Episode 12 brings one of the biggest surprises the series has yet produced, as the quiet, reserved Dong-ju reveals a side of himself no one expected. Suddenly, a dangerous confrontation becomes a turning point for several characters, especially for Eui-ju, who suddenly sees her teacher in a completely new light.
The episode begins with Dong-ju standing next to Gi-jeon and Da-ju as they confront a group of gangsters. While the others prepare for trouble, Dong-ju walks out confidently and takes care of it himself. He easily knocks the thugs out, which shocks everyone, including Ji-a and Eui-ju.
The shock only deepens when one of the gangsters tears part of Dong-ju’s sleeve off during the fight and reveals a tattoo running down his arm. This revelation immediately raises questions about his past. Eui-ju, who had always thought of him as a quiet literature teacher, is seeing him in a new light.
Dong-ju gives a stark warning to the gangsters to stay away from Ji-a and returns to normal life but the fallout from his action has only just begun.
Meanwhile, Go-ya spends the day worrying about Eui-ju after learning how far her friend went to help Ji-a. When Eui-ju finally makes it home safely, Go-ya can hardly contain her relief. This emotional reunion helps to settle the tension between them. The two friends finally clear the air.
As they speak, Eui-ju asserts that her feelings for Dong-ju are purely platonic and she has her mind on Woo-su. Eui-ju tells everything she saw at the loan shark headquarters as Go-ya promises that they should never keep secrets from each other. She even suggests that Dong-ju might have had a dangerous past, citing his fighting skills and tattoos as evidence.
Go-ya is not worried, but rather interested in him even more.
The story later provides a glimpse into Dong-ju’s personal struggles. He fears that the truth about his past will eventually come out to his students. In a warm conversation, Gi-jeon remembers their college days and looks back on how far Dong-ju has come since he left his past life as a street fighter. The moment adds a valuable depth to Dong-ju’s character and explains the mystery surrounding him.
Eui-ju channels her excitement in everything she saw into her writing. She imagines Dong-ju as a heroic character, writing a new chapter in which he fights criminals and rescues a character modeled on Go-ya.
It feels different at school. Ji-a seems ready for class and is trying to make a change. Her classmates are taken aback by her sudden determination, and Woo-su’s injuries are clearly stirring curiosity. He refuses to explain the incident, even with the attention.
Ji-a apologizes to Woo-su for all the trouble he has gone through because of her, showing a more thoughtful and self-aware side than what viewers have seen before.
Eui-ju observes that Go-ya is unusually quiet whenever Dong-ju is around. Go-ya tells her that her friend is not uncomfortable with his mysterious background and she is surprised. Knowing Dong-ju’s past has only made her feel stronger feelings.
Go-ya even states her desire to work hard and build a successful future so that she can protect him one day. Eui-ju is stunned by her confidence.
The day goes on and Go-ya pushes Eui-ju to quit dragging her feet and tell Woo-su how she feels before he heads to Harvard. Eui-ju argues with herself more than she pays attention in class during an extra study session. Her nerves get the better of her and every opportunity to speak passes.
But at the end of the episode, she finally gets up the nerve to chase after Woo-su after school. As she prepares to confess her true feelings, the episode cuts to black leaving viewers to wonder what will happen next.# Review
And the strongest part of Episode 12 is definitely the unexpected reveal of Dong-ju. Watching the bashful literature teacher turn into a skilled fighter adds something fun to his character, and explains a lot of the clues that have been laid throughout the series. The tattoo reveal and the reactions of the students are some of the funniest and most memorable moments of the episode.
Go-ya and Eui-ju’s friendship is also given some meaningful development, with both characters being allowed to be a bit more honest with each other after a few episodes of misunderstanding.
That said, the romantic plotline is frustrating. If the series continues to focus too much on Eui-ju’s feelings, it feels like her character has become stuck in the same emotional cycle. Her constant indecision is starting to drag out a storyline that could have moved along much faster.
It’s a sweet dream, Go-ya becoming the future protector of Dong-ju, but it feels a little unrealistic given the circumstances. Her dedication is admirable, but the conversation is more idealistic than believable.
All in all, Episode 12 is a success, thanks to the long awaited backstory reveal of Dong-ju and a number of amusing character moments, even if some of the romantic developments continue to test viewers’ patience.