such an excellent chapter. Brett revealing his hand to Hayden in many ways and how strategic and calculating he is (love a smart pretty boy); people are quick to say that Brett is manipulative = bad. But I think that's a disservice to the story (which isn't about one character being "bad" one character being "good"). Brett has goals, he sets out to accomplish them. He's open about enjoying Hayden's company and wanting to be close to him, and HONEST to Hayden about how he goes out of his way to "earn" Hayden's company and to make HIMSELF seem desirable to Hayden. Brett wants to be "fair" and to provide value to Hayden in exchange. Yes, things are transactional to Brett, but it's also bc Brett can't conceive of being UNCONDITIONALLY desirable to Hayden (like he needs to give reasons to Hayden to want to spend time with him)
But instead of seeing Brett's efforts to spend time with him, Hayden feels manipulated and tries to establish his agency and control (ie. I CHOSE to be here, it wasn't just you; Brett: ??? ok???). It's because Hayden views "sincerity" and "feelings" as something that is uncontrolled and not strategic - like for him, you don't plan these things out; things happen spontaneously and impulsively. This is all tied again to how Hayden feels especially out of control over his sexuality whereas Brett seems to handle his own - and that of others - with ease. It definitely doesn't help that Hayden still ended up hiccuping (ie. his instincts are still out of his control, and within Brett's predictions/control).
I think both perspectives make sense! They're both such different ppl who are miscommunicating and missing each other's cues. Brett continues to feel like things fall predictably within his control; and Hayden feels entirely out of control at all times. Just great character writing I seriously adore this so much.
last point about perspective being that Hayden views himself as a very passive party who is "toyed" by Brett and thus that the relationship is unequal. Brett is proactive as a party in the relationship but in many ways going out of his way to cater to Hayden's needs and desires. so the perception of power in this relationship - both sexually and emotionally - is just soo interesting.
Wow I m so amazed the way you described Hayden and Brett these characters are made with lots of details
You described their dynamic perfectly *clap clap*
Your explanation is always on point but i have to give Hayden a credit on his effort, at least he start answer Brett’s messages, and tried get to know Brett more, instead try to distance with Brett like before, he even go to see Brett at night, when he is on bed already lol for Brett silly question, is slow but at least i like the progress
You explained it so perfectly. The feeling of manipulation is coming from Hayden's point of view, which is one of the root of their miscommunication, even if that isn't Brett's intention. This chapter really brought into light the things they need to work on in order to bring the relationship from fwb to an actual relationship.
YES this as well, like seeing the effort Brett made to come back to Hayden in time for his rutt from Utah, seeing him coming home as soon as the game ended, to running in the rain...like !!!! I love that
that's true! he's finally being more responsive and actively spending time with Brett heh you're right that it's progress even though they butted heads a bit (at least on hayden's end haha)
absolutely, it's miscommunication done very realistically and well! excited to see them grow and progress together
it was very good of hayden to establish safe words even though brett wanted to play it fast and loose as always so glad we're moving into the zone of healthy consensual non-consent! we can see here that brett maybe overestimates himself/plays it too risky bc of his thrill-seeking behavior so that having hayden to reign him back and be responsible is really valuable. anyways just have to appreciate the author giving us a naturally evolving kinky relationship that involves consent which is also seriously hot has hell.
brett manically laughing after the safeword worked vs him being sooo sweet with hayden in the morning love the contrast, he's honestly still such a wildcard in some ways.
this author/artist is soo good like that scary/horror atmosphere is amazing it feels like a movie - like we get a hint of brett's perspective re. how overwhelming and scarily dominating hayden's alpha phermones are (hence why most ppl can't take it at all). like hayden is legit a natural apex predator when he's not inhibited (thank god brett is a freak who isn't scared by it and is into it!!). also this chapter kind of reinforces how nonresponsive hayden is from brett's pov - brett is constantly following up and giving hayden his updates and even takes the initiative to rush to join hayden after the game. again brett is definitely very active in this relationship and hayden feels mostly passive, even though hayden perceives brett as having the upper hand.
(also can we talk about how cute and pretty brett looks with his hair down free yourself of the hair gel brett!!!!)
True. I feel Hayden thinks Brett is cold toward him but he's the one who doesn't answer his messages or run away when he feels inferior/rejected.
