It’s Grandpa’s Death Anniversary. Natalie is screaming at Cairo and beating him. What the heck is she doing?! His aunts are trying to stop her. She screams that she suffered and worked her butt off today for him! He ends up taking a dive into the ceremonial table and knocking Grandpa’s picture to the floor. Action freezes. And I can’t believe that she did that.
[ For Whom We Cook Pancakes ]
[ D-4: 4 Days before the Incident ]
Natalie is helping a dehydrated Cairo walk down to his car after rescuing him from being trapped in his bathroom. He tries to make her leave him alone and to walk by himself, protesting that he said he’s fine, but he can’t stand without her help. Natalie ignores him and picks him up for a piggyback ride to the taxi. They come across Isla, who has just arrived. Cairo does not want Isla to see him getting a piggyback ride, much less from a girl, so he shoves himself off Natalie. Man, he looks bad! Really ashen. He tells Isla that nothing’s wrong, even though there obviously *is* something wrong.
Natalie immediately blurts out that Cairo collapsed in his bathroom. Isla is immediately alarmed and asks where he’s hurt. He pulls away from her touch and says he didn’t get hurt anywhere, trying to assure Isla that he’s fine. Natalie immediately answers that she thinks he hurt his head. Cairo’s a little shocked and Natalie sputters that he was acting weird. Flashback to him holding onto her for dear life. Both Natalie and Cairo look uncomfortable with the memory. Natalie protests that it's mental confusion or something. Anyway, he's not normal.
Isla suggests they go to the hospital. Cairo replies that he’s a doctor and really he’s okay. Man, he is as bad as when my dad got a heat stroke. It took me and my mom over an hour to convince him to go to the hospital. Natalie smacks him for being stupid. Good girl! She tells him that he should go since Isla’s a doctor too. She picks him up again and walks off with him. He’s too weak to argue, so he just has to endure being carried.
Isla drives them to the hospital. In her rearview mirror, she can see Natalie hovering over Cairo, worried sick. Natalie tells Cairo that he has a fever. He pulls her hand off his forehead, telling her to be quiet because his head hurts. They really do look like a dating couple right now. Natalie freaks on him saying it’s his head. She yanks his head around, trying to figure out where he has gotten hurt. Isla just has to sit there and listen to Natalie fawn all over Cairo. And she does not look happy.
At the hospital, Cairo explains getting locked in his bathroom. Doctor clarifies that Cairo’s not hurt. Natalie asks why Cairo didn’t tell her that he wasn’t hurt. He protests that he kept telling her that he was fine. Natalie mutters that she thought he was dying. Doctor is called away to tend to a bloody patient that the EMTs have just brought in. Once the Doctor is gone, Cairo goes to remove the IV but Isla stops him. She tells him to finish it before he goes; he hasn’t eaten for 48 hours. Isla declares that Natalie is his lifesaver. She was only there because Natalie told her to. Natalie smiles. Cairo mutters that Natalie spreads rumours everywhere. No more smiles on Natalie’s face.
Cairo declares that he wants to go. Natalie stops him from pulling out his IV again and tells him to see his family before he goes; they’ll be there soon. He asks how they found out. Natalie smiles, self-conscious, and says that she called Grandma. She thought he was seriously hurt. Neither Cairo nor Isla are happy about this development. Isla asks Natalie if she even knows Cairo’s family? Natalie doesn’t know what to say, but Cairo declares that their families introduced each other. Not what Isla wants to hear.
Cairo says that “you” should go now. Natalie purses her lips and declares that he’s fine now. Because he’s grumpy and wants to be alone. Heh. She tells him that they’ll leave. He grabs Natalie’s wrist and tells her to stay. Isla doesn’t miss that wrist grab. Cairo turns to Isla and tells her that he’s sorry and thanks her, adding that because it’s getting late, she should leave. Isla isn’t sure how to take that one – because he’s basically kicked her to the curb for Natalie – but she smiles and says that she needed some rest anyway. She tells Natalie to take care of Cairo and takes her leave. Cairo and Natalie awkwardly look at each other. Isla gets into her car and thinks about how Cairo gave Natalie a wrist grab. She drives off just as Grandma, Aunt and Mom arrive.
