Even though MC is being manipulated, I think he’s allowing it. This is more like banter with a crazy person you fell in love with than it seems. MC is conflicted so ML is doing what he knows how to do, manipulate. But MC knows that’s what he’s doing that’s why he felt conflicted in the first place. He was deceived but ML doesn’t want to give him space to be angry. He wants him to feel lonely so he’ll beg for him. But MC is already a yearner. It’s a mess of “this only works because it’s them”.
Even though MC is being manipulated, I think he’s allowing it. This is more like banter with a crazy person you fell in love with than it seems. MC is conflicted so ML is doing what he knows how to do, manipulate. But MC knows that’s what he’s doing that’s why he felt conflicted in the first place. He was deceived but ML doesn’t want to give him space to be angry. He wants him to feel lonely so he’ll beg for him. But MC is already a yearner. It’s a mess of “this only works because it’s them”.