The Battle Between the Mind and the Heart Continues in ‘Boys Be Brave’ Episodes 5–6

BL Recaps Korea

2024-05-14
10:37

Jin Woo manages to go on a date with a girl that matches his ideal type, but he can’t shake the thought of Ki Sub. In the meantime, Balg Eum and In Ho agree intending to end their joint chapter in life. Check out our BLTai summary of ‘Boys Be Brave‘ Episodes 5–6 to see what happens next.

Warning: Spoiler alert. Read at your own risk.

Episode 5: Someone I can love

In a flashback, Ki Sub is a sickly child who is always in the school’s infirmary, where his older sister coincidentally works. Although he liked spending his time in the infirmary with her, Ki Sub hated the sad look in his older sister’s eyes when she made him sick. Wanting to make her happy, Ki Sub began to agree with everything she said and the people around him. This trait became the root of all his love life problems, including his involvement with Hye Jin’s circle of friends, with whom he later broke up. Hye Jin threatens to hit Ki Sub in an attempt to avenge her friends. She then lectures him on how people treat him sincerely, but ironically, he is someone who doesn’t know sincerity. However, even after that confrontation, Ki Sub still went on his usual way. Returning to the present, Ki Sub reflects on his conversation with Hye Jin from years ago, questioning whether he truly is not capable of liking someone sincerely. Meanwhile, Jin Woo wonders what the relationship is between Hye Jin and Ki Sub, as the latter’s words make it seem like the former can hurt him. Ki Sub also asks him that evening how he knew Hye Jin, and he appears relieved when Jin Woo says they don’t have any romantic relationships. Ki Sub promises Jin Woo that he will protect him, making him further confused as he realizes that, while he has met his ideal type in the form of Hye Jin, Ki Sub is still always on his mind.

On the other hand, Balg Eum mentions that he saw Jin Woo and Hye Jin on a date, although Ki Sub refuses to believe it. Balg Eum also says that he guesses Ki Sub likes Jin Woo already, or else he wouldn’t be wasting that much energy on following him. Balg Eum’s words made Ki Sub ask himself if he likes Jin Woo and if he is capable of liking anyone when all the people around him have always said that he doesn’t know how. While Ki Sub is contemplating, Balg Eum rushes home to prepare for In Ho’s visit to his apartment. He pretends to be nonchalant about it, but he still does his best to clean his apartment and even order food for them to eat. Upon In Ho’s arrival, he presents Balg Eum with a gift, but the latter feigns indifference to the gesture. Inside Balg Eum’s apartment, the two initially acted awkwardly, especially when In Ho innocently asked about the room’s hot temperature and where to hang his coat. Their conversation becomes comfortable as Balg Eum’s nature of taking care of In Ho comes out. After their meal, In Ho notices the pair of socks they exchanged back in high school. He is surprised to find that Balg Eum still has them, and he admits that the latter’s pairs are still in his possession. In Ho promises to bring them back after their agreed-upon three meetings. In the end, the two agree to do what In Ho wants to do that day, and they can do what Balg Eum wants next time. While Balg Eum is still conscious of how small his apartment is, In Ho finds the place to his liking.

Meanwhile, Ki Sub substitutes for Balg Eum in the cafe and manages to attract a lot of customers due to his good looks. While a line of customers begins to pile up, Ki Sub is shocked to see Hye Jin, who visited intentionally to confront him. Hye Jin embarrasses Ki Sub in front of everyone, including the cafe owner, by saying that he stole the person that she likes. Before leaving the cafe, Hye Jin asks Ki Sub if he really believes that Jin Woo will like him. Hye Jin also shows him a text message from Jin Woo telling her that he has something important to say. On the other hand, Jin Woo prepares to meet Hye Jin and unintentionally ignores Ki Sub’s phone call. He also accidentally drops the toy keychain that Ki Sub gave him on his way to meet Hye Jin in the park. Simultaneously with his moment of weakness, Ki Sub receives a message stating that his request for a change of name has been declined. He rushes outside and is determined to find Jin Woo to ask him directly if he doesn’t really stand a chance after not meeting his ideal type.

Back to Jin Woo, meets Hye Jin in the very same park that they were in when Ki Sub interrupted them. He shows Hye Jin his journal, which contains all of his thoughts and feelings for Ki Sub. He confesses to Hye Jin that he really likes Ki Sub, despite the latter being not his ideal type. Hye Jin then shares that she is actually in love with someone else and that someone else happens to be Ki Sub’s ex-girlfriend, hence her anger toward him. She also acknowledges that, at the end of the day, it isn’t Ri Sub’s fault that she didn’t get together with her friend; instead, it’s her fault for never finding the courage. In the end, the two realize that maybe they only wrote their ideal types, not because those are traits that they like, but because it’s to make themselves not like someone else. As the snow begins to fall, Ki Sub, who had found the toy keychain along the way, sees Jin Woo and Hye Jin grinning at each other. Jin Woo goes home excitedly, remembering his deal with Ki Sub about confessing to each other on the first day of snow. However, he finds their home empty of Ki Sub’s presence, save for a letter from him stating that he failed to meet his ideal type and their deal. Ki Sub also apologizes for all the inconvenience that he has brought to Jin Woo throughout his stay.

Watch ‘Boys Be Brave’ on GagaOOLala.

