Jokes aside, I really appreciate a queer story being told from the perspective from someone who isn't ready to come out yet, but still desperately loves the person they're in a relationship with. Being queer should never come at the cost of being forced to feel unsafe in order to love the person you want to love.
That said, I think ml is really sweet and kind and generous to be willing to accommodate mc's anxieties and fears in mc's journey. Queer stories exist in different forms, but I'm so in love with stories where despite social anxieities and societal fears, love chooses to persevere via healthy communication and commitment to one another, and an acceptance of each other's weaknesses.
It's always up to every individual what type of person they want to date and be committed to, and I'm sure there are queer people further along in their journey who probably wouldn’t want to date someone still anxious about coming out. However, I think it is so valuable when stories depict the constant compromise and negotiations queer ppl make with the world, whether internally within one's self, as well as externally with one's partner and the larger society, and how love is still possible amidst all that compromise and noise.
Tldr: I think there needs to be more understanding lent to the fact that mc is coming into his own in this journey, after clear major trauma as a child which he shouldn't be blamed for, and ml loves mc so much that he is willing to work through it together with him. Also im massively in love with this story can u tell XD
you’re so right. this is a wonderful representation of how childhood experiences and complications with social dynamics in queer individuals can be navigated in a healthy way. especially in a romantic context. AGHFHSKCJOFF I LOVE THEM
I love that more people are coming to the same conclusion omg a few chapters back it was a war zone here but honestly you just need some comprehension and empathy to understand this story. love your takes
i really love how they address the fears queer ppl who haven't come out yet / are unsure of their sexuality feel in this chapter! Feels really true to life with some of the conversations ive had – the soft signalling to know how ppl feel about a certain topic without giving too much away... [also the way ml is so determined to love mc got me like >///<]
love how the old couple was just like – aw they're cute, okay now take a picture of us tgt
I enjoyed this! It was quite rushed towards the end, but I felt that the mc's anxieties about coming out were realistic, even if they were not 'correct' and even if they ended up causing conflict with ml. I think it really goes to show how different people can be at different stages of their queer journey, and that it takes a lot of effort and communication to be able to bridge that gap between stages sometimes. Would have loved to see more of mc's alluded child abuse by his gym teacher from the past though! Feels like there's more to be told here, but overall it's an enjoyable comfort read <3