In Episode 1 of Absolute Value of Romance, we meet Yeo Eui-ju, an 18-year-old high school student who secretly writes romance novels under the name Imuk. She is creative, but her stories don’t get much attention online, which makes her feel discouraged. Eui-do, her older brother, is the only one who knows her secret and often teases and blackmails her about it.
Eui-ju’s Imagination and the Mysterious Neighbors
When Eui-ju notices four young men living nearby, her imagination quickly runs wild. She begins creating fictional relationships and scenarios for them, turning them into characters in her mind. Her curiosity deepens when she later sees two of them arguing on her way to school.
The Incident with Ga Woo-su
Ga Woo-su catches Eui-ju watching the argument and accuses her of recording them. The situation escalates, and her phone gets broken during the conflict. Instead of apologizing, Woo-su reacts angrily, leaving Eui-ju upset and frustrated.
School Life and Writing Struggles
At school, Eui-ju shares the incident and her struggles as a writer with her best friend, Choi Go-ya. Go-ya encourages her to keep writing and asks to read her work, but Eui-ju hesitates, wanting to wait until she achieves success before revealing it.
Arrival of the New Teachers
Things take an unexpected turn when the school introduces four new male teachers. Students are excited, but Eui-ju is shocked to discover they are the same men from her neighborhood. The new faculty includes Jung Gi-jeon, a former national athlete turned PE teacher; Noh Da-ju, who speaks Japanese and English; Yoon Dong-ju, a novelist teaching Korean literature; and Ga Woo-su, a highly respected math teacher.
Tension Among Students and Teachers
Excitement builds as students learn one of the new teachers will be their homeroom teacher. However, the mood shifts when top student Eun Ha-su criticizes the chaos. Meanwhile, tension grows among the teachers themselves, particularly between Da-ju and Woo-su.
The Big Twist Ending
The episode ends with a major twist. When Eui-ju returns to class, she discovers that Ga Woo-su—the same man who broke her phone—is now her teacher.
Episode Review and First Impressions
The first episode sets up a fun and engaging story centered on Eui-ju’s creativity and challenges as an aspiring writer. Her determination despite setbacks makes her easy to root for. The show blends familiar romantic comedy tropes with the unique angle of mixing fiction and reality through her imagination. While the tone remains light, the introduction of a student-teacher dynamic hints at more complex themes ahead. Overall, it’s a strong and lively start with both humorous and serious moments to come.