he had fun on the date and feels a little flustered!!! ;~; it's subtle but it's there!
sunbae is clearly very traumatized (from his experiences??) -- I get the sense he's used to not having his needs and desires heard and just being used as a vessel (like his injuries not taken seriously, etc), so he's completely numbed himself from wanting things, including meaningful relationships. he seems SO lonely and isolated too (like no family?)
sunbae is clearly self-sabotaging when he's on his worst behavior bc he's probably scared of actually really getting invested in his relationship with woojoon. at the same time, I like that woojoon is growing a bit of a backbone and we're seeing sunbae's "realer" personality as well -- their bickering is actually kind of fun? anyways I like how much of a slow burn this has been and I really think we're near a turning point - I'm rly invested!
- cheoljin flinching when he hears minwoo and his brother fighting...he does NOT like it when family fight (trauma from his own experiences?)
- cheoljin can tell minwoo's brother is judging him for coming from a "poorer" background(that slide of the brother looking at his dirty shoes) and he's still trying to make a good impression at the end ;~;
- minwoo really loves giving and spoiling the person he loves. (there's some element of financial privilege involved here too ig) I rly think it's his love language... I rly feel like this is core to (present) cheoljin now coming back to minwoo more successful and famous and determined to spoil him in return and buy him things; for him it's core to being true equals BUT tbh minwoo rly loves giving and I think cheoljin learning how to be cared for is core to future developments
- minwoo fully believes cheoljin is an angel (like a rabbit) but cheoljin probably DID approach minwoo for some ulterior motivation at first even though he now regrets it and really doesn't want to "owe" minwoo anything. so when minwoo is like MY BROTHER IS WRONG YOU"RE A GOOD PERSON cheoljin probably is like...well he's right, I'm a bad person
- cheoljin seems to say something important to minwoo when he holds his hand but minwoo is too distracted by the handholding to hear?? lol (I think this is a common dynamic for them where minwoo is so enamored with cheoljin that he misses certain things about him) I feel like we'll find out later on?
- but anyways it's clear young minwoo put cheoljin on a pedestal...present minwoo assumes only the worst of cheoljin...the key will be him being able to accept how complex cheoljin is as a WHOLE person imo. meanwhile cheoljin is going to have to learn how to be actually vulnerable with his feelings/wants/needs instead of manipulating people into doing things for him (vs just asking for help) + learning to let go of control and being honest? bc that's what it also means to treat ur partner with respect. long journey ahead...
love your analysis, couldn't agree more
Great observations again dulce!!!!
so good to see a comment from someone who GETS it
thanks friends I wish there were more ppl obsessed with them lmao
- cheoljin taking the textbooks from minwoo to avoid minwoo following him because he doesn't want minwoo to see where he lives
- minwoo still thinks cheoljin has a "harmonious family" but cheoljin's parents are clearly absent or something (there is no one "waiting" for him at home)
- when minwoo asks if cheoljin needs to go home cheoljin takes it as minwoo not wanting him there -- he's very insecure! so him "teasing" minwoo is also him trying to confirm minwoo's affections for him, trying to get minwoo to say that he wants him there.
- this is a core source of miscommunication (for later minwoo) because (later, angry) minwoo sees chealjin's teasing as pure manipulation but for cheoljin it's also coming out of insecurity and a need for confirmation
- cheoljin has an uneasy relationship with physical attraction towards him! he knows ppl desire him physically, he knows what to "offer" to people; he thinks that's one of the only things he can provide. he clearly knows minwoo is physically attracted to him, but I think he might think minwoo just wants him physically (hence him being a bit ??? when minwoo asks him to sleep over),
- cheoljin is a FOXXXXX but also a bunny and also a scared mouse
you have everything ON POINT!
You know your ballll dulceee
I will always lock-in when it comes to my princess cheoljin
This IS IT!! This season is AMAZINGLY peak. Chuljin and minwoo have the deepest and the longest relationship out of everyone yet it's the messiest. I'm so nervous about whatever happens in the past bc you're absolutely right minwoo is earnest, and soo innocently too but chuljin seems to taking it with insecurity. I also wonder if his career in the industry is maybe related somehow to his money troubles and loneliness, and very used to being used physically. I also wonder if he may have a need for validation (eg, the girlfriend he was seeing and the earlier reference that's he always on dating apps as an adult?), I'm very curious too how it'll tie in w him realizing he truly does love minwoo.
like the author is being purposeful about how uncomfortable the sex scenes are cheoljin hiding his discomfort from not being able to feel pleasure from bottoming yet (rmb he has germaphobe tendencies) but also scared that minwoo will leave if he realizes. all of chealjin's tendencies make more sense if you realize deep down he's this traditional person who wants heart x body to be connected and is used to being sexually desired (but uncomfortable and prudish about it, even though he uses it as a tool) without being loved
meanwhile mw is definitely being selfish with chasing his pleasure (in contrast to how he's a considerate lover with others) because this is the only place where he feels he has control over cheoljin and also he feels like he's justified in being not considerate.
the payoff is in later chapters where minwoo starts being more considerate and cheoljin starts actually feeling pleasure and it's >>>>>>>> (hot!!!)
also in this chapter you have cheoljin still being manipulative by trying to get Norman's hairband off of minwoo by faking pleasure, distracting him etc -- cheoljin is super possessive and hates seeing ppl's things on minwoo! minwoo doesn't realize why cheoljin is fake moaning and just thinks cheoljin is playing with him -- again constant miscommunication. bc minwoo thinks cheoljin just toys with him but actually w/ minwoo's personality, he would be fine with cheoljin being manipulative if he realized it was bc cheoljin really liked him lolol.
Omg yass i absolutely agree with this
Hey can you please tell me the actual relationship between minwoo and cheoljin? I just remember minwoo hated him but he was the first love, and then cheoljin started popping up in the story. Also what chapters do they reconnect, I'm so lost
Okay no nvm I'm caught up to the latest chapters pls spoil me if you know what om earth their relationship, I'm so invested and desperate
like that last line about only seokjun being able to come in yeochan is soo insane but also strangely romantic lmao
Meant to leave a like, not dislike, sorry ToT
he gets hate but honestly he has a backbone and a personality (rare for third-party twinks in manhwas lol)
Right. Other twinks get in between the mais couple and he's like fuck this shit im out lol
*main
Funny as hell too
I'm sooo happy rian had this up his sleeve I was getting tired of Enzo seeming like he had teh upper hand like where was the alpha x alpha I was promised?? author delivered!!!! sorry I ever doubted!!! i love the push and pull, Enzo's going to have to do so much more for rian to fall for him and it's going to be so delicious hehe
morally dubious mcs for the win!