Pleasantly surprised !

This started off a bit ridiculous with the whole strange coincidences and the conveniently cramped spaces they'd get into just to be somehow pushed together (literally lol) and get all horny and what not, so that did throw me off initially. The smut started too quickly and it just felt a bit rushed overall with the whole insomnia treatment arrangement (which later on was addressed, so the story is self aware). Some of the misunderstandings or keeping quiet about important things also annoyed me, although communication improved a lot and it makes sense, given they got closer.

But as the story progressed and we got to experience more of their funny, bickering interactions and character depth through flashbacks and family history, it got me very intrigued. Each moment was entertaining, even endearing. Their relationship did progress rather slowly despite the seemingly fast paced physical intimacy, and the reveal of how the ML acquired his trauma followed by the scene where the same situation is repeated again just for his inner child to be healed by the MC coming to save him was very touching. Their bond was deep because the MC was an important part of the ML's childhood as the ML was suffering from the feelings of abandonment because of his parents. He was that significant figure he could rely on, so his disappearance left a deep impression, and so did his reappearance. Through that lense, even the beginning somehow makes sense - how the ML was immediately drawn to the MC and wanted to cling onto him. The MC is also a very interesting character considering his upbringing in a painfully competitive household that, from what I've read about South Korea, is a rather realistic representation of the average family experience there. The pressure to academically succeed, the rejection of his individuality and abilities (not as academic as his brother, but more athletic), the expectations and comparisons with his older brother all weighing down on the MC while he perseveres and tries to make the best out of giving up his dream and instead picking up a major that sounds good on paper. The more emotional it was to see the two brothers reunite and the MC declaring he'll walk his own path, which his big brother maybe didn't, or at least didn't have the room to explore.

Now to the topic of the older brother - he's a very interesting character to me and his story made me emotional as well. He is gifted, but because of how his parents treated him as a literal cash cow and some sort of insurance, that giftedness turned to a burden and it felt like he was robbed off his childhood. He was parentified early, expectations were set on him from the start because of his giftedness, and it feels like he was forced to protect the MC from himself while actually, his parents were at fault for pressuring one son through the academic achievements of the other. As soon as I saw that scene where the older brother seemingly talked down on the MC's capabilities, it clicked for me that he probably did it to push the parents away from the MC and let him have some breathing space, which later on, the story confirmed. That was also a very moving reveal. It was also very touching to see the older brother be so concerned about the MC's life trajectory and how he was ready to do everything for him to realize his dream as a taekwondo athlete. The whole big brother + the two brothers getting closer after years of distance was my favorite subplot of the story tbh.

The more I CRAVE a whole separate story for the big brother (he's kinda my favorite character) and the annoying uncleeeee. Gosh I'd love to see those two bicker