ik-jun and song-hwa’s relationship is beautifully and honestly written. their closeness was first illustrated with fleeting moments one would overlook - random check-ins with each other after work, banter together with the others, and little jabs here and there. i loved how the drama withheld this little secret depth of their intimacy until later, which perfectly shows the dynamic they have: friendship has always been the first, and the foremost, foundation of what they are.

the last half of the drama, however, portrays intense moments - the achingly tense silence settling like a layer in the lift after a seemingly banal conversation (which reveals more than it should from ik-jun’s insistent focus on his phone and that casual skinship! when he presses against her side comfortably), and the pacing of the dinner confession scene which left me holding my breath, wide eyed. ik-jun’s quiet admiration and adoration of song-hwa is conveyed without loud flashy noise or extravagant gestures. he’s held the core of his appreciation for her deep inside and kept it burning, without letting it consume their friendship.

the subtlety of ik-jun’s behaviour speaks volumes. the shift of his expression, a shade duller, when song-hwa absently comments on chi-hong’s qualities, the smile turned frozen during chi-hong’s admission of his feelings for song-hwa, the tender tone and soft eyes when he asks songhwa to eat breakfast.

and how can i forget the confession scene? but song-hwa’s reactions confuse me (in a good way). throughout the drama, song-hwa has always been hard to read. she’s cast as a ‘perfect person’, and in many ways, she is, but never stereotypically. her easy humour and frank modesty interweaves with the concealed complexity of her decisions. she resists interpretation, keeping her private core protected. when ik-jun hints at his deep enjoyment of her company, her gaze flickers - just those few moments of being suspended in surprise, before releasing herself from it. when ik-jun admits “of course i have” during the dinner scene, her face conveys a strange mix of disappointment, thoughtful reflection and stillness. the drama doesn’t dwell on romanticised ideals though, quickly following with the scene in the cab; an almost cliched but fluttery picture with song-hwa resting her eyes on ik-jun, who rests on her shoulder. but the moment slides by when she tsks and shrugs him off, and not too gently either. those two opposing forces — of a 20-year friendship and the lingering afterthought of the possibility that there could have been more — they weave in together and can’t be separated.

When will I see you again?🥺

She is everything I could never be.

Hospital Playlist is the only k-drama that I'm watching right now. what about you?

when Mother Teresa and Buddha say ‘get lost’ to their crazy friend, Ikjun