#actually think Soohyun was Daon's first

[locksnrocks]

Scene Comparison - Soohyun & Daon Library scene

I appreciate how the show took moments/dialogue from the manhwa and adapted them - there was *a lot* of material they had to work through to get this thing condensed down to just 8 episodes. Overall, I understand the changes the show made because if they tried to shove everything in this timeframe, the ending would have felt way more rushed than it already did.

One favorite scene:

If you haven't read the manhwa and if there's any part of you that felt even a little bit bad for the crash and burn of the 'ship that could have been' (Soohyun x Daon), then please enjoy a small snapshot of how the library scene played out in the manhwa. It is during their 'not dating but basically dating/FWB' phase during uni.

Just to show what Soohyun/Daon could have been...! The show added a lurking Jaemin in its version, but he's not here in the webcomic. He does see (spy on them) them around campus being close and couple-y and gets tilted.

I guess the show left it up to us as the viewers to decide if Soohyun and Daon were 'together' at this point in their uni days.

[mortra]

Secret Relationship Review

Daon - the protagonist. he's a person fill of contradictions, he's actually an active person, but in front of Jaemin he becomes passive. He's been manipulated by Jaemin nearly his whole life, it's not like he's unaware of it, quite the opposite he doesn't want to be aware of it, blissful ignorance. When he and Soohyun had something together was when he was first show to take what he wanted. Daon would rather not acknowledge that most things happen as they are, inevitably, and would rather blame it on something he can't control (his poverty)

Soohyun - Daon's first love, first kiss, first lover, and first heartbreak.He and Daon got together when they were too young. at the start he wasn't introduced well, but I'm glad his character wasn't just limited to 'voilent creep'. he's a rich boy through and through, he and Daon were not match made in heaven but they worked. they really loved each other at first, but Soohyun was too arrogant and self-confident, he relied on the general stability his life provided him to become fat sheep for Jaemin. He's naive, in a lot of ways, but he loved Daon and they probably would've ended up together forever if not for Jaemin.

Sunghyeon - What else can I say? He's very self aware and I love that he's so open-minded. he's audacious, but he really reflects on himself. he doesn't allow himself any excuses for his actions, he owns up to everything. he's more of a man than Soohyun and Jaemin combined.

Jaemin - His and Daon's relationship was fundamentally unequal, he's Daon savior, his god. As aro, I actually think Jaemin is aroace, he doesn't love Daon romantically, he's obsessed with him. like Soohyun said, Jaemin's emotions gets out of control with Daon, it's not normal to want to possess someone like so, even more abnormal to make up a situation that can only end in heartbreak. Jaemin knows Daon liked him, though he recognized it as more of a gratefulness, the reason why he never took the opportunity is simply because he's not attracted to Daon romantically or sexually. He just like Daon very, very much. As an aro, I think that's ultimately why Jaemin did what he did in college. He and Daon get touchy and both think nothing of it (Daon had sexual experiences and would sense if it was sexual), so I really think that's the case. When he learned that Daon has found someone else, he snapped, Jaemin is ultimately someone who can't provide something Daon really needs: love. this probably drove him crazy and played a large part on his breakdowns. how can he can't angry at Daon for seeking someone else for something he can't give him?

Complaints: Daon's nosebleeds, Sunghyeon forced to be head over heels just to put up with Daon's cowardice at times

I'm happy with the ending. I love that Soohyun is prioritizing other aspects of his life now instead of focusing on the past. Despite everything, I think he and Daon have reached closure. Jaemin, I hope his family can help him. I wish Daon and Sunghyeon the best, even if they break up, I know they will still care and look out for each other.

[locksnrocks]

more Soohyun thoughts

the king of entering a scene BY YELLING A LINE and then saying the next sentence in a calmer, yet still threatening tone. Marching into the workplace? YELL at the employee standing there quietly on his phone. Bring his car to a screeching stop at a cross walk to stop that same employee from walking home? Exit the vehicle YELLING and then continue normally (but angry). Same poor guy not wanting to go to lunch with him later? Demand he quit his current role and when he is not happy about that YELL at him. Follow same dude when he flees the vehicle. YELL some more and scratch his face (unintentionally) (but evidence that Soohyun is in fact a wet cat in a human body).

Manhwa Soohyun wasn't much for yelling. He did pull the "lurk outside of Daon's place every single day and make him spend the night with me" card. And he was so committed to getting to Daon once he was back that Jaemin made Daon move to his vacation house to keep him away.

Did anyone else start quietly cheering for Soohyun at the scene where he is sitting at his desk holding the ointment/bandages? Like, yes king, look at you reflecting on the unintended consequences of your actions and experiencing some genuine remorse for the damage you wrought- and oh, never mind, he almost immediately tosses them aside and starts angrily scheming to ruin Daon's work. Way to reflect, look at and acknowledge the responsible option, and deliberately choose not to improve. I couldn't help but laugh.

ALSO! In the scenario where there is no Seonghyun (in the show): Would Soohyun get his way? No Seong to enter the scene doesn't change Soohyun coming back, but without Seong's support Daon is in a significantly -weaker?- position to rebuff Soo's advances. That actually goes for both Soohyun and Jaemin, but in my definitely not biased at all opinion no sir not me, I think Soohyun would pull ahead in the end. He is just more upfront aggressive + has more access through the workplace.

I imagine it would get to the work dinner scene where Soohyun finds out Jaemin orchestrated that one guy undressing Daon & taking pics to really light the fuse. That leads to Soo outright telling Daon about Jaemin's machinations, Daon denies, but doubt is already sown through his sister's remarks just like we saw, confrontation with Jaemin - here's where I can't decide if that would go down the same with a Daon who hasn't had a peek at what authentic affection (too early to say love?) looks like thanks to Seong. But let's say Daon stays strong, doesn't stick around Jaemin. Then... yup, Soohyun's there and just keeps at it until Daon cracks.