Natalie tells Cairo that he’s so childish. Trying to get Isla to be jealous like that. He protests that it’s not like that. If Mom told her, it would have made things more complicated. Natalie says that Mom would like it. Cairo declares that’s precisely the problem. Natalie is sitting at his bedside, holding his hand. He doesn’t seem to notice or mind.
The women arrive. Natalie immediately jumps to her feet to give them a big bow of greetings. Aunt fusses over Cairo and he protests. Mom lets out a big sigh and turns her sights on Natalie. She declares that Natalie really loves to give shocks, eh? Aunt hisses at Natalie that they keep meeting in the ER. That's why you need good in-laws. Grandma is frowning. Natalie bows and apologizes. Then she declares that she’s not an in-law yet. Aunt can’t believe Natalie just said that. Cairo and Mom laugh at the same time, but not for the same reasons: Mom in disbelief, Cairo because he likes how Natalie isn’t cowed by them. She tells Cairo that she’ll go since his family has arrived.
Natalie bows and tries to go, but Cairo grabs her arm again and asks her not to go. No one misses that one. Cairo tells the women that he’ll stay with Natalie and they can just go now. Aunt yells at Cairo for this. He tells Aunt that they’re no help. He just needs a good rest. Grandma asks for the whole story. Where exactly is he hurt? Cairo leans in and says that it’s serious. He’s not even sure of what kind of symptom it is, but his heart seems to stop if he doesn’t see Natalie. I love Mom’s reaction to hearing this. She looks away with an ‘oh, please,’ expression. Is he really expecting us to believe that he’s that in love with this girl? Natalie’s reaction is classic, too; she gags a little. Cairo says that he needs her around to be able to breathe. He’s not sure if it’s cardiopulmonary or mental... They need to do more tests.
Grandma is ecstatic that he’s okay. Aunt is looking disgusted over how he’s being so needy. She tells him that it’s a mental condition. Natalie tells them what really happened: Cairo’s bathroom door was broken and he was locked in. They don’t need to worry. Cairo takes Natalie’s hand as he tells them that he would have starved to death if Natalie hadn’t saved him. Grandma gushes over Natalie while Mom looks like she’s enduring a farce. As Grandma repeats that Natalie is a lifesaver, Mom escorts her away. Aunt whispers that she’s keeping an eye on Natalie and leaves.
Once they’re gone, Natalie raps Cairo on his head. He wants to know what her problem is. She tells him to stop using her! She makes a face like she wants to hit him again. In the car, Grandma is telling Aunt that she shouldn’t have accused Natalie before hearing her out. Aunt says that she thought Natalie caused a problem again. Last time, Grandma got drunk and passed out with her. Grandma responds that her health has improved so much since then because of that good night’s sleep. Her wrinkles are gone and her skin is shiny. Mom tells Grandma that she has edema. Grandma looks over at Mom with a glare. Mom says she will make Grandma some pumpkin soup to alleviate the swelling. Grandma looks disgusted as she tells Mom that her judgement is not always right and she shouldn’t judge others so easily. Grandma is indignant as she says that Natalie actually has got a good head on her shoulders and she can make good pancakes, too. Aunt likes that idea (of the pancakes).
Mom declares that Natalie needs to be able to help Cairo. She’s talking about his career. Aunt thinks so, too. Grandma points out that Cairo can't live without Natalie. She makes him want to live. What more do they want? Aunt points out that Cairo really seems to want Natalie and if Mom keeps opposing her he might cut all ties with the family. Mom gives Aunt a look and Aunt stops talking. Grandma tells Mom to bring Natalie over and befriend her. Mom agrees to do as Grandma says.
