trouble finding the place?

No, I found it right away.

CONTACTS

CALLING... LIM YOUJIN

[automation] The phone is turned off.

-You will now be connected to voicemail... -[line disconnects]

I thought she was going to the movies with her.

What's going on now?

Hmm?

[♪ light comical music playing]

Let's see.

So the loser buys the winner a meal?

-Yeah, so to speak. -[Subin] Hmm.

-[Sejin chuckles awkwardly] -But I've never played poker.

I don't know how to play.

Ah... You're the dealer.

Just hold on to the cards and then deal them.

Oh.

-Should I pick one? -[Youjin] Yes.

[Subin] Okay.

[♪ light zany music playing]

-Should I shuffle the cards? -[Youjin] Yes.

[smacks lips]

Well, it's one hand only, so we're skipping the betting rounds.

Half pot, double bet, minimum bet, quarter pot... We don't need any of that.

No folding. We're going all in.

What's half pot and double bet?

Hmm? Ah... Those are just different bet sizes.

[Subin] Oh. [chuckles softly]

Sorry. I don't know much about poker.

-[Sejin] No, it's okay. -[Subin chuckling]

[♪ light mysterious music playing]

-[line connects] -[automation] The phone is turned off.

-You will now be connected to voicemail... -[line disconnects]

[softly] Kim Sejin. Where are you?

CONTACTS KIM SEJIN

CALLING... KIM SEJIN

[automation] The phone is turned off.

You will now be connected to voicemail.

You will be charged after the tone.

-[beeps] -[line disconnects]

Now, deal three cards to each of us, face down.

[Subin] Okay.

No, not like that. One at a time.

One at a time.

[Youjin] Yeah.

[Subin] Mmm. [chuckles softly]

Now, deal one card each, face up.

-Face up? -[Youjin] Yeah.

[Sejin] Oh.

-Here. There you go. -[Subin] Mmm-hmm.

[Sejin] Here.

Here.

And deal the last card to each player face down.

Here.

Here.

[Youjin] Hmm.

A royal flush?

[♪ music peaks briefly]

What? Are you scared?

[snickering]

A 0.003% chance.

[sighing] Well...

We don't want it to end too quickly.

And it's only the first hand.

How about we allow just one fold?

But it'll cost you a slap. Deal?

What? A slap?

Well, I didn't mean an actual slap.

-I was just joking. Just joking. -[Subin chuckles softly]

-[Sejin chuckles] -Just joking.

Is a royal flush a good thing?

[Youjin sighing] Yes.

It's the best hand. It beats everything.

Wow.

Can I see yours too?

Well...

[Youjin] Show her. She wants to see your cards.

I want to see. Please show me.

[Sejin sighing]

[Subin] Hmm.

If Kim Sejin has the ace of hearts,

the royal flush is complete.

Oh.

-Does he have it? -You little...

I can't tell you that.

Lim Youjin, are you going to play dirty like this?

[sighs] Kim Sejin, you don't have the ace.

[♪ dramatic Western music playing]

Because I've got three.

It's a full house.

[suppressed squeal] Yes!

[chuckling] Yes!

[sighing in relief]

-[Sejin groans] -[doorbell chiming]

-[Subin] Isn't that Minjae? -[Youjin shushes]

[♪ light suspenseful music playing]

What the... Those punks.

[softly] But why do we have to hide?

[whispering] I can't explain right now. Sorry.

[whispering] I'm sorry.

[whispering] It's okay.

Hey, Kim Sejin.

I won the game, so you're handing in your resignation at the lab next week

and going back to Daejeon, okay?

Are you serious, though?

[Youjin] Yes, I am.

That was the deal.

He's going to quit the lab and leave?

[Youjin] Yeah.

He said he'd quit and leave if he lost the poker game.

[Subin] No way.

Who would bet that on a poker game?

[Youjin] Exactly.

It was his idea to do this bet.

That's how crazy he is.

Hey, don't go back on your word.

You promised.

-[doorbell chiming] -[Sejin grunts]

Hey! [shushes]

-[doorbell chiming] -[Sejin whispering] Turn it off.

[knocking at door]

[Minjae] Hey, I know you guys are in there.

You better come open this door.

If you don't open this door by the time I count to three,

you guys are going to be in serious trouble. Huh?

Three, two, one.

[sighs, scoffs]

[♪ light comical music playing]

The three of you turned off the lights, locked the door, and were hiding.

