pluckaduck's Manga

I started this without any expectations, thinking it was another dumb generic bl, but holy damn I'm so invested. this is a slow burn but very fleshed out and well-paced. mc and ml went from classmates who barely spoke, to blackmailer and blackmailee, to mutual dislike, but mc absolutely hates the ml, and he has every right to do so. ml is a jerk, asshole, selfish guy who originally wanted to mess with mc and used him to humiliate his stepmother which evoked memories of the past mc desperately wants to forget. but ml's not like those cold-blooded crazy bitches, his asshole-ness at his age is realistic. like typically a forced kiss would kickstart a romance and be glossed over, but this time his behavior had an impact of a magnitude he didn't realize and we all despise him for it. I'm glad that mc is not turned into this feminine or masculine dude that many creators love to do, he's a normal guy without any fetishization, originally outgoing and social who turns anti-social and gloomy bc of a deep trauma. his ex-best friend is understandably upset, and it's not uncommon to feel disgusted at the concept of homosexuality, but his vindictive actions are downright cruel. (and, it's kinda sad that mc still in love with him). I'm really sad for mc, bc of ml his trauma reopened, and his insensitive ass isn't aware of the depths of the consequences. there better be some good groveling shit before he is forgiven. it's really well-written with great art and paneling, so im looking forward to it.
ch 66. finally, his comeuppance. ml is a real selfish, manipulative two-faced asshole, he has developed feelings for mc and while I do enjoy a possessive fleshed out ml, I hope karma bashes him in his face. i admit that i lowkey kinda like him, but I'm hoping mc will fall for another or actually not like anyone for a long time (like he said he would) while ml just pines away cuz he really deserves that. like, he only did one thing good in mc's life so far, and that is unintentionally influencing mc's mom to cancel his doctor appointments. this motherfucker literally after developing an obsession over mc, he tries to isolate him from his friends, make mc heartbroken and give up on chanil by setting him up with pink-haired lady...like he the whole red flag.
ch78. Jesus fucking christ.

wtf happen in the past?? who did the blackhaired woman kill? and apparently, she cheated on redhead with the white-haired mutual friend... it's got some psychological elements
edit: well apparently, the aforementioned lady and white-haired man were in love, but they kept it under wraps bc she was his adopted sister. she got pregnant by the Whitehair, so the redhead covered for them, and claimed to the public that the baby was his. convoluted shit. ch51: damn, feeling so sad for redhead and mc. they should've been together.
edit: ti feels so rushed. it lacks tension, momentum, and depth cuz of the lack of proper build up; there's just a lot going on but whether its the pacing or the framing, i don't really care for the characters.
completed: so fucking messy and confusing. the mother was shot and fell into a laek or smth and then the next time she appeared she's perfectly fine and donated her heart to her son. huh? it seems the author developed the plot points, but not the details creating a very disjointed storytelling.

tension was palpable. great enemies to lovers with unrequited pining. last 50 chapters or so was messy cuz of pacing issues