In Friendly Rivalry, episode 9 reveals a heartbreaking truth about Je-na and Jae-i’s childhood. Je-na, the elder sister, always protected Jae-i. When they were kids, Je-na purposely answered test questions wrong to prevent Jae-i from getting beaten by their strict father. She cared for her like a baby.
But as teenagers, things changed. Jae-i was told to compete with Je-na, and she began ignoring her. Je-na couldn’t handle the sudden distance. Feeling hopeless, she turned to prayer. She wished for an incurable illness, hoping their family would finally pity her. Strangely, her wish came true—she was diagnosed with narcolepsy.
Even after the diagnosis, expectations didn’t change. Jae-i would visit but quickly leave to study. When Je-na started recovering, their father’s response was cold. He told her that now she understood her illness, she should have no problem ranking first in school. This crushed her. The pressure to succeed pushed her to a breaking point.
A Desperate Act and a Dangerous Secret
Je-na returned to school with heavy expectations on her shoulders. Overwhelmed, she took drugs. One rainy night, she broke into the school to steal an exam paper. But she got caught by Teacher Woo Dae-ho, Seul-gi’s father. She fainted in front of him.
When she woke up, the teacher was still there. Fear gripped her—had he contacted her father? She begged him not to. Desperate, she embraced him. Then, in a calculated move, she turned on her smartwatch camera, secretly recording their encounter. The video changed everything.
Present-Day Confrontation and a Deadly Truth
At present, Je-na and Jae-i are meeting in the print room. Je-na asks if Jae-i knows their father killed Teacher Dao-he. Suspicion rises when Je-na spots a phone in Jae-i’s hand. Realizing it belongs to the dead teacher, Je-na tries to grab it. The phone slips and falls outside the window.
Jae-i runs, but Je-na, desperate, jumps after the phone. Before she can find it, a guard arrives. Overcome by flashbacks, she panics and flees. Meanwhile, Jae-i searches the bushes and retrieves the phone. The school’s anniversary event ends with Seul-gi being injured.
Chaos, Drugs, and a Viral Video
Elsewhere, Beom-su, drugged and disoriented, is interrogated by a teacher. Ye-ri hides in the corner, listening. Meanwhile, Jae-i rushes to the hospital where Seul-gi is being treated. Her father is inside the operation room with Seul-gi. When Jae-i arrives, her father gives her a shocking command—perform surgery on Seul-gi to strengthen her skills for medical school. Jae-i obeys.
Back in the classroom, a teacher confiscates vapes, & medicines many such things, and orders students to open their lockers. Jo-ah panics, fearing she will be caught for selling drugs. She calls Jae-i, asking what to do. Jae-i tells her to stay quiet.
Meanwhile, Choi Kyung’s mother sees her holding a knife and starts searching for it. Choi Kyung insists the school will cover up the situation, so she took matters into her own hands. At the same time, a shocking video of Beom-su injuring Seul-gi spreads across social media.
A Terrifying Discovery
Seul-gi wakes up and sees the viral video. Suddenly, Jae-i enters and hugs her from behind. Jae-i tries to comfort her but lies when Seul-gi asks about her father’s phone. Their conversation turns tense. Jae-i mentions a rumor about Seul-gi’s father having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Seul-gi, angry, walks away.
Unable to return to the hospital due to locked doors, Seul-gi witnesses something horrifying—Jae-i’s father dragging a body with two or three men. She later sneaks inside after receiving a call from Byeong-jin, asking for painkillers. But what she finds is terrifying.
Inside the hospital, she stumbles upon a room with a familiar black bag. A foot hangs out. Fear sets in. Before she can react, a figure appears behind her. Her heart pounds. The episode ends with Seul-gi frozen in terror.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