[ D-3: 3 Days Before the Incident ]
Natalie is riding on her bike towards home. She sees Mom say goodbye to Mom. She immediately gets off her bike to go and greet Mom (with her customary big bow). And for someone who isn’t dating Cairo, she sure worries about being polite and pleasing to his mother. Mom hopes that it's not a difficult favour and Mom assures Mom that it’s not. Mom doesn’t answer when Natalie asks why she’s there, just bids Mom farewell and drives off with Aunt.
As soon as they are out of eyesight, Natalie urgently asks Mom to tell her what happened. Mom won’t answer the question until they reach the Chicken Shack. There, Mom tells Natalie to go help with Grandpa’s memorial service. Natalie doesn’t want to but Mom says that it will earn her some extra points with Mom and it will help Natalie get used to the family before she marries Cairo. Natalie can’t believe that Mom calls herself a mom. Other moms hate their girls suffering from in-law issues. Dad is on Natalie's side. Mom moans that Dad never cared about her but he feels pity for his daughter. Mom says that cooking pancakes a few times a year is way better than reeking of chicken grease 24/7.
Natalie tells herself that she has no choice, she has to tell them the truth. She announces that she’s not marrying Cairo. Dad is shocked at the announcement, but Mom looks skeptical. Natalie tells them that she’s sorry for lying but they actually don’t have any relationship at all. Mom can’t believe that Natalie’s telling such a crazy lie right now. Why is she being like this? Why can't she marry him? Natalie yells at her not to believe only what she wants to. She needs to listen to Natalie!
One of the Chicken Shack’s customers grumble-slurs that Natalie is so loud while they’re drinking alcohol. They tell Natalie to come and pour them a drink! Mom takes offense and before Dad can stop them, she goes out and throws chicken on them. I can’t tell if it’s the chicken she just finished or not. Mom yells at them to get out! Go to a pricey bar if they want to ogle a girl! Dad tries to smooth things over by telling the men that their meal is on the house, they just need to leave. Mom can’t believe him. She yells at Dad that this is why Natalie has a negative view of marriage, because Dad is such a pushover.
The argument devolves into Mom says that they should just get divorced. She goes over and pulls out from behind the counter a divorce decree for them to stamp. Natalie sighs and declares that Mom’s been threatening divorce since she was in high school. Mom snaps back that she persevered in the marriage because she didn’t want to ruin Natalie’s chance of getting married, but now, since Natalie doesn’t want to get married, she and Dad should split right now! Mom pounds her stamp in the ink and Natalie screams that she’ll do it! She’ll go to their house! Mom is appeased but Natalie is not happy.
[ D-2: 2 Days Before the Incident ]
Natalie goes to Cairo’s office and he tells her that she should go. Natalie’s surprised at his answer. He’s being so indifferent. It's his family's ritual after all. Cairo answers by asking her why she'd complicated things. Practically rolling her eyes, Natalie answers that she saved his life. He says that she’s the one who nearly killed him since she’s the one who broke the bathroom door handle. Natalie can’t believe him. Who was it that grabbed her tightly as soon as he saw her? Cairo doesn’t have an answer for that one. Heh. I love it when she beats him at his own game. I don't think many people can actually do that, beat Cairo in a battle of wits. Cairo looks intently at the paperwork he has on his desk.
Natalie asks Cairo if he, by any chance, develops feelings for her? Is that why he wants her to go to this? Because he really wants to marry her? Heh. Cairo laughs like that couldn’t possibly be the reason and says that he wants her to go because he *doesn't* want to get married. Plus Mom invited her so that they *won’t* get married. Natalie doesn’t get what he means. He explains that Mom wants her to see what a tough position it is, being the daughter-in-law in their family, so that Natalie will want to leave on her own. Without getting a drop of blood on her hands. She'll say she did her best to accept an incompetent Joo Natalie as a daughter-in-law. Till the end, she'll be remembered as the "good" person.
Natalie wants them to just fess up. Cairo says that it’s too late. She should think of the consequences. Natalie moans that the lies are piling up. They should just end it! Cairo declares that even if she wants that, they have to make Mom split them up. If she says she can't take this klutz as a daughter-in-law, then they can wrap up their act. Natalie doesn’t understand why they have to do it that way. Cairo declares that it's a pride battle now. He can't give in just like that. They should just see who throws in the towel first.
