Whale Store XOXO EP5 – Secrets, Angst & That Awkward Kiss
- Her in Focus
- Jul 23
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 9
If you're not watching Whale Store, what are you doing with your life? This Thai GL drama continues to surprise us in the best (and occasionally most infuriating) ways. Episode 5 served up friendship, betrayal, romantic cuteness, chaos-queen behavior, and… the sapphic kiss that left us yelling “NOOOO” at our screens.
Let’s break it all down—scene by scene, sass by sass.
💼 SWOT Sisters Diagnose the Drama
Grading papers? More like grading Maewnam’s love life—and we were so here for it. Watching three professors break down a sapphic situationship using a SWOT analysis? Iconic. It was smart, supportive, and hilarious in the best way. Sure, the framework was a little loose, but the “100% fail” outcome? Sadly accurate. Give us more friendship moments like this—we ate it up.
🧃 Wan, the Accidental Flirt
Girl. You need a handbook on boundaries. The Mouse Mart guy clearly took your kindness for flirtation—and unfortunately, that’s the storyline we got. While her intentions may have been pure, we clocked the miscommunication miles away. Still, nothing excuses his behavior later.
💸 Noey is the MVP
We’re saying it now—Noey is the best friend every sapphic lead needs. Supportive, honest, and always adding layers to Wan’s story. When the debt reveal hits, our hearts went out to Wan.
💔 Tonnam & Chom: Closet Drama Gets Real
Closeted relationships are painful—and this show doesn’t shy away. Watching Tonnam struggle while Chom gets too close to her not-so-nice coworker? Oof. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s heartbreakingly real.
👑 Manmuk, the Evil Queen in a Suit
When Professor Manmuk asks with that deceptively casual, “Aren’t you the daughter of the Mouse Mart owners?” we immediately got Once Upon a Time vibes—because this woman is giving full Regina Mills energy: smart, sharp, and clearly stirring the pot for her own benefit.
She claims it’s all for her thesis, but come on… we know better. That question wasn’t innocent—it was a chess move. She’s circling the target with a smile and a plan. And just like the Evil Queen, she’s dressed for destruction.
💥 The Argument We Knew Was Coming
Tonnam and Chom finally blow up—and we saw it coming like a freight train. The tension had been simmering for episodes, and it was only a matter of time before it cracked wide open. Chom’s fear keeps her from standing up for herself, even in moments that matter. And Tonnam? She’s tired of watching the woman she loves shrink to make others comfortable.
It’s a sapphic drama staple for a reason—when done right, it hurts in the best way. And this? This was one of those scenes. Honest, messy, and heartbreakingly human. The acting sold every pause, every glance, every unsaid word. We felt it. And we’re still not okay.
📝 "I Miss You" on a Test Sheet? Stop, We’re Melting.
Top 3 moment of the episode? No question. Maewnam out here turning a love confession into an artful declaration on literal test paper? Adorable. Iconic. Emotionally intelligent. She took Wan’s assignment and turned it into something memorable—and we absolutely melted.
The gesture wasn’t loud, but it was loud in meaning. It showed us just how thoughtful and intentional Maewnam has become. She’s not just pining anymore—she’s showing up with purpose, and we’re living for this growth arc.
And yes, the girl basically bought out Wan’s store to show her love, which is sweet... but let’s be real, that’s not exactly a scalable business plan. Emotional ROI? High. Profit margins? Debatable. Maewnam’s got the heart—we just need her to channel it into something that helps Wan long-term (like, say, helping drive actual customer traffic?).
Still, this moment hit all the right notes: cute, clever, character-driven, and emotionally satisfying. One of the most memorable sapphic gestures we’ve seen this year. We clutched our hearts and squealed.
😏 Helping Manmuk? That’s a Risky Move
Maewnam decides to help her… why? Oh right, loyalty to Tonnam & Chom. Respect the loyalty, but trust that Evil Queen has motives. Maewnam better keep one eye open and her receipts ready.
🍲 Group Dinner Disaster (Calling it: Manmuk Did It on Purpose)
This one hit hard. Chom accepting food from someone she doesn’t even like—food she’s allergic to, in front of her girlfriend—was the last straw. The move was calculated (and shady), and while Chom may be scared to speak up, her silence spoke volumes.
Tonnam’s outburst wasn’t about the food. It was about standing by while someone with obvious intentions disrespects her girlfriend and their relationship. The hurt, the fear, the imbalance—it all exploded. Messy, heartbreaking, and so painfully real. We felt every second.
🔺 Triangle Tension, Secrets, and a Savage Outing
Maewnam walks to see Wan… and who’s interrupts the convo like a smug little storm cloud? Professor Manmuk. The tension? Immediate. The vibes? Off. And we knew—this wasn’t going to be a casual run-in. This was a setup.
Let’s talk about that energy shift. Wan calling Manmuk a “former friend” with that face? Girl, she meant ex. The shade was subtle but lethal.
