Unfolding Layers of Jaeeon (18 July 21)

JE's development has been happening the past few eps. We've been shown layers to him, and see that his worst traits are often people's perceptions, not necessarily who he is. Even so, there are problematic behaviours he is just starting to change. 

We see JE through the eyes of NB and others. One of NB’s main reasons for wanting to end things is the constant rumours surrounding them, from classmates, that one guy who made her uncomfortable, her ex, the man who beat JE up thinking JE slept with his sister. 

Everyone has their perception of JE, and JE is aware of that. In Ep 2 when he tries to comfort NB, he does so by telling her that people talk about him too. When people misunderstand him, he just lets it slide. 

That’s why he asks NB why it’s a problem if he’s seeing others. On one hand, it’s because he knows that he did not lie, not only was the sister thing untrue, there is no indication that JE had been hanging out with any girl other than SA. 

And from all we know, he does so because they’ve stayed friendly and because she’s ill. Also, JE doesn’t know NB has deeper feelings. As far as he’s concerned their FWB arrangement was mutually agreed upon. 

How is NB to know that he didn’t lie if he doesn’t tell her? Sure, she’s not his girlfriend, but if he wants to continue seeing her and she is articulating this as an issue, he should make it clear and explain why her assumptions are wrong.

Misunderstandings become a problem when NB gets caught up and hurt, both physically and by the effect of negative rumours. JE starts to understand this at the beginning of Ep 5, when the girls talk negatively about NB. 

And he sees the consequences when NB gets hurt in the fight, and when she wants to end things. While rumours are not fair, it’s true that JE does need to take some responsibility for them. 

He seems to realise this when he changes his number. The phone which has been the centre of his flings. He also speaks unambiguously to the guy’s sister. Also, JE is seen hanging out exclusively with guys. JE tells NB that he wants to change little by little, and those are the practical steps he takes. 

JE’s lack of sincerity is also something that is perceived by NB, but is it completely true? It’s not surprising that NB would think that way, he was the one who asked her why people have to date. That’s been the primary foundation of their interactions. 

I’ve mentioned previously that it seems he’s developed genuine feelings for her. But he never seems to reflect on them, and thus may not be aware. As an extension of that, he can’t articulate it to NB (to be fair, she doesn't tell him she likes him either). 

Yet the question is, is sincerity lacking where people are not truly aware? JE stands in front of the mirror and remembers that NB liked him with his hair down. But he doesn’t just leave it down because she prefers it. 

Her exact words were to leave it down “Just for me.” So JE leaves it down, just for her. And whether he realises the depth of his feelings, it is at least working on a subconscious level. He changes his hairstyle permanently. 

Two men gave NB gifts. One was a package hung silently at her door. We don’t know what JE looked like, what he felt, but we can infer. In the midst of the chaos of the fight he realised that her accessories broke, so he buys them as an apology. 

Then, NB was given a beautiful lipstick, handed over by DH with a shy smile. May I suggest that these 2 scenes were not placed as a contrast, but as a comparison? That sincerity was not lacking in either, but present in both. 

Looking back, was happiness lacking when NB walked home with JE’s birthday gift in her hands? Also, in both the case of the lipstick, and that of the dress, both men were delighted to see her wearing something they gifted to her. 

In all this I have to wonder - who are the mentors in JE’s life? He briefly mentioned his mother, but where is she, and who does JE go to? JE mentioned that when people cross over a certain line things become meaningless, but what does he even mean? 

And is that even connected to his family? Characters like DH seem to come from a warm family, and he has the noodle shop owner talking over his feelings and encouraging him. Who does JE have in his life as an equivalent to talk things through with? 

But back to the necklace. NB tells him the next day that she will return it. He tells her to just throw it if she doesn’t want it. This is the second time he’s said something like that. He says the same of his jacket. 

NB perceives it negatively, thinking he treats things as lightly as he treats relations. But based on what we know of JE, he doesn’t seem to be someone who gives much away, but when he gives something to someone, he has no thought of receiving anything back. 