Natalie wonders why she should get involved in his pride battle. He says that he’ll beg her one last time. She should just show her ugliest self on that day. Natalie groans some more from the stress of it. She asks what she needs to do. Cairo gets a look like he’s been enlightened and tells her to just be her usual self. Her usual self! Heh. He is such a dork! Natalie moans some more and rubs her head in frustration.
They leave his office. Cairo declares that he’s going home early to get some rest. She shouldn’t think of following him. Natalie replies that she has plans anyway. Cairo stops and looks at her. He almost sounds jealous as he asks who the plans are with. A smiling Rocco declares that they’re with him. He waves hello at Natalie. Natalie smiles and waves back. Cairo definitely doesn’t look happy about this. He looks Rocco up and down. Natalie barely gives Cairo a ‘bye’ before she leaves with Rocco. Cairo does not like the look on her face.
Cairo decides to follow them in his car. Heh. But he doesn’t like her at all. It’s just so that she doesn’t mess up their story, of course. Yeah, that’s the reason. He is not happy watching them as they walk. They play Rock Paper Scissors with Rocco losing and getting flicked on the head by Natalie. Cairo really doesn’t like how familiar they are.
Natalie and Rocco stop at a restaurant for cold noodles. Cairo yells out his order for one sashimi noodle and sits at their table. Natalie can’t believe it and asks why he’s there. Cairo replies that he can’t let his girl eat alone with a guy. Rocco smiles at his show of testosterone. Cairo looks at Rocco and says that Rocco must not be aware that Natalie’s his girl. Natalie hides her face in her hands. Rocco smiles and says that he knew she was his boss's girl and that Cairo is his boss’s friend. Cairo declares that love comes before friendship for him.
Rocco responds that Cairo will probably understand him seeing Natalie, then. They’re cool, right? Cairo tells Rocco to bring it on. Rocco laughs and tells Cairo not to be so scary. How could he stack up against Cairo? Cairo’s so much richer… and older. Natalie suppresses a laugh at that dig. Cairo doesn’t miss it. Cairo says that Rocco has so many girls. Coolly, Rocco replies that none of them are like Natalie. Staring contest. Natalie tells them to stop, but they keep staring at each other.
Aunty brings the noodles. Cairo grabs the scissors and goes to cut Natalie’s noodles. She tells him not to cut hers. Rocco chimes in that he doesn’t want his cut either. He and Natalie have the same tastes! Natalie smiles happily at him. Cairo frowns and cuts his noodles. Looking at Cairo, Rocco says that regular noodles are the best. No subtext there. He looks at Natalie and adds the “Right?” She smiles.
Natalie is digging in and Cairo knows he’s losing. He picks up Natalie’s bowl and tells Rocco with a smile that he and Natalie share a lot. Natalie is surprised. Cairo starts drinking her broth. Rocco asks if the pair sleeps together. Cairo chokes on the broth and starts hacking. Natalie is surprised at the question. Rocco chuckles, surprised, too. He concludes that the pair hasn't slept together. Even as he’s still choking, Cairo sputters back, asking what if they have? Natalie yells at them to stop.
Rocco tells Cairo that if they did, it doesn’t matter. Cairo steams while Rocco sucks up his cold noodles. Natalie nonverbally tells Cairo to cut it out! Rocco looks up at Cairo, smiling. He knows that he’s got Cairo on the run. If this were a competition, of course. Natalie eats her noodles, feeling uncomfortable.
Natalie drags Cairo out of the restaurant and demands to know what he’s doing. He doesn’t answer but tries to turn it back on her. What does she think she’s doing? Is she really planning on dating him? Still annoyed, she tells Cairo that he doesn’t need to worry. She’s getting to know him gradually. He tells her that no matter how careful she is, she’s no match for Rocco. She retorts that it’s none of his business. Cairo says that it is. What if she gets caught with another guy by Mom? Natalie protests that they’re going to be ending things soon anyway. Cairo says she should wait to date until after they wrap it up cleanly. She just needs to turn over his family’s memorial table first.
