beta
Kind of??? Spoilers
I js did a reread so I’ll add some of my changed thoughts below! Also that means this comment got even longer…
I personally don’t dislike either the MC or the ML. I think that they’re both making somewhat rational choices compared to what I would’ve expected (a little less rational for the ml ngl) and they’re both being like respectful to each other. But I think my big issue with their relationship is that I’m really struggling to understand how they’re gonna come back from this weird awkward relationship they have. As I understand it, mc WILL end up with the ml but I can’t see that happening like honestly.
I think they both social checkmated each other by following the other’s requests, which irl is a very normal and decent thing to do, but by doing so (at least in terms of the storytelling) it feels like they’ve limited their character interactions and now there’s no real stakes at play. They’ve both distanced themselves, at least in the others POV, and I don’t think ml is the type to beg for affection given what he’s experienced and (likely?????) thinks about the mc (but we don’t know anything because he doesn’t even change his facial expression).
But I don’t think mc will beg for his affection either, given that he’s done the opposite for like the entire series. Unless it gets cheesed with some stupid arc like “I’m moving away and u need to tell me u love me so I don’t” or smth.
Idk, I wanna know what u guys think of their relationship. I think they’re both decent people, it’s just that right now it really feels like they don’t click the way I thought they would. At the beginning of the series, I could definitely see their chemistry and stuff like I think they would’ve been fine then, but since those past 30 chapters, putting them in a relationship seems so like… forced. Like if I was in either ml or mc’s shoes, I would think the other guy lwk hated me like idk. I think that their interactions have really only worsened over time because mc is stubborn and needs answers while ml is stubborn and too fucking quiet all the time. I do need to add I do like both of the characters it’s just… they’re frustrating me these days….
This isn’t meant to be hate or anything, I’m still interested in the story and stuff and I really do wanna see how the authors gonna make them fall in love. Cause if the ml reveals that he saw the guys butt tattoo, that doesn’t erase how he treated the mc and didn’t tell him anything. Same with the mc, if mc discovers the butt tattoo, it doesn’t undo all the distancing (because he felt uncomfortable???? iirc) and walls he put up either.
I think I js wanna see what’s gonna happen that could possibly change the current situation. I do hope it isn’t cheesed out by like a memory loss arc or a “saved my life in an accident” arc or “I’m drunk and confessing everything to u and ur gonna pretend u heard nothing” arc or smth. Like idk reading it now js feels like im getting embrassment cucked idk. I wanna hear smn else’s thoughts though cause it’s been a while since I’ve read the beginning and I might’ve totally misunderstood their characters in the storytelling pls don’t attack me I swear I’m trying my best to understand the storytelling and authors mind ╥﹏╥
Post reread: I still stand by the fact that they’re both good characters. I think they’re both still interesting however I take back what I said abt decent human beings. I think the ml lwk shouldn’t feel this angry. I think it’s unfair for him to have treated the mc like an experiment (he literally is like “will mc still fall for me even though I made a horrible first impression”) which implies he 1. Wasn’t sincere towards mc for a long time and 2. Had way less to lose in the war that is social chess.
If there’s one thing “define popularity” taught me, it’s that the one who cares more always has more to lose. I think that’s what currently happening. The mc can’t make up his mind on whether he even likes the ml while the ml seems to be putting up either a facade AND/OR dealing with conflicting emotions post 6month internship. So the ml’s role/value in the mc’s life didn’t necessarily change, arguably it actually lowered due to his actions post mc apology.
However to the ml, things seem to have changed. I think his distancing (said this in a reply also) is an external result of trying to retain the status quo. The ml’s friend says that ml never tried to win over anyone like this before. I think the ml’s attempts to spark jealousy or hurt or whatever are his attempts at “winning” over the mc, emphasize winning. I don’t think the ml understands courtship nor do I think that currently he genuinely wants the best for mc.
I’m pressed to argue he’s angry at the mc for multiple reasons, but the biggest one being that he has lost his value in mc’s life. Mc has a bf, mc ghosted him for 6 months, mc didn’t console him post breakup, like etc etc. I think the ml is indeed a bad person but I don’t think his actions r necessarily irrational.
Now for mc. I think because he has such an aloof, bag of rocks eq nature, he actually hasn’t changed much. I will say his adoption of ml values (especially of the dating one) is prolly pissing the ml off and also I think, a really good storytelling technique to show us he still does care abt what the ml thinks! BUT, big but, he hasn’t rlly changed how he thinks of the ml. iirc, it was his friends who thought the ml was trouble not the mc. The mc is still agonizing over whether he even likes the guy as a friend! Idk the mc frustrates me sm BC WDYM U HAD A WET DREAM AND “idk if I like him like that tho” I THINK U DO!!!! Idk I’ll add more later maybe