Did I Love Monster Next Door This Week (Ep. 7)?

Did I love Monster Next Door this week (Ep. 7)?

Absolutely. Per usual.

Were they particularly cruel for making me think we were getting that trailer kissing scene when God showed up in that mask?

YES.

Sigh.

(Sidenote: The ex can bite it. Diew has officially upgraded.)

Honestly, revisiting this show after The Time of Fever is fascinating because it really starts out feeling like Hotae was the one who left Donghee rather than the other way around. And seeing this line after the show just hits differently. And when an injured Hotae gets brought in and Donghee brings out his first aid kit?

This is agony knowing their backstory, knowing the love that was between them and who rejected who and how heartbroken they both were and the joy they used to bring to each other that they can't even approach right now. Ugh. My entire heart to them.

Hits so differently now. Ugh. I do love prequels. Though I wish we could get a happy ending sequel as well. They deserve joy, damnit.

Honestly, just everything about them is so much more painful with the new knowledge of who they were to each other and who they were together and how that all ended.

Absolutely feral over them now. Hotae finally pushing for what he's wanted for so long (because he's wanted this for so long) and the instant rejection from Donghee out of trauma and I love them so much more on a second viewing and with the new show in mind.

Bad Guy My Boss is going to give me romance messiness, gun fights, workplace scheming, and, hopefully, color-coded boys in love.

Because Elyes is a dark guy (possibly a Black Brooder) while his assistant extraordinaire is a light guy (possibly a Happy Human).

But the thing is, Elyes is much lighter when he is alone with Pat.

Or at least he was.

And perhaps that was because they were very close when they first started out, sharing meals and their dreams with each other late into the night.

But now there is a wide distance (and many men) between them.

They no longer share plates side-by-side at home and small restaurants, but instead discuss the next day's schedule with a large table of options laid out in front of them.

So Elyes has gotten darker.

And so has Pat, but it's not the job that has gotten to him.

Pat's friends figure out that he is in love.

And even though he won't admit who has him heartbroken,

It's clear only one color-coded boy has all his attention because Elyes has demanded all of Pat's time for over five years.

Even though they still exist in their own little world,

The distance is getting worse all the time.

So I'm surprised that in the end of the episode, Black Brooder Elyes was the one to step up.

And close the distance that is growing between them, literally.

Because based on how the episode began, I know he is successful.

Because if he wasn't breathing down Pat's neck before, he definitely will be now that the possibility of Pat quitting has become a reality.

Bless.

Beer is so in love and Wan is struggling but it's so hard to see because they keep teetering on this edge of something more, of seeing it for what it is, and Wan pulls away every time.

And this moments just gets to me. Because they were so close and then Wan spends the rest of the time jealous but never does anything, even after finding out that the one he thinks is flirting already has a boyfriend. But Beer is also stuck in this holding pattern and this fear of hurting Wan or the people around them and it aches because they're both so obviously watching and waiting for some sign from outside their friendship that isn't going to come.

I'm so ready for them 😍❤

That fruit in Donghee mouth sparked something inside Hotae...

Video credit tagged on it 🙏