Kelvin can’t believe that Zoe told Natalie about what happened. Natalie pokes him and asks who else Natalie would tell! Has anyone suffered from him like her?! Kelvin takes offense at ‘suffered.’ He declares that she is his one and only last love. She can’t believe him, his nerve. I can’t either. Natalie asks why he went after Zoe. Kelvin mutters that he was drunk and made a mistake. Now indignant, he declares that he’s become an alcoholic because of her. She holds up her hand to silence him. She clarifies: He was drunk and he what? He replies that he made a mistake.
Natalie can’t believe it. She screams at him, that he slept with Zoe! Kelvin starts to stutter as he realizes that Zoe didn’t mention that part. Not that Zoe totally didn’t get him drunk so she could seduce him or anything… Natalie grabs his hair, screaming that he’s a jerk! Kelvin eventually ends up on the ground where she starts beating him for sleeping with her friend. He screams his protests. Eventually he stands up again. She grabs him by his shirt and demands that he promise he won't hurt Zoe. Kelvin’s ready to do whatever. AS she slaps him, she tells him to stay away from Zoe.
Kelvin mutters, asking if there’s a possibility of her liking him again if he does that. She smacks him in the head and asks why they can’t have a peaceful ending?! Kelvin starts whining, asking how? It's not over for him! He slept with Zoe because Natalie wouldn't accept him! He whines that he’s so annoyed and stomps away. Natalie can only stand there and with her mouth hanging open. She’s so frustrated, she throws a little tantrum, too. I can’t wait to see Cairo throw one. Heh. She grabs her bike and starts to walks away.
Natalie comes across Chef dressing down Rocco outside Bon Café. Rocco is so brave. Rocco smiles and says that brother wouldn't come out of the restroom. Anyway it went ok. Chef can’t believe he just said that. He tells Rocco that his kitchen smells like kimchi now. Even though you didn’t smell it, until Kelvin asked about it… Rocco tells Chef that he didn't know they'd enjoy it so much. He’ll give Chef the recipe without telling Kelvin. Chef calls Rocco and punches him. Does Rocco think this is a street stall? How dare Rocco do that? Chef walks off in a huff as Rocco holds his nose.
Rocco notices Natalie watching. He turns his back so she can’t see his bloody nose. She hurries over and asks if he’s okay. He tells her to go. It's embarrassing. She grabs a napkin from her purse and offers it. He tells her not to come any closer. He says that it’s all her fault. But doesn’t explain that reasoning. He walks away.
Isla and Mom are at a café, getting coffee. Mom declares that she’s just old. She can't keep up with the young mindset. Mom can’t understand why Isla would be getting Cairo a wedding gift. She asks what’s the truth. Isla replies that she can say this: the guy she wanted to spend forever with, she still wants to. And didn’t I call that one? But he's marrying someone else. It's hard for her to be ok with it, but she can give him a gift. Wow, in some ways, that’s really like Mom. Which may be another reason why Cairo doesn’t want her: she settled for less than what she deserved (even if it was at his hands) and he can’t respect that. Mom declares that Isla must not want to tell her. This woman. Like a dog with a bone. Isla says that she has another appointment and has to get going. After Isla leaves, Mom sighs.
Where does Isla go? To see Cairo. Cairo is at work, watching baseball on his computer. She pokes her head in, asking if he’s not going home. He isn’t. But you said that you like living alone, being alone. She comes is and looks over his shoulder. She tells him that the game isn’t live and she should watch it later. Cairo says that he wants to now. She leans in, putting an arm on his shoulder. She says that she saved him once. A little give-and-take, please. He pulls her arm off his shoulder. She tells him the final score, just to spite him. I hate that! He didn’t like that his team lost.
Isla pats Cairo on the shoulder and tells him to come on. Not looking at her, he asks her what she wants?! She looks at him and says she wants a life partner. He looks at her. She leaves his office. That was not the conversation they had three years ago.
Cairo has gone to the hospital. Admitting nurse asks questions:
Does he smoke? No.
Drink? Sometimes.
How often? 2-3 times a week?
Do he have morning erections?
