I've been telling yall since day 1, Jo was always the right answer for Ian. As much as I love TJ's character, he is fundamentally flawed and refuses to change the error of his ways, highlighting the toxicity of his "love" as it mainly manifests as possessiveness and trauma. For years, Ian has sacrificed his agency for the sake of a lover who wouldn't even hold his hand in public, TJ wanted to keep Ian as his DL lover to hide during the day and love on at night, thats no way for a man to live. Ian finally saw what love is supposed to look like through Jo. This isnt simply Ian choosing Jo, this is Ian finally choosing himself by deciding to be with Jo. I'm so glad the author actually chose this route and didn't do a half-assed redemption for TJ so that Ian can reunite with his abuser; not every toxic relationship needs to be saved. I'm really looking forward to what comes next, and im a bit worried as to what might be going through TJs head and what he'll do. You know how he gets when sees that Ian is slipping from his grasp.... but we'll see what comes of it.
This man's entire life is manufactured by Rep. Lee, he truly has nothing else outside of his work! Even Joo's girlfriend was something he saw as an asset Rep. Lee gave to him to care for. The more his life comes tumbling down and the more he realizes that he is an expandable pawn to Rep. Lee, the more he'll gravitate towards the chaos that is Ahn in a desperate attempt to cling onto the only thing he knows, which would hopefully catalyze breaking away from his norm to gain some autonomy and agency once more.
I was expecting more to happen from this chapter lmaoo. I cant take much more of this edging, I want to see TJ's decision and how Jo comes into this later on. I'm hoping TJ choses the life over Ian since I like Jo with Ian more, but we'll see what comes of this train wreck.
Yaoi addict with a BS in engineering. Yeah, we exist
she/they**<3
First, let me just say that can yall enjoy a story without foaming at the mouth for a sex scene?? Being sexless but obsessed with sex is an unfortunate combination that I fear many of you suffer from. Rub one out, watch porn, or read a smutty BL instead of diminishing a story that is trying to show and tell more than lightsabers
With that said, I find the dynamic and parallels between Ahn and Joo very interesting, moreso for Ahn. Joo (at least for now) reads as an obedient dog who is trying his best to brown nose and hustle his way up the political ladder to the point where he compromises his agency and morals to be a tool for rep. Lee. But Ahn on the other hand, uses other people as a tool to satiate his violence kink. We have yet to find out the backstory behind that, or if there even is a backstory or just a kink he discovered, but its perplexing to see that the person getting beat on has more autonomy, freedom, and self-respect than the man in the suit working for a rising politician.
I'm looking forward to see how Joo and Ahn's relationship evolves as Joo's personal life begins to break down; I anticipate that rep. Lee will grow tired of Joo and dispose of/replace him as her lapdog, his relationship with his girlfriend unravels further, and he starts reeling as everything that made him feel worth something begins slipping from his grasp. I'm also looking forward to learn more about Ahn as a character because he's still such a ball of mystery to me! Ugh, really enjoying how this story is paced and drawn, feels very cinematic and deliberate. I hope this series gets licensed in english soon because I'm ready to buy the officials when they release!!
Gonna be real, some of yall have the reading comprehension of a baked bean. Not trying to be mean (sorta), I just think yall lack the depth and maturity to understand Ian without calling him a whore or mischaracterizing him altogether. Once yall live long enough to be in relationships and experience some real shit, then you'll be able to understand him better. Ian is not a whore, hes a former gang member/drug addict trying to find peace in his life but is trapped by his love for someone who is still deep in the very life he wants to leave behind. TJ and Ian love each other, but their biggest bond is through their trauma, some of which TJ catalyzed btw. Ian found someone who not only loves him, but also gives him the peace he so desperately wants, Jo. "Why doesn't he stay with Jo and stop two-timing Jo and TJ then?" you might be asking. It's because he is battling with what he wants vs what he thinks he deserves.
Jo represents what Ian desires in life: peace, love thats out in the open, safety, and normalcy. TJ represents what Ian thinks he deserves: stagnation and settlement to atone for his past sins. TJ literally hired people to beat Ian up to prevent him from leaving, tried tying him down with debt to have him stay longer, said Jo having a normal life would scare Ian away and that he was the only one who knew how to tame him... TJ is an abusive partner and has beaten Ian down into thinking that he is the only one he can go to for comfort and the only person he deserves. In this very chapter (81) Ian is saying "I'm the worst" about himself and how someone like him would just end up hurting Jo, he feels defeated. And who does Ian go to every time he feels like he is undeserving of a better life? TJ. The same person who has kept him in the same place, only loving him behind closed doors, for all these years. TJ serves as a reminder to Ian that he is "bad" and "selfish" and isn't deserving of the life he wants/desires, and TJ preys on that insecurity to keep him as his DL lover. Not to mention, everything with Jamie practically forced Ian to leave Jo in the first place! Ian wanted to go back to Jo, but his past life still haunts him and he doesn't want to put Jo or Jo's family in danger because of it.
