Your statement just hit home for me not only because of Jiwon and Jungwoo but it is also true for me and my SO rn oh gosh (⊙…⊙ )
It is also funny because of your username HAHAHAHA it is similar to my nickname for my SO
ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ
Your point about Jiwon’s coach hit me because somehow I forgot that’s the root of a lot of his fear of messing things up. He feels like one misstep is automatically a failure rather than just a small stumbling block on a long road. Jungwoo’s controlling streak and mixed signals aren’t helping at all because it puts Jiwon - who is already anxious and insecure - in a position where literally anything might be seen as a “mistake.”
Where Jiwon says he's okay with Jungwoo's possessiveness is so sad. Because we later see how happy Jieon feels when someone dotes on him and cares for him a lot. It's like a drug to Jiwon. He feels that surge of love from the possessiveness, and when things fall flat he sobers up and the anxiety hits him tenfold. Like no person should be that starves for affection...
I think Jiwon is just too emotionally and psychologically damaged to enter a functioning relationship. It doesn't help that Jungwoo used to be straight and Jiwon has no idea how to navigate a relationship, moreso how to keep a partner who came from straight to bi afloat.
I like that Jungwoo is straightforward. It matches well with shy types. But we're not handling extrovert x introvert. We're handling a semi control freak and a psychologically anxious person.
And I don't doubt that Jiwon has perfectionism either, that backstory where the coach beats him for any mistake is enough explanation on why Jiwon over explains and is so anxious to try things. He's so scared of making a mistake, of rejection and of disappointment because he feels so alone and beat up.
Jungwoo is kind of giving mixed signals if I have to be honest. He says early in the story how clingy and possessive lovers suffocate him, and now he's exhibiting just those behaviors he hate and he even admits it to Jiwon. The very Jiwon who has a hard time understanding social cues and even his own emotions.
The turbulent and massive love bombing that Jungwoo has is just too much. Jiwon needs time apart to sort himself before he can be with Jungwoo. Not because I think he's immature or that Jungwoo deserves better, it's because if they continue like this, they're bound to fight bigger arguments that would kill Jiwon inside more and it would enable Jungwoo's controlling behavior more.
This might be the first time for Jungwoo to really be in love and he also doesn't know how to navigate that kind of emotion. He's probably only felt basic romance from his exes, and how he loves someone is kind of an amalgamation of his exes. I think he might have learned possessiveness from them. The more Jiwon allows it, the more comfortable Jungwoo is in exerting his influence to keep Jiwon.
First relationships can become really heavy... Jiwon just needs some time and to take things slow. And Jungwoo really needs to stop love bombing and giving mixed signals.
Either way, the story is pretty cute overall, I hope it doesn't get too dragged on.