I fully agree with you. I really enjoyed it and felt it used the few chapters it had well, but I'm really put off by the sexual part of their relationship. I think the other aspects are enough to carry it, which is why I didn't rate it very low, but it would definitely be better without the sex. Or even if they hadn't gone so hard specifically writing him as childlike. I wouldn't mind him being immature or naive, but he's very clearly meant to behave like a fairly young child. It's weird and takes a away from an otherwise pretty solid story.
I would say, his parents were in a cult and isolated themselves as a family if three.
1. Whatever doctrine they practiced may have censored any sex aspect, like usual.
2. They NEVER would've brought in another person, that place was just for them. It was an instruction for ML no never bring anyone in.
3. They never expected for the father to die, nor the mom to commit suicide. They took for granted they would be there to educate (indoctrinate) their child till the end. They are cult followers, they don't trust outside education
Jihoon is 20, although that’s only learned in the last bonus. I did feel weird when reading bc I didn’t know how old Jihoon was and he looked really young in the flashback, so I was kind of just hoping he was an adult bc I was attracted to him, and the sexual relationship with Gitae.
As for the childish aspect, I did find it weird too. But idk I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong or icky bc Jihoon does understand things and knows what he wants, he just has very little experience bc of his upbringing. And the only way he’d actually be a mental child is if his brain is damaged/underdeveloped, which I don’t think it is
The story is good but short. Maybe 2.5 to 3 stars -- will decide on a re-read.
My biggest issue with this story is the relationship. If they had remained friends, I wouldn't be so torn between with my rating, but the fact that their relationship became sexual causes me so much doubt and just plain distasteful.
Explanation before the hate: Jihoon is an teen/young adult (17~20ish) with a child's mentality. His consenting to sexual relationship with Gitae is dubious, his other actions may seem adult, but his main thoughts, wants, writing, and interactions are at a child's basic level. While Gitae recognizes Jihoon's childish mental capacity, I don't think he fully understands it, so I don't blame him for inadvertently starting the sexual relationship. But I do blame the author -- the parents (Jihoon's) went into so much prep work for this safe haven but did not store any anatomy teaching/learning/growing materials/books?? Jihoon is stuck with a child's mind in an adult body. Which makes the sexual part of their relationship icky and very hard for me to look past.