This is one of the few stories where Idk what will happen next. The author has decided to not beat around the bush and have the brothers confront each other directly since both sides know what's going on already. The brother proves to a very conniving and sly bastard with how he dodges questions and answers in a way that shows plausible deniability. No need to drag this unnecessarily. I just hope S2 comes soon bc this was what I looked forward to every Thursday.
Honestly, prob an unpopular opinion but I feel like this story is lowkey boring. With the characters supposedly on opposite ends of the moral compass, you would think the author would use that aspect to challenge both characters. Instead, they go the light-hearted, boring route where ML gets under MC's skin in a comedic way. ML's supposed to be a gangster who sends his goons to KILL ppl. MC's supposed to be a detective fighting for the good side. Would've been more intriguing to have them fall in love and really struggle with each others' careers and morals. Like can MC really get past the fact that ML kills and disposes of ppl or can he really deal with the fact that ML is directly involved in some downright criminal, illegal cases.
This chapter shows more of how Jaeyi grew up and he was taught his feelings and needs weren't as important as his brother's. This entire situation with Ideum bonding with Jiseong especially makes him feel like this is another thing Jiseong will take from him.
The way both brothers behave is really a result of how they were raised.
Jiseong was the sick kid who wasn't able to experience his childhood as a free, healthy kid but because of his sickness, his parents naturally catered everything for him. They gave in, compromised, and always spoiled him to overcompensate for his sickness. This and Jiseong being sick, made him feel entitled to things, whether they were his or not. AND with how poorly the parents handled Jaeyi's want and need for his birthday, caused his outburst and resulted in Jiseong feeling like his brother hates him.
Whereas, Jaeyi, being the healthy kid, they entirely neglected to care for his feelings and his needs. Its actually natural for parents to prioritize the sick child over the healthy one but they really failed in giving both their kids, individual attention that didn't compete with each other. They directly and indirectly brewed this animosity between the brothers.
All this to say, the author is doing a great job building everybody's backstory and giving the characters substance. It adds to the story and explains to us why they behave the way they do. I do predict Jaeyi will attempt to do it with Ideum and this is only the beginning of Jaeyi not communicating to Ideum. Considering Jaeyi's past, he will likely give up on Ideum soon and either Ideum will initiate or something significant enough will happen for Jaeyi to change his approach and decide to fight for what he wants.
Lets goooo! Just when you think it can't get better. The author figured out a smooth way for Ideum to meet Jaeyi's brother from the very beginning by making Jaeyi's brother a competitive swimmer and having Ideum be signed up for swimming classes for his bl writing. The not-boyfriend-only-fuck-buddy is continuing to give boyfriend vibes. Only thing is this is lowkey giving same face syndrome bc the brother looks almost identical to Jaeyi. At one frame, I thought it was Jaeyi with a wig on.
To be honest, even though I'm not very invested in this story, I think this whole cliche kidnapping arc is sort of interesting. We finally get to see Yeomin run again. >.<.
The defiant, stubborn, and strong-willed side of him is finally being showcased here. At the very least, we get to read how both Taesoo and Yeomin feel about this confrontation. It's so clear to me that Taesoo is reacting this way because. even though he has mutual feelings for Yeomin, he's scared--scared of Yeomin leaving him. Taesoo realizes that Yeomin has shown this side of himself before, in the past towards his student who tried to bully him, but NOW, that very determined, resolute face is now directed towards himself. I think he realizes deep down that Yeomin has made up his mind and won't change it. THAT's why he is reacting so brutally violent and aggressive.
Very refreshing is that Yeomin sticks to his guns AND during the kidnapping arc, there's no sexual abuse. Yeomin full on faces him and ASKS him outright what their relationship is, what he means to him, why he wants him to stay and fully recognizes that whatever he was hoping for, would never come true.
I have to say with the new volumes, the time skip proved to be very strategically well placed. I read spoilers and still did not anticipate for Saimon to kill Seijuro. I did not at all anticipate that Reiko was a beta and in fact everybody BUT Iori is either a beta or an omega. The plot twist wasn't just shocking but a testament to the irony of this society they live in. The fact that the child most disappointing and average and doubted turned out to be the only alpha in the Hanabusa family - Iori. The twisted nature of Seijuro in wanting so hard to prove that he, a beta, could pass off as an alpha and ended up pulling it off. This story is wild in the best way. It truly conveys the idea of how this type of twisted, prejudiced society will push people to go to drastic measures to attain or keep power bestowed only to one class--alphas.
Yes! The twist was so good! I sat there in shock for a while time just staring at that page. I never saw it coming. I'm still thinking about it. I love it. This isn't just fucked up people doing shitty things. Every single person in that household was both a victim and a perpetrator of the discriminatory social standards of their society. By clinging so desperately to those ideals that only uplifted alphas, they ensured their own downfall. It's so deliciously karmic.
Yess, very well said. Speaking of deliciously karmic, the fact that only an alpha-omega pair can give birth to alphas while in this society, they have produced pills to nearly guarantee birthing alphas will result in no omegas being born in 15 years is wild. They're effectively ending the continuation of omegas and therefore, killing their chances of producing alphas as well
THIS is how you do a fuck buddy trope. The dynamic between them. The art. The communication. The sprinkling of actual back story. The fact that Jaeyi isn't an asshole. Finally, someone knows how to write. Its not just smut and sex throughout all the chapters. In fact sometimes we skip the sex scenes to get some actual relationship development. Ughh I look forward to this every Thursday.






Lowkey this dynamic is not giving. The author revealed too early the entire backstory of what happened so the mystery with that is gone. It also showed basically NONE of it was Alex's fault except for him being too cowardly to tell the truth or fail to choose another choice to fight the threat. So this also removes the angst bc its simply such a simple fix with just communication and their problem is solved. I just wish the conflict was either more complicated than just "Alex lied to Nathan to protect him" OR the story was paced differently where they reveal the backstory slowly.
omfg thisss and it didnt even protect him because all the pic was, was him being shirtless. which, for a guy IS NOT BAD AT ALL so there was no need for protecting. IF HE JUST TOLD HIM THE FUCKING TRUTH THIS WHOLE WE COULD JUST GET A SLICE OF LIFE AND NO MORE ANGST
That's valid tbh.
Just saying, the photo is a full nude of a porn star that looks very similiar to Nathan of back then, it looks similiar enough that people could easily believe it's him if it was released by David Mack publicly. The manhwa doesn't show it since the chracters are underage at that point.
ohhhhhhh.... that makes more sense