there’s something to be said about the fact that both mizi and ivan come from an inherently poor or unsafe environment, which makes them see love as survival, and survival is transactional to them. therefore, they play into personas of performative versions of themselves, mizi being the pretty and approachable girl, while ivan is the self reliant and smooth talking boy. even if they are unhappy with where they are stuck, they still maintain it, for fear of the possibility of what does happen if they step out of line.
ironically, the basis of their friendship is built around trust, and yet even when it’s misguided. people play off their relationship as a mutual understanding, but is it really like that, or is it something that wasn’t close to what it could have been. ivan, misinterpreting mizi as a cheerful and bubbly person, feels awkward at what he perceives as innocent (she isn’t), but still enjoys her company nonetheless, as he is almost never antagonistic to her. meanwhile, mizi sees ivan as a perfect prince (he’s not) that is effortlessly cool in every situation.
and yet, even in this warped perception of a bond, there’s still a mutual trust that they know they can rely on each other. mizi seems to trust ivan deeply (leaning on him when she sleeps and doing piggy back rides with him) while ivan shows no bother at her, even engaging in her antics sometimes. they see the peaceful friendship as something that doesn’t require transaction, and something they don’t need to control. it’s tragic because they are so similar, and a deep conversation would bring them much closer as friends, but mizi doesn’t see ivan as a trauma, so she doesn’t think of her as someone like her, and ivan’s self hatred makes him seek out relation to sua, because he falls for the mask that mizi plays into, as does she with him.
genuinely so devastated that they weren’t able to confront these feelings AHAUAGHAHAA mizi ivan parallels run so deep 😢😢😢 me (witch) and my homeboy (paratise)
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
titsay
amandla
