
Remember guys, it's ok to assume, but let's not conclude everything. Let's give time for ML to show his perspective, opinions, or side regarding why he is doing those things. I'm not siding with ML, just being open-minded and will wait for things to progress for them. If ML is doing it for a bad reason, of course i'll hate him, but if not then all's fine. Well in the end of the day, whether the reason is bad or good, MC is still the victim.
I know ML may look like a manipulator, but its a litte far from it. He isn't abusing MC lol like stop over reacting, he may be gaslighting him but not to the point that it will harm MC, its more on like ML is helping him to understand more of his own feelings. There is no blackmail, using of others weakness, guilt tripping or such that makes its toxic or red flag. I would say that He's more on doing playful teasing.