THIS obviously Baekhee doesn't want to have anything to do with Gyeom, especially now when he's finally learned what feelings of love look like thanks to Ilwoo! But that asshole is threatening him for years, as being his only solution!
And it's breaking my heart to see how painful that whole forced intercourse was for Baekhee (because yes, that's only a damn contract, nothing pleasurable for him!), he even puked out of disgust later, terrible! And how by the end he was even trying to convince himself that Ilwoo would understand, that no matter what his father did, he would not judge!
We all knew that's coming, but still heartbreaking!
Spoiler
Of course it was only a contract to begin with, Baek-hee mentioned that there was no feelings, he mentioned that he even tried to see it as love, but there was nothing, Gyeom was only his ticket to Seoul, and that asshole is using that for his sick needs! I hate that piece of shit!!
And seriously, the look of disgust and being simply tired of it all on Baek-hee's face, he has enough, clearly, he doesn't want any of that, but he's stucked and I love how despite those Gyeom's lies that Il-woo won't understand his situation, Baek-hee still tries to convince himself the opposite, he believes that Ilwoo is not like that, gosh I love these two
of course course there was no feelings, Baekhee saw him only as a friend (who in reality is a fucking snake not a friend!), what Gyeom used to take advantage of him, fucking psycho!
that tired look in his eyes! even during that damn disgusting intercourse, he had tears in his eyes, painful to watch! Seriously, I hope that Gyeom will get what he deserves later, fucking rapist, because yes, forcing someone to have sex is a fucking rape!!!
we can clearly see that Baekhee is trying to break free, like you said, he's convincing himself that Ilwoo is not like that! but next chapter's going to be nasty, but these two can survive this shit, it's just a way for Baekhee to finally find the true about Illwo's appearance here, let's look at it as at one step forward!
thank you darling<3 i was literally just wondering last week if his physical relationship with gyeom would still continue after both our main characters confessed to each other and unfortunately it does and it's heartbreaking.
baekhee just can't break it off that easily and ilwoo can't ask him to do that either ☹ i hope next chapter after that call they both get to discover each others' secrets at least... it's better for them to open up and think together
No problem at all dear
Yes, that asshole Gyeom is so manipulative! But since the beginning it was clear that Baek-hee doesn't get any 'pleasure' from that contract, it was just a play he need to participate in (still I see that as sexual assault, because Gyeom forced him by that agreement since the beginning), this chapter now showed that he is already disgusted by it, it's truly heartbreaking, because he's leaving in constant fear, Il-woo is his only light, but Gyeom is trying to destroy even that! Baek-hee's eyes in this chapter... so much pain and tiredness
But they both need to finally share their secrets, and wondering if maybe now, once Il-woo's secret is revealed, maybe this will be a sign for Baek-hee to tell Il-woo everything about his father, because he's already more convince (by the end of the chapter he was convincing himself that Il-woo would understand)
exactly this! we can see that these intercourses are painful for Baek-hee, physically and mentally, and since the beginning that was showed this way, what I am grateful to the author for, because even when there is an 'agreement' between them, its base is force (you get something if you have sex with me)! And like you said, he cannot say no, because he's literally blackmailed, and that asshole Gyeom is using that Seoul card!
And honestly, it was visible on Baek-hee's face when he kissed Il-woo, it was his first enjoyable kiss full of love, and difference in his reaction was clear!
I'm scared what next chapters will bring... but just want our babies free from this nightmare, somewhere far away together!

It's hard to describe how much I despise Gyeom, he's still blackmailing Baek-hee, Gyeom on purpose constantly makes him dependent on himself and made him doubt, that maybe Il-woo will not accept the fact that his father killed someone (when we know he would be there for him no matter what) this is why Baek-hee still didn't stop that deal with Gyeom, because he needs to get out of there to Seoul, he doesn't want to continue that with Gyeom, it's clear he doesn't enjoy any of that correlation with that asshole, he's disgusted, but he's so scared gosh, that angst will only get worse... now when Baek-hee picked up the phone
I know it will be a tough road ahead, but seriously, I just want our baby happy together