Jaeeon as a Flawed Character I (21 August 21)

Park Jae Eon is a flawed character. This comes as no surprise after the criticism of the majority of viewers regarding his character. We first meet him during a time in Yoo Na Bi's life when everything was changing for her.

She had just gotten out of an abusive relationship. On that same day, here comes a man wearing a long coat and a megawatt smile who, in her own words, made her forget the pain like it was nothing. From the get-go, he became a sort of escape for NB.

And so goes their unconventional, and pea-brained people would say inappropriate, relationship. They started off as strangers, then friends, then lovers, before mixed-up feelings and miscommunication got in the way. You know all this since you watch the show.

The reason why his character is so compelling to me, despite the prejudice that majority have tacked onto him before Episode 1 even aired, is because he has so many layers. Not surprisingly because he's the male lead. Keep in mind I've never touched the webtoon.

From the beginning, he's been a mystery. A bit touchy, definitely a flirt, or so Na Bi thinks. And when they meet again at the university, all the gossip surrounding him doesn't make his character any less mysterious or ambiguous. Remember the library?

But anyway. I'm really here to peel back some of those layers and humanise Park Jae Eon a bit more. We only mostly see him through Na Bi's eyes so her thoughts are our own. Her doubts about him are our own. Her perception of who he is colours the entire narrative.

First up, Park Jae Eon has a hidden temper. 95% of the time, he's a laid-back guy who knows how to have fun but mostly keeps to himself. He has plenty of friends but none that he is always seen with or considers "best friends", unlike NB with Bit Na, et al.

This leads people to assume that his aloof character is who he really is when, in truth, it's just a facade. He's too cool for intimacy and all that. Even his "friends" gossip about him, saying they keep him around only for his looks that attract girls.

Everyone around him has basically dehumanised him. They see him as someone who's approachable but unattainable. Unfortunately, all that rubs off on NB. She still pays attention to what others say about him. More than what she sees and feels about him.

Fast forward to Episode 4. We see a whole montage and a series of scenes of all the times JE and NB were practically living together. The interesting part to me is that throughout all that, we mostly see their physical relationship. The sweet kisses, the cuddles.

But in between those, we see tender moments of pillow talk. Conversations shared between breaths and amidst skin touching skin. There is vulnerability there. Whether both JE or NB realise it or not, you are now privy to JE actually opening up to NB.

Contrary to popular opinion, when JE and NB are together, it isn't just about the sex. It's about connection more than pleasure. We also see him teaching her how to dance. We see him do her house chores. We see him sitting down with her and eating meals.

If you've noticed, we never see him do any of those things with anyone else. Not even in the sense of companionship. The closest he has to what would resemble an "intimate" relationship with someone else is when he's in the hospital with Seol Ah.

I think it's deliberate for his character to be portrayed that way. To always be in the middle of a group but never really being part of the group. No connection with anyone else. No chance for vulnerability. Until later episodes, that is. He's lonely.

Now, some would argue that he isn't because he has "all those girls" and "taking all those phone calls" but again, we don't have any context about that. We don't know how many girls he's talked to. We don't always know who's calling him. We don't know him.

But then again, and bear with me here, we do know him. We know he's a transfer at the university but made quick friends. We know he loves pork tripe. We know he likes a clean house and the dishes done. We know he wants another butterfly tattoo.

And how do we know all this? Through Na Bi. Are you seeing the picture now? Yoo Na Bi knows Park Jae Eon, whether she's willing to acknowledge it or not. He wasn't teasing or distracting her in this scene, though the tone might imply it.

I've always stood my ground that JE isn't the demon the general audience paints him out to be. He has never been dishonest about his intentions, has never manipulated NB into their relationship, has always let her take the lead. Above all, he always listens to her.

Whether to her words or her body language, he has always retreated when he sensed her unease or reluctance. And that is so, so important to someone like NB who suffered through years of *actual* gaslighting and manipulation from her piece of shit ex.

This isn't the end of this topic. I'm gonna make a separate thread on the times JE has lost his temper and let his true emotions show. This was just to show that NB, and in turn, we as viewers, do know JE. Beyond being the fwb partner, we know him as a human being.

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