What Comes After Love- Episode 2

Episode 2 opens with a bittersweet revelation—Jungo finds the note Hong left behind in their old house in Japan, where she confesses her inability to find everlasting love and her decision to return home. Desperate, Jungo races to find her but comes up empty-handed, setting the tone for an episode full of longing and missed connections.

The narrative expertly weaves between past and present, painting a picture of Hong and Jungo’s once-enchanting love story. In a flashback, we see Hong gifting Jungo a poetry book during a moment of happiness. Fast-forward to the present: Jungo, now en route to South Korea, reads the book and reflects on how meeting Hong made him believe in fate for the first time. When they meet again, it’s in the most ironic twist—Hong is assigned as Jungo’s interpreter, realizing with a jolt that the celebrated writer Sasae Hikari is none other than her former love.

Their reunion is painfully awkward. Jungo still carries the keychain from their shared past, a quiet reminder of what they had. Through flashbacks, we’re reminded of their love’s origins, from their playful runs in the park to heartfelt promises to search for everlasting love together. Their chemistry was undeniable—Hong even gave Jungo the Japanese name Yu-no, while he dubbed her Beni in return. They moved in together, shared dreamy moments in Kyoto, and even visited the grave of Hong’s favorite poet. But cracks began to show when Jungo’s emotional reticence, hinted at during a conversation about his ex-girlfriend, reared its head.

In the present, the tension between them bubbles to the surface during a televised interview. When Jungo mentions that Hong inspired his novel and reveals he hasn’t forgotten her after five years, she falters, unable to translate his words. The unresolved emotions hit both of them hard. Later, Hong insists she won’t be his interpreter anymore, distancing herself further. As Jungo returns to his hotel, he’s haunted by the memory of their breakup, especially his failure to speak up when it mattered most.

In a heart-stopping finale, Jungo rushes out into the street and throws himself in front of Hong’s car, determined to stop her from leaving him behind again. The episode ends on this dramatic cliffhanger, leaving us breathless and desperate to see if their love story gets a second chance—or if it’s destined to remain a memory.

DramaZen's Opinion

Episode 2 of What Comes After Love left me an emotional wreck—in the best way possible! Jungo finding Hong’s goodbye letter at the start broke my heart, and the way he ran out to find her only to come up short set the perfect tone of longing and regret. The flashbacks of their sweet, innocent love contrasted so beautifully (and painfully) with their awkward reunion in the present. I could feel the tension between them during that interview, especially when Jungo hinted at still loving her. That moment when Hong couldn’t even bring herself to translate his words? Pure heartbreak. 💔

The past scenes in Kyoto were so dreamy and romantic, especially with Jungo’s promise that they’d never drift apart. Seeing that promise unravel in the present is just devastating. And can we talk about the ending? Jungo running in front of Hong’s car to stop her—it was so dramatic and so him. I was literally yelling at my screen, “Don’t let her go again!”

This episode gave me all the angst and romance I could ever ask for, and I’m already rooting for these two to find their way back to each other. If this is the emotional intensity we’re getting in Episode 2, I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds! 😭💕