How to Buy a Friend: Episode 1 - From Bullied Nobody to Accidental Therapist in, Like, Five Minutes
Let's face it, making friends in high school can be a battlefield. But in "How to Buy a Friend," episode one throws us into a situation that's less "mean girls" and more "fight club... with poetry?" Buckle up, because things are about to get weird (and surprisingly heartwarming).
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| How To Buy A Friend Ep 1 Recap |
Introducing Our Mismatched Duo
First, we meet Park Chan-Hong, your resident high school nobody with a talent for angst-ridden poetry. He's about as exciting as watching paint dry, which wouldn't be a problem if the school bully, Dae Yong (think a discount villain with a Napoleon complex), wasn't lurking around every corner. Enter Heo Don-Hyuk, the school's resident bad boy with a temper hotter than the cafeteria pizza (seriously, that cheese is a health hazard). Don-Hyuk is haunted by the recent suicide of his girlfriend, and rumors swirl around him like dust bunnies under the couch.
QuickTip: Skim the first line of each paragraph.
From Detention to Debt - An Unlikely Bond is Forged
So, how do these two polar opposites even meet? Well, let's just say Chan-Hong gets himself into a sticky situation with Dae Yong, and Don-Hyuk, in a surprising turn of events, steps in to save the day. Here's where things get interesting. Don-Hyuk, desperate for any connection to his lost girlfriend, stumbles upon a poem written by Chan-Hong. Apparently, Chan-Hong's inner emo is more powerful than we thought, because the poem sparks a memory in Don-Hyuk.
The Price of Friendship: Poetry Therapy and Uncovering Secrets
QuickTip: Focus on one line if it feels important.
This is where the "buying" a friend part comes in. Don-Hyuk, fueled by a mix of grief and rage (and maybe a hint of desperation), makes Chan-Hong an offer he can't refuse: protection from Dae Yong in exchange for deciphering his past. Think of it as a bodyguard-poet situation. Except, instead of dodging bullets, they're dodging rumors and school gossip.
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Their investigation takes them down a hilarious (and slightly terrifying) rabbit hole. They delve into the dark underbelly of the school, uncovering whispers of a secret society called "Mithra" that sounds less like a mythical god and more like a discount furniture store (seriously, those names!).
Tip: Write down what you learned.
Episode 1: Cliffhanger City
The episode ends with Chan-Hong and Don-Hyuk cornered by Dae Yong and his goons in an abandoned warehouse. Looks like our unlikely duo is about to get a crash course in real-life fight club, minus the Tyler Durden.
QuickTip: Skim the intro, then dive deeper.
Final Thoughts
So, is "How to Buy a Friend" your typical high school drama? Absolutely not. It's a quirky blend of humor, mystery, and a surprisingly touching portrayal of grief and friendship. Episode one throws us into the deep end, leaving us with more questions than answers. But hey, that's what keeps us coming back for more, right? Stay tuned for episode two, where we'll hopefully find out what exactly is going on with Mithra, and maybe, just maybe, see a bromance blossom between our poetry-writing nobody and the school's resident bad boy.
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