I've also read so many comments on how they could have kept in touch (I do agree) but I believe that the "break up" was their mutual decision to let Gene feel unimpeded to chase his dreams. And if it was their mutual decision to stop being together, out of respect and understanding for one another, it would make sense that they would not keep contact when they broke up because it would defeat the purpose of their break up. I think it makes more sense if your look at them with the lens that they are real adult human beings and not love-sick fools (what we commonly see in BL). Which is why this manga to me is very refreshing after reading recycled plots in manga/manhwa because the characters felt very real in this one (not that I hate common BL tropes/stereotypes).
Plus lets not forget that the overarching theme of this manga has something to do with "home." Trevor has already achieved his dreams of having a respectable job and home but despite this he feels a certain pang of sadness when he thinks of his family (his "home") until he met Gene who is just like him. But Gene has yet to reach his dreams of becoming someone other than just an Amish guy, and I think Trevor sees this which is why he was so accomodating with Gene given how he felt the same growing up. And despite Gene's hesitance (because he doesn't want to leave his new "home" like he did his old one) he went through with it with Trevor's support because Trevor knows and understands what Gene has gone through just to come close to achieving this dream (even if it means that they'll be away from each other).
The plot circles back when Gene "the nephew" led Gene back to Trevor (because who knows how many more years will it take for Gene come back to Trevor despite being in New York already) like how Gene led Trevor back to his family all those years ago. It all makes sense to me. I love it.
But I get that the way it went could not be everyone's cup of tea. I just personally enjoyed how it turned out, despite the lost time they could have spent together. It makes their current relationship (1990s) even more nuanced and it just goes to prove how strong their feelings for each other are still (a trope I'm a sucker for).
I know this is so many words for a BL but you don't understand how much I've invested my 2 hours into binge reading this. But thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.
૮₍ ∩៸៸៸∩ ₎ა
Loved this dissection of the breakup. I agree with it all. The breakup was upsetting but very realistic. People who love each other do break up when they think their futures don't align. Gene had ambitions and both of them knew those ambitions would take him far away. Trevor doesn't have the luxury of moving around with Gene. He also doesn't want to tie Gene down. Add in Gene's young age and Amish upbringing and it makes even more sense why Trevor wants Gene to be as free as possible.
♡
IT WAS AMAZING I'm so aaaAAA AMAZING
***SPOILER***
Although I don't agree (I'm livid actually) with their break up when Gene left, I still think it made sense realistically and during their time period. Yes, Gene could have chosen to keep in touch or Trevor could have gone looking for him, given how much they loved each other in those 2-3 years living together, they should have right? Sure it could be for the plot, the drama, that they have to be separated for almost two decades, but I genuinely believe that Gene would have come back to Trevor (he was moving back to New York anyway even if Gene "the nephew" did not write to him) and Trevor would have waited for him too no matter how long it took.
Call me delusional.