
Well you've said it yourself, you don't understand it because you're straight
He's not denying and pushing his relationship with the ml bc of his own sick purposes or because that's what he wants
He's doing it because he's not ready to come out yet, not to his friends, nor to the public, bc of how they would respond and how the public would treat them for being different
If he were to be "insensitive" he wouldn't even mind talking it out with his boyfriend, he cares and takes his time to talk to him abt it
He already has anxiety by being in the spotlight from being a retire athlete, and the ml being popular also bc of his career makes him even more anxious, knowing that coming out or even js rumors abt him could drag him down
Being gay isn't all rainbows and colors ppl.

Oh no, a queer character having problems w his own identity!!!
He's not ashamed of being w his boyfriend, he's ashamed of himself, he's ashamed of being different, he's insecure abt his relarionship, bc like how the other person said, he's ashamed of the reprecussion that could impact both of them if they were to come out to the public
These are real problems queer people have to face irl, if you guys can't even handle the mc being insecure abt himself, I don't even wanna know how yall are w people irl
If he was really "ashamed" w being w the ml, he wouldn't even be near him in public

"Don't care abt that or couldn't care less"
The whole reason he's treating the ml like a "dirty secret"(whatever tf that means) IS because he doesn't wanna come out, that's why I keep bringing it up
If that's what's bothering you, then you clearly DO care abt the fact that he doesn't wanna come out, since that's literally, THE MAIN REASON????
Idk if it's bcs I'm straight so maybe that's why I don't understand but I can't be in a relationship who constantly denies me or push me on other person, that's so insensitive and I feel sad for the ml. But yeah, at least it's a happy ending and have 2 chapters of smut before ending.