This story is so full of angst and heartache but also love. After all the drama they went through, and their tramautic pasts, I really needed that finale epilogue confirming that they are each other's family.
I've re-read 'To Take an Enemy's Heart' three times in the last few months and I love this story as well. Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!
I started this thinking based on the cover art, comments at the time and tags that's a a nice smut/fluffy story. About 1/3 of the way through it became clear this manga is darker than I expected. And then it turned really really dark.
BE WARNED!! This manga is not for the faint of heart or people who have triggers. There are multiple realistic scenes of rape, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. This is not a fluffy yaoi that includes the rape trope and glosses over it, but portrays the grim reality of dealing with the trauma of it and the difficult situation and consequences of an abusive relationship. There are only about 3 chapter warnings regarding explicit chapters but there were way more scenes than that.
Having said that, this is a brilliant story. It's so well-written, the characters are multi-dimensional and it delves into serious issues. I know there will be people who find the uke annoying and think he's a slut but honestly, his behaviour makes sense given all the trauma he's been through. I know people who have suffered from being molested/almost raped and it stays with you and affects your personality and how you view yourself. This isn't something all readers can understand, especially if they're used to yaoi rape tropes and want something more shallow and characters who always do the right thing, despite their issues.
If you're an older reader like me and appreciate a well-written and grim realistic story go for it. If you want a typical yaoi or have triggers, avoid it!
He broke Chanwoo!! He broke him and manipulated him and punished him for not liking him back. That is not OK! The last two chapters have made me very anti-MDxChanwoo and very uncomfortable. MD may not have beaten the hell out of him like his previous boyfriends but his emotional manipulation clearly impacted Chanwoo way more. And his pathetic I'm sorry at the end is just not enough. At first, it seemed like he might be perfect, he'll respect Chanwoo and treat him well outside the bedroom and be the perfect Dom in it. But not anymore! He was an abusive Dom who let his personal anger control the play and I can't imagine Chanwoo feeling confident and safe outside their plays anymore. He's so vulnerable and scared of losing MD that MD has all the power now. He knows it and Chanwoo does and it makes him weaker in every way. Anytime he thinks he'll upset MD this will come back to haunt him and he'll be scared. Their relationship will be unbalanced with emotional manipulation and abuse constantly there. This was one of the shittiest ways MD could have handled the situation of trying to convince Chanwoo to date him.
Oh, you're scared to date me? You're worried I'll abuse you like your exes and ruin our perfect relationship? Well, let me prove to you that I'm as shitty as those guys by breaking you so bad you'll beg to be with me. Grrrr!!
If the author leaves it like this with no resolution and no fixing their relationship I'll be very frustrated and disappointed. It's her choice but there're so many abusive relationships in yaoi that it would have been nice to have ones that aren't. And MD seemed so sweet at first that his emotionally abusive and angry side was a twist that didn't need to happen. Hell, even Alex shaped up and his relationship with DG became so sweet and I really thought he'll be a jackass till the end.
I agree!!! I really liked the relationship between MD and Chanwoo but now... not so much. And it's so fucked that everybody is hating on Chanwoo without seeing how wrong MD is for his manipulation. Chanwoo seems just really naive and vulnerable ://
I agree with both of ya guys!
Let's hope for the best.
Like you, I thought that everyone hates Chanwoo. But I found a bunch of comments similar to ours. Which makes me feel better. It would be sad if people did see Chanwoo as wrong and MD as right for what he did, not realizing they're reinforcing emotional abuse. I find that's the problem with yaoi sometimes, it blurs the line of sexual consent and morality. As I've gotten older I've become more sensitive to that and I now prefer shounen-ai and yaoi with healthier relationships. Before it bothered but not I just can't handle it. There are enough messed up and abusive relationships in the world, it would be nice to escape and read about people who love and support each other through mangas which is my form of de-stress and escapism.
Chanwoo clearly has some issues which is why he's hesitant to date MD even though he clearly wants him. And yes, he needs a wake up call...but MD's behaviour now, especially that slap, made me feel that Chanwoo made the right call. He's probably worried by dating MD then the relationship will become like his lovers who end up actually abusing him. And in this chapter MD is proving that his pride and anger at getting rejected is his controlling emotion. Not only did he choke Chanwoo a couple of chapters ago but now he slapped him and looked like he really meant it. He's no longer the MD who can cherish Chanwoo while being the perfect Dom. He's an angry guy who wants to break Chanwoo and I can't root for him if that's who he's going to be.
