01x43 - Merit Wins the Soul Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

[This drama is based on a true story.]

[The plot was adjusted for entertainment purposes only.]

[We have no intention to offend any careers, ]

[encourage immoral sexual values, ]

[or create a pessimistic disposition of a gender or a group of people.]

[We would like to apologize in advance for any misunderstandings.]

[Presents]

[Theory of Love]

Hello, Aoy and Chod.

I'm Fon.

I'm 34 years old.

I’m an online fiction writer.

I only joined this industry not long ago,

much later than most other writers.

So I’ve been pouring everything into my work,

spending most of my days in my room, not really living life.

Luckily, I found success quickly.

But at the same time, I lost something,

someone I thought I loved.

- What are you doing, honey? - I'm working.

It's the new tea. I made some for you.

- Okay, but wait. - Try it.

Wait.

Hey. I said wait.

You spilled tea on my work.

So it made me scared to love again,

because I think I’m not good enough to love anyone.

Wow, is the world ending? You’re calling me.

Don’t overreact. I just finished a new story.

Are you free to celebrate tonight?

Honestly, I haven’t seen you in months.

Stop rambling. Are you in or out?

I want to go,

but I’m at a photoshoot. Not sure when I’ll be done.

I’ll wait for you at the studio.

We can go together when you’re done. No need to hurry.

Good. That’s great. Hold on.

Please turn to the side.

Please turn to the side.

- Okay. - This is a great angle.

Exactly what we want.

Good, that's it. Amazing.

- Give me a fierce look. - That's right.

Amazing.

- Beautiful. - Good job.

All right, guys. That’s a wrap! Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I’ll finish up inside, wait a moment.

Excuse me.

Are you Fon,

- the writer? - Yes.

I'm so happy.

Can I take a selfie with you? I want to show it to my friends.

Of course.

I really love your work.

- I’ve read all your stories. - Really?

I look like someone who doesn’t read, right?

I like to read

because it helps me escape reality.

My reality

isn’t as beautiful as in the stories.

If you read the latest one I just uploaded,

you might not like it.

It’s based on my life,

which isn’t beautiful either.

I’m actually the villain in the story.

Do you really think I’m that good of a person?

Don’t worry.

I like all your stories.

I might even like this one the most

because it won’t just be entertaining,

I’ll get to know you better too.

Please excuse me. I have to change.

- Hey. - What?

Do you know that girl?

If I hadn’t interrupted, you two would’ve fused into one by now.

Come on, she’s just a fan who came to say hi.

Is she a famous model or something?

Why? Are you interested?

She’s pretty.

I don't want to gossip,

but let me warn you.

She’s not your average girl.

She’s got a reputation

for sleeping around.

At least a few people in my office have slept with her.

Maybe she’s been with the whole office.

Why would she do that? For money?

I don’t think so.

She still gets booked for jobs and she’s responsible.

That’s why she still has a career.

Then she probably has her reasons.

What reasons does one have to sleep around?

Wait.

Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her.

Of course not. You know I’m not interested in dating anymore.

I just don’t want to judge someone without getting to know them.

There are some people you’re better off not knowing.

Someone dangerous like her will only bring you down.

- Is it that bad? - Trust me.

Stop rambling. Can we go now?

Five minutes. No, ten. Let me save my files.

- I’ll wait in the car. - I won’t take long.

- Let's finish this. - Okay.

Right here.

Then I met her,

the woman who made my heart race again.

She seemed dangerous, even my friend warned me.

But there was something about her that drew me in,

something that made me want to ignore all the warnings.

[- You're so hot. - I'm your fan.]

But let me warn you. She’s not your average girl.

She’s got a reputation for sleeping around.

Magical moment.

Spying much, Ms. Writer?

What do you mean by that?

Hello.

This isn’t your first time.

You were spying on me at the parking lot today.

I saw you.

That's not my bae.

I could tell.

I just hope that isn't someone else’s bae.

Honestly,

I don’t know.

I didn’t think about that.

Some things are worth thinking about.

