Episode 11 of Absolute Value of Romance begins with Eui-ju walking in on a conversation between Woo-su and Dong-ju. The talk quickly turns to rumors that Woo-su might be going to Harvard, which greatly disturbs Eui-ju. She jokes about how she will cope with her exams without his advice, but cannot help but think about the possibility of him leaving.
That night, Eui-ju starts to think about not only Woo-su’s future but about the relationship between Woo-su and Deul-i. As she tries to sort out her emotions, she starts to realize just how much his presence has meant to her.# Looking for Ji-a
Ji-a is not at school the next day either. Worried about her friend, Eui-ju drops by the orphanage after classes to see her. She discovers that Ji-a is working a part-time job instead of attending school.
When they unexpectedly bump into Woo-su, the two decide to track down Ji-a together. First they find themselves in a fast-food restaurant. The owner tells them Ji-a has quit, because she found a better-paying job elsewhere.
They find her at last, but what they find is disturbing. Ji-a works in a place where adult customers pressure her to drink with them for extra money. Eui-ju pulls her out immediately, furious and worried, asking why she would get herself into such a dangerous situation.## Help from Woo-su
But before the conversation can proceed, trouble arrives.
Ji-a runs into some loan sharks who want to collect an unpaid debt. Things spiral out of control quickly and they start threatening her physically. Without hesitation, Woo-su steps up and pays off the debt right there, forcing the men to mark down proof that Ji-a no longer owes them anything.
Ji-a promises to pay him back one day but Woo-su won’t talk about money. Instead, he urges her to concentrate on school and creating a better future.
As they return to the orphanage, Ji-a reveals to her the true reason behind her decisions. She says she has little faith in the authorities after seeing another orphan go through similar problems and end up in serious trouble. As she gets closer to adulthood she is desperately trying to save up enough money to get her own housing before she ages out of the orphanage system.
The talk provides Eui-ju with a new understanding of Ji-a’s difficulties. She also seizes the chance to ask Woo-su about Harvard but he is not keen to make any sweeping statements. But for the moment he maintains that his first calling is to his students.# A Brief Return to Normalcy
The pleasant surprise that awaits is that Ji-a turns up at school before assembly the next morning. Eui-ju is relieved to see her friend back at her house.
Meanwhile, Jennie returns from her school trip with souvenirs and presents for all. Ji-a accepts her gift with pleasure and Jennie is happy that her efforts have been appreciated.
But not all are in the same happy mood. Go-ya is aloof and refuses the gifts altogether, adding another level of tension within the group.#PE Class Problems
The gym teacher, Gi-jeon, encourages the students to take a shot on a basketball. When Go-ya is going through a rough patch, Eui-ju says that she is unable to play properly due to an elbow injury.
Gi-jeon doesn’t appear to buy the explanation, and Jennie doesn’t miss the awkwardness. She has a feeling something is wrong and she needs to get involved.# Ji-a Is in Trouble Again
The quiet lasts only a short time.
And on her way home, Jennie witnesses something shocking – the same gangsters forcing Ji-a into a vehicle against her will. She quickly messages the group.
As soon as Eui-ju gets the warning, she calls Woo-su. He rushes out straight away to look for Ji-a, while Eui-ju asks Gi-jeon and the rest of the teachers for help.
The gangsters take Ji-a to a loan shark’s office and suddenly say that she owes them more money even after the last settlement.
Woo-su arrives determined to settle things peacefully. But Ji-a won’t allow him to spend another penny on her. The gangsters attack and the confrontation becomes violent with Woo-su outnumbered and knocked out.The End: A Cliffhanger
Meanwhile, Gi-jeon takes Eui-ju, Dong-ju and Da-ju to the site to discover what happened.
On arrival, Eui-ju is horrified to find Woo-su severely wounded. The group steels themselves as the tension rises, ready to come face to face with the gangsters.
The episode ends on a tense cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering what will happen next in the rescue attempt.# Summary
Episode 11 attempts to raise the stakes by placing Ji-a in increasingly perilous situations, but some of the plot twists are a bit hard to swallow. Even in the heightened reality of a TV drama, it’s hard to believe that a high school student could be so blatant working in a setting where customers are putting her on the spot to drink alcohol.
That said, Woo-su is still one of the most reliable characters in the show. His selfless wish to support Ji-a without expecting anything in return shows the kindness that has made him a character you’ve been rooting for all series long.
The larger problem is that so many of the conflicts could be resolved much more realistically if the characters just involved the police. The constant choice to avoid calling the police, however, leaves plot holes that are hard to ignore, given that Ji-a is a minor.
While the episode does provide suspense and one more dramatic cliffhanger, it also suggests the increasing challenge the series faces in maintaining a believable storytelling as it enters its final stretch.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5