Thank youuuuuu oh my God so many people are still admonishing poor Chanwoo and blaming the whole situation on him saying he "got what he deserved", but fr no one deserves this. This is emotional manipulation and abuse. Chanwoo didn't even do anything technically wrong imo he's allowed to date around (he's been doing that from the start anyway) and he's not required to return MD's feelings (not that he doesn't, but that's another conversation). Just because MD is hurt his feelings aren't requited doesn't give him the right to be a petty bitch and put Chanwoo through this. If MD really loved him, it would hurt to see Chanwoo in so much emotional pain, instead of feel good like it's vengeance and want to mentally hurt him more. That shit is fucked up.
Exactly! Like you I feel Chanwoo is getting a lot of hate but honestly, it makes sense he'd hesitate if his issues are what we suspect.
To me, MD is the one in the wrong. He's angry and lashing out. There was a yaoi manga where the seme was frustrated with the uke for always pushing him away and he thinks "Now I get why all your ex's abused you,' but he never did it himself. I feel like that's MD now, becoming abusive because Chanwoo lets him and he's trying to get the response he wants and is angry that Chanwoo is saying no.
I went from hoping MD proves to Chanwoo why they should be together to thinking now MD needs to prove he deserves Chanwoo.
I'm glad someone else sees MD as the person in the wrong because sooo many comments blame Chanwoo and I just don't get it. Why root for MD when he's proving to be just as angry and abusive as the lovers who made Chanwoo so hesitant to date him in the first place!
How do I upvote a post 100x
So I picture their future one of three ways...spoilers...
1) Fetechuo ages very very slowly since he's now 3/4 human. Eventually Naerim passes on but he continues getting older and watching over their children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren until he passes on as well.
2) Old Naerim is about to die and Fetechuo finally drinks enough of her blood so he becomes fully human and they both die together. Not that he drinks enough to kill her but she naturally dies and they smile at each other, because it's fiction and it's always more romantic when the two lovers die contently in each other's arms.
3) Fetechuo outlives Naerim, wanting to watch over their descendents until he feels they're fine because he's protective like that then finally drinks enough from one of them to become human and dies.
I know these three scenarios sound bitter sweet but I would honestly be happy with any of them. I'm assuming Fetechuo is human enough they can have a family, which I think will make them both happy. They live a full human lifetime together, and Fetechuo passes on when he feels he's repented enough and with people he cares about.
That was not what I expected at all! I thought this was going to be another typical smut manga where they just have sex and don't communicate and the author presents serious issues and just glosses over them. But this...wow. It's perfectly written. The pain, the heartache, the mental health issues, even the lack of communication was realistic! Usually it's just a yaoi trop and so frustrating but here, it makes perfect sense! This webtoon is not for the faint of heart and not fluffy or light. If anyone wants a realistic story about dealing with grief and guilt with some humor and heart ache this is it!
There were so many iconic moments and lines, but one that really stuck with me "We are taking a step into the present." So perfectly sums up the emotional pain and journey they both went through and are finally ready to start living again.
I won't forget this story anytime soon and I'll have to reread it for those iconic lines and moments.
This comment will make me read it
Ah man that was sooo satisfying!! In so many ways!! The confrontation, choking that a**, saying his hands are for protecting and hugging his family, then the final punch!! And angry Naoto!!! Fierce Omega!! Ah and the proposal. I assumed they already got married so it was soo nice to see. And Shizuku saying Hazuki has always been her dad! Sniff. Such a great and wholesome ending!! I love every page! Fingers crossed for some cute extras.
Thank you sooo much to the translaters for putting so much effort into this and getting it to us on an almost weekly basis.
OH NoOoo! I accidentally downvote. Srry
Did anyone else feel like this is a time skip epilogue? I kept feeling it during the chapter as we see Nemu change and feeling more secure with Maya, them getting couple rings and Maya being all lovey-dovey. And then the last page had the title of the manga and 'The End.' Usually the chapters either say TBC or 'The End' but not the title. I checked on mangaupdate cuz they're usually more accurate but they're behind I think because it states 8 volumes (ongoing).
This is one of my absolute favorite mangas that I re-read a lot, so if it's ongoing and we get to see these new, older, more secure Nemu and Maya great! If not....then this felt like the perfect ending for them, starting on a new phase in their life after they've matured and grown. I just wish we knew so I could have prepared my heart for the end :(
I hope I'm wrong....
i went to check the last page but it is witten つづく which basically means to be continued..... i guess there will be more chapters (?) based on the latest update
...Im gonna blame google translate. It read " つづく " as 'the end." I've always seen it in old school animes and in mangas but never bothered to actually look it up. Thanks for the clarification!
Lovey-dovey in the honeymoon phase and adorable Jiwoon and Dongyun is exactly what I needed today!!! I was so surprised when I saw the notification and super excited when I saw it's in color!!!! Oh man, I could literally read 20 chapters of just pure fluff of these two. Jiwoon has gotten so much softer and I think's partly the new art style. And I LOVE it!!! I hope the author is going to post a good number of fluffy side stories