I completely agree that it is an acquired taste. The characters are really realistic; for example, Jiho possibly having BPD, depression, and obvious family trauma...couldn’t love in a healthy way and becomes so fragile in the end. Like, what were people expecting?... But for me, it really became one of my favorites, and the ending is so hopeful 10/10
I've been reading the reviews and I have gotten so frustrated with how insensitive they were. You have explained everything perfectly. This manhwa is obviously supposed to be full of angst, so I don't get these comments. Jiho was groomed by 2 different men. He was taken advantage of. He was so unstable, I wouldn't be surprised if the author came out and said he has BPD. I sympathize with yoojun (i already forgot how to spell his name), but I am glad he waited for Jiho. I don't know what Jiho might of become without him. Though yeah, I wish it showed Jiho explaining everything, and I wish we could of seen them actually together and stable.
I alsk find it interesting how a lot of manhwa readers dislike a lot og angsts, but fanfic readers enjoy it. Honestly, this story is great if you need to cry. It starts out silly, giving you positive feelings, which makes the angst hit you even harder. This story wasn't made unwell, it was written well and met what the author wanted. Not everyone wants to write a completely happy ending. The ending didn't seem truly rushed, it seemed ambiguous, leaving things to our own interpretation. Not all literature has to give you everything straight. If it was rushed, it'd show them randomly happy without any true growth shown. But no, this story did not do that.
I haven't been reading bl as long as most people, but it has became very apparent how illiterate bl readers can be. I honestly wonder if they even pay attention in school. This manhwa does not deserve the hate it is getting in these comments, Jiho doesn't deserve the hate. Hating Jiho and wanting him to fuck off is basically hating mentally unstable people. Like I said before, he probably has BPD.
BPD is incredibly hard to diagnose, but he has gone through so much trauma, and he has that hot then cold personality. He pushes away male lead when he feels threatened, whether he realizes it or not, but he also clings onto male lead because he still loves him. He has shown having different weeks long episodes. Of course, I am not a professional, but the people saying the bottom is a terrible person is just insensitive, maybe even abelist. If you fail to recognize he is not mentally well because of legitimate causes, then I don't know how you got through your english classes without critical thinking.
Anyway, I'm glad I came back to reading this after waiting for the end to come. I will not forget this story
That’s the thing, complexity wise the ML doesn’t seem realistic and complex at all. With all hes gone though what he should be having is trauma and his own personal issues. People like him don’t exist unless they’re on heavy drugs and was lobotomized. Got a whole ‘he’s busy little bro’ got a whole ‘he only ran back to me after a LONG term relationship didn’t work out” and still seemingly was okay??? We don’t ever explore him outside of being a one dimensional cuck that MC settled back. I’ll say it again how is one character super dimensional, and one so flat?? The very fact that the other correct the MC like that but failed with the other characters is so stupid

really enjoyed this story, and i’m genuinely surprised that so many people dislike it. i feel like maybe it’s an acquired taste. it is definitely a heavier story, but i think it ends on a positive enough note that it doesn’t leave you feeling completely depressed.
i truly liked the ending, and i think it was necessary for them to take time apart before being able to come together again. individual growth is necessary for unified growth, and without that time apart, jiho never would have been able to stand on his own. he clearly struggled with his mental health throughout the entire story. first, it was his lack of emotions, then his reliance on drugs and other people, specifically people who were bad for him. at some point, he even tried to take his own life, and he never fully got over the trauma from his adolescence, even having a panic attack after discussing things with his father.
all of that is to say that he is a deeply struggling individual. he needed that time apart. i love that the male lead recognized that and told him he needed that space and the ability to grow. forcing jiho to stay by his side might have felt fulfilling for him, but he understood that it would not have been healthy for either of them.
my only sad part is that i wish we got side stories. i wish we got to see them happy and living life together for at least two extra chapters. that would have made me feel really satisfied. still, i think the ending is beautiful in its own way because it allows us to come to positive conclusions on our own.
this is a heavy, heart-wrenching story about growth, and i think it was done really well. i enjoyed the color palette, i enjoyed the art, and even though i was frustrated many times, people are complex and multifaceted. i found that really interesting.
i think you need to have a very specific desire when reading this type of story. you cannot come into it expecting something lovely, because this is not a lovely story. it simply is not. it is hard to chew and swallow, but if you get past the nitty-gritty, the taste is really delicious.