Keep seeing comments about how Brett is playing with Hayden but I think that’s a misunderstanding of their conversation. Maybe it’s easier for most of us to identify with Hayden - similar to Hayden, we feel like Brett has all the power right now (we’re also probably more emotional like Hayden lmao)
but imo, Brett IS taking his relationship with Hayden super seriously and is trying to treat Hayden as equally as possible - ie putting tons of effort into thinking about Hayden’s preferences, making sure Hayden’s “career” benefits from associating with him, etc. that’s the main reason why he feels like Hayden is insulting him the whole time in this convo and their prior ones: (1) Hayden claiming that Brett ISN’T taking the relationship seriously when in fact, Brett feels like he’s been putting a lot of effort into it; saying that (2) Brett is using him as a toy as escapism from his boring, high class life, when Brett has been trying hard to treat Hayden as an equal (Brett: “This relationship started only because I tricked you into it. Since then, I’ve tried my best not to be dishonest with you about anything.”)
From Brett’s pov, he knows Hayden wants his love, but as a hyper-rational person, love feels just too abstract for him. It’s not something he feels like he can promise concretely or even fully understand - and for Brett, not delivering on a promise means he’s failed his end of the bargain. So for Brett, being the MOST honest about what he feels like he can give Hayden concretely is his way of respecting Hayden as an equal. It’s also how he’s been taught since young: giving tangible, concrete gifts (““I can’t promise that kind of intangible emotion from my end, nor do I want to”)
Brett doesn’t have that love to give to Hayden, and he’s not sure if he ever will. he thinks that Hayden will be inevitably be disappointed even if he waits for it, and then will leave the relationship, WHICH BRETT DOESN’T WANT!! so Brett is basically like - I know that I can’t give you what you want and that you’ll leave eventually. But I’d like this to last as long as it can, so what can I give you instead? He’s seeing this as a negotiation between two ppl and views Hayden issuing love ultimatums as one-sided, like he’s browbeating Brett over the head and deciding things on his own.
Basically it breaks down to:
For Hayden: I want your (Brett’s) love
For Brett: I don’t want our relationship to end.
In some ways, both are related to dominance. Hayden wants Brett to give his feelings because Brett would actually be giving up something ie. making himself vulnerable and risking himself. Brett doesn’t want Hayden to one-sidedly end the relationship and leave no room for negotiation/prolonging the relationship based on other terms; he doesn’t want to give Hayden the power to set the terms of when the relationship ends.
DELICIOUS DELICIOUS stuff from the author as usual I’m utterly obsessed
I totally agree with this! I also firmly believe that Brett has unknowingly been in love with Hayden for a long time he just doesn't recognize the emotion. He noticed him first, approached him first, usually reaches out first (especially at the beginning). He (Brett) doesn't think he can give Hayden what he wants and I think he's internally panicking that Hayden will just give up like you said and leave him for good. Brett's doing whatever he can (or what he thinks he can do) to keep Hayden within his grasp.
And I agree with the dominance thing. They're both Alphas after all. Though Hayden hides his alpha-ness, I'm sure he wants to get his way too so he's going to do what he can as well to get Brett to buckle. I don't think Hayden will do any underhanded tricks like Brett does, but he will for sure constantly challenge Brett and remind him of "hey, dude, you came to me first, I'm just trying to get a bit more from you (without all this transactional BS)".
Ultimately, I think the author's plan is to have them both win, in a way. Brett will have to have his come to Jesus moment and realize it is indeed love and not just lust he's feeling towards Hayden while Hayden just needs to realize that Brett didn't come from an environment of natural love so he needs a little compromise too on his side to ease Brett into what will be essentially, I think, Brett's first true relationship with anyone.
Both of you are so geniuses I couldn’t have said it better myself! This was fun to read
This was an amazing breakdown tysm
Thank you for breaking down their dynamics into a more understandable way!
Folks like you who give their time writing down analysis of the story are one of the reasons why I keep reading this story.
Since the first trick, Brett has always been honest in the effort he's putting into their relationship. Hayden talked about love, Brett said I can't promise something fake or superficial, nor is he interested in searching for this feeling (but somehow, if it comes in the way, it's fine)
And that's perfect. I don't want to see glitters and rainbows, it's so refreshing to have a sense of realism in yaoi (and how surprising it's present in an omegaverse)
exactly this!!! it felt more real, raw, and intriguing as they are honestly civilly negotiating. no sudden love bs. and them just laying their boundaries and wants fleshes out their characters. essential, theyre asking the same things albeit in diff language (not literally) because of their diff upbringing and background. brett's character is esp laid out since the gift montage with hyung (holding my breath atm cos i thought dad brainwashed brett to evil) making their talk scene perfect sense. also love how you both point out their alpha and need for dominance cos it reminds us that this isnt the typical omega alpha couple. but real raw feral alphas trying to make this relationship worth. which is the reason why axa is so good and interesting.
