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Overall, Idk why this chapter is convincing people that Joohyuk will be the endgame. I understand that perspective, but I interpreted this chapter completely differently. I saw this as Eun-oh getting the resolve to distance himself from Joohyuk (whether that actually happens is another question, especially considering the kidnapping).
TLDR: eun-oh misses his past with joohyuk which is part of why he “gives in” and still associates with him, but in this chapter has resolve to stop and distance himself. I think a lot of eun-oh hate isn't completely justified (internalized homophobia). I hate the kidnapping. (someone save me why do I like such a mediocre, basic, predictable series.)
[disclaimer is I love dochan and always have been a mild joohyuk hater, so I am incredibly biased. Plus after the past few chapters I am certified anti-Joohyuk. So good chance I'm delusional and just trying to be optimistic.]
The flashback at the beginning shows that Eun-oh wants to return to a time when he was Miss Baeks "second son". He wanted to return to the time him and Joohyuk were close friends and didn't have a sexual relationship with each other. Eun-oh realizes he hasn't been able to fully let go of his relationship with Joohyuk because of their past. He had a somewhat familial relationship with him and Miss Baek. Eun-oh lived with them during high school, and is/was financially supported by Miss Baek.
That flashback is of the same picture Eun-oh masturbated in front of in ch 8. The "line" between the two of them was already clearly Miss Baek. But it is also Joohyuk being somewhat like a brother (if eunohs his mothers 'second son', that's a brother). It's not only about Eun-oh struggling with his own sexuality. He had Joohyuk were best friends before their relationship collapsed.
"could it be that in the end I let you reach this breaking point?"
Eun-oh blame himself for the current state of their relationship. He blames himself for Joohyuk's abusive behavior. Eun-oh doesn't recognize his own pain. Even as he breaks down, he doesn't blame joohyuk. Because Eun-oh has hurt Joohyuk in the past, he avoids hurting him again and gives into Joohyuk's requests.
This is why I don't understand people that hate Eun-oh's character. All the critiques people have, Eun-oh has addressed in the story and shown his immense guilt. Eun-oh knows it was wrong to ignore Joohyuk. Despite all the awful things Joohyuk has done, he does not blame Joohyuk. He calls him an asshole and "son of a bitch", but time and time again, Eun-oh defends Joohyuk's actions. He can't let go of the past they share. He can't let go of the love and support he had while living with Joohyuk and Miss Baek.
I still think it's possible Eun-oh had romantic feelings for Joohyuk back in highschool. This is all based on that one flashback of them on the roof together. However, if that's what the author intended to show, I wish there were more flashbacks. I'll say it again and again, Eun-oh distancing himself from Joohyuk can be explained by internalized homophobia. Seeing that Joohyuk was gay forced Eun-oh to confront the fact that two men could be in a relationship. It's possible he recontextualized all his past moments with Joohyuk. Instead of confronting his own feelings and sexuality, Eun-oh ran away from it. It's possible for young queer people to have crushes on ppl of the same gender and not realize it until years later.(some of you must be gay too and understand, right??). Even if you understand in theory that same-sex relationships exist, that doesn't guarantee you apply it to yourself.
"did I give you false hope and make you suffer? if that's the case I can't keep doing this."
But I think any possible romantic feelings for joohyuk died the night of that freshman party, where joohyuk sexually assaulted Eun-oh for the first time and became a "son of a bitch". But still, Eun-oh blames himself. Because of their positive memories and past, Eun-oh has hope their relationship can return to what it used to be. As long as he doesn't completely cut joohyuk off, there is the potential they can be close again. He sees the abuse he's gone through as giving Joohyuk 'false hope'. This isn't the first time Eun-oh has decided to push Joohyuk away (read chapter 13 again, also ch 23). But I hope this time is the last, and that things continue differently.
If this does get spun to have Joohyuk and Eun-oh end up with each other, I will be extremely disappointed. Actually, I will be furious. If someone wants a character to be the main ML, you don't write such disgusting rape chapters and make the character completely irredeemable. Especially when Dochan is RIGHT THERE, and has been perfect, kind, and considerate the entire time. The end of this chapter shows Eun-oh thinking of Dochan. The previous chapter was the same, chapter 31 was the same. It's clear he cares about Dochan. I think there is real potential for Dochan endgame.
In my ideal, Dochan will save Eun-oh from the kidnappers. In reality, whoever the author wants the endgame will save him. Or potentially, both love interests will end up there, and Eun-oh will 'choose'.
This kidnapping annoys me for so many reasons. It feels like such a cheap way to increase the drama. It could have happened at a different point of the story, not now. After the intensity of the past three chapters, it is completely unsatisfying. But I guess a basic BL is incomplete without a kidnapping arc. It was clear glasses guy would be a cheap, one-dimensional side villain to add drama to an otherwise plain plot, but I still despise the way it's been executed. I want the author to make an authors note or have a Q&A so I can actually understand what they are trying to accomplish. I like this manhwa but not because it's good. I could not explain why I have fixated on such a mediocre story.
If eunoh does end up with Joohyuk, I think I will be completely devastated. I don’t know what redemption is possible for him. If what just happened is ignored, any interactions between them will feel hollow and incomplete. If Joohyuk ends up injured because of this glasses bitch and that drives eunoh to forgive him, I will probably give up any hope I had for this manhwa.