
But this part of Taegu isn’t shocking or even that horrible imo.
He was a gangster— he didn’t know the kid except for as a form of collateral. So he wasn’t going to feel sympathy for him in the beginning. Pacing, pacing.
But as he goes on and you see him observe Yw, you see his affection and his sympathy start to grow from him. Also, YWs dad beating him is an important part of the story, they aren’t going to have Taegu run in and ruin one of the plot devices.

I know it’s probably not this deep but I was looking for symbolism and might have found it in the earrings.
TJ always has the golden hoop earrings in
Ian, anytime you see his ears you only see the hole, no piercing.
When they first started doing it they said they holed up in his room for a few days and TJ pierced his ears to match Ian’s.
I think this is a symbol of the love they had for each other. That’s when it became mutual. Eventually Ian took his out, symbolizing the death of his love for TJ, but the remnants of his love are still there. Meanwhile TJ never took his out, so he never stopped loving Ian.
Idk… it might just be jewelry but it’s fun to analyze
╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
It was never going to be TJ
BUT— his reason for choosing the gang over Ian is actually pretty sad. He doesn’t know a life or have a trade outside of being a gangster. His feelings have a huge root in anxious attachment. He’s terrified of leaving the group and terrified of Ian leaving him. Insecure about how desirable as he is, he feels the need to validate the affection from Ian through the power money he gets through the gang.
He would need to fix his trauma before being able to have a relationship with Ian—but he’s too afraid.
TJ is going to end up alone.
Also everyone needs to calm tf down. Both mls are hot and awesome and valid choices.