Episode 4 of "Way Back Love" unfolds with Hee Wan candidly confessing her forlorn hope, acknowledging how pathetic she feels for harboring the belief that Ram Woo is still alive, despite the bleak truth of his absence. However, the enigma surrounding Ram Woo's whereabouts gradually unfurls later in the episode.
As the narrative pivots to images, Hee Wan returns home to visit her father, her mind troubled upon hearing that Hee Joo plans to embark on a free-diving expedition soon. Deeply concerned, Hee Wan expresses her disapproval, but Hee Joo fiercely rebuts, refusing to be shackled by a life marked by regret and fear, as Hee Wan's own life has been.
After Hee Wan's departure, Ram Woo enters the scene, seeking to uplift her spirits, echoing a time when Hee Wan reciprocated the gesture, attempting to cheer him up during his darkest hours. The past and present intertwine seamlessly, as the story jumps between these contrasting timelines.
The common thread binding these moments is painting. In a poignant flashback, Hee Wan urges Ram Woo to unleash his emotions through painting on the walls of an abandoned building. His troubles stem from his absent father, and while his wife leaves money at their home, Ram Woo perceives it as a tactic to silence him, fostering feelings of worthlessness. He confides in Hee Wan, sharing his disdain for how this makes him feel.
Hee Wan unburdens herself here, revealing that her mother passed away when she was a mere four years old—a tragic coincidence that also marked her first day of elementary school. This double whammy proved incredibly challenging for her. As they embark on their painting session, a bond begins to blossom between them, culminating in a tender, almost kiss-worthy moment. Just as the air thickens with anticipation, Tae-kyung arrives, disrupts the harmony, and throws a wrench into the works. Upset that Hee Wan is spending time away from her and reproaching her for forgetting their jointly made significant plans, Tae-kyung creates a deep rift between them. Ram Woo, sensing the tension, steps in to mend fences. Their shared passion for food becomes the catalyst for reconciliation, and as they bond over culinary delights, Ram Woo catches sight of a poster advertising the Winter Night Meteor Shower Festival. This sparks an idea, realizing it would be the perfect setting for them to reconnect, especially considering their initial star-gazing bond.
Thankfully, Tae-kyung and Hee Wan manage to patch things up. Hong-suk, ever the encouraging friend, urges Ram Woo to seize the moment and confess his true feelings to Hee Wan. That night, the quartet eagerly awaits the meteor shower, their hearts filled with anticipation. But just as the sky begins to shimmer with promise, Hee Wan receives some groundbreaking news: she has won an observatory event. In a heartfelt gesture, she decides to gift the prize to Ram Woo, allowing him to witness a shooting star before they dive into college life. However, she declines his invitation to accompany him, instead handing him the letter she penned in episode 3, suggesting they read it together upon returning home.
As Ram Woo steps into the observatory, disaster strikes. A series of explosions cause the building to crumble, trapping Ram Woo inside. When the dust settles and bodies are retrieved, Hee Wan, overwhelmed with shock and desperation to find her friend, learns the heart-wrenching truth: Ram Woo has perished in the catastrophe.
In the present day, Hee Wan revisits their cherished haunts from the past, each location serving as a catalyst for nostalgia. Ram Woo, eager to facilitate a reunion, orchestrates a meeting between Hee Wan and Hong-suk. The encounter is charged with an almost palpable frostiness, awkwardness hanging heavy in the air until Hong-suk, visibly distressed, asks Hee Wan to depart. Outside, the piercing wail of sirens triggers a panic attack in Hee Wan, her fragile state exposed. Hong-suk steps in swiftly to offer comfort, revealing his own poignant understanding of her pain concerning Ram Woo. His previous diversions from the topic were not due to indifference, but a protective instinct to spare her additional heartache. Hong-suk admits his own struggle with the sound of sirens, yet vows to confront his fears; his decision to embark on a career as a firefighter is his bold step towards that end.
Hong-suk too is grappling with profound sorrow and guilt, haunted by the memory of abandoning Ram Woo at the observatory. Hee Wan, recognizing her own past harshness, extends a heartfelt apology for her selfish behavior and vows to lead a joyful life, severing ties to allow both of them to move forward.
Back inside, Ram Woo lays bare the unfinished game with Hong-suk, accompanied by an image of the shooting star that once symbolized their hopes. Their original intent was to conclude the game post the observatory tragedy, but now, Ram Woo imparts his heartfelt wishes for Hong-suk's future, hoping it will be filled with unparalleled happiness.
Outside, Hee Wan confronts Ram Woo, resolved to complete their bucket list, a decision that hinges on meeting Ram Woo's mother. This intention, however, proves more challenging than anticipated, as flashbacks reveal a poignant scene where Ram Woo's mother, upon seeing Hee Wan in the hospital's operating room, mistakenly believed her son was on the brink of death. This moment of heart-wrenching misunderstanding shattered her world.
