But I gotta say, that orange baggy sweatshirt looks so good on Mo~
Jian Yi being a troll and He Tian not able to do anything about it is.... Beautiful.
I don't remember why when I first read this I felt emotional. But now, I just find it fun and enjoyable, not sad at all???
To me, they're playing a personal, mind game and it's really fun to read/watch now. They're playing each other and I've started to think that Big Brother isn't really pathetic. He's a little pathetic, by conventional standards, but honestly, I think he's doing it on purpose so he can give Natsuo that excuse or escape that he needs so that he can be "honest" to some extent with himself. Like, Natsuo won't come on to Kimi even if he wanted to, but if Kimi initiates and gives Natsuo the opportunity to blame him and call him perverted, then he'll surrender to his desires/whims.
And that's fucked up, I know. But they're fucked up together. I don't think anyone's a victim in their relationship. Maybe it can be viewed as toxic? But honestly, if the two players are Kimi and Natsuo, I don't think it's toxic. Because Kimi has a strong mentality and accepts everything about himself, while Natsuo's mostly all bark and no bite, and just bluffs and bluffs, it's ridiculous to hold a grudge against him. The only time he's dangerous is when he's hurt and wants to hurt back/punish Kimi. But other than that, Natsuo's criticisms don't really touch Kimi; Kimi doesn't take his words to heart most of the time because that's just Natsuo's armor talking. And that the important thing is, is that his little brother still indulges him despite what he says.
And besides, I'm pretty sure Kimi can handle anything thrown at him just from this bit of dialog:
Natsuo: Don't put that in your wank bank!
Kimi: Nothing you say will stop me.
This guy is strong!
Edit: Also, it's likely Kimi deliberately shows his perverted self/is shameless to Natsuo as his version of revenge. Kinda passive aggressive revenge for all the trouble and damage Natsuo caused by his pettiness in high school, and the continuous sharp barbs he throws at Kimi. So no, Kimi isn't really that weak, pathetic, hopeless romantic that deserves pity.
This made me feel better about this story. I remember the first time I read it I thought it was sad too but now I think it works
I'm glad to hear this. We don't need to feel bad for either of them because neither of them see themselves as victims. :)
Just beautifully said... I love this author so much, their work is always so nuanced in it's dynamic plot and characters. Thank you so much for sharing this analysis! It helps give me a better grasp as to why I enjoyed the story so much while it seems to be lost on others.
Me: ... *calm* *shrugs* .................. "theY Didn'T SAY THE WOOORRRDDDDSS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
welp. The only thing that went inside my head was "Protecting yourself from Dojin is useless now, Hyesung. Because he won't look for you anymore." So, pimping himself to strangers is sadly all in vain.
Or he can learn a thing or two about dojin from others.
He's going to learn about Dojin from his enemy though. I think that dude Hyesung clung to is Dojin's some kind of childhood acquaintance who sees themselves as rivals (plus I'm pretty sure he's jealous of Dojin or feels inferior to Dojin judging with how he reacted when Hyesung mentioned Dojin's name or family).
Ah that's true.
The shock that slammed into me when she actually thought her son forced himself to Haebom. I mean, ok, sure, from where she was she couldn't her them talking, the nuances that would tell it was mutual/with consent, but... She thought her son could do such a thing. And she made Haebom a victim right away just to excuse him from their relationship. Like... Wth?
Normally though, if this was a different situation and we're actually talking about a mother whose son IS an actual mmmm 'aggressor'(?), then I'd probably appreciate her fortitude because Yes! Great! You're not denying your son's crimes. BUT. My god, I'm so offended for Taesung. His mom did not have faith in him and was ready to blame everything on him. It really makes it apparent how distant the mother and son really are from each other.
I think she just knows Haebom isn't very resistant and as his guardian she feels responsible
Furthermore as Taesung's mother she feels responsible for educating her son and therefore needs to correct him when he seems wrong
It's not right to jump to conclusions without knowing, but it was wrong of them not to tell her as well
Tbh If I was her I would've called both of them, in the first place, to get both sides of the story.
It just seems like a common sense thing to do.
True. It would make more sense to confront the two at that moment instead of trying to "catch them" individually later on. I guess she needed some time for things to sink in or something.
I don't think the two boys would have a relationship at all if they told her in the beginning, based on her reaction in the last chapter. But, yeah, everything else you've pointed out, I can't argue about them because you're right. I'm still upset with her though.
DAMMIT SEUNGTAEK! JUST DO IT FOR YOURSELF MAN! HE WON'T NOT LIKE IT!
Is Bum really good for Sangwoo? Is Sangwoo really good for Bum? The deeper we get into the story the more I think they're both dragging each other down into the deep hole together.
They were never good for each other. Sangwoo abused Bum and did all kind fucked up shit to him while Bum looks like Sangwoo's mom which triggers him more and more and the realization that he's not his mom seems to have changed him, making him even more unexpectable.
Actually is the other way around.
They both are too damaged to be with someone who is.. normal.
But the fact is that since Bum came to Sangwoo He stopped serial killing and He is now less aggresive.
Bum on the other hand, has became more assertive and start asking things for himself.
This is NOT ideal. This is FICTION, it's REALLY hard that something like this works in reality... but could be.
Of course Sangwoo is now seeming destroyed, but that's because finally He is facing his thraumas instead of just smashing them on corpses. It's kind of what therapy would do.
Again: This is NOT ideal and both have suffered a lot by this, but now is the time when they are working out better for each other since they meet.
Yeah, I started to feel pity for Sangwoo recently with how.... Well, vulnerable he's gotten. It's exactly what you said: he's finally facing his traumas instead of escaping his thoughts and memories. And man, watching him struggle from the sidelines kind of make you wonder whether this progress is for the better or for the worse, y'know?
On the other hand, it is pretty cool to see Bum taking some semblance of confidence and authority. But I kinda see glimpses of sadomasochism from him and I'm half amused and half worried. It's like when someone seems potentially dangerous and somehow this ambiguity excites you and scares you at the same time.
I feel like Mo Guanshan was internally screaming especially when He Tian let himself be so vulnerable in front of him. He was like *pterodactyl screech* "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DON'T DO THIS TO ME I'M NOT READY DON'T MAKE ME LIKE YOU" and in the end of his internal panic "Fuck, I'm soft."
I don't think so.
Or “Fuck, I’m hard” lolololololol
I don't think so.
What is with Seungtaek and his ability to attract the "bad boys"??? (One legit fucked up kid and one 'misunderstood' type at that)
his milkshake brings all bad boys to the yard
His milkshake! Of course!
Lmfaoo (≧∀≦)
Can't argue against that