The consequences of acting without thinking can be scary.

Thanks for the warning.

And...

Thanks for not minding talking to me.

Why would I mind?

I think everyone has their reasons.

Really?

What do you think mine are?

I don't know.

I think...

You probably know your reasons best.

But I won’t ask.

I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me.

I’m always ready.

When are you ready to listen?

I can listen right now.

No, if we’re going to talk seriously,

I want it to be face-to-face.

Should we meet again?

Sure, where?

What about my place

or your place?

If we’re going to talk about something personal,

we should be somewhere private,

somewhere we can really focus on the conversation.

My place is fine.

[Petch: Are you free today? Come see me at my place.]

Are you free today? Come see me at my place.

Sorry, I have an appointment.

Is it important?

Not really, but I don’t like canceling on people.

Please come. I'm really sick. Come take care of me.

I'm sorry, I have to cancel.

Something urgent came up.

I thought you were sick.

If I hadn’t used that excuse, would you have come to see me?

Stay with me.

Hello.

I changed my mind. I’m not flying tonight.

I’m heading back now.

What? Why?

I have a feeling you’re doing something behind my back.

Come on, are you crazy?

How could I? You’ve been so kind and generous to me.

I don’t even know what my life would be without you.

Right, I’ve given you so much.

That’s why I can’t just ignore my gut feeling.

If I catch you red-handed,

I’ll k*ll her.

Who was that?

- Who was that? - My girlfriend.

Why didn’t you tell me?

Leave now. We’ll talk later.

Go now. Do you want to get caught?

Watch where you're going!

It's okay, come when you're done. I'll wait.

Namhom.

Come inside.

Are you all right?

Walk slowly.

Aren’t you going to ask what I was doing?

No.

I haven’t gotten an answer to my previous question.

There’s more to know already?

I’ll answer the first question.

I have issues.

When I was young,

I didn’t feel wanted by my parents.

So now, I crave feeling wanted by others.

Even if those people only want sex.

But being a model who still gets jobs

should already make you feel wanted.

Yes.

But it’s not enough.

I’m glad I have a career.

Without it and money,

I’d rather be dead.

- Don’t say that. - I mean it.

I’ve been living like this for a long time.

I think

I don’t know how to love anyone.

But I think you do.

If you’re going to love someone,

they must be really good to you.

Do you think being good always wins in the end?

Yes, I do.

Will you be that someone for me?

Have you read my latest story?

I have.

Do you still think I can be that person?

I’m a workaholic who craves success and ignores everything else.

That’s just how you see yourself.

But from what I see,

you’re not just good enough.

You're the best.

Aoy, Chod.

After that, our relationship developed quickly.

There were some moments I tried to hold myself back,

because I wasn’t sure if it was right to fall any deeper.

But in the end, I couldn’t stop myself.

It only confirmed

that I had feelings for her

and it would be hard to turn back.

What are you thinking?

There’s one more thing you haven’t told me.

Why did you show up looking like that last night?

What actually happened?

Do you remember my urgent meeting?

Actually, I went to see a guy.

He’s not more important than you.

He made up a story to get me to meet him.

And?

I found out he already has a girlfriend.

So I showed up looking like that because I was running away from her.

I literally just warned you about this.

But never mind, it’s all in the past now.

I’m just afraid

it might get worse for you.

Sometimes getting a little hurt here and there

is a warning.

It's nothing.

- But... - I'll take a shower.

I have to work in the evening.

I have to get ready.

I'm worried about you.

I know.

From now on,

I’ll be more careful.

And if there are any consequences from what happened in the past,

you’ll be the first person I think of.

Okay?

- What do you want? - Hey.

Sorry I didn't tell you I have a girlfriend.

We met on a dating app.

I didn’t think you’d care about my real life.

But I don’t like sneaking around with someone else’s boyfriend.

Calm down, my girlfriend still doesn’t know.

She asked a few questions when she got back,

but I told her she was overthinking it.

Can we see each other again?

You’re trying so hard to hold me back.

Do you want me that badly?

Yes, I do.

