this is so truuuue omg
yess so well said
Absolutely true!
And I think that’s exactly why Haesoo didn’t bear a grudge with all those harsh words at the end, and wished him well. He didn’t have any depth of feeling for him, and is being polite. He really just wanted to break it off in just a minute, but patiently endured another round of guilt-tripping, which thankfully did not alter his resolve.
It’s a very marked contrast to the breakup with Joowon, where he freely unleashes the most caustic hurtful rebukes, none of which is returned. I feel like Joowon was always a place for Haesoo to vent his frustrations of all sorts throughout their relationship, and this scene is like the ultimate crescendo for that dynamic.
Their separation in this respect not only gives him a chance to do something for himself, realize his potential as a writer, but also to be an equal and healthy partner to Joowon. At least I think that’s the idea the author is going with.
ohh you make an interesting point about their breakups! Haesoo was so unfazed by Taku's words in their last moments together... definitely showing how lukewarm he felt towards Taku, that nothing he said could really hurt Haesoo. That's why he could easily smile and wish Taku the best despite what Taku said to him.
With Haesoo and Joowon's separation I felt like he threw all those hurtful words and statements at Joowon as a kind of way to make Joowon stop loving him. Because Haesoo knew deep down that Joowon did love him, he was just in denial. So he wanted Joowon to get over him so they could have a normal sibling relationship.
Jaehoo’s breakup is such a loaded, complex scene. I can definitely see that element there, too, that Haesoo was trying to extinguish Joowon’s love for him. I also think part of him wanted to believe he didn’t love Joowon enough, and of course it took the separation to realize just how deep it ran.
yes exactly T.T i think haesoo also believed that if he simply tried hard enough and lied about his feelings, he could get over Joowon. And he believed he was saying all those things for both their sakes (so it'd hurt now, but it would be better in the long term or something).
It's kind of funny how some readers are like "Taku never hurt Haesoo though! That's why they should end up together". Do ppl realize that Haesoo simply couldn't be emotionally hurt by Taku... because he did not love Taku?
Like: Haesoo at best felt fondness for Taku and nothing more. Taku was manipulative and selfish, and intended to use Haesoo just as he used his previous models. He did not have sincere feelings for Haesoo to start, which should've technically hurt Haesoo. However, because Haesoo didn't have any romantic feelings for Taku, he simply accepted it and let himself be used + used Taku as a rebound in the process. There was no room in Haesoo's heart to even be hurt by him.
The title says it all. Love or Hate: did Haesoo ever love Taku? did he ever hate Taku? no and no. both of those emotions represent Haesoo's conflicting emotions with Joowon and Joowon only.