Lex's manga / #Reencounter(74)

«Even in another world, I will only love you. Someday you will come there and find me. I will wait for that day.» After coming home from work, Myung Shiwoo unexpectedly finds someone in historical clothing lying outside his door. Is there such a thing as destiny? ---------- The best way to read this one is to not ask too many questions, sit back, and enjoy the cuteness.

Meh.

After going through a traumatic accident in the past, Sihoo has been suffering from recurring amnesia making him forget any happiness over time, leaving him only with painful to dull memories. ---------- A really quick, sweet read. I liked how earnest the relationship felt. Once more, we got the annoying and possessive 'friend' with feelings subplot, but other than that I liked it. it was cute and enjoyable.

Hosoo, a young man living a hectic life, alternating between part-time jobs to earn money for his sister's sake. On a rainy evening, he gets a call from his friend Dohyun, telling him that the latter had "delivered something to his place, so to hurry back home". Hosoo then comes home to find non other than the singer Esau. A popular singer who was just about to make a come back, lying unconscious on his porch, drenched by the rain. From this day on, his daily-life will take quite the turn. ---------- Hosoo & Esau's relationship feels real. They fall in love slowly and go through many hardships, dealing with past traumas and undergoing much growth before finally reaching happiness. I loved reading about them, they had an insane chemistry, I've never quite seen anything like it in any other BL before. Every single frame of them was just so alive. Filled with emotions. Everything, from their daily lives and running gags, to their passionate kisses and making love was just bewitching. I felt myself drawn into their each and every moves. It was really impressive how well the author managed to portray and convey every emotion they had. Their past traumas weren't brushed off and used as excuses, but an actual part of the plot that moved many aspects of it around over the entire story's timeline, and it was really satisfying seeing their scars slowly heal. Regarding Woojoo's past with his step-father, it caught me off guard. As I hadn't read anywhere that this manhwa had any trigger warning of sexual-assault content whatsoever, I wasn't ready to face such topics prior to reading it so that wasn't exactly pleasant to say the least.. And lastly, about the side couple: Dohyun & Woojoo, to be frank I have mixed feelings about them. I usually am pretty okay with age gap pairings when they're well-handled, and, of course, legal. But something about this paring just made me really uncomfortable. I liked both characters individually, but I didn't see them as an item in any way. So when they obviously became one, I wasn't surprised, as I'd seen it coming, but I was uncomfortable. It just felt off to me. I got used to it as I read more chapters about them, but it still makes me uncomfortable even now to a degree. Just not a fan. I'd have preferred to see Dohyun remain a supportive character, and for Woojoo to learn from his trauma-induced prejudices in another way than through the means of falling for another man himself. I feel like that'd have been way more interesting and fulfilling of a story. But anyhow. Even as is it was a good read nonetheless, I don't regret it as the main couple felt so real, and human. It was definitely worthwhile.

Due to a halfhearted and immature decision made by her mother, Irie was set up to marry the son of her mother’s friend. This all began starting when she was 5 years old. She and the boy grew up together until Kangee moved overseas due to his father’s job. After 10 years, Irie and Kangee are reunited when they are 22 and 18, respectively. Can they be a good match for each other despite the four year age gap and their strikingly different personalities, tastes, and ways of thinking? ---------- Waste of time.

Trap City, a crime city in which the first, second, and third thing you must beware of is people. Noah Humphrey stole away the boss' money and ran away with it amidst an inconspicuous war between the two greatest groups in the city. Will he live as a toy for the boss Kahliya, or as a bait for the boss Rex, leaders of the rivaling groups? A love story blooms during a critical situation in which you have to do anything in order to survive! ----------- I liked how natural Noah's affection for Rex developed. As well as how genuine and realistic their relationship's development was. I also liked how the author made a clear distinction between Rex's past feelings towards Noah being something more similar to admiration rather than love, and then showing us how this admiration turned into longing, and then love. It's not something all BLs take the time and effort to really develop. Often such stories are all too rushed and do not take the time to further explain a character's lingering feelings for the other, as well as the development and growth to it all. This felt like quite the realistic read in this sense. It wasn't perfect. But really good compared to most works out there. I also appreciated that Kahliya's character wasn't given the usual excusing of actions. Yes, we were given a basic "got betrayed so gone bad" type trope. But it wasn't *condoning* of his actions. And that changes a lot. His crimes were crimes and his character was not romanticized, let alone was he atoned for his acts. I also liked the way the story was wrapped-up. It wasn't overly done, but instead we were given a smooth conclusion to it. With hints of each characters involved's possible outcomes. Really nice.

Chiwoo’s got issues. Upon returning to school after the “incident” last year, he vows to keep to himself and stay out of trouble until graduation. Easier said than done: his bad boy reputation has made him the talk of the school, and Kyujin - class president and model student - won’t stop being friendly. Trouble arrives soon enough in the shape of Jihyun, a tattooed hunk from Chiwoo’s dark past. It’s gonna be a tough year… ---------- This was such an emotions-filled roller coaster and I was not ready for it at all whatsoever... Really interesting plot, nice art, the characters are so fascinating, hot-headed yet earnest Chiwoo, puppy-like and kind-hearted Kyujin, and finally, the mentally-troubled Jihyun. The author did a very good job at portraying what a toxic relationship is actually like, and why it is always so hard for people to get out of them. The way that Chiwoo's conflicting feelings regarding Jihyun were both handled and used was nothing short of perfection. I also really enjoyed Jihyun's character growth, and just his general portrayal. In no way do I wish for them to be together, Jihyun's deeply troubled and obviously should seek a psychiatrist as well as do some serious anger management. But I felt that his character was very well handled. I truly felt his misery and desperation. I admit that I feel empathetic of his situation, and well, I know he is a fictional character and all, but man do get some help and go be happy in the future. For Kyujin's character, I quite liked his very strong will and kindness, how he'd be genuinely happy just seeing Chiwoo getting better, one step at a time was absolutely heartwarming. He pulls Chiwoo upwards and wants the best for him. His character also made me giggle quite a few times by his quirkiness and overall cute reactions he'd have over the little things. Really endearing. Finally, Chiwoo's character was fascinating. He is a tremendously strong individual. Kind to a fault. I loved, once more, the display of his conflicted feelings towards Jihyun. The love/hate. The trauma, ... I felt that all of it was very well used. I really enjoyed reading his story.