I liked how you called this out when I was reading the story I felt really bad for the top I was thinking “oh why doesn’t he show a little compassion?” “Oh, he’s just using him” but when you put it like this, it makes a lot of sense.
exactly its not like his character premise makes him even slightly look like a good person I thought it was clear
I loveee this character analysis of Su-ah, it’s so in-depth and well written. Also appreciate how you called out the CHARACTER and didn’t slander the author.
People are allowed to write dark/edgy stories. It doesn’t have to be rainbows and sunshine all the time. People are also allowed to not like dark stories. The twisted turn the story is taking is one that I find interesting. The character Su-ah is distasteful in his behavior but his portrayal by the author is well done!
It’s not the best dark-romance or whatever you want to call it but people just see the art style and expect a fuffy, slice of life, fun/comedic read. Of course when it takes a dark turn they trash the author for being “toxic” instead of comprehending the complexity of the characters(in comparison to most popular bls at least) complaining because it didn’t meet their based expectations.
This would be a valid take if the author weren't already selling a lovey-dovey happy ending on social media that completely undermines the complexity of the trauma. You can't praise the dark, realistic portrayal of a crime while the narrative is clearly sprinting toward a fluffy redemption arc that treats a violent assault like a minor lovers' spat. It’s not based expectations to want a story that doesn't trip over its own feet, it’s just expecting the internal logic to hold up. If the author uses extreme violation for shock value but refuses to deal with the actual psychological fallout, it’s not an in-depth character study, it’s just using trauma as cheap, disposable wallpaper.
This is an absolutely masterclass analysis of Su-ah’s manipulation. You’ve perfectly exposed how he weaponizes Juhyeok’s biological needs and guilt to fuel a delusional childhood fantasy that never existed. It’s chilling to see it laid out, how Su-ah doesn't actually love Juhyeok, he loves the ownership of him, and he’s been grooming him for that control since they were kids. However, as brilliant as this character study is, the narrative itself feels like it’s headed for a total collapse. All of this intentional writing and twisted detail doesn't matter if the author is just going to force a lovey-dovey happy ending on social media. You can't write a realistic psychological horror about a predator and then pivot to a fluffy romance without it being a complete narrative dumpster fire.
If Su-ah doesn't face actual, permanent consequences, then all this complexity is just being used as cheap wallpaper for a toxic fantasy. A redemption without total accountability and a complete shift in power isn't a story, it’s just gaslighting the audience. It’s a shame to see such a deep analysis of a monster when the story seems determined to treat him like a misunderstood lover in the end.
Yeah I agree honestly which is why I avoided directly praising the story in my analysis and said I wasn't a big fan.
Once you add this kind of dark thing in the story, it's very difficult, if not impossible to fix this relationship and it makes Su-ah very irredeemable.
If the author is going to go this route, they must commit to it fully and make sure Su-ah actually atones for his sins. Don't sugarcoat it, don't make him just say "sorry" or try to make it up to Juhyeok, he needs to seriously change as a character psychologically to even make this somewhat believable (which I don't think he should ever be forgiven imo).
It would be a bit of a tonal whiplash to go from something deeply psychological to something fluffy and cutesy, especially if the character doesn't seriously change or earn it.
ty bro. It was lowkey concerning the comments talking about "wokeness" or puritans. This manwha has such nice subtle complex characters where both points of view or biases the reader wants to root for give an outlook on their mindsets. The ones who backed up Junhyeok, the ones who backed up Su-ah. And others who saw both characters with their complexity and power dynamics.
Junhyeok, outwards - "the asshole" (mainly as a way to protect his own self-esteem with the permanent issue within him and his secondary gender, only to witness Su-ah's physique and characteristics that he will never have be constantly admired by others - a stab to his self-image and reminder what he will never be despite his best efforts to combat omega's stereotypes as he is chained to seek "alpha cum" to magnify his training physique and chances for his dream in the olympics).
Su-ah, outwards - "the poor puppy treated harshly by the asshole" (while - thanks to your analysis, still holds to that childhood love with Junhyeok and got his tendencies to oppress him, to subdue him and give him the satisfaction he has always been craving to control. Just that his alpha characteristics give him a further magnitude to crush Junhyeok if he really wants to). Rape is a no. It is no surprise the comments calling it out as this story gave the subtle feeling of wholesomeness for no foul play down the line. But alas, the last chapter proved it otherwise.
It's reliving to see so many people finally realizing the kind of person Su-ah is, I've been trying to explain his character for several chapters now.
Su-ah has always been like this. In the first few chapters he sexually assaulted Juhyeok continuing to make sexual advances on him despite Juhyeok saying no.
