I think of this as life lesson, once you're an adult you should stop caring what anybody thinks about you I get it he has trauma and he wants to appear as normal but if you have friends who will stop being friends with you because you are queer then they are not your friends. Stop caring what anybody thinks and live your life the way you want.
People forget this is not about just Garam getting outed it was also about ml, he too wants to declare his relationship to others, he too want to do normal coupley things with his lover, and he deserves doing it. Not staying inside a closet for all eternity. And this was so unfair to him especially when ml stopped working as a model because Garam was uncomfortable but what about ml's happiness, he probably might not have outed Garam to the whole of Korea but atleast his good friends should know they are in a relationship.
Tbh this is the very first time I am actually siding with the ml. Because the guy has opened his heart for his lover but his feelings aren't getting reciprocated.
Actually stop caring what anybody thinks about you when you are a kid itself. If a kid expresses themselves openly they actually develop their own interests, they don't follow what the group decides, so if you are a minor do whatever you feel like (as long as its not a criminal act) and don't care what other think of you.
Trauma can be illogical thing, you can experienced traumatic events decades ago and be still affected by it. So I really understand how much terrified he is to be upfront when he still in the process of healing.
Well even though I get his fears I believe it's time for him to step out of his comfort shell and take some actions. It's clear that the missing yjh in his life causing even greater pain in his life.
Ngl I'm gonna be super pissed at the creator if garam did nothing or chickened out later. 120+ chapters and I don't need separation arc like what happened in dangerous convenience store.