When last we left our reincarnated lovers Dean and Pharm, they had finally really met at a supermarket after two episodes. The meeting left Pharm running away in tears, though thankfully not because of anything Dean did.

So, do we have to wait another two episodes for our leads to interact?

Dean isn’t about to let that happen.

He starts off in a bad mood before a swim trip. Pharm brings some snacks to the swim team and apologizes to Dean for running off that way. Dean’s snack box contains special, star shaped Look Choup that no one else gets. Dean is no longer in a bad mood.

Once the swim team returns, Dean is nearby when a loud noise sends Pharm into a panic attack. Dean comforts Pharm until he calms down, then drags him to the hospital. In front of the doctor Pharm explains he’s always had this problem and doesn’t know why. The doctor isn’t any help.

Dean gives Pharm a ride home and uses it as an opportunity to give Pharm his backstory. He states his full name, his birthdate, his siblings names, and shares that his parents are abroad most of the time. Pharm is charmed by Dean’s courting methods and shares his own backstory. He lives alone, his dad has passed away, and his mom and brother live in the states.

Dean says he’s single. Pharm goes shy. Before he goes to his place though, Dean gets his number.

Dean is only just beginning

The next day, with an imaginary Manow encouraging him, Pharm texts Dean. He wants to thank him with food. Dean turns it into a chance to share breakfast at Pharm’s place. 

We see Pharm brush his teeth before Dean comes over, so we don’t need to worry about bad breath. He smiles with his clean teeth as he prepares breakfast.

Dean shows up early and Pharm takes his shower while Dean snoops around. I 100% understand Dean in this moment. When Pharm comes out, Dean strokes his hair and adjusts his tie. 

Sharing the omelet sends Pharm into another not-his-flashback-but-In’s, leaving him in confused tears. Dean comforts him until he calms down again. Dean says the omelet is delicious and doesn’t ask any questions.

Dean isn’t going to leave it at that, finding Pharm when he’s at school late. He feels Pharm is his responsibility and that Pharm should reach out to him if he needs a ride. Pharm gives Dean a sandwich and invites him over for breakfast. 

Pharm is shy, but In was not

So while Dean is making all the moves this time, previously it was In who got the ball rolling. Korn was minding his own business, reading in the hallway when In abandoned his friends to approach him. In tells Korn that he likes him and asks if he can hit on him. 

Korn doesn’t take him seriously. Or act interested.

In’s friends drag him away and talk about how scary Korn is and how he’s the son of a loan shark. They’re standing like 5 feet from Korn. 

Just to be clear, Pharm is okay with Dean’s persistance

Pharm may be quiet and shy and overwhelmed by Dean at times, but he’s also clearly excited and interested. After Dean pushes on anything, Pharm is smiling.

As a counterpoint to Dean we have a member of the drama club. He comes onto Pharm hard, harder even than Dean. Twice. Pharm is nice enough to him, but he clearly turns the guy down twice.

Normally a side character that exists only to be shot down is not my favorite thing. In this case I appreciate that it helps us see that while Dean has been pushy, he’s not unwelcome.

But what about a new cool Thai dessert?

Well, technically it’s a Thai savory snack, but yes! It’s called Chor Muang.

The drama club has an odd request for the cooking club: A Thai food to prepare on stage. Pharm is the new Thai food expert and put in charge and he picks this purple steamed dumpling out. Then he gets to show two members of the drama club how to use special tweezers to shape it into flowers. 

His two students are his friend Manow and Dean’s sister Del. Manow does not believe in shyness, teasing Pharm about Dean and asking Del about her brother. Del explains they aren’t that close because they didn’t grow up together. She feels that Dean acts more like a father and she doesn’t even see him that often. Lately she hasn’t even seen him for breakfast.

Pharm catches that and looks guilty.

Dean finds out about this activity via his sister though, and Pharm ends up going to the swim team to bring these treats. Team and Win, er, tag-team to make Dean jealous by having Pharm feed them the treat. So then Dean makes Pharm feed him. 

Poor shy Pharm. It’s a lot.

All of Pharm and Dean’s breakfasts end in tears

From the outside, without knowing about the whole past life thing, Dean and Pharms encounters don’t look great. Half the time Pharm ends up in tears.

So this second time we see them at Pharm’s place it comes up that they both have birthmarks on their temples. Pharm has heard a surprisingly on-point story about how birthmarks are connected to people’s past lives. In fact, his brother saw a movie and realized Pharm might have died by suicide from a shot–

Pharm doesn’t even get the whole story out before another flashback has him dropping a bowl on the ground and in tears. He’s sobbing as Dean comforts him and goes to clean up the mess.

Random thoughts I couldn’t fit in elsewhere

The friend group of Manow, Team and Pharm continues to be adorable. Sometimes Manow doesn’t have much to do but she’s still funny and cute. They have the feeling and chemistry of real friends. They also help keep the story light but still genuine feeling. I don’t think I could handle current-friend-angst AND past-life-angst.

At this point, Win is starting to push Team around and flirt with him. They are very cute together. I won’t talk much about them here, they aren’t really together all that much, but their full story is in Between Us. Which I may recap one day.

The first time I watched this I was put off by how our reincarnations were played by different actors than their tragic, past lives. It’s nothing to do with the actors, it just felt like a lot to watch and a completely separate couple to track. I didn’t want to have to get invested in these different seeming, tragic lovers.

This time through I’m appreciating it more. For one, visually I can’t tell the two time periods apart so when I see In and Korn I know we are in the past lives. Also, In and Korn really are distinctly different and this makes it more obvious. I think it makes it easier to keep their story seperate.

So, that’s it for these two episodes! Tune in next time to find out if Dean and Pharm can make it through breakfast without Pharm ending up in tears.