Episode 6: Knowing one’s heart, singing words of love

Days pass by, and Jin Woo tries to bring his life back to normal, although he is restless and always distracted. To avoid spending time at home, he begins to frequent overnight review schools. Meanwhile, Ki Sub has taken refuge in his older sister’s clinic, where he pretends to be sick even if she doesn’t buy it. His older sister also reminds him to finish all of his schoolwork before their transfer to the United States.

The next day, Ki Sub is waiting for his appointment in the exchange student programs when Balg Eum sends him a video of the public proposal that they saw some time ago. However, the video went viral not only because of the proposal but also because someone captured Ki Sub in the video and zoomed in on the fond look in his eyes. Ki Sub turns out to be directing his gaze towards Jin Woo at that time, who also appears in the video. He then realizes that the familiar look in his eyes is the same gaze that Jin Woo is giving him. He tells the school officer that he likes someone so much that he doesn’t want to go away anymore. He then ditches the appointment and heads to Jin Woo’s phone. However, he is unable to find Jin Woo and cannot contact him either. Instead, a stranger comes inside the apartment and introduces himself as Jin Woo’s landlord. According to him, Jin Woo’s father has asked him to visit Jin Woo as he has not been able to reach him. It also appears that Jin Woo has not been at home for a while. Just then, the landlord receives a call from Jin Woo’s father, who asks him to give the phone to Ki Sub after finding out that he is Jin Woo’s friend.

Meanwhile, Balg Eum anxiously waits for In Ho in the cinemas, as they planned. However, he soon realizes that he is in the wrong cinema and tells In Ho to go ahead of him, although the latter offers to just buy tickets for the next schedule instead. In a hurry, he trips, and the popcorn and soda in his hands fall on the floor. When he arrives at the correct cinema, he finds In Ho waiting for him after booking the next cinema schedule. In Ho also asks him if he would like popcorn and soda, to which Balg Eum says that it will be his treat instead. On the other hand, Ki Sub arrives at Jin Woo’s family home after a whole day of traveling. When Jin Woo finally opens his phone and sees all the notifications, he learns that Ki Sub is at his family’s home. He immediately rushes to the train station to follow him.

Back to Balg Eum, he brings In Ho to a fancy restaurant and orders him food that he thinks the latter will like. When In Ho excuses himself to the bathroom, Balg Eum immediately checks his bank account and feels relieved after seeing that he still has enough money to pay for their meal. Just then, In Ho comes back with a paper bag in his hand containing a smartwatch that he intends to give to Balg Eum. However, Balg Eum becomes bothered after seeing the hefty price of the smartwatch and says that he never asked for an expensive thing. In Ho explains that the smartwatch will help them communicate with each other faster as Balg Eum will be able to see his text or call even if he is not holding his phone. The dinner turns cold, and Balg Eum intentionally leaves the gift on the table. As Balg Eum pays for the bill, the total turns out to be higher than what he has in his bank account, and although he tries to hide it from In Ho, the latter understands the situation immediately and gives his card instead to pay for their meal. Balg Eum walks out wordlessly, with In Ho following him immediately after. As the two walk to the station, In Ho tries to lighten up the mood and asks Balg Eum if he wants to go for drinks, but gets no answer. He then suggested that they get alcohol at the convenience store and drink at Balg Eum’s. Instead of agreeing, Balg Eum tells him that he knows he hasn’t stopped playing piano. In Ho asks if he needs to quit piano and live with him just so they can be together. He also promises to do everything that Balg Eum says just so he will stay, but Balg Eum confesses that he’s still embarrassed by what happened to his family and that no matter how hard he works just to meet In Ho, it will never be the same way again. He also admits that he still likes In Ho and never stopped doing so; however, he hates himself for feeling miserable about his family’s downfall and the version of himself when he is with In Ho. He begs In Ho to stop trying to get back together with him. In Ho hugs Balg Eum tightly and cries on his shoulder, while the latter finally gives in and hugs him back. Later that evening, Balg Eum comes home alone and cries on the floor, while In Ho trudges his way with the paper bag containing the smartwatch still in his hand.

Jin Woo finally arrives back in his hometown and gets a call from Ki Sub who tells him to look on his left. To Jin Woo’s surprise, he sees Ki Sub and runs towards him immediately. The two meet halfway and hug each other tightly.

Writer’s Thoughts:

As the show draws to a close, we can’t help but notice the contrasted feelings that the lead couple and the supporting couple bring to the table. We get butterflies in our stomachs watching Jin Woo and Ki Sub’s mutual pining, especially when Ki Sub recognizes his affection for Jin Woo by the stare he gives him in the video. As they say, “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” or in this case, “the heart.” In the meantime, the relationship between Balg Eum and In Ho grips our hearts and we look forward to the former’s success in overcoming their socioeconomic differences and freeing himself from the worries and shame of other people’s judgments. Though our perception of In Ho is still vague, we believe he is worth the bet because of his commitment and will to reclaim his position in Balg Eum’s life. Watch for the ‘Boys Be Brave’ season finale on Thursday to see how things wrap up!

Enjoy watching ‘Boys Be Brave’ on a bigger screen because GagaOOLala is now available to watch on your Smart TVs by downloading the app on GooglePlay, Amazon App Store, and Roku

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