I didn't dislike him at all, the fact I'm trying to not be biased to any characters at all. that's why I don't ship Hae-soo with anyone and he should be left alone. still, I can't change my opinion towards Joo-won. some of you guys thought he's the victim yet I thought he's not. it didn't make Hae-soo's a saint that they messed their relationship, he also participated in their toxic game. yet Joo-won who's the one who started it all. he made a game, drew a line between their relationship but crossed that very line he drewn himself. he hanged their relationship, but doesn't like the idea of Hae-soo seeing some other man. I know some of you would defend him, thought he did it for Hae-soo's sake, so his stepbrother won't get hurt, but his way is wrong. Joo-won's savior complex led them to their current situation. he told Hae-soo he wanted to be an actor and didn't want his dad know about them so they didn't get separated, and I know it's a lie. but why he should lie in the first place? so he could protect him? no, the fact, it only hurt Hae-soo. if you were Hae-soo, and your loved ones saying you should stop seeing each other for their own good, what'd you say? shouldn't you two fight for your relationship, seeking for the better solution together? he made the rules without even asking what Hae-soo felt. Hae-soo never said he was agreed to that kind of tie. Hae-soo just went along without complaining. he's never been nosy about whoever Joo-won dated, but Joo-won kept asking because he wanted to find out that the person Hae-soo dated wasn't better than him. he wanted to know how long their relationship last, and how much Hae-soo liked him--cause deep down, he scared to lose him. he thought he can control things, but then when he's in the verge of losing Hae-soo, he filled with rage. "it's the first time I saw you like this", he said when Hae-soo lied about his feelings for Taku. Joo-won really needs something to knock off his pride cause it'd be much easier if he admitted his true feeling, thus everything's settled. but he still don't do that, I'm so done. Hae-soo worried him, he worried about their rls; yet Joo-won keep taking advantage of that kinda weakness. he cares, but he doesn't want to admit.
you guys should know it's not a matter of who did wrong and who's the victim. this manhwa is portraying people who being tied in toxic relationship and people like Hae-soo who can't get out of himself from that devil chain. and I think it's a very brave step of Hae-soo to said stop and we should respect that. it happens everyday, dude. we just ignored it, just how people still defend Joo-won for any sakes.
Hae-soo eventually realize that they should stop here. he's clearly still got feelings for Joo-won, he also doesn't want to lose him, but he was in a pinch. it must be so hard for him to decide amongst J or his own mum. before, he didn't want to make it clear because he was afraid of whatever Joo-won might say. then when he thought their relationship might won't have an happy ending, he gave up. after all, what right does Joo-won have to feel jealous when they were not even in an official relationship? when Taku told Hae-soo to use him fully, he offered to stop. yet Taku said he loves him, and Hae-soo didn't believe it. cause when you've never been being loved right, you'd doubt everything others said to you. you got trust issue and couldn't help but kept asking questions to people who might loves you. Hae-soo put up a barricade so that he wouldn't get hurt. he's been emotionally abused but he didn't realize. that's why he never tried to give his heart to other people except Joo-won. he's scared people would break it just like Joo-won did.
I feel sorry for Hae-soo's mum, I don't get why some readers put her a backlash though imo she's the sorta selfless character in this series. she even gave up on her marriage in order to protect her son. it's not like she hates Joo-won, she's just disgusted at the fact that it was 'Joo-won' (who happened to be his stepson) that Hae-soo likes. some people could go insane to imagine their two sons fucking each other behind them. she knew all along that Hae-soo was into men (so she might not thinking it was Joo-won who allures his son), and she just asked one thing: anyone but him.
also finally a backstory for Taku. I've been with him since day one but his character twist me a bit. he's the hot-and-cold type, or you could say, emotionally unavailable. he scared crossing a certain line when it comes to relationship, because the closer he gets to someone, they become more mysterious to him. being with people like this sure hard. in one way, they're so straightforward and open about what they feel. but in the other hand, they felt like build a transparent wall and won't let you in. he always said and did anything that his previous partner might want to hear/get. but when it comes to emotional attachment, he failed to do so. that's why his ex said he felt lonely eventhough they were dating. people like this made you keep wondering whether they liked them for sure, or just putting up an act. but I feel he developed a serious feeling (different from what he felt to his ex) towards Hae-soo disregarding how they first started.
I keep forward for the next chapter and let all of the cliffhanger explained.