Tbh yeah it's true that a lot of BL stories include rape as a trope, but they usually incl...

Tbh yeah it's true that a lot of BL stories include rape as a trope, but they usually include that trope to either: (1) introduce dark elements into the story, or (2) to fulfil some kink of either the author's or the readers'. For the former, the readers know that it's fucked up because it'll be portrayed that way, and for the latter the readers will know how to distinguish those scenes between real life because obviously there's a huge difference between kink and real life.

And you can usually identify the difference because the story premises are so out there — like yeah if you owe a huge debt to this loan shark that you can't repay, and this loan shark tells you to repay it with your body, then obviously that kind of relationship is unhealthy (understatement of the year, but I digress). So even when authors try to romanticise that kind of relationship, the readers know that they don't actually *want* to owe a million dollar debt and be locked up and raped by some psycho.

But in this manhwa, Sunbae raping Hosik is completely glossed over, even portrayed as comedic, which intentionally normalises and glamourises rape and incredibly manipulative relationships. Sunbae intentionally has sex with a drunk Hosik who cannot give informed consent, and completely manipulates Hosik afterwards by saying that it was fine because Hosik liked it. Starting from then on, he is extremely controlling with Hosik — he tracks Hosik's location everywhere he goes, obsessively checks his texts with his friend, stops Hosik from going out... Even from the very beginning when Hosik goes to the abortion clinic, Sunbae finds him and immediately overrides his decision to abort the baby — which is a huge red flag in of itself, if the blatant rape scene hadn't already turned you off.

And Hosik ACCEPTS IT. He pretty much goes along with everything Sunbae says, even when his best friend (the sole voice of reason in this manhwa) points out that hey, maybe throwing your education and future career away to have the baby of a man you barely know MAY NOT BE THE BEST IDEA. It's actually pretty scary how the entire process of Sunbae raping Hosik, then manipulating him into having the baby and then marrying into his family goes so smoothly, because it's so realistic.

That's the stark difference between this manhwa and other toxic relationship BL manhwas. This kind of relationship can happen to anyone, and this manhwa portrays it as a perfect and romantic relationship because Sunbae is a rich hot guy who showers Hosik with luxuries and affection. When in reality, he's is a manipulative psychopath with wealth and influence who is utterly obsessed with Hosik, a normal guy who has nothing to rely on except for him — he has an university degree, and THAT'S IT. No career, no family support (because you can bet that his parents, enamoured by the glitz and glamour of being in-laws to a chaebol family, will be of little help if he wants to leave), and the one close friend who's actually concerned for him is someone whom Sunbae intensely restricts him from interacting with.

THIS is a true example of normalising and romanticising unhealthy relationships. And you know it's intentional, especially with the side stories about their past lives that poorly attempts to justify Sunbae's actions. I actually feel pretty bad for Hosik because he's basically trapped for the rest of his life. The ONLY reason it somehow works out is because, bless him, he's not the brightest tool in the box.

So yeah, this is why this particular manhwa leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But at the same time, this is just my opinion — if you like this manhwa, you're well within your right to.