Cairo can’t believe that she’s asking that question. And neither can I. When he says, “pardon?” She repeats “erections” like it’s a matter-of-fact question, like did he blow his nose. She marks down no \= bad, and he makes her change it. Has he had sex in the last 3 days? Where is he? What kind of questions are these? Cairo says that he’s been busy with work so not in the last 3 days. She passes him a cup.
Next, we’re treated to a darkened room and moaning from a tape that Cairo’s watching. He’s really uncomfortable. Finally he looks at the cup and sets it down loudly on the table. He leaves the hospital, rubbing his forehead from the stress/humiliation, with Isla following behind him. She calls his name so he stops. He asks her what she’s doing. She’s taken this joke a bit too far! She’s serious as she said that she didn't bring him here as a joke. She doesn’t want marriage either, but she wants a life partner. She declares that she loves herself so much, she wants to live with someone who's just like her. Cairo blinks at her. She tells him that he has great genes. Who could want more?
Cairo laughs with disbelief. Is she serious? A baby's not a toy! It’s a living person that’s born! Isla declares that she can give the kid everything a person should have. He looks at her like he still thinks she’s crazy. She says that she won't pressure you. She won't tell anyone he’s the biological father. It’s her dad's hospital. She’ll make sure it’s kept secret. Cairo reminds her that single women aren't allowed to get sperm donations here. She tells him, fine, and says that if he’s going to be so legalistic… they should sleep together. Cairo can’t believe he just heard that. ‘The world is going crazy.’
Isla tells him to choose. Put it in a tube or sleep with her. He can hardly speak as he tells her that she’s insane. And then she pulls it out… It’s either that or she can tell Mom about his con job with Natalie. She tells him to give it some thought and walks off. Wow, she really is like Mom.
Cairo gets a phone call. He doesn’t recognize the number, but once they identify themselves, he’s polite and bows through the phone.
Chicken Shack. Mom and Dad are working, wondering what went wrong with Natalie and Cairo. Did they do something careless? Well, Mom’s talking. Dad’s writing. He told her it’s her fault… acting silly at the hospital. She starts yelling at him, asking what he’s done for Natalie. Dad yells back that he’s doing something now! Cairo arrives, a six pack in hand. That’s who was on the phone. Dad tells Mom to close the Shack.
Cairo and Dad eat fried chicken and drink. Dad asks if Cairo feels uncomfortable. He sure looks uncomfortable. For someone who doesn’t like Natalie, he sure looks worried about making a good impression on Dad. Cairo says that he’s not uncomfortable. Allergic to chicken? Cairo protests that he isn’t and starts stuffing his face. Dad protests that it’s not that good, but Cairo says that it is. Dad tells Cairo that Natalie might be considered a common girl to some people, but she's his one and only daughter. And this might the talk of a commoner, but please take care of his girl.
Cairo nods and asks Dad for a favor. Natalie dumped him. They take another drink of Beer. Dad says that he’s sure that Natalie didn't mean it. She's scared of marriage. He doesn’t get along with Mom. That traumatized Natalie a long time ago.
Flashback to Natalie as a 5 year old. Mom and Dad are yelling, fighting. Natalie can’t help but overhear. Mom exits the bedroom with a suitcase and tells Natalie to have a happy life with her Dad. Dad tells Natalie to live with Mom. Later, Natalie is alone and drops a glass, cutting open her feet. She stands there crying for Mom.
Dad declares that Natalie was stuck there, along, for three days. She was starving and scared. She thought they had left her. Well, didn’t you? Cairo remembers Natalie saying that she almost died home alone when she was 5, which is why she doesn’t like to be alone and why she worries about people who are alone. Cairo looks like he feels really bad for Natalie. Dad declares that Natalie was hurt by bad parents. That's why Natalie’s negative about marriage. Dad asks him to please comfort her. He’s asking Cairo for this favor.
Dad starts to bow with his request, which shakes Cairo out of his thoughts. Cairo waves and tells Dad to please don't. Dad says that when he thinks of that incident, it breaks his heart. Dad says that he tries to make it work with this witch for Natalie, but it's not easy. Dad waves his hand and says that he can't believe he’s saying all this embarrassing stuff. And I’m wondering, as Cairo’s looking at Dad, if he’s wishing that his Dad were more like Dad. Dad tries to make it work instead of going out and getting a girlfriend. They drink again.
