grumpyface:]'s manga / #soulmate(2)

Childhood-friends-to-lovers trope. Precocious children who had to be so due to the immorality and cruelty of the adults (family) that abuse them. In such a hopeless place, the young MC and ML had to survive and found each other. Who knows to what extent the well of darkness in their hearts went, but for certain one (ML) was made empty due to the helplessness and the other (MC) hungry to live for the same reason. In light of their encounter, the emptiness was filled (the first to care for ML), and the warmth filled their starved little hearts (MC received the gift of finding something valuable i.e. being able to protect and save). I would also say it’s a love at first sight kind of thing. It’s kind of triggering because it’s the element of family (brother, mother, father respectively) being the cruelest to you hitting so home. Not only Taemin and Siwoon, but also Siwon who was violently and covertly sabotaged (abused) by family. The events that transpired were disgusting and inhumane. Gangrape in school instigated by the brother (wtf) “You act heartless, but you can’t ignore other people’s misfortune and are weak to affection” (ML to MC)

I don’t know how many times I’ve read this manga already, but I still love it and plan to reread it again. Something about the characters, the dialogue, the writing style, the scenarios, the art overall, touched me deeply. It’s hard to pinpoint the most charming point, but I would say its authenticity, psychological aspects (and portrayal), and the character dynamic have to have been a part of the irresistible draw. There’s just something raw and alive about the story. Will never forget this manga.