What were you three doing in here?

Are you going to answer me?

Jung Subin.

[Subin] Yes.

[Minjae] You tell me.

You were supposed to see a movie with Youjin.

What are you doing here?

You guys were fighting again, right?

Were you throwing punches? Pulling each other's hair?

You had an MMA match?

No, it's not like that.

We were playing cards.

Playing cards?

You can play cards at home.

But why did you hide?

That, I'm not sure.

Were you guys playing for money?

No, we weren't playing for money.

-It wasn't money, but... -[Minjae] Then what is it?

If Sejin lost,

he'd quit the lab and go back to Daejeon.

Kim Sejin, Jung Subin, get up.

But... I didn't initiate it.

Uh... It was Kim Sejin's idea to play.

She's right.

Youjin didn't do anything wrong.

This was all my fault, and I take full responsibility.

[sighs heavily] I should've treated my only lab mate better, but I failed to.

I guess that caused some misunderstandings, and here we are...

I'll accept whatever punishment you give me.

I'll take a good look at myself and reflect on what I've done.

What, you're going to take a good look at yourself and reflect? You?

Hey.

If you want me to go to Daejeon, I will.

If you want me to quit the lab, I will.

I'll do whatever you say.

Okay. Fine.

[groaning] Oh, come on.

Kim Sejin is just faking it to not go to Daejeon.

Hey, you're real clever.

You're so sneaky.

Hey, did I say you could get up?

Well, I didn't do anything wrong. Why do I have to kneel?

You didn't do anything wrong?

I didn't do anything wrong. Who are you to treat me like this?

Even my parents wouldn't do this.

Yeah? You're proud of what you've done?

Is that why you're talking back to me?

I'm just saying,

Kim Sejin made the bet in the first place.

If I won, he'd go back to Daejeon,

and if he won, I'd have to break up with you.

Playing poker was his idea, too.

And now that I actually won, he's going back on his word.

[Minjae] Hey, Lim Youjin.

Come with me.

[♪ emotional music playing]

Hey, wait up.

[door lock beeps]

[door lock chimes]

What are you doing?

Why did you throw your jacket?

I'm the one who should be mad.

So you think what you did was okay?

[sighs] How many times do I have to tell you?

I told you, he started the fight.

You just

bet our relationship on a card game. Huh?

I know you're young and immature, but how could you do that?

If you had lost the game,

were you actually going to break up with me?

But I won.

[Minjae chuckling] "But I won?"

What if you had lost?

I didn't lose.

Even if I had, I wouldn't break up over this. Isn't that obvious?

[loudly] I'm saying it's not obvious!

All right. I'm sorry.

[Minjae] All right?

What's all right?

You...

Is everything just easy, just a joke to you?

[Youjin] What are you saying?

When did I say everything was a joke?

You just bet our relationship on a game,

like it's no big deal, like it's all just a joke!

Am I wrong?

You're the one who treats me like I'm no big deal.

[Minjae] What?

You made me kneel, yelled at me, and even threw your jacket.

You treated me with zero respect just because I like you more.

That's because you did something wrong.

Even if I did, you don't treat someone you care about like that.

Then don't give me a reason to be mad.

[sighs]

This is seriously messed up.

I chose someone who doesn't love me back,

so I can somehow live with that.

Being falsely blamed and misunderstood really sucks.

I guess I lost after all.

What?

What do you mean, you lost?

-Hey. -[Youjin] I'm going to go.

[Minjae] Hey!

[♪ melancholic music playing]

Hey, let me take you home.

I can get home by myself.

I'll take you home. What's wrong?

[Youjin] I said I'm okay.

You... You said you lost earlier.

What did you mean?

What did you mean by that? Huh?

[car honks]

[door lock chimes]

[door lock beeps]

[cellphone vibrating]

[line ringing]

[automation] The phone is turned off.

You will now be connected to voicemail.

You will be charged after the tone.

-[line disconnects] -[♪ music fades]

Minjae.

[Minjae] Yeah?

Professor Ahn wants you in his office.

But he seems a little... upset.

Oh. Right, okay.

[Taeho] Okay.

What's up? Did something bad happen?

[Taeho] Ah. Well, no. Nothing bad...

[sighs] Is it bad?

[Chansoo] What?

[Taeho] There was a postdoc position in the States,

but Minjae turned it down.