Natalie gets home. She asks Mom why she left Dad alone at the restaurant. Mom is applying facial cream. She says that Dad told her to leave because Cairo was there. Natalie immediately runs downstairs… to find a very drunk Cairo with a very drunk Dad. There are 8 used bottles of Beer on the table. Eight. They are apologizing back and forth to each other. Cairo can barely lift his glass. Natalie hurries in and takes the Beer. Dad asks why she’s there, since this is drink between the dudes. She yells at Dad about Cairo being drunk. Drunk Dad asks Drunk Cairo if he’s drunk. Drunk Cairo declares he’s okay. Dad pours another glass.
Cairo starts hysterically laughing at Natalie and then starts to fall asleep on Natalie. She chugs Cairo’s latest glass. She tries to get him up but Cairo falls on the floor. Dad tells her to leave Cairo and have a drink. They start discussing Cairo. Natalie says they are not a good fit. Cairo just sits on the floor and laughs.
Natalie take Cairo home in a cab. He can barely walk, so she drags him and his dang long legs out of the taxi. Cairo is bombed out of his gourd. He’s staring at the stars, doing yoga poses. He gets Natalie in a headlock and sings her name over and over as he messes with her hair. She gives him a piggyback ride up to his apartment. She asks him when this fake act end! He says hello to Nemo. She dumps him on the couch, and he plops his legs on top of her to pin her to the couch.
Natalie yells at him, asking Cairo why he drank so much. He sighs and says that he was so sorry. What did he do? Natalie declares that dragging it out will make it worse. Mom will be disappointed to find out it was all fake. He sighs an “okay,” eyes shut. Natalie shoves him and tells him to just marry Isla. She still loves him. Half-asleep, Cairo says that he can’t. She's just like Mom. I knew it! Natalie’s confused because he was going to marry Isla before. He says that’s because she’s just like Mom. She tells him that he’s confusing her again.
Cairo sighs and opens his eyes a bit. He looks at her and closes them again. Then he stands up and declares that he wants to be alone. But not after they have a moment and it really looks like he wants to kiss her. He stumbles off toward his bedroom. She mutters at him and then hurries over to help when he pushes on the door handle and goes crashing to the floor. She helps him up and onto the bed.
Cairo rolls over to stick one of his legs in the air – like he’s going to kick at her – and declares that he wants to be alone. He does kick at her. Heh. Then he starts to take his shirt off. Natalie covers her eyes. She turns around so her back is to him. He kicks her in the rear. She looks at him to see him try to take off his pants. More hiding her face. Cairo tries to pull off his pants but rolls off the bed. She sees it and gets him back on the bed.
Natalie starts fighting with Cairo for the pants. Of course, she’s not looking so it’s a whole lot of pawing at his legs. He yells at her to stop touching him! She yells for him to stay still and pulls the pants the rest of the way off. He’s got his hands down around his shorts, so I’m wondering if what he was watching earlier is influencing that right now. She hurries to pull his comforter over his to cover him. He protests and kicks it off, to get her to cover him again.
Finally Cairo settles down. He mutters that he’s not hurting anyone. He doesn't want anything extraordinary. He just… wants to be alone… in this house. And that makes me feel bad for him. He doesn’t want anything extraordinary. Like being in love like what he secretly wishes for isn’t possible, because of his screwed up parents. It being real would be extraordinary. She asks him if he loves being alone. His reply is to ask he if she can't just leave him alone. She tucks him in and leaves, looking a little sad. Once she leaves his bedroom, Natalie stops, thinking. After a minute, she heads to his kitchen with a smile on her face.
Next morning. Hangover Cairo wakes up. He stumbles out of bed to find his kitchen an absolute mess. He mutters Natalie’s name like it’s a curse. He rubs his head vigorously and goes to make coffee. There’s a note: Don't drink coffee. Have soup! He goes looking for the soup. He mutters that now he has to do the dishes. He finds another note that says that she cooked rice too. He sighs and says that he doesn’t eat rice for breakfast. He’s frowning, but he’s really hungry. Next thing we see if Cairo pigging out on what she’s cooked. He can only pat his stomach when it’s done. He does to the fridge and there’s another note: If he feels less hung over, they should meet the parents and tell the truth. Cairo closes the fridge. He doesn’t like that idea.
