1. Jung Hwan is a well written nuanced character. Hence, when I came on Tumblr and saw people characterise Duk Seon and Taek's relationship as sibling like, I was slightly annoyed. Actually, no, VERY annoyed because have we watched the same show? The thing w JH is that he's a character who loves quietly. He has been show to care for all the people he holds dear. From helping Taek open his chopsticks to writing his mother's name in English on her passport, to even checking on his friends (unlike Sun Woo who only cared about one thing at a time whenever the plot needed him to) - Jung Hwan cares deeply. He showed a genuinely sensitivity. Which is why it sucks even more that that didn't come through for Duk Seon. We as the viewers were familiarised with his love for DS. He stayed up late waiting for her, used himself as a shield in the crowded bus, got her the gloves, and gave her his umbrella. Sweet. Really is. There's no doubt he loved her. However, when you love someone, loving them loudly, openly, and making them feel that love is just as important as loving them quietly. Jung Hwan never openly celebrated DS. When him and Sun Woo are discussing girls and DS crops up, Jung Hwan is quick to describe her as a pretty girl among the uglies. Whenever she asks him for an opinion on her appearance (esp after her friends tell her that he likes her), he dismisses her or slights her, before giving a small smile visible only to us, the viewers. Even when Duk Seon develops feelings for him or reciprocates it, he holds back. Yes, by this time, Taek has revealed his feelings for DS before their friends. However, between Taek and JH, JH had the most access to Duk Seon. He literally lived above her house. And even before Taek's admission, Jung Hwan continued to pine and hold back, esp after the concert or when they were in Taek's room cleaning up. And in the six year time skip, Taek is quick to drive to the theatre where Duk Seon is waiting and shivering in the cold (because her date is a cheating shmuck) even though he knew Jung Hwan had feelings for her. Take cared for Duk Seon in a way that didn't hinge on her reciprocation. He always complimented her, doted over her, and was the happiest around her. At that point, when he met DS, his focus was just seeing this girl happy (he forfeited his match, for god's sake. Choi Taek, passionate baduk player forfeited his match just to be w Duk Seon). Jung Hwan, for all this positives and softness of heart, cared too much about being perceived a certain way by his friends. His loyalty to Taek came before him falling his heart. And nothing wrong with that I guess. But when it comes to love, hesitating over displaying affection is often a sign that maybe the love wasn't quite all there, especially considering Duk Seon at one point reciprocated. The birthday shirt fiasco was a case in point (the one w the pink shirt where she thought JH gave her gift for him to Jung Bong but that wasn't the case but JH didn't clarify the misunderstanding - though that level of silence feels more like the writers fumbling w JH's character).
Jung Hwan loved and cared deeply. But Duk Seon deserved someone who loved and cared for her deeply and let her know about it. And not just knowing, but also doesn't hesitate to make her feel it. She, like everyone else, deserves a love that's obvious.
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