Ian isn't a whore for not being able to choose between TJ and Jo, he is complex and in a difficult position by having to chose between love that would set him free (Jo) and love that he's trauma bonded with and has found comfort in (TJ). I can only hope that the author is brave enough to actually make Ian move on from TJ, but then again, BL writers love to keep the MCs with their abusive partner and give them a redemption because they had that planned from the start, and we're just along for the ride. Who knows if the next chapter will lay the seeds for making Ian and TJ endgame or breaking them up, I truly hope it's the ladder because I love TJ, but he doesn't deserve Ian and Jo is really good for him. But they again, these decisions are left up to the author.
I'm gonna be so real, team Jo people, we down real bad rn... but I'm interested to see where this goes.
Also, why did that light look like a halo in that one panel?? Please don't play with me rn. I still love TJ so I fear the death flags currently waving his way
Who knows how many beatings this man has been taking throughout the years. The CTE is already frying his brain. He's gonna end up bouncing off of dick and into an urn if he keeps it up.
They're back at it again, two dogs licking each others wounds TJ and Ian have a bond that is tethered by love and trauma, they're each other's rock while also being each other's shackles. They're stable, but not moving forward. Some of us have had our own experiences with relationships that we know arent particularly healthy, but you two have been doing the same song and dance for so long that you've found comfort in it. I dont blame Ian for not being able to let go! Shit, I'd fold like a lawn chair for TJ and accept him with an open heart and legs if I'm being honest. And as understanding and appreciative as I am for TJ and Ian's relationship, realistically, they should move on from each other.
This is of course coming from a more realistic viewpoint rather than a narrative one because the author can always create moments where TJ and Ian can redeem their relationship and have them grow together to be endgame. But as someone who likes the idea of people being able to move on from each other and finding someone better, I am a bigger fan of Ian moving on with Jo, and TJ being able to navigate on his own; finding his way out of the gangster lifestyle, and finding the safety, freedom, and courage to be out with his sexuality and love without using another person as an emotional crutch. Of course thats probably not going to happen because fujos love keeping the trauma bonders together, but I genuinely would like to see a change of pace in terms of how traumatic relationships are seen in BL. The MC dont always have to choose the one they knew the longest, thinking that's the best they'll get/deserve. I'd love if authors took more risks with these love triangles rather than keeping these MCs tethered to their past. But thats just me!
I love TJ's character, but that man is a quintessential DL top that loves stringing his partner along because he loves the idea of owning them, but not loving them. As good as their sexual chemistry is, TJ really feels more like a parasite that depends on Ian to be the warm body he can crawl to after a long day of living a lie, and somehow yall are villainizing Ian for being tired of being treated like that, lol. Regardless of whoever Ian ends up with, he is not the demon yall make him out to be, and he deserves to be loved out in the open, not just behind closed doors. Jo offers him that, along with a life away from the violence and death he desperately wants to escape from. I'm not judging yall for liking the toxic and borderline abusive dynamic between TJ and Ian (everyone has a problematic fave, lol), all I'm saying is that Jo will always be the better alternative for Ian if he seeks a life of peace and freeing love.
TJ and Ian's relationship is really special, but girl... the life TJ lives is actually hell and Ian is right to not want to be in that life anymore. Truly hope Ian is able to find his way back to Jo without having Jo pull himself deeper into the world that Ian is trying to get out of. I also hope TJ is able to find peace in his life because he deserves it. He should be getting blown, not blown up
Listen, I get that Mr. Lim is still very insecure and concerned about his relationship with Yeoreum, especially after talking with his aunt, but this kind of cruelty feels so forced and out of character. Acting so cold toward Yeoreum and breaking off a relationship you were JUST ready to dive into just feels like a really cheap way of creating another conflict without really taking into account the journey these characters have taken thus far. I would've appreciated it more if they actually had Mr. Lim and Yeoreum become an official couple and navigate a more realistic conflict that the two would face, such as their family's or coworker's reaction to their new relationship, how they navigate through that shame and turmoil, and let their love prevail. I'm sure the author will eventually be able to pull this arc off regardless, I just don't appreciate how it sort of shifts Mr. Lim's character into something that was never shown or indicated prior to the convenience of this current story arc. But we'll see what happens.
The art is beautiful and I'm intrigued to see where this story will go, but I'm just so confused as to what era this story is supposed to take place in, lol. I assumed it was the US in the late 18th century considering the classic western architecture, old weapons, and overall western vibes, but the modern vernacular and cigarettes makes me think otherwise? I already know I'm thinking too deeply about it, but I just like when historical stories are more accurate and faithful to the time their set in because it's more immersive for me as a reader. Anyway, cant wait to see where this story goes!
*edit* I wrote this when the description wasn't available yet, so this taking place in the 1960s makes more sense, lol.
This chapter (15) was pretty poorly written and included rape as an accessory rather than an inpactful plot point. Quite distasteful.
I dropped this series back in season one because I knew this story would end in a mess with the meaning getting lost in the chaos of bad storytelling. I would occasionally do a quick scroll through the chapters to see how this series could possibly be milked with its skeletal storyline any more, and saw that it finally reached the last ep! I made the mistake of reading "A guy like you" (the authors previous work) and that ending was dogshit. Super weird plot point and the messaging was not well-executed. I didn't want to judge the author for their previous work and gave this one a read, then quickly dropped it when I realized this was gonna be trash too. The whole Cain being a reincarnated dog plot line is so goofy, and the story could've ended a lot quicker than it did. Anyway, glad it's over.