Cairo looks around his apartment. Things fade to...
[3 Years Ago]
Cairo declares that it’s this one. He’s with Isla. She says that it’s smaller than she thought. Really? That place is bigger than the house I rent. He says that it’s special to him. He says that he was here alone when he was little. He remembers those times as his happiest moments. Wow, that’s really sad. For a little kid to feel that way. He says that when he comes there he feels comfortable. It was for a short while, though.
Isla’s looking at the place. He walks over and puts his arm around her. Cairo tells her that he wants to live with her for a long time. What does she think? She smiles and leans into the embrace, telling him that they should live there, their newlywed home. They hold each other and smile.
Mom is at home, telling Grandma, Aunt and Dad that Isla still has feelings for Cairo. Grandma can’t believe it. Aunt declares that that's great! Isla’s the great daughter-in-law Mom wanted. Mom disses Aunt with the tea and dismisses her, because Aunt agreed to do Mom a favor. Aunt leaves. Grandma asks what Mom is cooking up now. What if Cairo finds a real reason to live alone? Mom declares that she has a reason to get him to marry Isla.
Natalie’s at work, cleaning. Zoe is watching her phone, unhappy because it’s not ringing. Natalie tells her to stop waiting. Kelvin won't call. Zoe looks sadly at Natalie. Natalie asks why Zoe made such a mistake? Zoe is puzzled by ‘mistake.’ Natalie declares that she nearly killed him. Zoe is upset now. She protests that Natalie’s annoyed with him, which is fine, but Natalie really won't let him see her?! Natalie protests that she doesn’t want Zoe to get hurt. Zoe bitterly replies that she knows. Natalie’s Oppa’s true love. She’s just a mistake. Zoe starts to cry and says that it might not have been a mistake. It could've led to a relationship. Uh, no. But it became a mistake because of Natalie. He ran away because Natalie butted in! She walks off, crying. Not manipulative at all.
Cairo is at work. He thinks of Isla’s ultimatum. He starts to consider donating, when Natalie appears. She walks up so quietly that she frightens him. He asks her why she’s there. She tells him that they need to go to his house. He wants to know why. She can’t believe that he can’t remember the night before. Cairo’s a little worried there… until she clarifies. Natalie declares that he said he was sorry and regretted it. She wants them to beg. Cairo can’t believe that that’s the only way. Natalie says that she’ll say it if he can't. He promises to go after his next three appointments.
Rocco is taking out the trash. It’s very heavy. Natalie picks some of it up and he asks why she’s doing that. She said he’s out. She says that she’s just helping him. He smiles. As they walk, she asks him what he meant, that it was her fault. She was bothered by that? Rocco says that they shouldn't talk around trash. It should be all romantic. And Aunt is watching from a distance. Aunt calls Mom and tells her that she was right. Natalie’s with the restaurant part-timer.
Cairo’s done with his appointments and looking for Natalie. She’s not there. He calls her. She says that something came up. He wants to know what. She replies that it won't take long. Then he hears Rocco’s voice and asks who she’s with. When she won’t tell, he knows that it’s Rocco and asks how she let herself get hooked again. She says that it’s not like that. What is it then? After he was paid to date her? Natalie replies that he was going to return it. Cairo sputters indignantly and says that she just said she wanted to be single! She tells him to wait 5 minutes. He yells back, “No!” and angrily hangs up his phone.
Cairo is in his car. Aunt calls and says that she’s got some info for him. It's at least worth $200. He agrees, too exhausted to argue. She tells him that Mom’s sent her on a mission to find out about Natalie and Rocco’s relationship. He asks where she is. She laughs and says that event if she’s a double spy she can't tell him that. She gets off the phone and gets yelled at by a policeman for where she’s parked.
Cairo mutters to himself that Natalie’s going to tell Mom anyway. Then he looks at his tracker app and sees her location. She’s just told Rocco everything. He can’t believe she wasted all her precious time going through all that. She says that she was a moron. She declares that she will end everything. Rocco’s doubtful; she’s here talking to him because of a small nosebleed. Natalie declares that she’ll end it with him too. He starts laughing. She asks him why the nosebleed was because of her? He explains about the Cuatro Kimchi Cheese dish. It’s her fault because he made it with her kimchi. So he made it for her? He remembered she enjoyed the cheese gratin and kimchi. He doesn’t say anything but the way he’s avoiding looking at her says that it’s true.