Rocco exits the restaurant, giving the bill to Cairo. Now there’s a cheap date. Another guy pays. Natalie motions for Cairo to pay it. Cairo sighs and goes in to settle the bill. Rocco looks at Natalie and takes her hand, saying with a smile that they should go. Cairo exits the restaurant to find Natalie and Rocco are gone. Doh! And I am laughing at how funny that is. Cairo sends Natalie a text, telling her that Aunt could be spying on them. Natalie immediately gets jumpy and is so for the rest of the date.
Natalie and Rocco end up in the park. She’s really paranoid about getting caught but tries to act casual. Rocco asks her about it and she says that she feels like someone is watching her. Rocco replies that if she’s with him, she'll have to get used to it. He attracts people's attention. I can’t decide if that’s really arrogant or what. Because he says it so matter-of-factly, and he is a good looking guy. They laugh at that one.
Rocco asks her if she’s worried about Cairo? She doesn’t really have an answer. He asks if she’s really dating Cairo. She doesn't know. A car pulls up but the driver is hidden from view. The bright lights pop on, causing Natalie to hide her face and run away. Rocco follows and asks why she’s hiding. She says that she doesn’t know either. They decide to leave, but Natalie spots someone who looks familiar. It’s Dad, sitting with a woman in a scarf. Natalie immediately rushes to sit them on a bench, with her back to Dad.
Rocco asks if Natalie knows them. Natalie can’t bear it, but then the wind blows the scarf off the woman… revealing that it’s *not* Mom. That dirty rat! Natalie quickly hides her face and grabs Rocco’s head so he can’t look either, as Dad rushes over to grab his date’s scarf. Mistress giggles and waves at Dad. Rocco thinks that Natalie wants to kiss, so he puckers up, but she slaps his mouth with a no.
After Dad grabs the scarf, Natalie peers around at him and his date. Rocco asks if that’s her mother-in-law. Natalie is shocked and says that it’s not her. And Dad kisses Mistress on the forehead. No… she's not her. Dad and Mistress are all smiles as they leave. And I want to punch him. At least I have an idea of what’s wrong with that family now. Dad can’t keep his pants on. And Mom’s stuck taking care of his mother and sister, who treat Mom like crap. I really want to punch him. Or worse.
Natalie feels terrible. It’s obvious on her face. Rocco begs her to tell him who they are. Natalie says they should just go. Rocco asks, “Already.” A still-stunned Natalie apologizes but says that she’ll get going. Rocco wants to take her home, but she says she wants to go home alone. Rocco looks concerned as she walks away.
Rocco is leaving the park when he notices the car. It’s Isla. She tells him to get in. What is *she* doing. She tells him that he seems to be pretty close with Natalie. What's their relationship? Rocco just smiles and says that Natalie must be something else, since everyone's so interested in her. Nice dodge there. Isla gets to the point. She says that she’s interested in Cairo. Rocco calls Cairo Bro. She says that she heard that Cairo and Natalie have met each other's parents. Rocco doesn’t want to believe it. That's what Isla was thinking, too. Cairo can't be sincere about Natalie; he’s not that type of person.
Rocco laughs and says that he’s thinking the opposite: Cairo’s the one who’s sincere and Natalie isn’t interested. He supposes that it’s because Natalie is attracted to him. Isla smiles, with a hint of sarcasm there. Isla asks him if he’ll find out about their relationship for her? The facts rather than just feelings. Rocco asks why he should do that. Isla supposes that he’s getting to know Natalie anyway, so he’ll just kill two birds with one stone. She holds out an envelope. I’m sure it has money in it. And if I didn’t like her before, I don’t like her now. Rocco takes the envelope and looks inside and says that he should have a feast with Natalie.
Natalie is on the bus, worrying about what she should do. She feels bad for Cairo.
Cairo is at home, checking out his bathroom, making sure that the door handle works. He wonders why Natalie would pick Rocco of all guys? She has poor taste in men.
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