In the latest episode of popular drama “Reply 1988,” a love triangle unfolded between the protagonists, Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol) and Sun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo).

The “Reply 1988,” following the suit of the two previous installments, will take the plotline of going back and forth between the present and the past -- in 1988 -- to keep viewers guessing which characters would end up marrying each other, which producer Shin Won-ho playfully refers to as “hunting for the husband.”

After Saturday’s episode, the two most likely candidates to be Deok-sun’s future husband are quiet yet considerate Jung-hwan and friendly and caring Sun-woo.

Jung-hwan and Deok-sun (tvN)

Jung-hwan realizes his feelings for Deok-sun while on a school field trip, when they are hiding in a narrow alleyway together. When he is with Deok-sun, he continuously makes fun of her and plays the bad boy image, because he doesn’t want his true feelings to be exposed. But in reality, he takes care of Deok-sun and smiles at her when he sees her. On a bus ride to school, Jung-hwan even stands behind Deok-seon to stop her falling down on a bumpy bus ride.

Jung-hwan and Deok-sun (tvN)

Jung-hwan and Deok-sun (tvN)

Meanwhile, Deok-sun realizes she has feelings for Sun-woo, who is the archetypical good guy at school and in the neighborhood. Even the tomboy girl Deok-sun puts on make up when she sees Sun-woo and her voice tone becomes calmer and sweeter when she talks to him. She secretly leaves candy and a cassette tape of singer Byun Jin-sub with a message for Sun-woo that said, “This is the only thing I can give you.”

Sun-woo (tvN)

But as of now, Sun-woo’s feelings are less clear. He is nice to Deok-sun and takes care of her, but the viewers are not sure whether he is doing it as a friend or out of other feelings.

Deok-sun and Sun-woo (tvN)

Other characters, Taek (Park Bo-geom), who is a star Go player, and the goofy guy Dong-ryong (Lee Dong-hui) -- who plays dumb all the time with Deok-sun -- are other possible love interests peppering the plot line.

“Reply 1988” centers on family and everyday life against the backdrop of a small Seoul neighborhood in 1988. The 16-episode series airs every Friday and Saturday at 7:50 p.m. on cable channel tvN.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)