He is the definition of...

You guys are simultaneously oversimplifying and overcomplicating things...which is genuinely impressive. Why are you acting like cowards and anxiety are mutually exclusive? Cowards act as such because of their anxieties. You've decided that coward is merely an insult and written it off as a way to disregard Homin's difficulties. That is incorrect. Cowards are those who lack the courage to face unpleasant things. Homin didn't even have the courage to find out if he'd be facing anything unpleasant. Hyeseong just said that Homin started keeping everything to himself before high school, which is before he had or realized his romantic feelings. Separate from his confusion over his feelings for his friend, he had long been avoiding what was bothering him. He clearly has a seemingly baseless anxiety over his feelings. We have no reason to assume he's suffered any trauma specific to his anxiety...assuming otherwise by ch 12 is merely making excuses for terrible behavior. Hyeseong hasn't given Homin any reason to doubt him. In fact, Hyeseong makes it abundantly clear that he cares for him more than a friend and even more than family. Is he afraid Hyeseong will think he's disgusting and hate him? Does he really think so little of Hyeseong? Is he afraid it will ruin their brotherly relationship? Completely cutting ties with him does that, but without closure. His behavior is unquestionably selfish and cowardly. Everyone has anxieties about something, and it can give insight into why we react to certain things. The way we deal with anxiety is what sets people apart. Many cops who use excessive force do so because of racism-inspired anxieties...but they are clearly at fault and their irrational fears do not explain their behavior or beg sympathy. Should Homin be forgiven for sincerely wronging Hyeseong because he was afraid of everything? Having anxiety does not explain him only thinking of himself and giving no consideration to the person who cares most about him. He was too afraid to confront his feelings, too afraid to be honest with his most important person, too afraid to even cut ties officially. I'm not saying he should have said, "Screw it" and confessed his feelings. However, burying your head in the sand and running away without a word is not ok. Ghosting someone is an act of cowardice and disrespect...he did that to his best friend x100.