Recap: Secret Relationships, Episode 5

Let me start this recap by saying OMG! I am so glad that I was not spoiled by the eager fans who kept posting manhwa spoilers on social media. Because if I had already known the twist revealed at the end of this episode, it would have had zero impact for me. And I would’ve been so disappointed.

But because it actually never crossed my mind that it was even possible, the final scene of this episode was one of the most impactful and satisfying reveals I’ve seen on any series in a long time. My jaw was on the floor and I was clapping like a seal. Lol Not because I want them to be endgame of course. But because it was such an insightful and unexpected reveal that adds so many different layers to the characters.

But we’ll talk more about that later. Let’s get to this very full episode first.

Daon catches up to Sunghyun on the elevator at work. He wants to give him a chocolate milk as a nice gesture knowing it was Sunghyun who brought him home last night. Sensing Sunghyun may be upset, Daon says he doesn’t remember much and asks if something happened.

Daon is shocked when Sunghyun says they kissed. Sunghyun says they should pretend it never happened and stops himself before asking about Jaemin.

Daon heads to the restroom, frustrated about what he’s done.

Jaemin, meanwhile, having seen Sunghyun bringing Daon home last night, contacts the friend that was supposed to facilitate their college group meetup.

Over at Soohyun’s, his father yells at him for making a scene at the dinner with their company’s prospective partner. But also because he sincerely wanted to give Soohyun a chance and instead he’s messed up like this.

His father mentions that everyone else is going to the overseas branch, working hard. Soohyun is surprised to hear that as it relates to Daon. His father warns that this is his last chance and he must win this construction bid.

Back at the office, Daon does not know how to approach Sunghyun who remains cold with him. When it’s time for lunch, Daon says he’ll join the team today. But Sunghyun excuses himself and says he has plans.

Down in the lobby, Soohyun stops Daon. The others understand and leave for lunch. Daon initially refuses to go with Soohyun. But when he sees Sunghyun walking toward them, Daon quickly agrees and pulls Soohyun away.

In the car, an excited Soohyun asks what Daon would like to eat today. But Daon tells him to just pull over as lunch is almost over and he has to go back. “Are you just doing whatever you want?” Soohyun asks. “You always do whatever you want too,” Daon responds.

Soohyun says he could show Daon what that really means and orders him to leave the resort team starting tomorrow. That way Daon can come work under him and they can see each other often. Daon says he’ll just refuse and Soohyun says he can’t do anything since he’s just a lowly staffer. Daon responds that he’ll just have to find something else then.

Soohyun swerves the car over to the curb and asks why Daon wants to be transferred to an overseas branch. Is it because of Jaemin? Or perhaps Sunghyun? Soohyun screams and Daon quickly gets out of the car.

Soohyun follows and grabs Daon, telling him to listen. Soohyun asks why Daon can listen to Jaemin, but not him. Daon says it’s because Jaemin is different from him.

Soohyun grips Daon’s jaw and forcefully tells him if he only knew what kind of person Jaemin truly is, he wouldn’t be saying this right now. Soohyun curses Jaemin, then releases his hold on Daon’s cheek with a sharp, abrupt motion. Daon, now stung and angry, looks up at Soohyun, revealing a thin, red cut on his cheek. The fire in Soohyun’s eyes dies, replaced with a chilling wave of regret.

Sunghyun can’t stop thinking about last night with Daon, frustrated, not knowing what he should do. Back at the office break room, he sees Daon with the cut on his cheek. He takes Daon to the rooftop.

“Why do you keep making me worry?” Sunghyun asks as he taps some ointment on the cut. Daon asks why Sunghyun cares so much about him when he could’ve just pretended not to see it.

Sunghyun says he regrets saying they should act like nothing happened. Instead, he should forget Daon saying another person’s name. When Sunghyun mentions “Shin Jaemin,” Daon remembers saying his name while they were making out. Sunghyun asks if Jaemin is someone he likes. Daon says that was a mistake.

Sunghyun says he can’t stop liking Daon so he asks him not to like Jaemin. Daon says he is not confident. But Sunghyun tells him to just come to him and promises he can treat him better.

Daon says he’s not as good as Sunghyun thinks and he might hurt him. But Sunghyun does not care about getting hurt. He asks Daon if he can stay by his side. Daon nods “yes”.