-[Hangyeol] What? -[Chansoo] Minjae did his PhD in Korea,

so he needs a postdoc abroad.

[sighs]

Well, he could go into industry.

It looked like he had other plans in mind.

Well, they asked you about your schedule,

so I told them you're done with your dissertation

and just need to wrap things up

and defend it.

[Minjae] Yes.

Everything just fell into place.

Why did you turn it down?

Well...

I don't think I'm ready yet.

Ready for what?

All you had to do was go.

It's a rare opportunity, you know.

But

I could do a postdoc here, too.

And getting a job at a research institute in Korea wouldn't be bad either.

You said you eventually wanted to teach at a university.

Now you're getting a research job in Korea?

I'm thinking maybe getting a job wouldn't be so bad.

Is there...

something going on that I don't know about?

What?

[Jaehong] I heard you had a rough time when your leg got inflamed before.

Is something wrong with your health?

[Minjae] No, that's not what this is about.

I just... I just want

to keep my options open.

Why do you think he suddenly decided not to go?

Did something happen?

Does he want to go to a different country?

What do you think it is?

[Jihoon] Go ask him yourself.

I can't right now.

Things are a little tense.

[Jihoon] Isn't it actually a good thing?

What?

[Jihoon] It's "out of sight, out of mind," as they say.

You'd rather have him close than be apart, right?

Yeah, I would.

I would, but still...

There's no way he decided not to go because of me, right?

[Jihoon] Would you like it if he did?

No.

[Jihoon] Why not?

He's giving up on his dream for you.

That shows how much he loves you.

What if he regrets it later?

He could regret giving up on his dream because of me and resent me for it.

Then that's just how small a man he is.

And that's just how much he cared.

What?

You have a weird habit, you know.

What habit? I don't have any habits.

You do.

You try to do other people's homework.

Why do you keep trying to make his decisions for him?

He gets to make his own decisions, and he's responsible for them.

You just look at your own feelings, and make your own decisions.

Do your own homework.

I can't tell if you get it or if you're just nodding along.

I got it.

[Jihoon] No, you didn't.

And hey, you should say all this to him, not me.

Talk to him directly.

Why do you bring your drama to me? I'm busy.

You always find it entertaining.

Entertaining, my ass. Now go.

[door bell chimes]

[Minjae grunts softly]

[Youjin] You're late.

I'm right on time.

[Youjin] But I got here earlier.

Right. You should order a drink.

[Minjae] I'm good.

I need to head back soon anyway.

Why did you want to see me?

I had something to ask you...

about your postdoc in the States.

[Minjae] Let me ask you something first.

When you said you lost, what did you mean?

[Youjin] What?

You said that it really sucks and that you lost.

What did you mean by that?

[mumbling] When I said that...

I was really upset,

so I can't really remember.

You can't remember?

I mean, I don't remember the exact words,

but I kind of remember.

So tell me.

What did you mean?

It meant I was really upset.

"I lose.

"You win.

"Good for you.

"You're so great."

That's what it means.

Did it mean anything else?

What?

So...

you didn't mean

you wanted to break up, or stop seeing me?

That's not what I meant.

[chuckles softly]

I mean, couples fight sometimes.

Do we have to break up every time we fight?

No, of course not.

[inhales sharply] Minjae,

have you really never dated before?

[chuckling] What?

Well, actually, more importantly,

what happened with that postdoc in the States?

Oh, that.

I don't need to go.

Is it... because of me?

[inhales]

I'm fine with it.

I told you, I can wait a year or so.

I'm not fine with it.

I don't want to be away from you.

[Youjin] I can't go to the States, though.

That's why I'm not going.

I just...

want to do my best for you.

How is giving up on your dreams doing your best?

You don't have to choose between your dream and love.

It's only a year.

We'll be together again next spring.

[♪ gentle music playing]

I'll be right here,

and I'll be an even better person by then.

I'VE BEEN DYING TO SEE YOU!

WELCOME

[Youjin chuckles]

[♪ dramatic Italian ballad playing]

BETWEEN STEPS

[Subin] Is Youjin seeing someone?

Because I missed you so much.

I met Park Minjae there.

[Youjin] I pray that the woman he likes brutally dumps him

and leaves him in tears.

[Hangyeol] Minjae's coming back to Korea after his postdoc.

Did you tell Minjae to break up with Youjin?

[glass clatters]

[Minjae] If there's anything on your mind, let it all out.

You're making the right choice.