yes brett soo obviously cares for hayden like he made that blondie shoot himself in the shoulder bc of what he did to hayden!! hayden also clearly brings out a side of brett that others don't get to see. i do wonder if its risen to "love" in the traditional sense of it being something you can't control but it's also bc brett is hella emotionally repressed so we'll see!!
i absolutely agree i think it's been so refreshing seeing hayden's character in this as well - usually we kind of see the person who fell first/pursuing the other as the "loser" but Hayden standing his own ground and insisting on his own worldview while assertively calling out Brett but ALSO being proactive and brave about his feelings is very cool to me and makes him just as "strong" and "alpha" as brett. i absolutely agree that they will both "win" in the end and I'm so excited by it - i just know the process is going to be very rocky and maybe even very violent and antagonistic at times as two stubborn alphas butt heads even as we get sweet moments
that's so sweet, thank you! i'm glad my brainrot is enjoyeable to read haha
thank youu i think about them a bit too much hehe
yess it's amazing how much the dialogue can tell us about their respective backgrounds and worldviews (show don't tell!!) honestly i'm kind of impressed brett has any ethics in general given his dad and the ppl he was surrounded with growing up fkdlsajf like he's hyper-rational in a scary way but still clearly has a code of ethics. imagine brett being actually evil with that brain of his...yes i love the alpha x alpha, so many AxA's out there are only AxA in name imo (like the bottom alpha being basically an omega) so a story like this where you actually feel the fight for dominance is very cool (and hot!)
Brett would be so hot being the villain top tho. But still not as hot being our cunty dom alpha who just wanna get railed HAHAHAH. It would be a treat if we get a sneak peak of their future tho, where they have alr comfortable w/ e/o and seeing brett acting like a spoiled baby for hayden. Hed be so cute i bet. I cant wait!
oh yes! Brett is, at the very least, interested, at most possessive? obsessive? not sure how to describe it, lol. I do think it could be love in a sense but in a more like a companionship, almost "I want to see the most/everything you can to offer" kind of attraction if that makes sense? A sense of respect and adoration(?). For Brett not coming from the most loving of environments I think that's the best he can offer in this current state. Perhaps it could evolve to a more traditional love but that would be like years later with some healing (and I forsee more spats with Hayden here and there). I mean, all his life all his relationships have been a "I need this from you/need this in exchange/you'll be useful to me if you do this" kinda deal so I don't blame him for being the way he is. Boy needs some therapy FR FR.
I totally LOVE Hayden's reactions too! It is indeed refreshing to see a character (regardless of A/O/B dynamics) actually stand up for what they believe in/want for in a relationship. It's that constant challenging that I think will really set up a collective change for them both! I wish I had a Hayden in real life NGL, lol!
I just love these 2 and this story! The brain rot these 2 have given me will last for a lifetime
like did we forget how this series started lmao the whole premise was non-con ish BUT unlike other manhwa it's not a cheap plot device or just something the author puts in bc they don't understand consent...sexuality is portrayed with violence in this series/particular ABO worldview and is central to the themes of dominance and freedom and love that the author is carefully exploring and teasing apart (even as she situates it in some chill college setting!)
anyways, the author said that this season would be darker and aggressive and that there would be non-con - if any hint of that squicks you out you should stop reading (though idk how it took so long for ppl to realize that) it's fine to not want to engage in that but considering this whole manhwa is around thorny, blurry negotiations of consensual non-consent among other things it's just brain numbing if you don't see that there are more layers here than being "omg...xyz is a rapist this means the manhwa is problematic"
I love this! I'm sick and tired of other manhwas that has rape scenes just for the sake of being a toxic manhwa
omg is brett finally going to realize he bit off more than he could chew (probably a constant theme in this manhwa)..i had a bad feeling when i saw him literally trying to manipulate the police and high level politics like MY DUDE calm down?!! i wonder if its ppl on the bully's dad's side trying to get him not to testify against on behalf of the shooter
(wonder how hayden imprinting on brett will turn out here like will he be able to sense if brett's hurt? or in danger? or nah) i personally don't feel like hayden will save brett again since that trope is already played out but i'm so excited for whatever comes next like this author is a #truewriter
(don't bang him up TOO badly pls author we love brett's pretty face)
I just hope they don't gang rape Brett or leave him too hurt...
love how we are all so impatient we just skip ahead n read the raws lol its a ritual for every manhwa for me atp
like we've seen hayden in his rut 34930814 times but never brett it almost feels thematically on point that hayden is constantly victim to his animal instincts whereas we never see brett being out of control in the same way BUT YEA i would like to see it plsss
This is the one thing that is so odd to me. Brett's rut is never shown, it's always Hayden. Granted, the story revolves around Hayden's rut and how Brett reacts to it, it would be nice to see Brett writhing and needy ⁄(⁄ ⁄·⁄ω⁄·⁄ ⁄)⁄
i havent read the raws, but i'm thinking brett likely has some sort of medication to control his rut or he is just a more controlled alpha (maybe recessive?)
