tbh Zhenya changes his character a lot for Taekjoo in the novel and actually cares for him. He stitches/patches his wounds, and rescues him from death multiple times and Taekjoo admits he’d be gone without him. Also, Taekjoo does admit and calls Zhenya pretty a lot too. Their relationship and development throughout the novel is very well written we are barely into their story and theirs so much more to go. They both love each other and show it in ridiculous ways, but they come to terms with it and still love it each other.

Bro he’s so different from dooshiklefttoe’s(i think their user?) videos(T-T) i started reading this because of those videos