Wow... I saw him as a former fwb to be honest, they met as friends later, and when he said that he won't meet him anymore 'even as a friend' was in my opinion just to highlight that they WERE something more earlier... but if they were still fwb even when something has started between them... damn... it ruined this series even more for me I think
I really don’t know how to feel about this. Like I think you’re totally right, but also completely wrong at the same time. I didn’t get the vibe while reading the story that Gichan and Shinyoung were still involved once things with Hyobin started. I can totally see Hyobin getting upset about the fact that Gichan and Shinyoung were involved in the past tense anyway. In all honesty, I took it more as Hyobin being somewhat upset about it, and using that discomfort to run from his feelings a bit (and make Gichan feel bad). Maybe I’m being too harsh on him. I can totally see your take being possible, that Gichan and Shinyoung were still hooking up. It would make Wooshik stepping in make a little more sense, but he was also always misinterpreting things anyway so he might’ve thought that was the case when it wasn’t. I’m going to stick with my interpretation that Gichan and Shinyoung stopped seeing each other once Gichan and Hyobin started becoming a thing-ish, only because I never got the vibes you did (not because I think Gichan is above that, he’s a very cagey and avoidant guy like you said), but the story is plenty ambiguous about it so there’s no way I would be able to tell you that your take is wrong. Thanks for writing that whole novel!
The first conflict was because Hyobin caught them kissing. What are you talking about? He already had an idea about the relationship. The final conflict arose because he had to confront the idea and his jealousy, or whatever it was.
For me, it was an absurd conflict! But oh well.
Also it is completely clarified and declared that the relationship with the fwb has no romantic undertone on either side.
I wrote a fucking novel.
The way you interpret their last conflict and Hyobin’s reaction depends on how you understood the characters beyond their relatively laconic way of speaking and how you interpreted the timeline of the fwb arrangement. It determines the level of vitriol you feel for the characters (and which characters). This is how I view it and I'm open to changing my mind. I just want to get this off my chest after reading this for the third time.
Gichan lies by omission. When asked if he dated the fwb he said no and claimed they were friends. Technically he didn’t lie. He's the type to feign innocence and withhold info to avoid confrontation. Or just run away, as he did in ch14. It’s probably why he’s the type to go with the flow (like how easily he hooked up with his fwb for the first time, ch43) and why it was easy for him to stay in an unrequited love for a decade while dating other people. Leading that sort of love life wasn’t intimidating. It’s also probably why he blurted out his feelings AFTER they kissed a few times. It’s avoidant defensiveness and passive opportunism. Gichan never makes a move unless there is some sort of precedent to rely on.
Understandably all that can foster a sense of uncertainty/ loss, as Hyobin said he felt (ch54). Few things are scarier than the unknown. Further down the line omissions like that can absolutely foster mistrust. Hyobin was trying to figure their shit out, even though he’s pushy and obnoxious. He’s childish only at face value. I just can’t accept that simplistic narrative when it comes to this author (considering their other works). Hyobin was doing his best. It’s not easy to express yourself so honestly when your emotions are all over the place. He still went for it despite being very scared. Unlike Gichan, he was always an open book. On the flip side he can come off as curt, letting his intrusive thoughts and pettiness win sometimes. Basically he’s Gichan’s foil character.
Next, it’s valid to be pissed that Gichan introduced a former (?) fwb as a friend, and enabling them to become friends without context. Especially given the emotional uncertainties of their developing non-platonic relationship. I can see how Hyobin probably felt offended that he was kept out of the loop. Anyone in his position would re-evaluate every interaction he ever had with both of them, and every interaction he observed between Gichan and the former (?) fwb.
On top of that the former fwb (?) is pretty shameless and flippant, which would make one question the motivation behind his choice to befriend Hyobin (just saying, I don’t think he’s malicious), why he also assured Hyobin that he’s just a friend even though that’s a lie (ch16, now that’s a bitch move, then again he’s very unserious), why did he kiss his so-called friend, etc. Most people would feel like they were made the village idiot in that situation. Like you’re playing in my face atp.
Next. Why I inserted the (?) earlier. I thought it was clear as of ch42 and 47 that Gichan was still sexually involved with the fwb off-screen. It’s not the author’s only story where the characters were sleeping with others off-screen. Gichan was sleeping with him while concurrently becoming involved with Hyobin. When Hyobin’s friend confronted Gichan in ch42, and referred to his relationship with the fwb in the present tense Gichan did not correct him. None of the dialogue that referred to their sexual relationship was ever in the past tense.
Why else would Gichan say that he would stop seeing Shinyoung (fwb) “even as a friend.” (ch47) He worded that as though they’re currently friends AND fuck buddies at the same time. That “even” was used to emphasize giving up something beyond ordinary friendship. Friendship was just their baseline connection.
That's why I assumed Hyobin was reacting so dramatically and why Gichan was looking so guilty and feeling deeply apologetic in ch47-51. He wasn’t being gaslit by Hyobin. In his own words (ch49) he did something wrong while keeping his distance and waiting for Hyobin to figure out his feelings. He’s got avoidant tendencies so no surprise he was bouncing back to a safe zone, which happened to be the largely unserious fwb who knew all the lore about them. At least up until ch47.
Ch50 when Gichan said that he apologizes for saying he likes Hyobin while his actions didn’t match up also seemed like a confirmation that he was sleeping with the fwb while professing his love to Hyobin, rather than him apologizing for seeing others over the past ten years or whatever. Also he didn't confess ten years ago. He remained a non-confrontational bestie. There were no contradicting actions of detrimental consequence to apologize for. When Gichan said he shouldn’t have told him about his relationship with Shinyoing and he did it just to unload a burden. That burden was clearly about the present.
The scene where he rejected a kiss from the fwb (ch16) after confessing to Hyobin was Gichan refusing Shinyoung’s romantic advances. The way I see it is he decided he won’t be kissing the fwb now that he’s started to get more intimate with Hyobin, but based on his confession in ch47, they still continued fucking on the low off-screen.
If you disagree pls share.
I already wrote far too much but one last thing. I heavily agree that it’s messed up how they’re suddenly just ignoring Shinyoung (fwb) in-person. Fucking speak on it instead of looking away when he waves at you. WTF. They’re in the same circle of friends, why not at least tell him you need space or just end the friendship.