I think manhwa doesn’t touch on the struggle of getting into a queer relationship and realizing how you navigate your relationship in public will be different from a straight couple’s because (obviously) manhwa takes place in Korea and most people don’t even think to be openly gay. So that turmoil you often see in gay characters in American media isn’t there.
In Korea, there’s too much at risk (not that there’s NO risk in the US). Queer Koreans aren’t as blessed with as much legal protection as we are in the US. If I moved to Korea, the only option would be to pass as straight. IMO the social suicide and the impact it could have on your career is not worth it. That’s the reality in most countries.
Whereas in the US, you have the legal rights to back you up and there’s media that portrays LGBTQ so you know you have the option to be out. But legal rights don’t equal social acceptance thus making it seem even more unfair for us Americans since it’s not at all a simple decision to be openly gay. I mean your close friends and family knowing about you is one thing but anyone else? It’s not like with straight people where any random stranger can know (like in this chapter).
I feel like everywhere in progressive American media, there’s the message that you should be out and proud. But the reality is complicated. It’s hard to accept that prejudice is there and still decide to be out with no fear of the consequences.
But for Korea, well I like to think they’re getting to the point they are struggling more to accept this prejudice.
Anyhow I think for a lot of Korea it’s very much a normal thing to accept your fate as a gay person. Even more so since it’s a conservative and heavily confucian society.
I mean gay people always existed yet throughout world history we see that not much was done to assert their rights.
Ofc there’s been periods where homosexuality was, maybe not largely accepted, but tolerated fair enough in certain areas and social groups. Which is where we are at rn.
I think it’s very normal for humans to just accept their fate and quietly live however they want (maybe even finding small communities) without feeling the need for society to accept them.
I’m realizing this sounds super pessimistic. But that’s the somber reality
Funny thing is that this takes place in the US
The setting is in the USA but unfortunately here queer people still arent safe or sometimes not accepted by society and with the shitty government its become worse
Ok well at least Luke didn’t introduce him as his “roommate”. He let Andrew decide how he wanted to be presented as. However, clearly they need to have a talk. Is Luke okay with the general public knowing he’s dating Andrew? I’m really hoping that’s the case and that Luke was only hesitant to speak because he’s noticed Andrew’s past behavior show that Andrew is not ready to come out as a couple. At least that’s what I got from Andrew. I dunno, I suspect Luke had been ready to be open about their relationship if Andrew had been ready and had been slightly taken aback by how reserved he is.
But Andrew may also just be thinking that Luke -who before this had only been in hetero relationships- is not ready and is apprehensive to let others know that he is his boyfriend.
I really hope this is just a moment of miscommunication and that they are both on the same page and just need to discuss how they feel about the subject.
Ngl I think it’s gonna end up being Andrew that’s gonna want to stay closeted. He’s gonna project his past traumas onto Luke and be hella cautious about coming out as a means to protect him and his acting career from scrutiny. Might actually go as far as to break up if things get bad for Luke, Derek might have something to do with it since he’s trying to out them. Anyway I’m rambling but I don’t see Luke wanting to stay private he’s definitely the type to love out loud and not care what people think as long as he’s with his person.
Wow Yujun didn’t have time to even get Jiho to chase after him. I feel like this means their relationship progress is wasting less time on the chasing arc but….kinda anticlimactic and doesn’t really allow Yujun to fully flesh out his feelings. I feel like the situation isn’t fair to him. It seems like the gravity of Jihos mental illness will always make Jiho come first for Yujun and not himself. Which sucks because the person who triggered his depressive episode was Jiho….idk I feel bad for Yujun. I hope Jiho comes to know about what he did to Yujun and the story shows how they deal with it and doesn’t just glance over it.
They better not be having sex the next chapter
Expect the expected
The author did a good job of distinguishing how JK physically looked as he grew up
I agree. Also, seeing his adolence reminded of Potato, lol.
Frustratingly, I swear I be so upset Jaekyung's asshole self is such a god damn smexy zaddy.
(￣ε(#￣)Σ
Not Byul being bigger than most the boys in his school and people saying he looks like an omega lol
they're mad he looks like his beautiful mom :D
Seo-in’s lack of serotonin is killing me. See a psychiatrist for Christ’s sake!
I don’t think I can stomach this. I know the ending but I mean are they happy in any way? Does she form a relationship with her son? Is the duke happy at the end? Or did he do all that to her to just get revenge? I mean I’m sure she’s miserable but I’m at least hoping her son isn’t…although I dunno how he couldn’t be partly miserable with his mom handicapped and basically chained to his dad….