Wait! The ring confession scene happened before the Jaemin confrontation scene... okay, I stand by the same conclusion - with even more gusto now because it was Seonghyun's words that Daon recalled during Soo asking to start over. Without that, Daon would be 1. already rejected earlier by Jaemin, and 2. Facing his first crush and just given The Ring of Too Big Feelings. I think Daon would crack right there. Nostalgia, or just an exhaustion of having to continuously rebuff this -raging lunatic- who also happens to be his boss's Boss. Who among us would hold out??

Then to hammer in the nail, Soohyun could go on and still reveal what Jaemin did, and then for funsies he goes with Daon to confront Jaemin. Then we could either say:

Let the Poly Flag Fly - something something and then the three of them reignite their toxic throuple-adjacent bubble of their uni days but for real this time. Like an 80% chance Daon ends up atticwife-d. No one goes to therapy.

Catfight: Soohyun physically attacks Jaemin / Jaemin physically attacks Soohyun. Bonus points for this happening if Soo doesn't reveal he is there initially until Jaemin's facade cracks and he tries to move in on Daon. Then Soo charges in. by the laws of drama convenience, no one goes to jail and Soohyun gets what he wants and no one goes to therapy.

Is it exactly a happy ending for Daon - eh, Soohyun's temper is going to be a forever problem stemming from his family issues, so no? Show Soo at least never choked Daon out like in the webcomic so yay for that way to hit the bare minimum babe. Soohyun would probably also still stop the whole going to the overseas branch project because why would he let Daon go away from him. But damn, did the Soohyun x Daon ship of their school days get royally screwed over by Jaemin.

Smarter than me writers could make this work, dang it.

by this i mean the evil polycule

[locksnrocks]

Secret Relationships - an option to make the Evil Polycule work and it involves removing one main character entirely so I don't think it counts

Thought more about how the Evil Polycule could actually work in the series and I can't help but go on another rant. But I'm weak and would have to take the scenario describe here and say that it could only be feasible in the show's present timeline if Seonghyun isn't a factor at all. Which I guess counts as a copout but oh well. Creative writers could make it work, I have no doubt!

So I think it would come down to Soohyun getting Daon to accept the ring during the dinner exchange- as stated before, without Seong's presence I just don't see Daon having the strength to resist Soohyun, especially with how hard he pushes. And because Soohyun understands what a threat Jaemin is with his hold on Daon, he will want to address it and goes ahead with telling Daon exactly what Jaemin has done.

Daon does the Jaemin confrontation BUT this time Soohyun goes with him. I like the idea of Soohyun hanging back out of sight because

he knows how Jaemin operates and wants Jaemin to confess without using Soohyun's presence as an excuse to focus elsewhere, and

for drama

Jaemin snaps and moves in on Daon, but now we have the delight of an enraged Soohyun charging in and putting a stop to that mess. Jaemin is truly caught so pulls his hail mary with the self-stabbing. Daon is horrified, Soo is shocked but in this scenario he is blessed with exactly one (1) braincell (which he is karmically owed after agreeing to that dumb fake date plan) so he processes the following realizations very quickly:

Jaemin will stop at nothing to keep his hold on Daon. Like it will take legitimate death to keep him out of the picture.

For all his rage, Soohyun is not a murderer.

Even if he could pull if off, Daon would never forgive or forget.

For better or worse, Jaemin has made himself a permanent fixture in Daon's life (again, Seonghyun has to be a nonfactor because we saw in the show that even with Jaemin's desperate self-harm, Daon pulled away thanks to Seong's influence).

So Soo makes Daon go look for bandages to get him out of hearing range and says something along the lines of "You think pulling this move let's you win? You've played your final card and now Daon knows exactly who you are. You are no longer in control here. What happens next is on my terms."

He can rub salt in the wound once Daon returns and Jaemin is bandaged up, Soo takes Daon's hand and makes a show of kissing the ring he gave him earlier (Daon would be wearing it as he accepted). Just a real 'kick Jaemin while he's down' moment. But Jaemin does actually see the writing on the wall (blood loss aside) and understands the message Soohyun is sending: If you want Daon, fine, but it's going to be a packaged deal.

Jaemin gets sent to the hospital - I imagine Soo would just call emergency services rather than let Daon take him. Soohyun and Daon return home. Daon is in a state of shock and just generally disassociating. His state really hammers in to Soohyun that Jaemin's hold on Daon runs deep. So he calmly tells Daon to go ahead and pack an overnight bag "and we will go to the hospital to check on him tomorrow."

And just like that, the two of them becomes a We. We will check on him. We will pick him up. We will go to dinner next week. We will pick you up from work tomorrow.

Thus the Evil Polycule is born 🎉. They fell into that pattern naturally during their uni days in the manhwa, so it isn't so far fetched to say they could fall into it in the show- the timeline is just different.

Bonus scene: After telling Daon to go ahead and pack the overnight bag, Soohyun also uses this moment to solidify his position with Daon- he can use the "pull him in close and kiss the ring he gifted him again" move, they have a 'deep stare at one another wordless exchange' moment and that leads to them having their first (?) time sleeping together.

Yays all around!

Still no one goes to therapy (a significant requirement if this is to work, especially for Daon).

Still a solid 80% chance Daon ends up atticwifed (cabin-husband'd) judging by the Christmas Death Cabin Scene. Just seems like something Soohyun and Jaemin would agree on doing to him eventually.