Gang is it wrong to say that I think this chapter (82) makes tj be the actual replacement? Ian clearly states before that he believes Jo is too good for him and doesn't want anyone hurt. So he's settling to start new with tj out of survival for everyone, not involving Jo and his family, and moving away from being targets with tj.
As much as I hate to admit, but this is true.
Yw first abandoned TJ, got a fake ID, broke up with TJ (ch 32), and accepted to leave with Jo.
He's only asking TJ to go together (ch 82) bcz he thinks Jo might get hurt and feeling somewhat guilty, since he gotTJ in trouble.
Some of yall sound like disonance stans. Yall are getting on my nerves because how come you all only come out when things look like its not in your favor because exactly where THE FUCK were yall at when Jo and Ian had their domestic arc and being lovely together? I didn't see the majority of yall anywhere, never loud to celebrate, on here, tiktok, IG and X? but once a "bad" thing happens yall come out so loudly speaking bullshit. Yall should just stay in hibernation if that was the case. Because yall sound exacrly like tj stans on X during joian domestic arc. Disappointing. I suggest you drop the story and don't look back not even when endgame is revealed.
FYI Ian character can be criticized but all I'm seeing is slutshaming and plain hatred disguise as critique. There's a difference.
Thank you. Hypocritical ML stans
They don't like Jo, they just hate tj
Some of they hate Jo to the BONE for no obsalute reason at all when all Jo did was love Ian and Ian was like “it’s to good to be true” and tj fans..ig they Js used to toxic bl stories bc clearly tj and Ian is straight up TOXIC but ofc they have a past w eachother which wasn’t even good either and oh tj just so fine and blah blah…
Never seen such a group of readers lack reading comprehension on a story they are so called reading. You all realize these characters are very flawed and we are gonna see how wrecking they are before they move on healthily. It's a noir story and from I seen Jo is the one we need be scared of. He's the only one with the conflicting moral ambiguity and in the short time become attached with strong feelings. Not only that but he's metaphorically a hunter. Stop babying him when he knows there were consequences when wanting be with Ian. Stop devaluing Ian character, just because he suffer from his self destruction doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a better life in the future and for the love of BL gods stop the bullshit with tj this man only benefits from Ian suffering. "Pick one" as if Ian isn't built on condition since he was a teenager and still thinks he deserves everything bad. Image a 16 to now 34 year old man in that repeated cycle. My goodness.
I will disagree on one thing: Jo truly knowing the consequences of being with Ian. No matter what he "knows" in theory, he's lived far removed from any criminal aspect in life, and the superficial/new knowledge pales in comparison to his infatuation and borderline obsession with Ian. He might not need babying and the responsibility of his choices lies with him, but we can't pretend Ian didn't potentially fuck up someone's life bringing him into his as more than a ons. I don't blame Ian as if it was intentional, it's just how things are and can be very well explained by everyone's experiences. Good intentions mixed with messy relationships mixed with hope mixed with heavy, long-term trauma, all on top of gang life and the unlike clear-cut "healthy" solution to their situations.
I have my romantic preferences when reading the story (the childhood besties just won my heart over), but I'm here for anything that happens and enjoy the developments cause I trust the author's vision for an interesting story, with a bunch of difficult paths to choose from and what they'll choose.
Thank you. Saying “pick one” really helps huh. They’re ignoring everything that’s made it hard for Ian to just “pick one”.
I also can’t fathom how people hate Ian enough to say he should just be with TJ, and acts like Jo is deserving of better.
With that whole hunter Jo theory, I’m gonna assume he will stick by Ian no matter the consequences. And I agree, he doesn’t know or is familiar with how the gang operates and such to a full extent.
I’m also a sucker for toxic childhood friends shit but these ML Stans ruined my view by shitting on Ian. From the start I have regarded all the main cast and side, but I mainly care for Ian and hope to see his development.
Me too. I believe the author knows what ending they want, iirc they mentioned already having an endgame and sticking to it no matter what.
I’ve come to the conclusion that we can’t call them readers since they mostly likely skimmed the entirety of Wet Sand for positive interactions with their favourite ML and ignored everything else BUT STILL proceed to comment as if they’re dedicated followers that understand the story & proceed to make up shit that correlates to their bias with no real basis to what actually happened
Lmao they came for the porn I fear. They read with gooner brains and I guess because every time Ian is with TJ all they really do is fvck, their porn brain reads it as them being end game
I mainly see them commenting on their chemistry, and I’m here wondering what chemistry. The only I see is probably sexual chemistry, I guess that’s what the fans are cheering on about and it’s sad.
Sexual chemistry is out the window now. You see Ian pushing away and tj saying it's tight and that Ian forgot take him. These are hints that their sexual chemistry is fading and tbh now non-existent
That’s arguable. Ian stated that he remembered the ecstasy while doing that with TJ in ch 81, every part of his body. But I agree that the spark is gone, it’s not the same love. It might still be but not as new feeling or strong as years ago.
