You're not imagining things.... I think the chapter is full of explicit analogies between what H x J and H x T at this point.
Haesoo coming from the cold and thinking about warmth in Taku's appointment.
Haesoo and Taku communicating naturally and bonding instead of going for sex ( H x J scenes are heavily about their sexual dynamic)
Haesoo 'you never listen to what I say' .... (Joowon saying that;s why you love me ... so much self centered personality going on here)
Haesoo and Joowon total disconnect during the father's dinner
Haesoo feeling comfortable enough to show vulnerability with Taku
Haesoo 'bad habit' that hurts him ( what is Haesoo biggest self inflicted pain? ).
Haesoo hurt himself because of Joowon, Taku treats his wound. The bandaid scene!!!
Haesoo being weary of affection --- because he is not used to but then reaching out for it.
I don't know, Haesoo and Taku is just beginning their thing while Haesoo and Joowon have a whole structure already going on. It will be interesting when Joowon wakes up to the fact that he may be losing Haesoo. Right now Joowon still has the upper hand but some long love ends and new love starts like this ... when you try something better that what you always knew, you can't help but want it.
Haesoo is only using Taku for comfort ... is not his fault but that is what it is.
The moment he sees that Joowon loves him and even bought a ring and wants to be with him as a couple Haesoo will be happy because that's what he always wanted.
Taku is cute and all but he doesn't stand a chance when Joowon confesses to Haesoo.
(〜￣△￣)〜
If you think that, that shows how immature you are when it comes to relationships
Sure, Jan.
I think you've completely misunderstood Haesoo's issues with Joowon. A ring solves nothing, and Haesoo does not simply just want Joowon to be a couple with him. There are layers and layers of guilt, anxiety, low self-esteem and feelings of being used when it comes to Haesoo and how he feels about Joowon. A ring won't solve any of that. I highly reccomend reading a little more into their interactions; Haesoo and Joowon's interactions almost always have that aura of discomfort and tension, and not in the good sense - it's toxic more than anything else, suffocating. I won't comment on how it will end, since I don't know, but Haesoo and Taku have a more comfortable and good tension type of relationship. Haesoo felt okay being vulnerable with Taku, we haven't seen that with Joowon. And Taku said Haesoo could use him, so there's nothing to hate on there.
"Haesoo using taking for comfort"... -- well, you are right but to Haesoo's defense, Taku did explicitly say YOU CAN USE ME IF YOU WANT, IN FACT, I PREFER IT THAT WAY... I don't know if the guy had 6th Sense and foresaw that Haesoo was in a toxic relationship but well... good for Haesoo!
FUCKING. YES. PREACH. OMG
This is kind of detailed and long, only read if you don't mind ..... (People, if you are able to stay unbiased and just try to analyze what the author wants to tell... pay attention to the way the author use of analogies, hints and subtle things to show the comparison between what is becoming two versions of Haesoo... )
Haesoo doesn't wait for their meeting and go straight to Taku's home without notice. When Taku opens the door he is surprised and asks what he doing there, what happened... Haesoo says he came to return the lighter ... Haesoo has a sad expression and Taku obviously feels that
this is an excuse and he says that it's strange he would suddenly show up without calling him. Taku's friend (who was there before) calls out to him.. Haesoo realizing that Taku has a guest says he should leave and makes a move to go but Taku reaches out and grabs his hand ... The friend comes to the door and he is really excited to see him... He explains that he is a school friend, asks Haesoo if he wrote the article on Taku and says he is glad to meet him.... The friend asks Taku to translate all this but Taku only translate as 'Nice to meet you' , lol. The friend wants to have a drink with Haesoo, Taku asks if he is busy and they both stare at each other for a moment ... The friend thinks to himself that even if they are not dating, there is something else going on between them. Taku senses that something is bothering Haesoo so he asks his friend to leave.... Taku offers Haesoo coffee... Once he's inside Haesoo first thought is how the studio is warm ( analogy to feeling good and comfortable ?) , that he used the lighter as excuse because he didn't want to go home ... Taku notices the cut on his thumb and says it's a bad habit (analogy to keep going back to a bad relationship that hurts him?) ...Haesoo minimizes the hurt and says it can wait ( again, Haesoo settling for pain instead of doing something) but Taku says it must be hard to keep it like that and he treats the wound, putting a bandaid on it. If this whole sequence/chapter is not a huge symbolic thing, I don't know what it is. Haesoo says that it's something he used to do as a kid but hardly does it now but he was feeling anxious today.... He says he doesn't need to feel anxious over meaningless things ... :( Imagine repeating to himself this over the years trying to numb himself to things that hurt him ) ...Haesoo says nothing really happened but he felt like crying :( ... he says he almost didn't come because he didn't have an appointment but Taku says he is welcome anytime... Haesoo slowly withdraw his hand, closing up again...Taku then says that Haesoo is like a cat in the rain that looks like he wants to be taken in and cared for but when the person reaches out the cat scratches/bite... :) Haesoo thinks it's a fun analogy and although it hurts his pride a bit, he feels happy/good that he cares/pities him. Haesoo feels desperate for immediate touch, care, comfort,tenderness... he reaches out to Taku, initiates the kiss this time, tells him that he is cold, ask for embrace ....
My heart!!!!!! the kitten in the rain is accepting the hand that wants to care for him....!!! The warmth, the bandage, Haesoo opening up and Taku listening (the 'you never listens to what I say' line comes to mind ... you can't communicate with someone if they don't listen). Anyway, again, if almost every panel of this chapter (actually almost all scenes in this story) is not loaded with symbolic meanings I may be on drugs and imagining things.