Responses
Idk why I went on a tangent like this. I was hesitating if i should post this at all, I was just sad that people sometimes read at the surface and don't give it a chance to miss the development for a better conclusion.
But ofc it's people's choice, this story might triggers some of us, then it's perfectly fine to put it down and never read it. What matters is you make yourself happy, don't stress yourself.
This is like, falling in love in a bad world in a bad time.
About Taeju, he was born into such a world, surrounded by thugs and grew up as thugs, he didn't know any other way of living. It's like when you see people running in the same direction, you instinctively run too without even knowing what you are running from. His way of living was from the pain of others. Until Euihyun. Taeju was astonished of how perseverant Euihyun was, despite his initial suicide attempt, how strong he was, and how he didn't let anyone push him down. And how wonderful the way he so beautifully loves his little brother, these were what interests Taeju at first aside from how he smelled so good to him.
Taeju started to care more and more, alas his upbringing was in a violent world, a dog eat dog world, a world where blood relation may not matter in the way of greed. And so, he was greedy, he takes in ways he learnt in that world, he manipulates to get what he wants. He done what was in his textbook of living in that world. It took time for him to finally see the error in his ways, it took time to understand what exactly are his mistakes, it took time to fix what was his habit into something new, something he learnt recently. Love, selfless love.
His change was gradual, as it is with real people, change is not easy. People don't really change, but there are some cases they do. And it shows, how sincere he was in his love. And he would gladly drink cyanide for Euihyun not to atone for his sins, but bcs he genuinely think Euihyun is better off without him in his life. That's just crazy. That's real character development there, a full 180.
So really, it doesn't erase his sins, but had he not been born in that world, his character wouldn't be such an ass (because a true ass will stay an ass no matter what trust me). Should i forgive a rapist? Depends, I don't like cancel culture because some people do grow and change. If a rapist irredeemable then they should burn in hell. But I'm talking here from my own experience of years of resentment, and my rapist redeem himself finally over the years, I found myself forgiving him. He didn't only sexually abused me, but mentally and physically for years and years to the point men disgust me (at that time). It was weird, but I did forgave him, he did change, he was remorseful and repented. Ofc I'm only talking about my own case, not every cases like mine, and many are worse much worse with less than garbage type of men. But it's possible, somewhere in this world even murderer might feel so remorseful about their own heinous crimes they can't live with themselves.
I think from this story we too, learn with time and forgiveness. Something about this story resonates with a part of me. And I usually hate non con, it's just awful, but this one... Idk, at the end I like both, I gave them a chance and they did grow and developed, and I'm satisfied.