If I give it, it belongs to you, and you can do what you wish, including the worst, which is throwing it away. This can also explain his reactions when NB confronts him. He has always let NB choose the parameters of their relations. 

So it’s a surprise to find that NB was unhappy. “Weren’t you happy with the way things were all this while?” It’s not a challenge. It’s a question. Because the choice has always been hers, he thought that status quo was ok, when it wasn’t. 

Now that she’s revealed that she was affected, then JE has to answer her questions too. What are they? What does the term “friend” mean to him? What does he want from her? 

He has to answer those questions because if that doesn’t happen, the moment NB looks like she wants just an ounce of something more from him, he’ll lapse back to his old habits. 

It was pretty sudden, literally and figuratively when he jumps NB, tells her he’s jealous and starts invading her space through touch again. Why! They were fine missing each other from a distance! 

Still, it’s not entirely out of character. This is what he knows best, and he’s not properly reflecting on his feelings, he just knows he wants her attention. He spots NB from a distance looking at him, and decides he wants to be close again. 

He misses her, but tries to take a step closer through old means. He tests the waters, but it’s good that NB has grown and she stops him from touching her inappropriately. Given that, I think it’s understandable that viewers would be irked by JE. 

But here's my thoughts - everything that happens after this moment shows what can happen if JE and NB just persevere in setting healthy boundaries and continue working on themselves. That makes me frame this in the greater arc of their growth. 

The couch in the studio is where things start to change for real. JE starts by saying that it’s been a while since they spoke, NB reminds him that it hasn’t been. It makes me wonder, is it only long because he has missed her? 

That, again, would explain his actions in school (explain, but let's not excuse!) First, he apologises. He tells her that he wants to change, something that we know is sincere because he told SA that he was sick of himself, and because of what happens after. 

NB asks him how, whether he’ll start dating, but his steps for change don't seem to include relationships. He just wants to do it little by little, and see where it takes him. But it’s good to note that he wants to change without the ultimate goal of dating. 

JE’s change is motivated by NB, but it’s not solely for NB. NB helps him realise things about himself. NB isn't his goal, just that IF there was to be someone in the future, he hopes that the person will be a lasting soulmate. Already, his mindset is changing. 

It’s the sweetest thing that those words help NB come to good terms with the end of their relationship. They can and do move forward as friends. In the metal welding scene, he doesn’t touch her unless she needs help, it showed good progress. 

They make plans, but as 3 together with the other assistant, Jinsu. JE starts hanging out with the guys. His change is noted by Sehun. 

It’s undeniable that JE is an inspiration to NB, for her to get her project moving. (A little too obvious with the butterfly overalls, cough). However, if you look closely, the show is not saying that his success or failure is solely dictated by him. 

Yes, she changed her hairstyle at the presentation because of him, she likes him, but she still kept her boundaries (like JE, remember, changes don’t happen overnight. Little by little.) 

Throughout the ep, she kept her distance, kept boundaries, talked things out, and that’s how she got to a friendly place with JE. With her heart settled, she can concentrate on work. 

JE is also someone who is passionate about art, and artistic personalities can often inspire each other. JE genuinely helps her, he fulfils what he needs to as an assistant, and that too, is what helps NB progress further. 

There's half of the show left, and the ending scene shows us the conflict moving forward. NB dares to ask SA what her relationship with JE is, and though it’s hard, she’s also able to confess that JE and her are just friends. 

I don’t believe that SA is dating JE again, nor that they are sleeping together. When he's with SA, NB's on his mind, and he even ignores SA’s calls. But it will affect JE/NB because NB still thinks he lied about not seeing others when they were involved. 

In a sense, it would be a happy misunderstanding of sorts. Space is good for both of them. Remember, JE still has to answer those questions NB questions him with. No matter their status. It would be a good time to introduce JE’s pov, as they seem like they will do. 

The show has been consistently revealing layers to JE, including some aspects of him that are contrary to rumours. JE is consistent in character, yet actively changing his problematic behaviours, and it’s actually a really interesting story to watch unfold. 

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