It also seemed tense & uncomfortable to me too And definitely a big difference to the beginning where, let’s say, there wasn’t as much internal conflict coming from Ian’s side as there is now. I’m surprised how people don’t peep that the vibe has changed entirely
Ok now you're just making stuff up, selective reading much? Stick to your theories which may be accurate for the most part, but disregarding whole pieces of dialogue and imagery is not how you go about it. I don't even think Ian will have a happy ever after with TJ - despite my wishful thinking - but it won't be for lack of chemistry lol. What are you on about
@palma
I didn't deny they sexual chemistry before but with these new chapters, the chemistry is fading. Ian is showing subtle reluctance. With tj saying Ian is tight and that Ian forgot take him. Those are dialouge telling us Ian isn't feeling like he used to but rather the condition of what is familiar rather desire and pleasure. The sex feels off unlike the previous sex before. Ian looks like he just want it to be over with "just hurry and move" while looking away for a while. When tj kiss him Ian eyes are open and when he closes his eyes he thinks of Jo and how horrible he (ian) is. It feels different because Ian isn't reacting like before, he isn't seeing tj eye to eye, looking at him or grabbing him. Only time we see him look at tj is him reacting negative to what tj is saying, panic in his face when tj said back to the old days, then worried/concern saying he doesn't want to return to those days.
What you said definitely makes sense, you’re good.
The sex isn’t like their first time or first few. Ian mentioned he still remembered the pleasure, but even if he didn’t say it, the body being too tight, lack of proper foreplay and timing, and it feeling rushed is definitely a sign of something wrong.
This is a turning point in which a new man is relevant to Ian’s life, it is not just TJ anymore hence the subtle signs.
Wow.. Ian basically reflected saying that the sex between them is just condition and nothing more.
Also, it's so sad that everyone has devalued him, so he has no value to himself. This literally goes both ways in the story and with the majority of the actual readers. This why it so stupid when I see the take that Ian should just be with tj and leave Jo alone. Ian deserves better too. Yall forget tj, David and the gang are the reason Ian reacts a certain way SINCE HE WAS NINETEEN, so why tf should he stay with him.
But here you can see ian has changed, he doesn't want go back and even tells that to tj. He thought of Jo and Ian hates himself because he doesn't want hurt Jo, he thinks he made the right choice in not telling Jo hes gonna come back knowing he might not return. Ian deserves worthy too.
Based
Preach I love you
I'm reading the story and wonder how people feel/see tj death when it easily shown he's not gonna die. Then I remember the space talk the author had saying none of the main three will die. Because honestly if tj does, that would just be horrible fucking writing. Jo and Ian can obvious be in a long term relationship even when tj alive but if he does die so many readers (even Jo character) will doubt the love and ain't no one want that.
But it is kinda ridiculous that many actually think the only way for Jo and Ian be together is through tj death. Anyway he definitely won't die but he may do a sacrifice that could lead to an injury, which could be a symbol of making up to what he did to Ian years ago.
This was so anticlimactic and underwhelming. Months of not seeing each other and the build up to their reunion and it's Ian getting angry and tj taking Ian to a dirty ass public restroom to fuck. You cannot tell me this relationship will last. It's like a subtle details that visually tells us how their relationship is going down the toilet.
BOOOOO
BOOOOOYAHHH
This!! It’s why it felt lacklustre for me. I think Ian’s strong love he had for TJ before has lost the spark, it’s still there but the spark is gone for sure.
Oh 100% agree with you. Ian obvious still loves tj but it not the love he once had before.
And the scenes felt too rushed for me, maybe it was the little to no prep which felt like lack of care, just jump to a rough sex they’re used to. The love is there, it’s just not the same. Love can be worn down and tired, but still wait for the other.
Makes me laugh when people think the ML is bland when the 2nd ML was blandest of all. The typical nonchalant cold guy. He was pushy, judgmental and very heavy handed with her that when he grab her she freak out really badly, she had punch him because he wouldn't let go after she told to multiple times. Then on the date he reminded of that horrible professor. It was obvious with some hints he wasn't the ml and Baram never took interest with him. They had no dynamic what so ever. The biggest icky thing from him was when he told her kindest is what leads others on and she shouldn't be kind, this happen in early S2. So no it wasn't a sudden change he always been like that. Image hating the ML who's emotional intelligent and never cross Baram boundaries and always gave her space. I'm starting to believe deep down yall normalize toxicity as "interesting" with all red flags ML that's been releasing the recent years.
I miss Cain, I'm still baffled that the author confirm that his story is what made ytc... if she didn't make it about a love triangle it would be good especially because Cain whole background represents about the seasons and the author had confirm that in a now deleted Q&A.
So caught up with the comments.
1. Babe no one has time to mischaraterize tj when those flashbacks say enough. He does it to himself.
2. Ian and tj don't have anything other than sexual chemistry but no compatibility nor chemistry outside the sexual aspect. Basically a dud. Don't get high tension of the unknown confused with chemistry, it's completely different.
3. Tj cheated, regardless. Using women to his benefit is no excuse just because the gang is homophobic. He was in a relationship, unless the girlfriend allow the fooling around. The cheating is not important to the story but it could display unloyalty in his characterization
Media literacy is dead for many and mean many tj stans because why am I seeing, even from korean readers, that the author nerfted tj when hes always been like that since the getco. Even saying that they thought tj was better than that when the whole flashbacks said he's worse than we thought. My god.