pluckaduck's manga / #shounen ai(99)

yall should check out the webnovel. it's basically a parody of the bl world-hopping novels and is so well-written. mc and ml's relationship is simply adorable; a bit slow-burn but the reveal will be cathartic. honestly, i don't have much faith in manhua adaptations, so yeah, check out the webnovel.

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.

it has a cliched premise, but the execution was perfect. it's pure, sweet, bittersweet, refreshing and the hackneyed drama ends up being moving. ngl, i feel pity for the teacher; of all people, he fell for his student. tho, it wasn't really depicted as vulgar or sexual and he was gonna wait till his graduation to make a move (at least, he planned to). (edit: oof, did not realize he was 37(?) yo) (edit: turns out he has erotic fantasies about him, oof)

tragic, painful, and frustrating. ml is an asshole, but he's a realistic asshole who lost appreciation for mc after his ego inflated. in the first half, i hated him, but then i kinda pity him bc he's so pathetic. the sml was the best, but it's unrealistic how fast he fell in love with mc, and how devoted his love was for him. but it doesn't really matter cuz he's there to serve as a foil to the ml.