Natalie concludes that Rocco wasn’t really dating her for the money. She inspired him. He laughs and says that it was another girl. Someone he knew long ago. Her kimchi pancakes were awesome. She made him kimchi pancakes when she abandoned me too. Everyone has a taste or smell they can never forget. Her kimchi pancakes are like that to him. Natalie says that he must've loved her a lot. He smiles and says that it's not a girl he loved. She gave birth to him. She doesn’t know what to say. Seeing her face, Rocco asks Natalie if it’s too heavy. He gets up to leave, but she grabs his hand. He declares that that’s awkward. Not caring, Natalie tells him thanks for telling her something heavy. She stands up and tells him that it’s nice, getting to know her. They look at each other, smile and hold hands. Then he teases her, like what he said was a line. She knows it wasn’t, so she goes along with it.
Aunt is there, taking pictures. Rocco sees her and chases her. Then he stops so that he can run with Natalie. He totally could have caught her if he hadn’t have gone back for Natalie. The girl is running and Cairo runs into her. A struggle with Cairo yelling at Aunt that she’s heavy. Then her hoodie comes off and reveals that it’s not Aunt. Isla appears and tells Cairo to let the girl go. She’s got a smile on her face. Shady! Super shady! Girl gives Isla the memory card and goes.
Natalie and Rocco arrive. Natalie can’t believe it was Isla and not Mom. Isla tells Cairo that she felt it wouldn’t be easy for him to decide, so she got hard evidence to strengthen her case. Angrily, he declares that she hasn’t changed at all.
Flashback. Real Estate Contract. Isla announces that she bought the place next-door. She thought the apartment was too small for them. They can extend the place. He sighs and says that he told her that it’s precious to him! How can she decide on her own? Isla replies that his family didn’t have enough money. She didn't want to give him stress. He can’t believe that she did a background check. She smiles as she says that when he puts it that way, it sounds bad. They should share all that as a future couple. She adjusts his collar as she says that she did his job for him. He should come to her hospital for a health screening too.
Cairo protests and she tells him not to be so sensitive. She asks if he has any deep dark secrets. Don’t let her know about it if he does. She can use that against him. He sighs. Demo guys pour in. She point where they should start. Cairo asks what she’s doing. She replies that she told him, she’s putting in an extension. Angrily, he throws the contract to the ground. He runs in and tells the men to get out! When she says his name, he yells that she needs to get out, too!!!
Present. Cairo’s staring daggers at Isla. He declares that she did that to him three years ago too. She says she did and he pushed her away like this three years ago too. They stare at each other. Natalie’s watching the whole thing, feeling badly for Cairo. She spots a spying Aunt. She remembers how Mom said that if she got proof, she would make him marry whoever *she* wanted. She also remembers how he said he can’t marry Isla because she’s just like his mom. She declares to herself that she gets it, why he loves to be alone, why he hates marriage.
Cairo sighs and tells Isla to suit herself. Spill the beans to Mom if she wants. Aunt is curious. What beans? Cairo tells Isla to reveal everything. He doesn't care. Natalie is starting to freak out because Isla will reveal everything. Then she tells herself that it was bound to be revealed anyway. She’ll stay put. She won't butt in. Rocco watches Natalie struggle and smiles.
Natalie remembers how desperate Cairo is to stay alone.
Isla’s going to call Cairo’s bluff. She pulls out her phone to call Mom. He just waits. But they’re interrupted by Natalie. Natalie walks up and declares that she’s been very patient because the two of them are old friends. But if she keeps bothering Cairo and swaying his mom, she won't take it anymore! Puzzled look from Cairo. Aunt is fervently listening and Natalie knows it. Natalie declares that Gong Cairo is her man.
Cairo starts to say something. Natalie walks over to him. He backs up but she keeps coming. He asks what she’s doing. She replies that she’s a moron. Then she plants a kiss on him. And after a second, Cairo pulls her close and kisses her back. For not a few kisses either.
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