it's actually great that he at least apologized to dan for the two things, despite his pride and all, he's starting with an apology and being considerate as to not lead dan to a choice he wants like saying what you gave for example...
I am HOPING too for a few more apologies from jaekyung, specifically about their physical relationship..
Others may say that 'apologies' are too simple and you can just say it, but if we ready did read the past chapters and understand jaekyung's personality, it is not easy for him to lower himself and apologize, so that's definitely a character development..
Also, he is actually really considering his former coach's advice, and i really like that part, especially when his former coach almost stood as a father figure when he was growing up..
I kinda believe he's actually afraid to ask Dan what he's feeling or his thoughts about him. He knows that even with all his apologies, the damage is done. In previous chapters, he is recalling the times when he forced Dan to have sex with him or humiliated him but till now, he's not mentioning anything of that.
He's starting slow and steady when asking for forgiveness and in the future, he will apologize for does times too. After all he knows that Dan, when the job is done, will go away and, in his desperation, he will ask him to stay but he will have to give him more than just a confession or a promise to change. Jaekyung needs to bare his raw feelings, be humble and vulnerable in front of Dan for him to believe that the man that hurt him so much is gone.
But I do like that, even if all of what he is doing comes from a selfish place, not wanting Dan to leave his side, he stopped asking for more after their last deal. We don't know if they will sleep together before the match. We are expecting them to do that but it would be very meaningful if they don't.
Yet it's kind of nice to see that he grew a conscious after all those cruel things he did to Dan and he's trying to accommodate to him by changing little by little.
Still, he will always be a grumpy gremlin with a short fuse but he can change the approach a be less violent.
Totally agree!
Also, at this point my understanding is that until very recently JK had absolutely no idea how other people normally felt.
We see from his background that all he was taught was basic manners and fighting (because coach could only go that far) and I very much doubt he's the kind of person that reads self-discovering books in his free time so... yeah, he's lacking a lot.
I don't mean it as an excuse for his behavior, but as an explanation. I think he understood these two things were wrong because one caused Dan to leave, which had an effect on him, and the other somewhat resembles his inability to get through to Dan (in a different way, but I can see why he might think it's similar).
The physical apology is probably going to come too, though perhaps after they are on better terms and smash again ...and he realizes how different it is.
i agree that it would be meaningful if they don't smash before the game, despite his jinx, i really hope the jinx would be changed if not removed totally..
maybe I am asking for too much but i hope his jinx is changed into something better for him and dan for the ending..
oh my, just imagining a different jinx even if its just a simple meaningful kiss and saying 'i love you' before the match, is giving me so much butterflies and feeding my delusions for this manhwa, HAHAHAHA
The jinx will definitely change to maybe an object, like the keychain or another gift from Dan, some kind of physical interaction like hugs or kisses or even phrases like 'I love you'. Or maybe it will still be sex but with feelings and breakfast together in the morning..
But he will realize that it's being with Dan in any form that makes him less anxious and content and Dan is his good luck charm himself.
I do have high hopes because the writing it's not so messy like many comments make it seem. There are still many things that are been left behind on purpose, like the sexual and emotional abuse talk or them actually talking about their own past and not finding out by other people. But a Jaekyung desperate asking for forgivenes is coming but for that to happen Dan needs to forgive him yet reject and leave him. Not because he doesn't reciprocate but because Jaekyung has not been behaving like a person who's making amends till this chapter where he for the first time said 'sorry' to Dan. From Dan's pov he just wants him for his jinx, the so called debt between them and his job as a therapist... if Jaekyung doesn't show more of his feelings with actions, proof of his actual change, then everything remains the same. But like I said, Jaekyung is prolly scared to be called an abuser by Dan because it's a reminder of his own father. But he didn't knew until recently that what he was doing was actual abuse because he didn't hit Dan, burn him or left him for dead. From Jaekyung's pov and what we know about him, his emotional intetligence, social aspects, fears and insecurities, he must have thought that what he had with Dan was a contract and Dan was doing a job, so he didn't care about him and not expected anything from Dan except him doing what's told.
People like that exist in real life but they usually don't get redemptions arcs. Glad this is fiction and he can change his ways.

No, really: I have to admit that after all I kinda like the way this is going.
There's a lot of stories just like theirs where the asshole believes he's trying oh so hard!, and then they are doing the deed again the next minute. Zero time given at the offended party to process, just one(1!) half assed apology for maybe one thing they did.
Jk is absolutely acting out of selfishness (he likes Dan, he wants Dan) but he's actually doing it with an incredible amount of consideration (not necessarily the right amount, but you people KNOW what I'm talking about. He is already a lot more considerate than the average assTop), and he apologized for two things in one setting! Maybe we'll have MORE! (too hopeful?)
I like that he still hasn't taken the chance to ask Dan to stay a little longer. It'd be so easy, just "why don't you stay a bit longer to help the guys at the gym", but he hasn't asked that. He's seriously trying to figure out what to do so that Dan is the one that wants to stay.
Honestly, I'm going to be plenty happy with this story's ending (again, beginning is what it is, we can't change the bad parts anymore) if we can manage to keep them dressed until after the match AND JK doesn't forget to prioritize Dan's feelings.
(That said: next he could work on not being so on edge all the time because I know I, for sure, would be scared as hell of someone notoriously violent who also keeps getting loudly upset)