Sunghyun carefully puts a band-aid on Daon’s face, making him flustered. Daon excuses himself, saying it’s getting a bit hot.

That evening, Soohyun sits in his office. He also has ointment and bandages, but is obviously too late. He calls a Ms. Oh to ask about the resort construction bidding, vowing to do what he can to ruin the project.

At home, Daon is about to text Jaemin. But Sunghyun texts him first, asking if he’s asleep. When Daon says no, Sunghyun calls and tells Daon to wear some light colors tomorrow.

Next morning in the office, both Daon and Sunghyun wear beige-colored clothes. Their boss notices their matching outfits and asks if they went shopping together or something. Daon steps on Sunghyun’s feet to stop him from saying they planned it and they pass it off as a coincidence.

During the day, Sunghyun is very enthusiastic about spending time with Daon and being by his side. Daon has to brush it all off and even try to avoid Sunghyun a bit.

After work, Daon asks why Sunghyun is like this. He can stay by his side, but not stick to him all day in front of other people. Sunghyun gives Daon a puppy frown and Daon softens his tone.

Sunghyun asks if he’s making Daon uncomfortable. Daon says there’s just so many people at the company. Sunghyun then excitedly says it’s okay for them to be close outside of the company then so they can go out to eat now.

First, Sunghyun takes them to a photobooth where they take cute pics together. Daon even chooses to rest his head on Sunghyun’s shoulder in one.

While eating, Sunghyun can’t stop looking at their cute photos. Suddenly, two of Daon’s college friends come to sit with them at the table. Geunho is the one who invited Daon to their get together the other day. Daon apologizes for not being able to go because of the company dinner. Geunho says Jaemin wasn’t able to come either so they can just plan another get together next time.

Geunho points out that Daon must be doing pretty well these days with his nice clothes and eating in nice restaurants like this. He calls Daon a phoenix rising out of a chicken coop and remembers the nickname they called Daon in college when his nose bled every day.

Geunho tells Sunghyun that Daon had a difficult time in college. Didn’t have much clothes, working part-time, not sleeping well, looking like a zombie.

Daon excuses himself to the restroom. Geunho warns Sunghyun not to get too close to Daon. Daon is such a poor thing that all the people around him care about him. But he can’t tell good from bad. And if you’re even a little bit nice to him, he’ll fall in love with you.

Sunghyun says Geunho is mistaken. It is he who likes Daon. And that is why he is nice to him, not because he is pitiful. Geunho says he’s just giving Sunghyun some advice since he’s close to Daon. But Sunghyun says he has no right to cross the line, no matter how close.

Sunghyun gets up and takes Daon with him.

Outside, Daon apologizes for making Sunghyun uncomfortable with someone he doesn’t even know. Sunghyun says he was uncomfortable seeing the man he cares about be talked about and disparaged in that way.

Sunghyun takes Daon’s hand in his and says he doesn’t want to see someone he cares about so much get hurt like this.

At the college, Geunho approaches Jaemin. Initially, Jaemin is upset that Geunho would come to him in person. But Geunho tells him about confirming Daon was at a company dinner and that he seems pretty close to the guy Jaemin asked about.

Jaemin thanks Geunho and promises to send him the investment stuff, much to Geunho’s excitement.

At the restaurant, Soohyun basically ignores his blind date who gets up and leaves. Jaemin comes to take a seat with Soohyun instead. Jaemin responds and says it was pretty easy to find him here.

Jaemin asks if Soohyun was able to meet Daon and say what he wanted to say. He laughs when Soohyun doesn’t immediately answer. Soohyun says it wasn’t that he couldn’t, but he just didn’t. Soohyun says Daon avoids talking about Jaemin these days, probably meaning he doesn’t care about him anymore.

Jaemin says Soohyun shouldn’t be so smug considering Daon has someone by his side now. Soohyun says that guy is just a colleague. But Jaemin says that’s probably why he wants Daon taken away. Because even next to him, Soohyun couldn’t do anything.

Soohyun reminds Jaemin that he was by Daon’s side for 11 years and wasn’t able to do anything either. Daon is getting taken away from Jaemin, not him.

Jaemin thinks they both could be stupid. But warns Soohyun should just wait and see.

Before leaving, Soohyun says Jaemin should stop stooping so low as to stalk people.

