Responses
I read some more comments after posting this, and it makes me a little sad that some readers misunderstand Dojae's characterization and see him as red flag, but I do appreciate the other commenters who clocked that he was simply an autistic pookie who has trouble understanding emotions.
Honestly, this opens up a lot about how neurotypicals still struggle with empathizing with neurodivergents and we can clearly see it in this comment section.
I hope the other readers give this story a chance because it can teach you a thing or two about emotional regulation or managing relationships through communication and compromise.
I just finished the story and I really liked the realism of their differences and how they compromised around it, despite fighting about it many times.
Imagine my surprise when I skimmed through the comments saying they didn't like the ML because of his disorder. For me, I think that was the entire point of the manhwa—working towards differences to move a relationship forward. I also see the angle the author was looking for that there's no true wrong person in each party, but just problems between them they need to fix as one.
Though I get it, the ML exasperated me too multiple times. But guys, he had already confessed before that it was a disorder. Honestly, I even believe he's on the spectrum because of that too, and that's why I could empathize with him more.
I genuinely think he was a beautifully written character and the author did justice with his understanding arc that maybe he's a little slow, but he'll get there with you. The writing when it came to resolving their conflicts and misunderstandings can even be served as manuals for most relationships today and I really applaud the story for that.
He may not be the most conventional ML out there, but he does his best to love our chaotic MC in the way he knows how.
In any case, I will defend ML to the best of my ability.
However, I must admit the part where MC is upset about ML seeing other girls pre-dating stage was a valid crashout. He was being a player through and through, but he really didn't have feelings for MC yet at that point so I can't entirely blame him given his history (and I won't defend him on that). But his development from there to being committed and loyal was quite wonderful, don't you think?