Jihwan really seems to care about Sooyoung. The fact that he honestly told Sooyoung that his mother didn't really like him and that she was just "a beautiful, strange person" when Sooyoung told she must've been kind. He is opening up about himself, even if it's a bit by bit. We didn't see Jihwan involving in any psychotic behaviour when it comes to Sooyoung. He just wants to be beside him and take care of him, "Go to sleep, you must be tired" and those "Why are you so upset? Didn't you have a good time?"
Honestly, Jihwan gives the "I hate everyone but you" vibes and ngl, I'm loving it so far. The plot is really interesting and each chapter gets me even excited! The title fits the story so well lmaooo, it's really "the edge of ambiguity".
This is the first time I'm commenting on this site, but I think it's time I share my thoughts. Unlike many old readers from 2021, I've started Payback just at the end of Sept 2023 (IT'S A SHAME IK, BUT AT LEAST BETTER LATE THAN NEVER) and I can't explain how much hooked I got.... I went crazy and am still crazy.
I gotta say something first and that's if you just wanna see the two mcs smash, go read some smut bls where they do it literally in every chap or right after one or two. The Payback manhwa is being made according to the novel of it and so far, the pacing is actually great. That's the slow burn and that's what it makes Payback so realistic tbh, cuz other bls would be even wrong to call a "fantasy" bc things are THAT WORSE for these bl manhwas, mangas, etc.
All bls these days have the most mid plot with bs toxic characters and mainly s3x and s3x!! Like give it a rest?? Wth?? I've been a bl reader since 2018 and I've been sooooooooo fkn bored bc no bl was that interesting, just the same old. So one evening of Sept 2023, I stumbled upon this playlist from yt and found the pic of both Jay and Yoohan in that list with their pics. Looking at the art.... MY JAW DROPPED AND I WAS IN SHOCK. I literally sighed and thought "Well, I guess if the mc looks THIS FINE, I bet he's HELLA TOXIC too" but Jay's pic, from that chapter of Yoohan and him meeting at roof for the first time, WAS WAY TOO INTRIGUING AND FINEEE AF FOR ME TO IGNORE. The song for Jay in the playlist implied that this character was a very rich guy and that even interested me even more. So then, I started reading the manhwa and here I am... absolutely OBSESSED and DEVOURING this manhwa and story. The dynamic of Jay and Yoohan is sooo good, their contrast personalities compliment each other so well.
I know the novel translation has been dropped but as far as I've read, many more interesting things (and ofc spicy stuff) will be happening in the future. It's gonna be really fun so all you gotta do is just wait a little bit (like time will fly! t literally flies!) and then, you're gonna think "okay, it was worth the wait". I have a huge amount of respect and honour for both the artist and author and have purchased a few chapters already to support (tho I only bought them by just checking in and watching ads). If you can, do support them!
Anyways, Payback is different and actually interesting! Can't wait to see them in Nov, gonna miss Jay and Yoohan a lot!! But still waiting!! :)
AGREED ALTHOUGH I DIDNT GET TO FINISH YOUR WHOLE ESSAY YOURE SO RIGHT
Absolute bestie!!! Like it’s crazy how BL is only associated with smut, absolutely wild there is smut in this story but it’s not crazy amount, though at the same time it’s “spicier” than the norm cus who here has their fucking CEO/boss on them??? honestly what makes this story so great is the plot, and if there’s so much, then the storyline is overshadowed by the smut and loses its spotlight
Very VERY well said!
(I don't read the novel, but it's a shame the translation was dropped. Hope someone picks it up again at some point.)
I think the BL community is too used to seeing people whoring around that they don't realize the best stories have an actual story and purpose besides seeing two people fuck. Which is a shame in many ways. It makes you realize and grow so much if you give actual stories a go instead of reading smut everybody hypes up so much. Don't get me wrong, those are great too and I read my fair share but people seem so against having an actual story nowadays that it really makes me wonder if readers who complain about there being a story/no sex for a chapter or two are literal children who cannot handle paying attention to a story and remembering things. Kinda like that ADHD Twitter-TikTok generation social media has bred. NO goddamn patience to follow a story and think for a minute. Even anime has those, people legit complain about watching a historical anime and having to remember more than 4 names. Like wtf. XD
There are quite a few stories that manage to combine both factors (plenty smex AND an interesting story) but finding stories that mainly focus on storytelling are still less common. I suppose they do not sell as well so they will always stay less common, which i find sad tbh.