Thanks for the insights.
it just gets worse and worse for him doesn't ig like wdym he's genetically predisposed to being self-destructive and sexually exploited GIVE HIM HAPPINESS PLEAAAASSEEEEEEE
ok not 100% sure how to interpret that scene on stage but here's my take - in the story hayden is usually in the position of being a spectator/a member of the audience and NOT the actor (he's majoring as a script writer too even though he was mistaken as an actor before at the party) and we get several scenes where he's always "watching" brett (like at the party, at the football game) where brett feels like a main character and hayden is just watching from the sideline (this is hayden's pov, btw). so i think it's interesting brett is the one watching him from the audience this time and tells him to "do something" ie stop being passive and become an actor instead of an observer!
also interesting that brett says "it's only fair" for hayden to act (might be tied to how hayden has been mostly passive and brett has been the "initiator" of all things) but YEAA i seriously love this story so much. shout out to how the author paces and switches between the scenes it's actually so movie-esque and atmospheric.
i see the looming death flags on top of all of his suffering pls give him just some happiness omg...
yeah, Charin got huge death flags all over TWT
I think he will die protecting Jin or something.
yea honestly that's what i think too :((i'm going to be so devastated arghhhh
The way you're so right about this though. Spoiler warning since it's from the mtl of 25 I translated.
After they did the deed they started talking about the plans for when they go on the run and after some banter Charin tells Jin the first step is get off the pentatonic and immediately after he sees AIGF about to pounce them. This guy only gets 1 happy moment a year or something cause damn, he cannot catch a break
I think Charin will die and jin's friend will come and save Jin so he returns to his friend's base, that way the author will continue the story to other characters, because in this story Jin is not only one of the main characters... and again I don't really like Charin because taking a lot of wrong decisions, her relationship with Jin will not work well because he is pregnant with Hyehan's child, and I don't think it's rape because they made an agreement first with this green hair purely because of Charin's stupidity especially when she had sex with Jin in ch25 I was very disturbed by that scene, because he had sex with Jin while he was pregnant with Hyehan's child, it was really an immoral act
There's a lot of ways the author could spin it so I can't say for sure if Charin will be out of the picture at the end but I'm sure Tehir will definitely make an appearance in front of Charin before Charin actually dies.
On your other points Charin's relationship with Jin has nothing to do with rape baby. Charin believed Jin died and he would've killed himself immediately after Hyehan raped him the first time if not for Jin's letter. Charin's deal with that guy never entailed any fucking happening between them, nor being dosed with the drug. Hyehan deserves nothing and the fact that Charin told Jin to finish inside him because it's Hyehan child inside him should show how much he hates it. Charin accepted being used as a sex slave because Jin was dead and treated himself as a common whore but now Jin is alive he seems to be trying to make up for it (i.e calling out Jin's name repeatedly, constantly kissing) because anyone could make him feel good from sex but he's only ever wanted Jin.
There was no agreement at all. Did you even read the chapters?
Nothing in english chapter says he agreed and neither in the korean raws, snake guy literally said " non consexual coitus " and Charin says snake guy notion of rape is very plain. It's rape.
At the time, he just gave up fighting about it. Snake guy even says he is not resisting as the first time, and that is because Charin doesn't want to let the grape affect him, otherwise he would have killed himself.
The author even posted a cut of the rape scene in twitter, she said she cut in the chapter but it shows Charin really trembling and really frightned ...
Snake guy even said Charis is his possession. His sex slave. There is no agreement.
I've been dissapointed with some of the translation localization choices for this webtoon im such as changing haengnim to 'cap' or oppa to 'my dear' or the scene where Charin says how Jin looks at him makes him want to kill himself in 19 (it was changed to makes me want to kill you) when the whole purpose of the scene is to show Charin's habit of threatening to kill himself is important to his character. It was something he was 100% ready to die after being raped and it was only his desire to at least do something for Jin that keeps him going.
That makes so much more sense!
I mean, the story made clear that Elites are prone to be suicidal... and Charin is no exception and Jin was always very worried about Charin killing himself and this just adds more depth to it.
And gives much more power to Charin decision to keep trying to live for Jin to the maximum he can hold on ...
Such pity the one responsible for the localization didn't understand the story ...