And then the classic villain move: “Can I use your bathroom?” Ohhh, we knew that wasn’t about needing to pee. That was the setup for a sabotage scene—and she delivered. In true Evil Queen fashion, Manmuk corners Wan, drops the bomb about Maewnam being Mouse Mart royalty, and walks out with all the confidence of someone who just flipped the entire board mid-chess match.
We knew it was coming, and still—our jaws dropped. She served that information like a cold dish of drama with garnish. Petty. Calculated. Perfectly timed.
But what made it really hit was the aftermath. Wan doesn’t explode. She doesn’t scream. She asks calmly—direct, mature, and heartbreaking all at once. Maewnam’s honesty in response? Beautifully done. And Wan walking away instead of spiraling? That’s emotional intelligence we rarely get in these situations.
Oh, and the next-day bag drop? Stop it. She’s killing us with softness. Thoughtful. Regretful. Sincere. That’s how you own your mistakes without wallowing.
👊 Maewnam vs. Manmuk
This confrontation was top-tier. Maewnam calling her out? Bravo. Manmuk’s “we were more than friends” bomb? Messy but necessary. She's a chaos dealer—but a stylish one.
💞 Tonnam + Chom: The Glow-Up of Conflict Resolution
Two sapphics communicating like adults? We love to see it. Growth, vulnerability, accountability—this was healing content. But don’t let your guard down, babes… Manmuk is always watching. Insert dramatic theme music.
🚨 The Attack Scene: We Gasped, Then Cheered
Okay. Deep breath. This was hands down one of the best scenes of the episode. We did not see it coming, and yet the execution was so satisfying, it had us out of our seats, cheering like it was the final round of a championship fight.
Let’s start with the audacity: this creep from Mouse Mart actually thought Wan’s clear disinterest when he made his move was some kind of invitation? That “no” just meant “try harder”? Absolutely not. And yet there he was—cornering her, ignoring every signal, and escalating the moment into something truly frightening. Our hearts were racing… and not in the good way.
And then? Maewnam enters. Not just enters—she launches into frame with a flying kick that sent him flying across the floor. We screamed. We rewound. We watched it again. Iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it. It was empowering, cathartic, and everything we didn’t know we needed.
But the brilliance of the scene didn’t stop there. After the adrenaline-pumping rescue, we get tenderness. Maewnam patching Wan up, gently checking in, giving her space to talk. And the conversation that followed? Mature. Respectful. Honest. It wasn’t rushed or overly dramatized—it was two women showing up for each other with vulnerability and care.
This is the kind of sapphic storytelling we live for. Protective energy without being possessive. Support without pressure. Accountability wrapped in comfort. The balance of action and emotional intimacy was chef’s kiss.
Scenes like this matter. They show us what it looks like when women protect each other—physically and emotionally. And when you pair it with high-stakes tension and a literal kick heard 'round the fandom? Yeah. That’s how you earn a top spot in our hearts.
📹 CCTV Confession = Romance Gold
Wan using CCTV footage to tell Maewnam she met her assignment goal? Genius. We weren’t just screaming—we were swooning. It was playful, clever, and completely on-brand. And when she topped it off with a certificate—like Maewnam just graduated from her love course? Adorable.
And then came the moment that really got us: Wan asking Maewnam to be her girlfriend. Simple. Honest. So full of heart. It was the kind of scene that makes you smile with your whole chest.
But just when we thought it couldn’t get cuter, Maewnam responds with that misty freezer-door message. No grand speeches. No sweeping music. Just a quiet, sincere answer written in condensation—and somehow, it said everything.
This scene was sapphic storytelling perfection: smart, sweet, emotionally earned. It wasn’t about big gestures—it was about trust, effort, and choosing each other. And we felt every second of it.
🫣 But Then... THAT Kiss
Sigh. We were on a romantic high… and then the kiss came. Or should we say: the HR-mandated intimacy drill. You know the one—two colleagues standing six feet apart emotionally, leaning in like it’s part of a compliance training video.
It just didn’t land. The connection we felt building in the scene didn’t translate through the kiss. Something was off. Maybe it was the height difference—Milk practically had to fold in half to reach Love—or maybe it was the camera angle, or the fact that it looked like a closed-mouth peck between polite classmates. It felt awkward.
After all that effort—the CCTV callback, the certificate, the misty freezer door message—this was supposed to be the moment they aced the assignment. Instead, it felt like they turned in a half-finished project five minutes before the bell. We love these two, and we’re still rooting for them. But the kiss? It didn’t pass.
Final Thoughts: We’re Still Seated… But Sliding One Row Back
We didn’t expect to love Whale Store this much. It’s real, funny, heartfelt, and a much-needed addition to the Thai GL universe. But intimacy matters. Authenticity in romantic scenes is part of storytelling. When you skip it, you lose emotional payoff. We’re still rooting for #MilkLove and we adore #JuneMewnich—but producers, take notes. The audience is watching… and we want that chemistry to hit like Maewnam’s flying kick: with purpose, passion, and precision.
Let’s Chat:
Did you scream when Manmuk outed her? Were you cheering during that flying kick? Or maybe you’re still recovering from that stiff kiss like we are? Tell us everything in the comments.
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