i think in general the whole concept of brett being physically needy in a way that is out of control is sooo >>>>> wonder if we'll ever see it bc right now it's so imbalanced!!!
i can't recall if that's the case but yes i could see brett being recessive (or being less prone to intense ruts generally) but it's just so curious that we've never seen it even mentioned!!
omg have to give it to the author for that nasty nasty sex i've never seen it done so well like when you're SOO into each other you're kind of desperate and ugly for it if you know what i mean...also just personality chemistry wise i really enjoyed jaehyun's backstory that was such loving affirming communication mwah orange haired angel my sunshine too precious for teh world
i skipped the other 3way chapters tbh but i'm interested in the kind of manipulative black hair guy who's been stirring things up..wish he bottomed bc i love seeing assholes being made to bottom but seems like that might not be the case :(
interesting plot. genuinely quick twisted. love psycho/morally ambiguous mcs <3
hayden recognizing that brett likes this "give and take" thing bc brett doesn't actually lose anything from giving the stuff he usually gives (bc he has so much of it); hayden appealing to brett's way of thinking and being like an ACTUAL equal give and take would be you giving your feelings (Bc then brett is ACTUALLY giving something in this exchange - also more romantically, hayden wants his feelings reciprocated <3)
meanwhile as someone who always wants freedom and likes being in control brett hates having his choices limited, which is why when he hears this his instinct is like "are you trying to force me away by putting things in such forceful terms?" so hayden proving that NO he's not trying to force brett away by MAKING OUT WITH HIM but then giving him the nipple pinch to say "you're not off the hook yet" DELICIOUSSS
tbh I LOVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!! i struggle a lot with like understanding what characters are trying to say and analyzing the deeper meanings so whenever i see people (like you) in the comments who actually explain whats going on and in a way that i can understand i genuinely feel like jumping around with excitement
its honestly so nice seeing people elaborate in the comments because then im able to understand whats actually going on and im not left confused!! thx so much for this explanation of what hayden was talking about, i am like. FINALLYYYY UNDERSTANDING IT LOL
Thank you for the explanation!! I didn't quite understand the meaning of the last panel either, but your explanation helped a lot ヾ(☆▽☆)
awww thank youu i'm so glad my hayden/brett brainrot is helping someone hehehehe i could go on and on about them forever
While it's true their original agreement he doesn't lose anything (monetarily), Hayden at the time didn't lose anything either because he hadn't developed feelings for Brett. They both satisfied their primal urges. Brett was there for him every time Hayden was in rut. He tries his best to come back ASAP after his away game & even though part way into it he realized his injury from the game hasn't healed yet/ or that he was more injured than he'd thought. So his end of the bargain is that he gets to get fucked ROUGHLY by an alpha who's willing to be with an alpha. And Hayden gets to take out his overly strong sexual aggression that no omegas can deal with. So yes, initially it was a mutually beneficial relationship. For Brett he thinks that treating Hayden well, such as gifts, & taking him to the family function & introducing him to the producer, & asking him to come to the after party, was as close as he was willing to go. Hayden starts to feel like he's losing out, though once he developed feelings. The one with the feelings ALWAYS loses no matter what.
looove how we get to see more of what blondie said about Brett having an arrogant, disdainful air bc he thinks everything is under his control and finds ppl boring - you can always tell when he's locked in and calculating when his blue eyes go matte. But hayden is always the one that throws him out of control and genuinely surprises him - like when hayden told him he had bonded to him. brett was STUNNED! (and then he regained control when he saw that blondie had shot himself in the shoulder ie. everything was under his control)
much has been said about brett, i wanna offer some appreciation for hayden! despite being the guy "who fell first" and being a romantic, he is calm and proactive when he talks to brett about establishing his boundaries, about being more capable of reading brett than brett is aware of.
also the delicious exchange where brett (who thinks of relationships as transactions) being like: now i owe you a huge debt vs. hayden saying "you don't owe me because I CHOSE to do this" (also establishing his own agency against brett's transactional viewpoint). this author is just TOOO GOO
Question about the bonding. It looks like Brett was aware of Hayden's feelings, but arent bonding in omegaverse usually felt by both? Just surprised that in this story, Brett was unaware of it.
It always depends on what the author decides to do. In some stories, bonding can be done unconsciously by one party. (I guess another word you could call it is imprinting, which is often not done by both sides at the same time)
From what I've seen of Omegaverses, bonding is a bond formed by two individuals. I've never seen a one way bond before. Whether mutual or not (like willingly or unconsciously) it's always a tie between two parties. But in this case the bond is only form from one side. Though I guess it's the equivalent of bonds that has an alpha neglecting an omega so in that case they are PHYSICALLY bonded but not EMOTIONALLY bonded. Whereas in this sense it seems more emotionally based. But yeah, it doesn't seem to have an adverse effect (not having the bonded partner around).
Thank you for the explanation! ヾ(☆▽☆)
like that's crazy what