I was really confused when I saw that translation especially when it's so pivotal later on in the story when it's established elites either kill themselves or end up in the sex industry and Jin later refers to that same scene in 25 and 23 so I wonder if they'll fix the translation there. Charin's the the epitome of being human to Jin who only knew how to perform actions based on logical conclusions. His biggest worry has always been Charin dying because Charin was the only thing making life fun for him.
I think , if thinking wishfully they will go on without correcting previous chapter and go on will just correct on 23/25 but going back and correcting? Nah
The worst is if they put the wrong meaning on the 23/25
Lezhi just sucks
Oh man, my heart really aches for Jin Charin.
One is the reason of a happy life and the other is the reason to keep living.
I like the complication of their relationship and the reveal of how every step of the way they stumbled but their still managed to reach their finish line. I hope Charin doesn't die but I'd be satisfied with his death post 25, he realized that how he treated Jin was wrong 20 and really meant it when he said he wants to know about Jin. 90% of Jin des
*90% of Jin's decisions are made through the mindset of how he can keep Charin from killing himself. Charin doesn't know this however all he knows is that after the night where Jin matsurbated to him Jin stopped expressing that kind of desire for him.
" I like the complication of their relationship and the reveal of how every step of the way they stumbled but their still managed to reach their finish line. "
Yeah exactly !!!! Couldn't have said better !
I have come to terms that Charin will die in 25 :'(
This season focus on Jin, and Jin's arc is interligned with Charin because he is the most important person to him but next season will focus another of the main so Jin Charin arc ends in 25.
My guess he will die protecting Jin.
him being like you didn't contact me for 30 days but HE also didn't contact brett for 30 days so he clearly thinks all the power is in brett's hands. but from brett's pov hayden just shows up and is cold and aloof like no i have to leave rn even though brett invites him to stay to hang out, so brett is like "oh are you here to talk about scheduling for your rut?" bc brett probably assumes that's what hayden wants.
You know, you like the only person, i know who has same opinion about Hayden with me. Most the fan i know, all said Hayden is pitiful, he is abandoned by Brett, Brett is cold, Hayden oneside-love is sad and not even realize Hayden is being cold and push-back first. And in future chapter, Hayden being even more unreasonable if we see thing in Brett’s pov. Yeah, Brett is hard to understand too but I wouldn’t blame everything on him.
I love Hayden a lot, but he being so insecure and indenial is also make this relationship go dead-end alot.
Everyone said Brett need to change and love Hayden more. i said Hayden also need a lot character development. Take back your power my baby boy Hayden!
someone being realistic and down to earth on this site is not a common occurrence fs ╮(￣▽￣)╭, people just tend to take the mc's side most times cause it's the only straight-forward pov, while for other povs you gotta do more critical thinking
Yeah, i hate it when some people acting like Hayden is pure victim of Brett’s cold heart or something. Sure Brett is manipulate Hayden come to him in short story, but he also the person who give Hayden choice to either accept this fwb relationship with him or just ignore it. Brett can blackmail Hayden to do so but he doesn’t do that, he give Hayden time to think and Hayden is the one who grab his hand immediately.
Hayden in this relationship by choice. He know what he get from it, still he keep being distant and judgmental with Brett when all Brett do is tried to make this relationship work for their own benefit. I don’t said Brett is perfect and do no wrong, he seem lack of empathy and not good at understand human emotions for sure, that need some growing, but at least he put a lot effort to make this relationship comfortable for Hayden. And Hayden keep being angry at Brett without telling Brett what make he fell unsatisfied.
I also doesn’t said Hayden is bad, but he also need a lot of growing too, same with Brett. Their need put a lot of work together to make this relationship work, thing just getting started for them.
I just wish their start communication more.
Hope their can be open up and trusting eachother more.
thank youuuu you're right ppl get sucked into the main pov so easily without thinking about the cues that brett is getting from hayden (who keeps everything inside). the author is probably doing that on purpose which is super smart character writing (i wonder if we'll get more more brett's pov in the second season?). but if you actually think about the interactions brett isn't trying to be cold he's chill and down for anything and honestly nice enough to bring hayden to the benefit event and spend time with him. meanwhile hayden is the one very passively not initiating anything bc of his own pride and insecurities about the kind of person he thinks brett is/has been warned that brett is, so he always comes off cagey and cold. which is why (SPOILER (though i think you've read it already)) that last chapter of the season is sooo important bc i think it helps brett realize hayden's feelings and it's also hayden taking initiative for once.