Daon and Sunghyun are walking along. Sunghyun asks why Daon wants to go to an overseas branch, but he’ll stop asking if it is a secret. Daon says it’s not a secret, but Sunghyun says Daon has a lot of secrets. That’s why he’s curious.

Daon says he used to want to go, but not anymore. He just wants to do his best now that he is in charge. Sunghyun says seeing Daon work so hard made it his dream to work hard as well. Daon says Sunghyun also gave him a new dream.

Sunghyun says they should work on their dreams together. Daon thanks Sunghyun and says it is important to say that to him today. He wants to do something for Sunghyun and asks what he would like.

Sunghyun says there is one thing. They should drop the honorifics, at least when it’s just them two together. Daon says sure.

Before they reach Daon’s apartment, Sunghyun embraces Daon. Daon rests his face on Sunghyun’s shoulder.

But Soohyun suddenly appears and grabs Daon. Sunghyun stops Soohyun. Soohyun asks Daon if he should kick Sunghyun out of the team or out of the company altogether. Soohyun threatens Sunghyun and grabs his collar.

This reminds Daon of the moment Soohyun attacked Jeonghun and hit him with a bottle, despite Daon trying to stop him.

A worried Daon tries to get in between Soohyun and Sunghyun and grabs Soohyun to go inside his apartment. Soohyun gloats as Daon pulls him away. But Sunghyun asks Daon not to go.

“Please don’t go, Daon.”

Flashback to seven years ago. Daon is writing a note to go along with a nice bottle of perfume he is about to gift someone. In the letter, he mentions how this person is always on his mind and confesses that he likes him more than he ever imagined he would.

Daon addresses the note to… Soohyun!

Episode Thoughts

The best episode yet! The show has really kept getting better with every episode. More exciting. More emotions. It’s great to see! Having everything build upon a continually laid foundation is awesome. Pretty much everything in this episode would not have worked without all the groundwork they laid in the first four episodes.

The episode opened with the amazing scene in the elevator. I could feel the awkwardness in that elevator. I could feel Sunghyun feeling hurt and maybe a bit embarrassed after the kiss and getting called a different name! (ouch! Lol) And I could feel Daon’s obliviousness and then shock after initially just realizing they kissed. Both Junseo and Sunhyung did so well with the nuances of this scene!

The same for the scenes with Daon and Soohyun too. Junseo and Jungwoo also perfectly delivered the nuances of the tense emotions of the moment.

You could feel the initial excitement from Soohyun and having his precious Daon finally want to go with him. Then the huge come down and boiling rage when Daon was back to being dismissive and rejecting him.

Then that moment of Soohyun gripping Daon’s face. The look of pure resentment on Daon’s face after Soohyun’s pushes his face aside. And then the look of regret on Soohyun’s face when he sees the cut. So so good! I can’t say enough about that moment. So subtle, yet so impactful.

Next up was Daon and Sunghyun making up and somewhat starting their couple-y interactions.

What was most interesting was Daon telling Sunghyun that he might hurt him. It was a very telling line. It shows that Daon might feel guilty about the state of his, Jaemin and Soohyun’s friendship now. Maybe he knows more about their deal even. At least more than he has let on and the other guys know about. It could also be his guilt in liking both Jaemin and Soohyun perhaps. And it can even be all of the above which is why all three guys are emotional and mental wrecks lol

I think that also adds to Sunghyun being this different and more positive effect on Daon’s life. Especially compared to Daon’s toxic relationships with his family and his two ex-boyfriends… I mean, crushes, college friends, bros, acquaintances, however you want to label it. hehe

Sunghyun’s day with Daon was funny. But obviously he was doing far too much. Perhaps he has to learn how to be more subtle about relationships too. All these guys can learn things from each other, yeah?

But I guess Daon also can’t resist Sunghyun’s puppy face lolol Having that nice day together though can only mean a rough road ahead. And that last scene certainly hints at that moving forward.

I’m kind of back to a Soohyun/Jaemin endgame. They both deserve each other for missing out on their chance to be with Daon lol If they were just honest with each other, then it wouldn’t have to reach this point. But we’ll see. Soohyun could get violent again or Jaemin could get creepier. Eeek!

But overall, such a great episode. I’ve really had a lot of fun watching these episodes so far. (Especially considering this is the first Korean BL series I’m watching live instead of bingeing after its aired.) So I’m anxiously awaiting the final three episodes.

Only three left?! 😢