im caught up with the raws and I feel like I can't enjoy this manhwa as much as I used to in the beginning anymore. I thought about it and I think one reason may be that they seemed way more openly vulnerable to each other when they were just friends. but not just vulnerable, their relationship also felt... like a huge sigh of relief from their harsh realities.
I liked the mental illness rep with seoans panic disorder and I liked how they both cared for and would be there for each other as soon as shit hit the fan, but now its just a bunch of shit thats piling up and oof..... its a lot to take
Im not complaining or anything, just reflecting that I used to enjoy it better when they would sorta be better because of one another and now it just feels like it all keeps going downhill despite being together - or almost like being together is whats making it worse possibly? I dont know
I just hope all the shit doesnt drag for too long and that theres a huge lesson to be learned for our MCs (and for us as well!)
I was gonna say this in a reply but I wanna see if anyone else agrees or add to the discussion because it's fun haha
To me, Jo symbolizes to Ian a love he could live if he didnt go through anything hes ever been through... so I kinda get it, someone like Jo is tempting to him, because being with Jo is kinda like playing pretend at that type of life hes never been able to have. A peaceful, worryless type of life, an ordinary type of love. Jo has done many ordinary things Ians never had the luxury or the time to experience, so when Jo shows this world to him (going to the movies, stargazing, etc) it sure must be hella entertaining. I understand Ian's curiousity.
Now TJ is more like a pillar. I agree with TJ that what they've build together is something beyond that of lovers or family. It's something more confusing and messed up, given all they did in the past, their traumatic childhoods, all that jazz. So it's exactly as TJ says, only he can understand these things about Ian. Jo couldn't understand all that in the same way. And of course Ian is still gonna be attached to TJ even after deciding to let Jo stay by his side, because TJ isn't someone who's at the same level as Jo is in his life. But anyway, I'm saying all this but it doesn't mean TJ x Ian isn't any less of a toxic relationship. It is sick and twisted, and that's the exact type of conflicting shit that makes it so strong and intense, or hard to let go. Ian doesn't want to see TJ die, and he absolutely will not be okay if he does. That's why he's always saying TJ needs him. He doesn't just want to be protected by TJ, he also wants to protect TJ himself duh.
That's all.
Ah yeah also Ian said it himself too that Jo looks at him in the same obsessive way TJ used to, and Ian is a damaged person who kinda self sabotages by going after him and messing around with fate once again. It's kinda like a cry for help, something like "please, I'd really like if the same shitty relationship doesn't result from this the same as it did with TJ, please prove me wrong Jo"
Yesss exactly, finally someone that understands their dynamic