Yeah if Brett not realize how serious Hayden’s feeling for him, Brett probably (spoiler) gonna casual break thing up with Hayden when he graduate, same with quitting football, his deep passion sport.
I do feel sad when Hayden realize the future in Brett’s plan, he doesn’t even think about having Hayden by his side. Even more sad that right after Hayden finally relax and opened up with Brett…
So the thing Hayden did for Brett probably change Brett’s mind a lot.
But still the author is trauma Brett a little too much lol, I really hope his personality not changing too much because of trauma.
I think the author have her own plan.
I still think how funny is it that, Hayden’s pov is like a coming of age, romance movie about one-side secret love with cold-heart rich play-boy or something.
But Brett’s pov is so scary violent, survival horror mode lol, and have like two, one with Hayden’s rut and the last episode ss1. So i think the story gonna be super different in Brett’s pov.
i mean, from hayden’s perspective he thinks brett only sees him as his fuck buddy, which is not exactly a lie. brett is rich while hayden isn’t and let’s not forget the story started because brett offered money to hayden in exchange for help with his homework. even that lady at the event warned him to not take their relationship too seriously or else he would end up disappointed. brett acts in a frivolous way in hayden’s eyes and for hayden, who has yet to realize his own feelings, it sucks.
i don’t think brett is a bad person nor that hayden is perfect, just that i can see both perspectives.
I not saying he have to trust Brett 100%. I like that he doesn’t.
But the way he push Brett away when he clearly the one who agreed with Brett offer? And then he also being sad because Brett is ignore him when he is the one who ignore and being cold with Brett first? That Hayden choice, Brett not forcing him, he wanting more from Brett and do nothing about it beside getting mad and sad by himself.
Like i said, I love Hayden, he is cute but the way he act sometimes is really unreasonable if we see thing from Brett pov. he keep being mad with Brett without telling Brett what bothering him.
He keep being silent and being sad by himself and let Brett be the only one who put effort to maintaining this relationship. Like dulce said he put all the power in Brett hand.
If not because the last moment, I doubt Brett even think Hayden want anything that serious with him. Like he look shock when Hayden said he want to take him to the gym after graduate. Because he don’t know Hayden want to be with him. Like how he even know with the way Hayden act?
yea for sure, i'm not blaming hayden for anything at all, just pointing out that he has a biased view (just like brett probably does!). i think this is a story about two very different types of ppl who also have different ways of navigating the world, so there is miscommunication + misunderstanding (like there is in irl, which is why this story is so good!) i just don't like how ppl straight up are depicting this in terms of who's "right" and who's "wrong"
What you’re saying makes perfect sense, it takes 2 to tango and especially since the relationship started as a business transaction, neither Brett or a Hayden have any reason to think the other wants more of their relationship.
Obviously both are catching feelings, but at the same time their relationship works for them as is as well.
so has any managed to find any dohyeok/siwoo dupes i've been looking for other manhwa w/ similar dynamics but haven't been able to find any...please helppp
idkif this fulfills the criteria but exotic love, the main character is a major red flag but the way ml and mc end up with each other is way better than dohyeok siwoo
these recent two chapters really reinforce how differently they're seeing the relationship. hayden angsting bc he accidentally bonded w/ brett which makes him feel even more out of control in the relationship/over his "body"/instincts (esp considering brett didn't bond with him in return, so it feels unequal). but in his interactions with brett he's restrained and even a bit cold (brett going like "wow this is the first time you're reaching out to me first!") meanwhile brett is enjoying himself - you can tell he's very fond of hayden and he goes out of his way to make it good for him but has no clue about how feel hayden feels towards him. it's going to be amazing when he finds out!!
anyways they're sooo fun and sexy and work with each other so well (Despite the massive communication issues haha). brett biting more off than he can chew never gets old..hayden cupping brett's head so that he doesn't bang the wall - very understated and sweet <33 hayden seems like he's more proactive about wanting to get to know brett more too.. (i know what happens next) but seriously love seeing their relationship grow.
Yup. I never expected such complex dynamics. I'm satisfied.