Episode 36

*"They broke me..." -Shin-Ae*

This page may contain **spoilers** for 'I Love Yoo' **Episode 36**.

## Summary

This episode is a flashback on an incident of a bullying at Shin-Ae's old school.

The bullies surround her saying that if she doesn't hand over the book bag that they will take it by force. Shin-Ae claims that all the bag's contents are school supplies. Right after, Lil Buddy meows, raising her classmates' suspicions. One of the classmates tries to take the bag, only to be slapped across the face by Shin-Ae. The boys then pin her down and take the bag, pulling Lil Buddy out. As Shin-Ae pleads for them to stop, one of her classmates pulls Lil' Buddy out and starts taunting her, holding Lil' Buddy over the trash can. Right before her classmate throws Lil Buddy out, Shin-Ae breaks free of her other classmates' hold, punching the boy holding Lil Buddy in the face. The two of them begin to brawl, ending up with Shin-Ae on top of the boy, only stopping when a teacher intervenes.

Shin-Ae and the boy go to the principal's office and Sim Han and the boy's mother are called. Sim Han arrives, where the boy's mother has her son recount his version of what had occurred between him and Shin-Ae. The boy claims that he was minding his own and Shin-Ae attacked him while he had his back turned. The boy's mother insults Shin-Ae's parents, specifically her mother, saying that Shin-Ae is most likely similar to them. She says this in an attempt to discredit Shin-Ae's testimony, however, the principal decides to suspend both kids for a week. Infuriated, the boy's mother says that she is of higher status and that the boy's father is a major contributor in the school's funding and threatens to have the funds cut. The principal asks Shin-Ae and Sim Han to leave his office while he talks to the boy's mother.

Outside, Sim-Han asks Shin-Ae to explain, and tells him about Lil' Buddy and how she was trying to protect him. Sim-Han says she was right for trying to protect Lil' Buddy and that they'll find him afterwards and keep him until they can find him another home.

The principal then invites Sim Han back into his office, leaving Shin-Ae outside. Soon after, Ms. Lee, one of Shin-Ae's teachers arrives and goes into the principal's office. Ms. Kim tries to defend Shin-Ae by saying the boy had bullied Shin-Ae numerous times before. The boy's mother than say if her son was bullying Shin-Ae, it was due to her status and her being an easy target, overall defending her son's actions.

Shin-Ae is then expelled from the school. Sim-Han says the teacher tried talking to the parents, but they all reacted similarly to the boy's mother. Sim-Han tells her that they will move to another city and find a new school.

   After the move, Sim Han drives Shin-Ae to her new school. During the drive, she looks out the window and sees a group of friends (Min-Hyuk, Rika, Maya, and others) and admires them, wishing that she can have a group of friends like that at her new school. They arrive at school, where Shin-Ae nervously sits in the car for five minutes, until Sim Han encourages her to get out. Once out, she hears a girl next to her talking to herself, mumbling how she is embarrassed to have someone hear her talking, adding how Shin-Ae probably thinks she's weird. Shin-Ae tells the girl that she doesn't think she's weird. The two begin talking and share how it's both of their first days. The two decide to be friends, and it is revealed that the other girl's name is Alyssa Cho.

## Characters

* Shin-Ae Yoo
* Sim Han Yoo
* Lil Buddy
* *Min-Hyuk Park*
* *Maya Park*
* *Rika Lau*
* Alyssa Cho

## Episode Analyses

https://trashlie.tumblr.com/post/664892526901264384/episode-36-a-choice-in-color