That’s quite the revelation about the relationship between Joowon and his dad, and how twisted and confused everything became from his perspective. Each parent really did a number on their respective son! Like we already know how Haesoo’s mom threatened to withhold her “love” if Haesoo continued with Joowon, and tried her best to sully their union and make it “wrong” in his mind. It’s been awhile since I read it, but I thought the parents’ original marriage was only about status, social climbing, opportunism. Everything was only about themselves and their own interests. They should learn something in their old age and do whatever it takes to salvage a relationship with their sons, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Joohae to cut ties with them.
Also, it’s nice to see someone correctly using the term “gaslighting”. The way people throw that word around the World Wide Web without understanding what it means gets old.
As a psych major, god it drives me up a wall to see the word "gaslighting" used improperly all over the internet!
Yep yep, what Joowon's dad did, was ACTUAL gaslighting.
He intentionally manipulated Joowon's perception and beliefs for his own desire to keep the two away from each other. He made Joowon believe, contrary to reality, that Haesoo will abandon and leave him, so he shouldn't try to start anything with the other. Also in the hospital after the accident, he literally LIES to Joowon saying that he saw Haesoo having a great time at the exhibition. This time Joowon catches the lie because Haesoo actually came running to the hospital to see him and wasn't at the exhibition.
It also made more obvious why Joowon was so scared of confronting the problems. Why his motto was "If it never starts, it never ends" and why he belived the ambiguity of their relationship was the only way to protect their feelings. I was so shaken by how much abuse their parents actually did to them. I used to believe that the mother was the one who gaslighted them the most but it was actually Joowon's dad! ! ! It took me a second to realize his discourse went from "You shouldn't act as a kid anymore" to "The only way of resolving this if you do nothing, Haesoo will leave you" omg He really did mess up with his head, and when we take into account how he was the one who told Haesoo about the marriage to test him (he really despise Haesoo) and how he didn't care how his son during his scandal... I hate their parents, glad they are no longer in contact.
I do think they married for love (or their version of it) initially and stability too for Haesoo because her ex abandoned his son, but of course, I don't think they delved too much into that just to say that Haesoo thought he was still in love with his mother, but of course, he was missing a lot of what JW's dad was doing even telling JW that he needed to become an adult if he wanted to pursue Haesoo all the while probably keeping them apart sending Haesoo off to who knows where. Then, he threw in the daggers that Haesoo probably already forgot you and has moved on to others, which means that fear every time Haesoo was with someone else was eating him alive.
She said she deserved to be happy. What about your son, and what kills ME is that, that mother knew it was more than sex. Her first instinct was to ask if they were DATING. She knew it was deeper than that, but instead, she labeled it disgusting and let her son be miserable to satisfy her inability to accept him loving and wanting Joowon.
She KNEW if Haesoo were to say goodbye to Joowon when she ran off like a thief in the night, it would have been them leaving those miserable people behind and declaring his love. I truly believe it would have happened, and she knew it too which is why she was that selfish to take away their last moment together.
I am eager to see what BS she spews to JW's dad after that hospital visit with JW. When is enough, enough, people? My mom was so good to my sister who came out as gay who has had some majorly dysfunctional partners, so this hits home in a lot of ways. What did Joowon do that was so wrong, fall in love with your SON? Please, the ONLY person to love Haesoo unconditionally was Joowon, and thank god for that.
This development is just another example of how well the author has done at peeling back the layers to show influences upon, and motivations of the characters. Like at this stage in the story, right near the end, it’s quite the bomb and I wasn’t anticipating just how much Joowon’s dad hurt and confused him.
Remember when Joowon told Taku that Haesoo is very fickle? How he also believed that Haesoo gets bored easily to the point he internalize making sure he is his first priority and that nobody gets into his level? How much he feared being abandoned? Now, we know that it was not only consequences of the past. Someone else also put these ideas in his head. Joowon and Haesoo were victims of their parents, Haesoo's mom also emotionally abused her son for years. Their parents are a major reason why they were such a mess as people and as a couple. The parents were so stupid and cruel for thinking they could control their ADULT sons, especially if they couldn't do it when they were adolescent. I also didn't expect this revelation at this point but after knowing how much they actually abused their kids, even tho I'm not a super fan of Joohae, it feels so good that they are together.
Ayo, Joowon's dad mentality is so funny: Son, don't act like a kid. You only make things difficult for Haesoo. In fact, why bother? He is a b i t c h. It's better if you do nothing because then you will not fail :D I'm worried about how much he affects you, so I'll marry this woman I don't love to impose a taboo once again and ruin your life because I love you despite that I neglected you almost all your life and I was just a father on paper
I hate everyone is this manhwa wtf
Yes, I remember that part! Pretty meticulously and masterfully planned by the author. I also had the startling realization that Joowon’s words (which were in fact his father’s lies) in this scene heavily influenced my own negative perception of Haesoo’s character.
In my first time seeing the translations, when he said “Haesoo is fickle” I LITERALLY GASPED
I remember so clearly when Joowon said the same thing to Taku. He really fully internalized what his father wanted him to believe about Haesoo
Joowon's writing is * chef's kiss *
yes agreed. i love his character so much!
The new raw chapter... idc idc JOOWON DESERVES EVERYTHING GOOD
ಥ__ಥ
He really went through the most in this manhwa. His father gaslit him for YEARS, convincing him that Haesoo will abandon him, that Haesoo will eventually move onto other ppl. He did it to keep them apart, and Joowon admitted that he always believed his father's words. In a flashback he told Joowon regarding Haesoo: "don't start anything, and then you'll never fail". This must be the main reason why Joowon always believed it was better to not start anything serious with Haesoo (especially after HS said stuff like "I'm scared of my feelings for you", and left him after the divorce).
Joowon has in fact been suffering, keeping silent abt his love for Haesoo in their ambiguous relationship,, but ppl want to make it seem like Haesoo was the only one hurt ><
So, it was so nice seeing him be so open with his feelings for Haesoo in this chapter, telling him he loves him and that he missed him, and expressing how happy he is when they can actually be together.