WHO CARES if the ML doesn't see the MCad a romantic interest as of now? MC feels that way towards the ML, and HIS feelings are valid. Trauma is not an excuse for bad behaviour, Minwoo has consistently been a manipulative and obsessive towards MC, and the sinister part is he masked this behaviour via 'I'm just worried about you' when he secretly had feelings for MC, he used this behaviour to control MC's entire life.
Well yes trauma is not an excuse for bad behavior but be honest in a scenario where you’re in the dark abt, there would be a harsh reaction esp when MC hasn’t been honest abt (it’s not blaming mc but the conversation regarding codependency should’ve happened) hypothetically if MC/MLs relationship gone a different way it would’ve been better. Honestly. I genuinely don’t see Minwoo as manipulative nor sinister because you genuinely have to understand how these behaviors manifests and rlly did need help but I wouldn’t villainize him for it at ALL.
But why does MC owe Minwoo an explanation towards his relationship with ML? 'He's his best friend', sure, but MC was figuring out his relationship with ML at the time. That wasn't Minwoo's problem. I understand that he has issues with his past trauma where MC got hurt, but that doesn't excuse his actions regardless. The codependency argument could be made in the sense that MC always assumed that his relationship with Minwoo was considered normal, and when he started spending more time with the ML he realized that it was not. It is not on MC for the codependency conversation. Even if Minwoo doesn't believe that he isn't manipulative or sinister it doesn't take away from the fact that his reactions are inherently manipulative. You can understand a character, empathize with them, see their point of view and still realize that they're not a good person.
honestly minwoo overprotectiveness and obsession is actually kinda valid bc of trauma and essentially being almost being the reason why his friend got assaulted as a kid. Like yes he needs therapy! But we’re forgetting that ML doesn’t see MC that way romantically as of NOW. and kinda using him but that’s another arc to ramble about