Episode 2 of "Love Next Door" kicks off with a poignant flashback, where Seok-ryu persuades Seung-hyo to lend a hand in her part-time endeavor - scrubbing barbecue grills at a bustling restaurant. The earnings from her laborous nights soon transform into twinkling stars adhering to her ceiling and a golden brooch, a thoughtful gift for her mother. Yet, as she awakens in a dim storage room that once harbored her dreams, reality bites hard. Her mother's scowl remains unyielding, breakfast withheld even as her friends, Seung-hyo and Mo-eun, arrive with concerned hearts.
Another flashback reveals the previous evening's tension, where Seok-ryu stubbornly conceals the truth of her return, fueling her mother's simmering rage. This anger finds an outlet in a percussive drumming, each beat a testament to her frustration and desire to lash out.
Seok-ryu ventures to Seung-hyo's new office, offering rice cakes amidst his colleagues' eager ears, hungry for tales of their shared past. She weaves a tale of heroism, positioning herself as Seung-hyo's savior, who bridged the language gap when he first arrived from France. But her carefully crafted narrative shatters under Seung-hyo's candid revelations, painting a picture of a mischievous childhood companion - dirty, boundaryless, even peeping through bathroom doors and playing pranks that left him tagged as "it."
Elsewhere, Mi-suk's public display of anger transforms the neighborhood's perception, casting Seok-ryu as a jobless victim of betrayal. Mi-suk vents her frustrations to Jae-suk, Mo-eun's mother, only to discover that their high school reunion coincides with Seung-hyo's office's grand opening.
Meanwhile, Seok-ryu indulges in a life of leisure, a stark contrast to her mother's disapproval. Attempts to reconnect with her former fiancé are swiftly thwarted as Seok-ryu erases his number, symbolizing a definitive break. As for Seung-hyo's company, it teeters on the brink of instability, plagued by delayed payments and a dearth of clients even before its official launch. Dan-ho's probing interview only underscores their precarious position.
Amidst this turmoil, Seok-ryu finds solace in endless bus rides, her journey a poignant reminder of workplace struggles and racial injustices, coupled with the betrayal of a fiancé who failed her when she needed him most. Ultimately, she emerges with a pomegranate tree, a symbol of renewal and hope, destined to grace Seung-hyo's grand opening as a token of friendship and resilience.
The following day, tensions between Mi-suk and Seok-ryu seemed to have subsided, as Mi-suk prepared to attend the grand opening, albeit hesitantly, shielding Seok-ryu from the event due to her embarrassment over her personal circumstances. At the opening, Mi-suk unwittingly became the target of jests, her boasts about her daughter's unexpected resurgence met with skepticism and humor. It was revealed that despite her intellectual prowess worthy of university admission, poverty had thwarted Mi-suk's dreams, leading her to derive her self-esteem solely from Seok-ryu's presence.
Amidst her high school peers, Mi-suk struggled to maintain her composure until Seok-ryu arrived unexpectedly to return Mi-suk's brooch. Unfortunately, their encounter was witnessed by Mi-suk's friends, prompting her to concoct a lie, claiming that Seok-ryu was bound for the US shortly, lured by a prestigious company's offer. Seung-hyo, observing this exchange from afar, couldn't help but notice the subtleties.
Back at their abode, a fierce confrontation erupted between Mi-suk and Seok-ryu, with Mi-suk insistent on Seok-ryu's return to the US. Despite Seok-ryu's earnest attempts to articulate her struggles and aspirations, Mi-suk remained unyielding. In the heat of the moment, Seok-ryu left, with Seung-hyo trailing behind, having overheard their heated exchange.
At the park, Seung-hyo offered Seok-ryu his silent companionship as she struggled to conceal her emotions, lost in memories of their carefree childhood. Eventually, the dam broke, and Seok-ryu wept uncontrollably, her sorrow finding solace in Seung-hyo's gentle presence.
The next day, Seok-ryu spent the entire day away, only to return to a surprise: the storeroom had been transformed into a replica of her former room, a testament to Mi-suk's meticulous planning. Seung-hyo, at Mi-suk's behest, had not only redesigned the space from the ground up but also adorned the ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars, a touch that echoed their past.
Upon discovering this, Seok-ryu learned that Seung-hyo had also moved back into his old room, which conveniently overlooked hers. A flashback unveiled a tender moment between them, when, while adorning the room with those same stars, they stumbled and landed on the bed, their bond deepening amidst laughter and mischief.
