Twenty-Five Twenty-One episode 9: Ye-jin confesses his love for Hee-do

There is something innately alluring about a relationship with no label. In Twenty-Five Twenty-One, the relationship between Ye-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) and Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) begins on a false note, but progresses in ways that make the audience question if the two are headed for romance.

In episode 9 of Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Hee-do also wonders the same. In a moment of frustration, when Ye-jin confronts her about how she has been avoiding him since the misunderstanding over the identity of her digital pen pal, Hee-do bursts. She confesses how her feelings for him have put her smack in the middle of a conflict she is unable to resolve.

Does Hee-do confess to Ye-jin in Twenty-Five Twenty-One?

In what might usually have been a scene of confession, the audience sees Hee-do express all her pent up feelings about Ye-jin in a moment of frustration. The reason she has been avoiding him is because she is embarassed. She believes that she likes him, but is also confused because his passion for journalism and his newfound confidence makes her jealous. She is not sure of what their relationship is or what direction it is headed towards.

The confrontation does take on a humorous note when Ye-jin rags Hee-do for feeling jealous of him. However, the look that he has on his face when Hee-do blurts out that she likes him is one of pure joy. Initially, however, he asks Hee-do to decide on what their relationship must be. Upon much thought, Hee-do believes that their relationship cannot take on labels such as love or friendship. She wants to define their relationship along with him, and for starters, begins referring to their situation as a ‘Rainbow’.

Ye-jin finds her alluring in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, but is also not ready to accept her terms about defining their relationship. Instead, he tells her that his perception of their relationship is not the same.

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What realization strikes Ye-jin in Twenty-Five Twenty-One?

Ye-jin realizes that Hee-do is the reason he did his very best in reaching out to the fencing referee for a quote in the past. If Hee-do wasn’t accused of cheating, Ye-jin would never have been interested in pursuing the story. However, she led him on to the right path. This realization is what gives Ye-jin the courage to confess his feelings to Hee-do.

Earlier in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, he explained that their relationship is not something that can be defined as a ’rainbow'. He, however, doesn’t reveal his definition of their relationship. It is only when Hee-do is hurt during a shoot for his channel’s sports documentary that he looks at Hee-do and tells her with a charming smile that he is in love with her.

His tone is matter of fact, but it is clear from Hee-do’s look that she is dumbstruck. She also doesn’t seem disturbed by Ye-jin’s confession. Instead, there is a look of marvel which in turn increases anticipation for the next episode of the tvN drama.