Instant gratification is probably what most people desire instead of wanting an immersive, compelling story.
Which I think is a shame since the best stories are those that bother making you feel for the characters not just go 'he hot!' and then see to it that there is bonking going on.
To each their own, but I wish people would at least stop complaining as if writing a detailed story with a focus other than sex is something bad compared to dumb smut that's just fap-material/cheap amateur porn as a comic. (〜￣△￣)〜
I think you wrote a very lovely first comment btw!
It's not necessary to comment on everything all the time. Just do it whenever you feel like what you say could help someone to read/avoid/understand something better or maybe just mention something you feel is important in some way. And I think your first comment matches that very well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us randos on the internet~ ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
Don’t be shy, drop the playlist name~ ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
i started at like 3 am n read it in one day its super good
Ahaha it's okay, thanks! I'm glad you think the same :)
Yess bestie!!! You're sooo right!! 90% of bls are just associated with smut.. like ugh! You're also right about "spicier" BUT HONESTLY?? There's this tension between the both of them which makes it sooo freaking hot even without smut??? Like Jay could be just smirking at Yoohan and having his hand wrapped around Yoohan's nape while he glares at Jay.... AND I WOULD GO ABSOLUTELY FERAL, START SCREAMING AND PUNCHING THE AIR I'M SO INSANE FOR THEM FR
I have read your full reply and thanks a lot for reading my comment! I'm very happy that you took the time to write this sensible reply which I absolutely agree with!! Like 100% agreement. Plotting, storytelling and crafting characters who actually have a personality are tough jobs... Samk, the author, did an amazing job in them and so did fujoking making the art, like oh my god, my eyes have been blessed!! Ngl it irks me when I see those "so slow", "ugh will they do it already?" - NO, PLS STOP I thought the purpose of any kind of story, novel or manhwa, is for the readers to feel emotions for the characters, root for them when they're struggling, be happy when they're successful in their goals and curse the enemies cuz they bother our mcs, etc. I'm sure readers (and that includes me) also love the spicy stuff but EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME.
When spicy stuff is limited and the story goes on, readers follow on and baam- ooh the tension is building and there we see a spicy scene unfolding! That's what makes it interesting and more fun, right? But nah, there are some who just wanna see two handsome men fkn rather than be interested in what the mc is doing and what's happening around them that's why I said in my comment just go read a smut bl if that's what you're into, there are thousands of them! No one is judging you for it, they're good too! Just read what you like! Cuz honestly, calling a good slow burn with an exciting plot and interesting characters (+THAT AMAZING ART) "slow" just bc mcs aren't fkn is questionable
p.s Thanks a lot on what you said at the last para! Woohoo! So glad my first comment was for Payback :)
OFC !! HERE YOU GOOO !!
https://youtu.be/nGjtdh5T9II?si=6KJG96FWcqh_nSi-
BINGE READING IS SO FUN, I TOTALLY FEEL YOU IT'S SOOO GOOD FR
REALL
OMG YESS UR RIGHT!!! But they don’t understand all those lil things is the build up to something huge I just know it!! All to make it even more meaningful and…… passionate..ifykyk
I FEEL THIS SO HARD!
there’s soooo much smut in the BL world(some of them have FIVE CHS worth of smut like omg it’s insane) so a gem that pops up with the slow burn, perfect tension, strong af uke and fire storyline is such a breathe of fucking fresh air
anyone who doesn’t appreciate that can go read some other series but those “when are they fucking” “ugh fuck already” “it’s boring just bang already” seriously makes me mad for the authors and artists that put their hard work to make a wonderful story like this…
Yeongwoon my dude, wtf happened to all your judo skills? You trained for so long and forgot them already?
When I saw Yeongwoon lying beside Seoin, my heart jumped out of my chest. I was literally screaming "WTF?? NO!! RUN!!! RUN RIGHT NOW!!!" but bro didn't listen