moody_bish's manga / #ldr(5)

it starts off slow, or maybe manhwa's are really written like that...but the character growth really shows and the love is there. i just feel like the ending stopped abruptly and hoped to know more about their transition living abroad.

Ahh the joys of short yet fulfilling romantic story. It has the right amount of drama, sensuality, and romance.

Both of the couples had a gap time where the occurences of their past affected their time apart and mahnified when they met again. The first was about an unforgettable kiss which somehow prevented him from ever kissing anyone else. The second was a word/drawing chain game that exemplified their feelings, ending for a moment then resumed just when they thought it would end. The 2nd couple is fleshed out more than the first which makes their connected more real as well.

Kichiro is a bright and innocently honest rich kid who got caught up with an escort's escape from his clients. Natsuo, who is 2 years older and thrives by selling his body, taught Kichiro about sex which led to a wholesome pursuit of a rich kid and his first love. There were trials and no unnecessary drama which tested their love, yet through it all, they grew and loved each other more. [wholesome. Excellent execution. Refreshing.]

Shima is a new employee who is pestered by his stinky superior, Togawa. Not only does his quiet yet snarky personality match Togawa's shamelessness, his unraveled past makes it more difficult for Shima to completely shut off his feelings. An impulsive and simple sex relationship began to turn into a complicated web of surfacing feelings and insecurities. Togawa has always talked about children because of his past and Shima has always felt insufficient. Hence, the dissonance of their cores made it more difficult for Shima to simply accept Togawa when the latter confessed. The physical distance then becomes absolute with Togawa's transfer while Shima tries to properly entangle his fear, guilt, and regret. Meanwhile, Onoda, a bystander who've witnessed and had a role in their relationship, began feeling swayed by Shima. A realization of attraction which he does accepts to be in vain as Shima already had Togawa. Nonetheless, it didn't stop him from sharing his discreet love and heartbreak to his 3-years drinking buddy, Daguchi. Unknown to him is the window of opportunity he had just pretended to his secretly gay drinking buddy, and the cycle of restraint and high hopes it also caused Daguchi. Being 3 years older than Onoda, Daguchi tests the waters by teasing Onoda to go out with him. Being told that it was impossible made it difficult to treat it as a joke and decides to leave. But the dense yet also untimely quickwitted Onoda realizes the truth behind his joke and recognized a few signs of Daguchi's affections. But the man who was still going on about Shima was confused, yet also wished Daguchi wouldn't be too quick on severing ties. As a compromise, he asks Daguchi to let him think about while also retaining the relationship they already had. Problem is, loving someone can only tolerate enough tension and self-control.