Many people may not understand Sangyeon because they have never been in her shoes. I’m not defending her actions because she undeniably wronged Eunjung but I can relate to her perspective. Moving on from pain, loss, and trauma is never easy, especially when it involves the death of a loved one. After her family went bankrupt and fell apart, Sangyeon was left to cope not only with grief but also with the collapse of the life she once knew.
In the midst of that hardship, Sanghak became her source of comfort and strength. His presence gave her reassurance, and over time those feelings grew into love. Yet, to her devastation, he ended up with Eunjung, her friend. This hurt even more because Sangyeon had always carried a quiet resentment toward Eunjung. It often seemed as though everyone she cared about admired Eunjung more. Her brother, her mother, and even others around them were drawn to Eunjung’s warmth. By contrast, Sangyeon felt overlooked and unloved.
From her perspective, her selfish thoughts were: “At least Eunjung is already happy and loved. She has a caring mother, friends, and a more stable life compared to mine, which has been filled with pain and loss. The one person who gave me strength when I had nothing left should have been mine. At least I deserved that much.” That mindset fueled the hurtful words she spoke to Eunjung.
What Sangyeon failed to see, however, was that Eunjung carried her own burdens too. She grew up without a father, watched her mother struggle to make ends meet by cleaning houses and delivering milk, and lived in a basement home she was ashamed of. She also endured the loss of Sangyeon’s brother who was her first love and someone she truly admired while witnessing Sangyeon’s family fall apart. Eunjung’s pain was different but no less heavy, and in her bitterness Sangyeon overlooked that.
This doesn’t excuse Sangyeon’s actions, but it does help explain them. Her grief and resentment distorted her view, making her see Eunjung only through comparison and jealousy, without realizing that Eunjung also struggled
In the midst of that hardship, Sanghak became her source of comfort and strength. His presence gave her reassurance, and over time those feelings grew into love. Yet, to her devastation, he ended up with Eunjung, her friend. This hurt even more because Sangyeon had always carried a quiet resentment toward Eunjung. It often seemed as though everyone she cared about admired Eunjung more. Her brother, her mother, and even others around them were drawn to Eunjung’s warmth. By contrast, Sangyeon felt overlooked and unloved.
From her perspective, her selfish thoughts were: “At least Eunjung is already happy and loved. She has a caring mother, friends, and a more stable life compared to mine, which has been filled with pain and loss. The one person who gave me strength when I had nothing left should have been mine. At least I deserved that much.” That mindset fueled the hurtful words she spoke to Eunjung.
What Sangyeon failed to see, however, was that Eunjung carried her own burdens too. She grew up without a father, watched her mother struggle to make ends meet by cleaning houses and delivering milk, and lived in a basement home she was ashamed of. She also endured the loss of Sangyeon’s brother who was her first love and someone she truly admired while witnessing Sangyeon’s family fall apart. Eunjung’s pain was different but no less heavy, and in her bitterness Sangyeon overlooked that.
This doesn’t excuse Sangyeon’s actions, but it does help explain them. Her grief and resentment distorted her view, making her see Eunjung only through comparison and jealousy, without realizing that Eunjung also struggled