Su-ah still has this idealized version of Juhyeok that he can't let go of, the childhood friend version (which explains the flashbacks). So when Juhyeok doesn't fit that idealized version that Su-ah has of him in his head, he cannot accept it and he becomes a controlling person to force that idealized version of Juhyeok into fruition. He cannot accept how the dyanmic has changed.
It all started when Su-ah began to scent him as a child. It probably started off as an innocent way to protect Juhyeok but it was also the beginning of his obsession with Juhyeok that got worse as the years went by. It established that sense of control Su-ah has over Juhyeok where he continues to scent him even now.
When we are talking about Juhyeok was using Su-ah for cum, the thing people tend to forget is that Su-ah was very in much aware that Juhyeok was using him (Su-ah has said that he knew this himself), and he thought it was worth it in order to get closer to Juhyeok and went on to consent to it anyways (further adding to this, Su-ah is a hypocrite because he's also been using Juhyeok to fulfill his sexual fantasies).
He already knew Juhyeok wanted nothing to do with him, but this was his chance to finally become closer to him again. When he ran out, it was not because he was particularly upset he was being used (remember the story already established he thought it was worth it).
Earlier, when they hung out with eachother like childhood friends, it deluded Su-ah into thinking that childhood Juhyeok who unconditionally loved him finally returned. When Juhyeok reminded him about the arrangement, the fictional version of Juhyeok Su-ah built up in his head was instantly shattered. He was brought back into reality that they're not lovers who were about to have sex, and he could not handle it, so that's why he left.
That's why later when Juhyeok apologized to Su-ah he immediately demanded things like dates, sex, kisses, etc., things couples do. Su-ah is very manipulative (we can see this in earlier chapters where he would say things like "the cum must be rubbed on your back for this to work!" in order to touch him more than he needed to), he knew Juhyeok felt guilty over what he did and needed his cum, so he used that as leverage against him to force him into "dating" him.
If you need more proof of Su-ah not being able to accept the reality of him and Juhyeok's relationship, have you ever noticed how much Su-ah conveniently ignores Juhyeok and picks and chooses what he responds to?
Whenever Juhyeok says or does something Su-ah doesn't like, that isn't part of the idealized version of him in his head, he convientlly ignores it and only pays attention to things that do fit. If you re-read their intimate scenes from the past 3 chapters, you can see him doing this. He ignores when Juhyeok says it doesn't hurt and keeps asking if it does hurt like he's playing out a sexual scenerio only in his head that's different from reality. Then when Juhyeok finally says it does hurt, well, you can see he ignores that too and continues on with his sexually fantasy.
When he says to Juhyeok "I love you" and Juhyeok doesn't respond back how he would like him to, you can see he also, like chapter 14, cannot handle reality (of them being so in love like the childhood days). He devolves into manipulative behavior saying he wouldn't give him his cum and forcing him to apologize to get what he wants, which is Juhyeok admitting that Su-ah has complete ownership of him and that he is his only Alpha. Again, he's using Juhyeok's guilt and power over the situation to control him.
If you look at the art from this latest chapter, he didn't even have his crazy eyes while doing it, he was completely sane while watching his partner cry and beg him to stop and it gave him satisfaction seeing him groveling like that. It's quite sick and twisted and it leaves room for no excuses for his actions. As you can see, his desire for manipulation and control gets in the way of any "love" he may have of Juhyeok. It's crazy how he didn't react to seeing the person he "loved" in so much pain and even smiled after seeing him crying.
Him nearly biting down on Juhyeok was the ultimate part of his fantasy where he can completely control Juhyeok into the idealized version of him he has in his head. "...SO THAT HE CAN'T EVEN LIVE WITHOUT ME ANYMORE."
Su-ah was always an manipulative awful person from the very beginning, like how he used Juhyeok being in heat to make sexual advances on him and framed it as him being "helpful," to get away with it.
The fact that so many people did not realize this just goes to show how successful he is at doing it. He hides his obsession behind innocent intentions and this chapter is finally where people realized he was never the person they thought he was. He was always like this, Juhyeok's own mistakes and pitfalls made people believe Juhyeok was the bad guy when in reality he is reacting pretty reasonably to the things Su-ah has done to him despite some of his wrong doings.
Even though I'm not the biggest fan of the story and I very much hate Su-ah, I have to admit the story is very detailed and intentional. I implore people who have missed the signs to go back and re-read the chapters and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about.
Su-ahs actions are only digging him into a deeper whole and pushing Juhyeok away even more and if Su-ah ever wants any *chance* of redemption whatsoever, he will have to completely change his behavior and take full accountability for his actions.