I love you you beautifully untangled all of my thoughts on this. I love you
you worded it so well
Idk about Jaeyi being an asshole but he sure is ruthless with boundaries. He sets up strict boundaries and doesn't appreciate it being crossed. As far as we've seen, others view him as quite a problematic guy because he doesn't entertain their fantasies. We haven't yet seen him being a genuine asshole who rejects people who need help.
Coming to Ideum, both he and Jaeyi were pretty straightforward with their thoughts and needs. Jaeyi is considerate enough to ask Ideum everytime they have sex if he's comfortable. They both match each other's freaks and hence their arrangement. Ideum is quite bold, contrary to his appearance, and that's what attracted Jaeyi in the first place. So, no, I don't think there's a power imbalance.
Their arrangement has been peaceful but we see that they're unknowingly catching feelings for each other. It may cause some problems in the future but their relationship isn't toxic at all, not yet at least.
Fair points and I do think you can read it that way too but also i do think there is a power imbalance. I think something can also be toxic without either parties being terrible. I think the way that they approached their relationship had a false sense of communication, as we clearly are seeing ideum holding back his feelings and also he very much romanticizes jaeyi from the beginning. I go back to an early chapter where ideum states “no this is a good thing for me” or something along the lines of that, is it? Is it good to enter an extreme sexual relationship with someone you don’t know, who is the first person you’re really talking to that isn’t ur mother or editors, someone you fantasizes about? We see him constantly seeking approval, worried that he isn’t doing things correctly, and wanting to be desired, and he’s not communicating this at all. Neither one is doing it on purpose but you have two characters who don’t actually properly express themselves
Also someone can be cold, and a dick without being a complete terrible person, all we have learned about him from others is his love of sex, he wasn’t a good partne to his exs, he doesn't really go out of his way to do things for others, he had to be begged to go on the blind date and ended up leaving to hook up with someone else, I don’t think he’s painted as the nicest guy but also he does show affection but is it lacking purpose? Is the affection only routed in a sexual desire or is he actually fond of ideum (I don’t know if he even knows yet let alone is the viewer) This tenderness is odd to others it’s out of his character so I think it’s ok to label him as an ass in my opinion.
Also do you think at this moment, If Ideum where to express having any kind of feelings even just an inkling of feelings that jaeyi would not stop their relationship? Do you think he would stay?
Also nobody get me wrong I LOVE THIS STORY, I am excited and have a lot of faith in the author but I was frustrated that ppl are mad at the sleeping thing that happened this chapter when personally I feel we see some underlying issues with their relationship from the beginning. I think it’s subtle, something we’re learning as we keep reading ans understanding their characters.
But again ur very valid and genuinely I do think maybe I read into things more, this this being my take on this chapter!
I do think they've issues they need to talk about but their relationship isn't at that level yet. They did begin as fuck buddies to curb their sexual desires so their relationship is still quite shallow. They don't ask each other about their personal life and all that. I guess they'll reach that point soon considering how Ideum was bothered in this chapter, Jaeyi's brother's appearance and Jaeyi himself admitting that he has never been attracted to someone like this.
I’m very interested to see the brother stuff, I hope it’s a different take on things, something new would be nice!!
Overall this has been a fun read!!! This author is great!!
My poor two silly horny gays, help them fall in love haha
omg loving your thoughts and analysis on this!!! the author has truly thought things through so clearly to me like every panel is so purposeful to the storytelling i just loooove it.
the way they both use each other for sex is so compelling. like ideum clearly wanting sex only to become a better writer and get validation from a hater is such a big reason as to why jaeyi wants to be fwb bc he sees it as the perfect solution. but i also think that he clearly treats ideum with a level of care and interest he doesn’t seem to have with anything else in his life.
i’d argue they’re kind of both obsessed with each other it’s just that ideum is so completely isolated it’s more obvious than jaeyi. but they spend so much time together (and even tho a lot of it is fucking it isn’t all of it!) and jaeyi is pushing ideum to leave his house and try new things and caring about him in ways i don’t think he even realizes himself. and will he run away when he realizes he cares??? will he realize it?? and the brother of it alll wowww im so excited
The author is definitely trying to show the disconnect between the two characters, I feel like this chapter felt like a slap to the face because it pulled us out of the fantasy and throw us back to the reality of the situation. Ideum is being used as a toy, sounds harsh but if there was no sex would Jaeyi give ideum the time of day? Up to this point it’s been “ok” because ideum was also into the rush of sex and being desired. I think we need to remember Jaeyi isn’t a good guy, he’s kind of an asshole, but we are seeing him through Ideum’s perspective most of the time, so just like ideum, we got a false hope for something more. Everyone else has only described jaeyi as a dick, re read any part when he’s with his classmates or friends.
I’m not saying Jaeyi is some evil guy, not at all but we are seeing him push boundaries and give into sexual desires because ideum doesn’t voice any kind of hesitation. This chapter is showing both characters core issues with intimacy.
It also shows ownership in a relationship that holds no “feelings” it’s a toxic relationship that the two had to begin with, it started with desperation on both ends. It dosnt mean anyone is the bad guy, but there is a power imbalance. We got The excitement and rush but now we are starting to get to the root of the characters and what makes them so desperate and lonely. This need to have sex to gain something, to not be so frustrated and to have a form of release that depends on another persons body.
ideum is afraid of rejection and can’t even think about acting on any romantic feelings he might have, the author showed us this with him in school with his crush, we see it when he puts himself down, or can’t even humour the idea of the two of them together. Admit defeat before you fail. he thinks so little about himself and is so anxious, even when he gains any hope he quickly realizes that they are nothing but sex buddies.
This maybe feels like a “red flag” but that’s the whole point, they aren’t in love (at least not now), do they definitely have feeling that go beyond physical, yes but we need to unpack the characters first before getting to the point of understanding and acting on those feelings
this isn’t a story showing the good side of fuck buddies. it’s not one sided but the two of them are currently a bad paring that are using each other for their own gain. jaeyi is selfish and the ideum is selfless, both of them mentally and physically can’t put up boundaries, it’s impossible to communicate this way
A lot of ppl were hoping for some happy story of fuck buddies to lovers when we are being shown very complicated and complex characters with deep rooted issues that affect their relationship with sex and what sex is.