Though Jihyeok and Darim continue to get closer in Episode 12 of Dynamite Kiss, the pressure catches up to Darim when the Mother TF team has to develop a new product.
Dynamite Kiss continues the honesty streak as Darim struggles with the big-picture consequences of her lie and ultimately decides to leave the company. Still, the episode is entitled “Too Sweet,” so it’s not without its cute moments, specifically a full on home date between our two leads.
Also Read: Pop Corner: Dynamite Kiss Episode 11 Recap: Office Romances Are Great
Someone better in Dynamite Kiss Episode 12
Jihyeok and Darim meet up with the customer who faked the complaint. She tells them that she also applied for a job at Natural Bebe after her ex-husband stopped paying alimony. But she did not pass the interview. That was when she grew desperate and started taking it out on the company. Darim feels guilty, thinking that someone more deserving than her should’ve gotten the job that she had lied to obtain.
It turns out that Taeyeong dug up Darim’s records and found out that she was unmarried. Jihye, instead of exposing Darim, tries to push her into the spotlight to escalate her lie. When Jihyeok opposes this, Jihye realizes that he knows the truth as well. She scales back and makes Darim employee of the month instead.
Product development
Jihyeok gets assigned to product development, which is a big responsibility for the team as it’s the core of what Natural Bebe does. Jihyeok makes another deal with his dad. If the Mother TF team succeeds at this project, all the team members will be promoted to full time employees.
Darim’s guilt continues to bother her, especially because she feels like she’s disappointing her late father. When she turns in her resignation letter, Jihyeok, who had discovered the team’s assessment files in the archives, tells her that she was never judged by her qualifications. Rather, the way she believed in the team even when Jihyeok himself didn’t showed that she more than deserved her position.
Jihyeok asks Darim to stay and help her teammates become full time employees before resigning. The two of them hug, not knowing that a scandalized Jinhui can see them. She of course tells everyone.
Talent show
Hayeong, who had previously agreed to be best friends with Jun, shows up to support him at his kindergarten talent show. Jun and Seonu are supposed to perform a song together, but Seonu is stuck at the studio. Instead, Hayeong steps up to play the guitar with Jun.
Seonu arrives just in time to see Jun’s performance. While he’s grateful for her help, he tells Hayeong not to get involved with Jun’s life anymore as he doesn’t want his son to be disappointed when she stops hanging around them. Though Hayeong says they don’t have to stop seeing each other, Seonu firmly says he’s not interested in her as a woman.
A brokenhearted Hayeong drinks and sulks around the house. Her mother, Mi-ok, sees her watching a video of Jun’s talent show and berates Hayeong for falling for the no-name photographer, hurting her wrist in the process. Mi-ok pulls up at Seonu’s studio, ready to give a classic “stay away from my child for 30 million won” speech. Instead, she is charmed by Seonu’s concern for her wrist and just gives him the money for no reason.
The secret’s out in Dynamite Kiss Episode 12
Taeyeong and Jihyeok have an intense encounter by the elevator. Taeyeong storms off to Jihye’s office and reveals that it was his idea to bump Jihyeok to product development. He urges Jihye to continue supporting Jihyeok on this project, saying that it wouldn’t matter even if they succeed.
Darim notices that the Mother TF ladies are acting strange around her and decides to come clean. The women take it well, understanding that Darim must have been going through a lot to have come to this decision, as they’ve had their share of difficult moments as well. Later, the team corners Jihyeok at a dinner where they get the truth out of him, and he reveals that the “dynamite kiss woman” was Darim all along.
Calm before the storm
After the team dinner, Jihyeok continues to comfort Darim, who apologizes for putting him through a lot because of her lie. They spend the night and eventually the whole weekend together, finally continuing where they left off in Jeju.
The Mother TF team begins working on a new baby care product, specifically a lightweight baby carrier that doesn’t strain parents’ backs. They go to baby fairs to gather data, test out colors and materials, and record their ideas on their phones. The operation is mostly led by Darim, while Jihyeok diligently supports and helps her out.
A week before the product is set to hit the market, Gwangmin comes running in with bad news. A competitor released the same exact baby carrier. Chairman Gong Changho marches into the Mother TF office, looking for Darim. When Darim steps forward, he slaps her hard.
Episode 12 Thoughts and What To Expect Next
When the first few episodes of Dynamite Kiss came out, a lot of viewers said they could watch these two flirt with each other all day. Finally, we get a full date without secrecy and guilt, as well as the official promotion of “팀장님” (Mr. Gong) to “자기야” (babe). We also finally get more emotional conflict from Darim’s side, though admittedly, her team members gave her a lot of grace for someone who had lied to them this whole time.
Unfortunately, we’re headed towards our third act breakup in next week’s episode. It appears that Darim is being framed for leaking the product information, which will inevitably get in the way of their relationship. How will Jihyeok and Darim survive this one?
Source: SBS Play, SBS Now Twitter/X
