
I was like yall at first getting confused abt the butterfly-cat thing and the safety stuff but ive noticed that the manhwa skips a lot of things in the novel. I swear yall would appreciate it more if u read the novel.
Its also explained in the novel trans why hwayoung called gwuyon butterfly and then he meowed. In Korea, butterfly (or Nabi) is a common name given to pet cats. Hence the seme calling the uke butterfly, and the uke meowing.

so.. kangmoo cant really "love" but he definitely cares for kirin deeply right? so in a way he "loves" kirin, just not in the normal, conventional way?
(havent started it but i spoiled myself w/ the ending and i just rlly want to know this first before getting invested in it)

Yes. Let’s say it like this so that can make everyone happy. Think of it this way: The reason why Kang Moo will always choose Kirin is because Kirin restrains him. Example: its like a person who is born to like to smoking. He knows he shouldn't smoke because it harms his health but he can't help smoking. So Kirin is like his fake nicotine: it is not as nice as smoking, but it works well enough. This fake nicotine is very important to his survival and he needs to keep that it (aka Kirin) happy and alive by his side. It is obsessive, possessive and over protectiveness. But the closest kind of "love" Kang Moo can feel (remember psychos can’t feel love, they lack empathy)
This is the Author’s comment on the relationship: “The reason Kirin is with Kangmu is because it is oalready a community of fate. Both Kangmu and Kirin are the only and necessary beings of each other. Of course, Kirin loves Kangmu and that is one of the reasons. It can be said that the reason for being a common destiny is bigger than feelings”
IM CRYING manager choi really told him when in doubt, just be your normal self and then yoohan proceeds to fucking threaten the interviewee
it was so out of the blue it’s hilarious.