Then break up with her.

So what? Are you going to date me then?

You don’t want anything serious.

If you did, you wouldn’t be on a dating app.

It’s not that I don’t want something serious.

I just haven’t found someone who’s good to me.

Namhom.

I'm worried about you.

But now,

I think I might have found that person.

Leave me alone.

Namhom.

Darn it.

Do you remember my urgent meeting?

Actually, I went to see a guy.

He made up a story to get me to meet him.

I found out he already has a girlfriend.

So I showed up looking like that because I was running away from her.

Namhom is in trouble.

Hello. What's up?

Namhom, I need to cancel all your bookings.

I’ll compensate you though.

Why? What happened?

A higher-up in the industry contacted all the agencies,

and told them to cancel everything.

If we still hire you, we’ll get in trouble.

Who’s this higher-up? What did I even do?

I’m not sure either,

but you might’ve accidentally messed with her man.

[Sirikorn "Mint" Pongsao, An Elite Drama Producer, ]

[Defends Petch Theerabulseth Against Claims of Getting Rich Girlfriend]

That higher-up went this far

because she’s deeply in love with her man,

even though she knows he doesn’t truly love her.

He stays with her for the money. Namhom messed with the wrong person.

I have issues.

I didn’t feel wanted by my parents.

So now, I crave feeling wanted by others.

I’m glad I have a career.

Without it and money, I’d rather be dead.

Bua, do you have Namhom's address? Send it to me.

Why do you need it?

Can you not ask me right now? I need to go see her.

Namhom.

Namhom, open the door!

Namhom.

Namhom. Why did you do this?

You said you'd think of me. Namhom.

Namhom.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

I'm sorry.

I'm here.

I can’t let this go, Bua. I’m going to meet that woman.

Hello.

I’m Namhom’s friend.

I need to talk to you.

Go ahead and speak.

I’d like to apologize on Namhom’s behalf for what happened.

I hope you understand

that it takes two.

What you did to Namhom was too much.

It’s not too much, it’s not even enough.

Not enough?

You ruined a woman’s future just to satisfy yourself.

You’re speaking for her, do you even know her that well?

My boyfriend isn’t the first guy she's done this with.

She deserves to be punished.

I know, and I'm trying to understand her.

You know why your man is still with you, and you still let him.

We all take sides,

even when we know our people are wrong.

Is this what it means to protect the ones we love?

I’m begging you.

Please let her go back to work.

Let’s all return to our loved ones in peace.

Whether that happiness is real or fake,

it’s still better than hurting each other like this.

I promise she will leave your man alone.

I think your words alone are not enough.

What more do you want?

Tell her to kneel in front of me

and apologize to me right now.

Do you think you’re so powerful that you can do anything?

Namhom, stop!

- Who do you think you are? - Namhom, stop!

- Look at you. - Stop.

- Let go! - Let me do it.

No, Fon.

Fon. Stop.

Fon.

- You think you can do this, huh? - Namhom.

- You think you can, huh? - That's enough, Namhom.

Stop it.

That's enough.

Fon.

Thank you for doing all that for me.

It’s okay. I was willing to do it.

Let’s be together.

I’ll be that person for you.

After what happened, I asked her to be with me.

I was sure about my feelings,

and I truly believed that my being good to her

would make her love me and change for the better.

Do you think she felt the same way?

From what she said,

she probably did.

Based on her reaction at that moment,

I wasn't sure.

But I still wanted to give it a shot.

Someone you love has to be a good person,

but that doesn’t mean you have to love every person who is good.

Do you know Namhom is out partying?

Tell me what you saw.

Fon, are you stalking me?

You really don’t trust me at all, do you?

For some people, no matter how good you are to them,

if they’re not grateful,

they’ll never treat you the same way.

But I still believe my goodness can change her.

And what if it can’t?

Namhom.

Namhom!

Action.

Make it sexier.

Is my face that dark? Why is the light so bright?

This is our DIY rain.

We can make it rain.

Ready.

- Action. - Cut.

That's a wrap.