The second episode of "Way Back Love" kicks off right back in the present, delivering a shocking revelation: Ram Woo has passed away, and he eerily warns Hee Wan that she is next in line. Her fate is sealed with a grim countdown—precisely 176 hours, 12 minutes, and 35 seconds left until her demise. Hee Wan, left reeling, tries in vain to dispel her growing belief that she's losing her mind. She employs desperate measures to banish him from her life, from dousing him with a fire extinguisher to chanting Buddhist hymns, but to no avail. The truth is, he's a Grim Reaper, and her destiny is inescapably intertwined with his.
Flashing back to their school days, Bang Ji-soo, a fellow student, is on a mission to track down Hee Wan. She seeks her help in crafting the perfect love letter to her crush—none other than Ram Woo! Tempted to confess her feelings directly, Ji-soo's bold plan is tempered by Hee Wan's cautious advice. Ji-soo reluctantly agrees to let Hee Wan pen the letter for her, unaware of Hee Wan's own silent affections for Ram Woo. Struggling to articulate words that should be filled with another's love, Hee Wan finds herself darting away from Ji-soo at school, sparking a playful yet intense game of chase across the campus.
Tae-kyung, no stranger to discerning her friend's emotions, teases Hee Wan about her hidden feelings for Ram Woo. As Ji-soo finally catches up with Hee Wan, she directly confronts her, listing all the attributes that make Ram Woo irresistible. Hee Wan, maintaining a composed façade, brushes off Ji-soo's observations as insignificant, yet she is compelled to fulfill her promise and draft the letter for her friend, despite the turmoil brewing within her heart.
Hee Wan approaches everything with a rather uninviting formality, meticulously orchestrating her actions to assure Ram Woo that her sentiments toward him do not mirror his own. To seal her efforts with a rather uncharming flourish, she appends an unattractive brown heart symbol as a final touch! In contemporary times, Hee Wan is steadfast in her quest for tranquility, far removed from the haunting presence of the Reaper, ultimately finding solace in the serene waters of a swimming pool, where she hopes to gather her thoughts. Nevertheless, destiny seems relentless in its pursuit, offering her no respite.
Ram Woo has compiled a wishlist of shared experiences he yearns to have with Hee Wan before her inevitable departure. Denied these experiences in his own lifetime, he is now eager to live them through her. Initially, Hee Wan rejects his proposition, taken completely by surprise. However, it's evident that her mind is grappling with the idea.
Wandering the earth as a solitary Grim Reaper is scarcely a joyride, and Ram Woo harbors a long list of adventures he longs to embark upon. Ultimately, he whittles it down to ten essential bucket-list items, promising Hee Wan that once they are accomplished, he will depart. Together, they methodically tick off each item. As they sit Immersed in the mesmerizing melodies of a classic concert, the experience serves as a poignant reminder for Hee Wan, evoking vivid recollections of her past feelings for Ram Woo.
Recall that fateful letter involving Ji-soo? Hee Wan dashed outside in a flurry, desperate to halt the impending love confession, only to trip and land face-first on the ground. Scrambling to her feet, her mind raced through countless scenarios, each more desperate than the last, in a bid to salvage her dignity. But before she could make a decision, a soccer ball struck her cheek, sending her sprawling unconscious to the ground. Ram Woo, stepping in like a knight errant, swooped in to carry her to the nurse's office on his back, his gallant act a stark contrast to her chaotic state.
That evening, Hee Wan seethed with discontent. It transpired that Ji-soo had made a public confession to Ram Woo, news she received through Tae-kyung. To add insult to injury, Ram Woo now tasked her with penning a letter addressed to "J.S." Hee Wan, scoffing, demanded an exorbitant fee of 40,000 won, reducing the poor girl to tears as she laboriously crafted the letter. Yet, when she handed it over the next day, adorned with all the romantic flourishes one could muster, Ram Woo was puzzled as to why she had written it for Ji-soo.
The revelation was a shock: the letter was intended for Jung-sook, Ram Woo's mother, and it was her birthday too! With the misunderstanding cleared, Hee Wan's spirits soared, soaring even higher when she learned that Ram Woo had rejected Ji-soo's advances.
Intriguingly, Ram Woo began paying closer attention to Hee Wan in class, jotting down all the whimsical desires she expressed for her future love life. As it turned out, this very bucket list was the same one Ram Woo was now assisting Hee Wan in fulfilling in their present timeline!
As the episode drew to a close, we were treated to a poignant scene at a funeral, its solemnity hinting that Ram Woo's demise was a direct consequence of their name-switching escapade.
